Gangneung & Sokcho: East Sea Seafood, Coffee, and Mountain Air

Korea's east coast is where the country goes to breathe: the deep-blue East Sea on one side, the granite peaks of Seoraksan on the other, and a string of seaside towns in between. Two of them anchor any trip — Sokcho (속초), the seafood-and-mountain town at the foot of Seoraksan, and Gangneung (강릉), famous for its beaches and, improbably, its coffee. Thanks to the KTX, both are now easy weekend escapes from Seoul.

Sokcho: seafood and Abai village

Sokcho is a fishing port with a strong food identity:

• East Sea seafood. Raw fish (hoe), grilled fish, and seafood stews built on the cold, clean catch of the East Sea. Squid, pollock, and shellfish are local staples.
• Abai-style food. Sokcho's Abai Village was settled by North Korean refugees, and their cooking lives on here — abai-sundae (a hearty stuffed blood sausage) and hamheung-style cold noodles among them. The hand-pulled raft (gaetbae) across the channel to the village is an experience in itself.
• Daepo Port. The harbor market is the place for the freshest raw fish and fried-seafood snacks.

Gangneung: coffee by the sea

Gangneung became Korea's unlikely coffee capital, and Anmok Beach's "Coffee Street" is the heart of it — a row of cafés and roasteries looking straight out at the water. Pair a careful pour-over with a beach walk and you'll understand the appeal. Gangneung also has the wide Gyeongpo Beach and lake, plus its own east-coast seafood and home-style cooking.

Watch before you go

The east coast's best seafood spots are often unpretentious harbor-side rooms where the catch does the talking. The video at the top of this guide tours one so you can see the spread before you go. Each restaurant linked below has its own video on its EatHub page — handy for previewing whether a place is a quick grill counter or a full raw-fish feast.

How to plan an east-coast trip

A common loop: KTX to Gangneung, coffee and a beach walk, then up the coast to Sokcho for seafood and Seoraksan. Or base in one town and day-trip. The coastal road between them is one of Korea's great drives, with viewpoints and small ports the whole way. Plan meals around the harbors — that's where the freshest food is.

Open the EatHub map, see which seafood houses and cafés are near your stop, and check the menu and video first. Several spots below have a video on their EatHub page so you can preview them.

Practical tips

• Seoraksan in autumn. The national park above Sokcho is spectacular in fall foliage; the cable car saves your legs.
• Coffee Street for sunrise. Anmok Beach faces east — an early coffee with the sunrise is a Gangneung ritual.
• Freshest fish at the ports. Daepo (Sokcho) and the harbor markets beat inland restaurants for raw fish.
• Getting there. The KTX reaches Gangneung in about two hours from Seoul; buses link onward to Sokcho.

The East Sea coast is mountains, water, and a great meal at the end of the day. Watch the videos below, pick your spot, and find it on the map.