Sanchon 산촌

Sanchon is a dried-pollack restaurant at 83 Gusan-gil in Seongsan-myeon, Gangneung, serving hwangtae hangover soup, grilled hwangtae set meals, and hot earthenware pots. It stands along the route connecting Gangneung with Daegwallyeong, Sunjaryeong, and the mountain ranch area. The building sits slightly below the main road, so its entrance is less prominent from passing traffic. The clear hwangtae pot contains dried pollack and a generous amount of mussels. Rather than a thick red hangover soup, it combines the clean salinity of shellfish with the savory depth of dried fish. A spicy pollack-roe pot starts from the same hwangtae stock but adds the saltiness of myeongnan and pronounced heat, making it distinctly heavier than the clear version. The grilled hwangtae set places moist fish coated in red seasoning beside a small pot of soup, several seasoned vegetables, firm fresh tofu, and rice. Long pieces of fish can be separated and eaten with rice, while sips of clear soup soften both the red seasoning and the dry grain of the pollack. The tofu has a resilient, compact texture. Adding a little namul or grilled-fish sauce keeps its mild soybean flavor separate from the stronger side dishes. Additional banchan is brought after the initial portion has been finished, which limits duplicate plates on the table. When two diners order one soup and one grilled set, the same fish can be compared in simmered and grilled forms: loose and broth-soaked in the pot, then firmer and coated with seasoning on the plate. Larger parties can add braised hwangtae with bean sprouts or a seafood braise in the center while keeping soup and grilled sets as individual meals. The main choice is between one substantial hot bowl and a broader Korean set meal of fish, soup, tofu, vegetables, and rice. Both formats retain hwangtae as the central ingredient, but broth, mussels, roe, and red grilling sauce change its saltiness, moisture, and heat.