김평냉(406 reviews)Lunch・Visited 2026/10(1 visits)3.5010A bowl of spicy and refreshing seopguk (spicy mussel soup)I visited Sodam Sikdang (소담식당) because I wanted to try local food while in Goseong. Since I’m a fan of soup dishes, I was quite curious about the seopguk. Seop is the name for wild mussels on the East Coast, characterized by their larger size and firmer texture compared to the farmed mussels you usually see. First off, Sodam Sikdang is a small restaurant located near Ayajin Port. It has more of an atmosphere where neighborhood locals come for a casual meal rather than a fancy interior. I ordered a single bowl of seopguk without any other side menus that day. The seopguk comes in a reddish, spicy broth with finely chopped seop, vegetables, and egg. When you take a sip of the broth, the spicy kick hits you first. If you were expecting a clear, refreshing soup like a standard mussel soup, this might be a bit unexpected. It feels closer to a seafood jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) or a spicy maeuntang (spicy fish stew). However, it isn’t overly heavy or greasy, and it centers its flavor on that signature seafood freshness and umami. In particular, because the finely chopped seop is distributed throughout the soup, you get a chewy texture with every spoonful. The egg and vegetables blend in here, adding a bit more softness to the broth. I think the quality of the broth is just as important as the solids in seopguk. Sodam Sikdang hits the right balance between the spice and the seafood umami, making it a great combination to eat with rice. The side dishes provided are also generally neat and tidy. Since the seopguk itself is seasoned well, it’s a filling meal even without complicated sides. Personally, I think this would be the perfect dish for a hangover on the day after drinking. Overall, Sodam Sikdang doesn’t serve particularly fancy dishes, but it is a place that creates a satisfying meal using a local ingredient called seop. From the spicy yet refreshing broth to the chewy texture of the seop. If you like soups with deep umami like seafood stew or jjamppong, you’ll be more than satisfied. If you are looking for a place for breakfast or a hangover cure in Goseong, it’s worth a visit.