When in Sokcho, you eat raw fish. My father knew just the place, so we headed to Dongmyeong Port Sokcho, right next to Sokcho Harbor, home of the Dongmyeong live fish center and our family’s favorite, Heungseong Sanghoe.
Finding Heungseong Sanghoe
The live fish center is visible from afar. Walk past the fried-food street, as every harbor in Sokcho seems to have one, and Heungseong Sanghoe sits at the very end of Dongmyeong Port Sokcho.
The owner recognized my father at once, a regular’s welcome.
Samshiki sashimi and snow crab
The owner insisted that in Sokcho you must try samshiki, a deep-sea fish caught only in the East Sea, with superb sashimi texture. We ordered samshiki and flatfish, and since one child could not eat raw fish yet, they steamed a snow crab for us.
They kept bringing extras. The price was neither cheap nor expensive, fair for the harbor. The samshiki was firm and chewy, completely delicious, and they even served the innards, rich like anago. They also gave us fish for spicy soup, which we cooked back at the resort to great effect.
Sunset over the port
As the sun dropped, Dongmyeong Port turned golden, and every photo came out like artwork.
Upstairs there is a spot where you pay only a table-setting fee to eat, but we took everything back to the resort instead. In the East Sea, raw fish is simply the right call.
Prices, hours and details in this post are from our visit in July 2016 and may have changed, so check the latest information before you go.