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Revisiting Sayuri’s “Tasteless” Restaurants: An Honest Food Review in Sokcho, Korea

In the world of online food reviews, honesty and trust are paramount. Before YouTube food critics, there was a legendary figure known for her unfiltered opinions: Sayuri, a Japanese television personality in South Korea. Long before the current wave of honest reviewers, Sayuri, on her show “Sayuri’s Food Journey” (식탐 여행) which aired from 2011 to 2013 on MBC, shocked viewers with her brutally honest taste assessments.

The Legend of Sayuri’s Harsh Reviews

Sayuri’s food review style was revolutionary. In a landscape of food programs filled with praise, she dared to be different. Instead of flowery compliments, she offered comments that were sometimes bizarre, often hilarious, and always brutally honest. Her reviews were so straightforward they became legendary. One of her most infamous remarks, delivered directly to a restaurant owner, was simply: “맛이 없어요” – “It’s tasteless.”

This bluntness, unheard of in Korean broadcasting at the time, made “Sayuri’s Food Journey” a sensation. People loved her audacity and genuine reactions. Recently, a curious food enthusiast decided to revisit two restaurants in Sokcho, Gangwon Province, that Sayuri had famously declared “tasteless” to see if they truly deserved such harsh criticism.

The “Tasteless” Restaurants: Jin짜 Sundae & Chodang Halmeoni Jip in Sokcho

The two restaurants in question are both located in Sokcho, a city known for its fresh seafood and beautiful scenery. They are:

• Jin짜 Sundae (진짜 순대), located in Geumho-dong, Sokcho (속초시 금호동).
• Chodang Halmeoni Jip (초당 할머니 집), located in Dohak-dong, Sokcho (속초시 도학동).

These establishments have continued to operate for over a decade since Sayuri’s scathing reviews. Could they really be as bad as she made them out to be? Our reviewer embarked on a culinary journey to Sokcho to find out.

Jin짜 Sundae (진짜 순대) Review

First stop was Jin짜 Sundae, located near the Sokcho Tourist & Fishery Market. Despite Sayuri’s past review, the restaurant is still popular, evident from the numerous celebrity signatures on the wall. Sayuri’s infamous “tasteless” review clip was also displayed, humorously acknowledging its legendary status.

Sayuri reportedly criticized the ‘Oso-ri Gamtu’ (오소리감투 – pork stomach) at Jin짜 Sundae. However, on this visit, Oso-ri Gamtu was unavailable. Instead, the reviewer tried the Sundae Gukbap (순대국밥 – Sundae Soup). Contrary to Sayuri’s implied negative review of the restaurant, the Sundae Gukbap was surprisingly delicious. The broth was clean and flavorful, without any unpleasant odors often associated with Sundae Gukbap. The reviewer, who usually avoids Sundae Gukbap due to sensitivity to smells, found this version exceptionally palatable and even mentioned wanting to return.

Jin짜 Sundae Rating: 4/5 – Delicious Sundae Gukbap in Sokcho. Perhaps Sayuri’s “tasteless” comment was specific to the Oso-ri Gamtu, or simply a matter of personal preference, as the Sundae Gukbap was undeniably tasty.

Chodang Halmeoni Jip (초당 할머니 집) Review

Next on the list was Chodang Halmeoni Jip, famous for its plain Sundubu (순두부 – soft tofu). Sayuri’s critique of this dish was that it tasted like “egg찜 juice,” implying a bland and watery flavor. The reviewer ordered both the plain Sundubu and the spicy Sundubu.

The plain Sundubu was indeed very simple – just pure soft tofu with a slightly salty taste, reminiscent of fresh tofu from a traditional market. It wasn’t tasteless, but it was undeniably plain and perhaps not very exciting when eaten with rice. However, it wasn’t offensively bad either. The spicy Sundubu, a red-pepper based version, was found to be more flavorful and better suited to eating with rice. It tasted similar to Sundubu Jjigae (순두부찌개 – spicy soft tofu stew) but with minimal ingredients beyond tofu and some scallions.

Chodang Halmeoni Jip Rating: 3/5 – Plain Sundubu was simple and not particularly flavorful, but not “tasteless.” Spicy Sundubu was a better option. Sayuri’s comment might be understandable if she was expecting a more seasoned dish.

Conclusion

After revisiting Sayuri’s “tasteless” restaurants in Sokcho, it’s clear that these establishments are far from being culinary disasters. Jin짜 Sundae, in particular, was a pleasant surprise, serving delicious Sundae Gukbap. Chodang Halmeoni Jip offered a very simple and plain Sundubu, which might not appeal to everyone, but it wasn’t “tasteless” in the negative sense.

Sayuri’s reviews, while legendary for their bluntness, should be taken with a grain of salt. Taste is subjective, and what one person finds “tasteless,” another might find perfectly acceptable, or even enjoy. These Sokcho restaurants, enduring for over a decade, prove that even harsh reviews from a legend don’t necessarily equate to bad food. If you’re in Sokcho, consider trying them and forming your own opinion!

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