해안미식 a tofu restaurant

해안미식 is a restaurant specializing in tofu.
The décor is clean and modern, with a minimalist, industrial design and a striking steel façade.

We first came for lunch, but the restaurant was fully booked for a company event, so we returned later for dinner.

We ordered a spicy tofu stew, black sesame tofu, and a potato pancake. The tofu was soft, fresh, and of high quality. The dishes overall were good, though some lacked a bit of depth in flavor.

Nonetheless, it was an interesting experience, especially since I’ve never had a meal where tofu was the main focus of every dish. Gangneung is known for its tofu made with seawater, so it’s definitely worth a try if you’re in the area.

해안미식

https://place.map.kakao.com/1227071799

2633 Gyeonggang-ro, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Fresh Sandwiches and Great Coffee Right by Gangneung Station

Altteu is a charming café conveniently located right across from Gangneung train station, making it an ideal stop before or after a journey. The café is both quaint and spacious, featuring two floors that provide ample comfortable seating.

One of the highlights is that it opens early at 7:30 a.m., which is ideal for travelers seeking a hearty breakfast or a quiet spot to begin their day. The menu leans toward healthy options, with fresh sandwiches and salads being the main draw.

The staff were welcoming and accommodating, and I appreciated that they spoke English, which made ordering very smooth. We tried three sandwiches—the ham and cheese, basil and tomato, and chicken. Each was tightly wrapped, generously filled with vegetables, and had a fresh, wholesome taste. They were hearty enough to be satisfying yet light and refreshing at the same time.

The coffee was also a pleasant surprise—smooth, well-balanced, and easily one of the better cups I’ve had in Gangneung. Combined with the cozy atmosphere and convenient location, Altteu is definitely worth a visit whether you’re after a quick bite, a healthy meal, or just a good cup of coffee.

Altteu Cafe

171 Yongji-ro, 특별자치도 Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do, South Korea

Bossa Nova Café

Bossa Nova Café is one of the many spots along Gangneung Café Street, offering beautiful sea views. It opens early, making it a great choice for those who want to start their day bright and early. This spacious café spans four floors, with jazz music playing softly in the background. Each floor provides a different perspective of the sea, enhancing the relaxing atmosphere.

There is no full food menu; instead, you can choose from a selection of breads and cakes displayed for self-service. You pick your items, place them on a tray, and then order your drink at the counter.

We chose a variety of buns — salt butter rolls, croissant, cheese basil bread, and a coffee bun — and paired them with an Americano. Most of the bread was enjoyable, though the croissant was a bit too sweet for my taste. The Americano was decent.

Overall, Bossa Nova Café offers great vibes and atmosphere, with decent food and drinks — perfect for a relaxed morning by the sea.

Bossa Nova Coffee Roasters Gangneung Branch

28 Changhae-ro 14beon-gil, Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do

Gelato with a Korean Twist: Discover Soontofu’s Flavorful Delights

Nestled just steps away from the famous Gangneung Café Street, Soontofu Gelato offers an unforgettable twist on the classic Italian treat — creamy gelato made with silky soft beancurd sourced locally. Using imported Italian gelato machines, this place perfectly blends Korean tradition with artisanal craft.

Spread across four floors, you’ll find cozy booths on the second floor, spacious round tables for groups on the third, and a rooftop with stunning views of the river and mountains.

The flavors are a delightful mix of Korean classics like black sesame and sweet potato, alongside international favorites such as chocolate, pistachio, and mango. They even serve gelato coffee!

On our visit, we tried black sesame with soft tofu, Nutella, and yogurt gelatos — all light, fluffy, and perfectly balanced. The black sesame paired exceptionally well with the strong, flavorful gelato coffee.

Soontofu Gelato

The Baker’s Table

This German-owned bakery is the place to go for good German bread and pastries in Seoul. They also have a brunch menu, a variety of sandwiches, and soups. It is located in a quiet, beautiful neighborhood, a short walk to Bukchon Hanok Village and Samcheong Park.

When I entered the bakery, I was greeted by the smell of fresh bread. There was a mouthwatering display of bread by the counter. The staff was friendly, and we joked with the German bakers.

The Baker’s Table (Samcheong-dong)

Website: https://thebakerstable.co.kr/

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 8:00 a.m. – 21:00 p.m.

Telephone: 02-725-0777

Address: 126 Samchong-dong, Jongro-gu, Seoul, Korea

Noryangjin Fish Market

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Noryangjin Fish Market is one of Korea’s largest seafood markets. If you are a seafood lover, this is the place to be. There is an old and new building. The new building is relatively clean and organized. The floors tend to be wet, so I recommend wearing closed-toe shoes. There is also a live fish auction at 3:00 a.m. every day.

A delicacy at the market other than sashimi is san-nakji – chopped-up live octopus. If you are an adventurous eater, do give it a go.

Many vendors have a restaurant or are connected with restaurants on the second floor. So, if you want your seafood prepared in the restaurant, just talk to the vendor you’re buying from, and they will arrange for someone to escort you to the restaurant.

Tip: Bargain, bargain, bargain! Most vendors speak little to no English but are quite resourceful with the calculator and hand gestures. There are a few Chinese vendors; if you speak Mandarin, you can look out for them.

I bought a king crab, sole, and mussels, which cost me 200,000 won (around 184 USD). There were five of us, so I got a big king crab, which cost over 100,000 won. We decided to have our seafood cooked at a restaurant.

The mussels were cooked in a mild broth, while the fish was accompanied by a sweet-spicy sauce. I loved the sauce; it wasn’t too spicy, with a hint of garlic, not overpowering the fish’s natural flavors.

Most shellfish are either steamed or grilled. Our king crab was steamed. It was my first time having king crab, and the meat was delicious! It was naturally sweet and did not require any dipping sauce.

The restaurant bill came to around 48,000 won.

In the city where I live, we don’t get much fresh seafood, so this was a real treat!

Noryangjin Fish Market

Website: https://www.susansijang.co.kr/nsis/miw/en/intro

Opening hours: Daily 1:30 a.m – 22:00 p.m.

Address: 13-6, Noryangjin 1-Dong, Dongzak-gu, Seoul

Lusso lab, Jeongdong

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Lusso Lab is located in the quiet historical area of Jeongdong, not far from Deoksugung Palace. The quaint neighborhood is beautiful for a stroll after a meal. The interior is spacious with industrial-style decor. There is an enticing display of cakes by the counter. The staff was friendly but spoke minimal English.

The menu offers Western food such as French toast, American breakfast, eggs benedicts, and more. Brunch sets are also available.

I settled for brunch set C, which consists of an American breakfast set, a Cobb salad, and two cups of coffee. We opted for a latte and cappuccino. Also, I ordered a Tiramisu, brioche bread with bechamel sauce, ham, cheese, egg, grilled asparagus, and Brioche French toast.

The brioche French toast came with homemade ricotta cheese, bacon, walnuts, blueberries, and maple syrup. The French toast was pillowy soft. The ricotta cheese was creamy and smooth with a hint of sweetness, and the bacon was not too salty – a good balance between sweet and savory. The tiramisu could be better. Some parts of the sponge cake were dry, and the coffee tasted weak.

Compared to the other dishes, I did not enjoy the American breakfast. It was a bit bland, and I would have preferred toasted bread. The brioche bread with bechamel sauce was good, and the creamy bechamel sauce paired with cheese and ham – was delicious!

Overall, it is an excellent spot for brunch!

Vanilla french toast 12,800 won.

Croque Madame 9,800 won

Brunch set C 25,800 won

Lusso Lab, Jeongdong branch

Website: https://www.lussolab.co.kr/main.do

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m

Saturday & Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 20:00 p.m.

Telephone: 02-772-9935

Address: 17 Jeongdong-gil, Jeong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul

Ibagu, traditional tea house

Tucked away in one of Insadong’s alleyways is a quaint traditional tea house – Ibagu. The tea house is housed in a traditional building. The soft lighting and background music added to the ambiance. Our server was friendly and spoke reasonably good English.

The menu consists of a variety of Korean teas, desserts, coffee, and Western teas. There are also four set menus of different dessert-drink combinations.

We ordered a set menu and a roasted 5-grain smoothie.

The set menu we ordered included a long white rice cake, sweet red bean porridge, and a coffee. The red bean porridge had a smooth consistency and was unexpectedly savory with a hint of sweetness. The rice cake was interesting. Before this, I have only had Tteokbokki (spicy rice cake). The warm rice cakes were covered in soybean powder with a syrup drizzle. If you like the Japanese Kinako mochi, you will like this.

The roasted 5-grain smoothie was the highlight! It was rich, creamy, sweet, and nutty. It was one of those drinks where you have to have another after the first sip. The drink resembles a peanut smoothie but is more fragrant; my most memorable drink here in Seoul.

The prices here are a bit high but worth a visit.

Set menu 3 ( 2 desserts and a beverage) 19,500 won

Roasted 5-grain smoothie 8,000 won

Ibagu

Opening hours: Daily 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Telephone: +82 2-730-2088

Address: 5 Insadong 6-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Osulloc Tea House, Myeongdong (permanently closed)

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Osulloc is a famous premium tea brand in Korea that has been selling tea (mainly green tea) from Jeju since 1979. The Osulloc tea house in Myeongdong has a cafe and a store. The contemporary design reminds me of Starbucks. The cafe offers teas, lattes, cakes, and ice creams. You can purchase gift sets or teas from the store. One interesting thing sold at the store is their green tea milk spread.

The hojicha latte was delicious. It’s like a mocha but with tea. It was creamy with a roasted nutty flavor. Jeju tangerine milk tea is one of Osulloc’s popular drinks. Both teas were not overly sweet.

Osulloc is a must-visit for green tea lovers.

Jeju Tangerine Milk Tea 7000 won

Hojicha latte 7000 won

Osulloc Tea House, Myeongdong

Website: https://www.osulloc.com/kr/en

Opening hours: Daily 10:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m

Telephone: +82 2-774-5460

Address: 12 Myeongdong 7-gil, Myeongdong 1(il)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea

Amiso Korean Restaurant

Amiso is a Korean BBQ restaurant located on the 5th floor of the Polaris building in Myeongdong. The place is spacious, with an outdoor seating area. The restaurant serves Korean BBQ as well as traditional dishes such as Bibimbap, Ginseng chicken soup, and a variety of stews. The waitress who served us spoke very little English but could speak Chinese. Luckily, my family and I could speak Chinese, so we could order with ease.

My family and I ordered dolsot bibimbap (bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl), Doenjang-jjigae (soybean paste stew), and Sundubu-jjigae (soft tofu stew). As customary at all Korean restaurants, we were served several side dishes before our main meal. They were all delicious!

The main dishes we ordered were all good but not spectacular.

dolsot bibimbap 12,000 won (10 USD)

soft tofu stew 12,000 won

soybean paste stew 12,000 won

Amiso

Telephone: +82 2-756-3317

Opening hours: 10:00 a.m. – 22:00 p.m Daily

Address: 25 Myeongdong 4-gil, Myeongdong 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea