Pohang food · Local eating guide

What to Eat in Pohang Near Yeongildae Beach

Pohang is a port city, so its food follows the water. Within a short ride of Yeongildae Beach you can eat mulhoe (cold raw-fish soup), gwamegi (half-dried Pacific saury), snow crab and grilled shellfish — most of it in and around Jukdo Market (죽도시장), the city's main market. This page covers what to order, roughly what it costs and when to go.

Signature dish

Mulhoe (물회)

Winter speciality

Gwamegi & snow crab

Where locals eat

Jukdo Market

From the beach

About 15 min by taxi

Start with mulhoe, Pohang's cold summer soup

Mulhoe (물회) is the dish Pohang is known for nationwide: raw fish sliced into an ice-cold, sweet-and-sour broth, served with vegetables and often with cold noodles or rice on the side. It exists because a fishing port needed something cold and fast in humid weather.

Order it in summer for the full experience — it is built for hot, sticky days.
Ask for the broth separately (물회 육수) if you want to control how sour it gets.
Add the noodles or rice only when you are ready to eat, or they soften quickly.

Jukdo Market: how the local market works

Jukdo Market (죽도시장) is Pohang's main traditional market and the most practical food stop on a day trip. It splits roughly into a prepared-food section where you eat at stalls or small restaurants, and a raw seafood section where stalls sell fish, shellfish and dried goods.

Go before 2 p.m. for the best selection; popular stalls sell out and some close early.
Prices are usually posted per portion, but raw fish is often quoted per kilogram — ask before you choose.
Cash still helps at smaller stalls, though most larger shops now take cards.

Gwamegi and snow crab: the winter table

From late autumn to winter, Pohang's table changes. Gwamegi (과메기, half-dried Pacific saury) is eaten wrapped in seaweed and vegetables with a savoury sauce, and snow crab (대게) is served steamed and priced by weight and size.

Gwamegi is at its best from November to January, when the cold wind dries it properly.
Snow crab is sold by weight — confirm the price per kilogram before it goes in the steamer.
Both are winter dishes, so do not expect the same quality or price in midsummer.

Cafes and easy meals near the beach

Around Yeongildae Beach the food is lighter: cafes along the coastal road, bakeries, convenience stores and simple seafood restaurants within walking distance of the sand. This is the practical option when you want to eat without leaving the coast.

Cafes on the coastal road are the easiest stop before or after a sunrise visit.
Convenience stores near the beach cover water, snacks and picnic supplies.
For a full meal rather than a snack, the market area is worth the short taxi ride.

What food is Pohang famous for?

Pohang is best known for mulhoe (cold raw-fish soup), gwamegi (half-dried Pacific saury) and snow crab, plus the seafood sold across Jukdo Market. Mulhoe is the summer dish; gwamegi and snow crab are the winter ones.

How much does a meal cost in Pohang?

A bowl of mulhoe at a market restaurant typically runs around 10,000–20,000 KRW. Snow crab and sashimi are priced by weight, so the final bill depends on what you choose — confirm the price per kilogram first.

Is Jukdo Market open every day?

Yes, it is a daily market, though individual stalls close on their own rest days and the busiest trade is in the morning. Go before 2 p.m. for the widest selection.

Can I eat near Yeongildae Beach instead of going into the city?

Yes. There are cafes, bakeries and simple seafood restaurants within walking distance of the beach, plus convenience stores for picnic supplies. It is the easy option, but for the widest choice of local dishes the market area is better.