Yangju Okjeong Japanese restaurant with free parking: Choi Dining

Okjeong in Yangju keeps sprouting new storefronts, so even picking a lunch spot can feel like a real decision (which is honestly a good problem to have, haha). Choi Dining Yangju Okjeong turned out to be a great answer to that dilemma. My partner and I went for a late lunch, and even though it was well past the usual lunch rush, the place was surprisingly full. (We rushed in starving — if there'd been a wait too, that would've been rough haha.)

Maki is the main draw here, like a sushi restaurant, but they also do tonkatsu and pasta, so it's an easy spot to pick even if your group has different tastes. If you're hunting for a good lunch place in Okjeong, here's my review!

Where is Choi Dining Yangju Okjeong, and what are the hours and parking?

Choi Dining Yangju Okjeong operates on the 2nd floor of Bujaro Tower in the Okjeong-dong central commercial district. It's in the building across from Shinhan Bank, so once you're in the central commercial area, it's not hard to find.

• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time 16:00–17:00 (none on Sat/Sun)
• Last order 15:30 / 20:30

• 🚗 Parking: Free in the building
• If full, Dream Tower 2 parking (100m away)
• *Free parking support if you dine at the restaurant

We parked in the building lot when we went up, but if there's no space, you can park at Dream Tower 2, 100m away, and the restaurant will cover the parking fee. Parking around the Okjeong central commercial district can be tricky at lunchtime even in Yangju, so this part put my mind at ease 😌 (some restaurants are worth going to for the parking spot alone... haha.)

🍣 What we ordered at Choi Dining and what it cost

• Salmon futomaki ₩13,900
• Tempura futomaki ₩13,900
• Soba maki (8pcs) ₩13,900
• Yukhoe futomaki ₩13,900
• Aged kimchi yukhoe futomaki (6pcs) ₩13,900
• Aged kimchi tuna maki (6pcs) ₩9,900
• Sake-don ₩16,500
• Choi bone-in tonkatsu ₩16,500
• Unagi katsu-don ₩17,500
• Ton-toro don ₩13,000
• Kaari ton-toro don ₩13,000
• Spicy yakisoba ₩14,000
• Mackerel yakisoba ₩15,000
• Mazesoba ₩13,000
• Cold salmon soba ₩14,000
• Perilla oil gat soba ₩13,000
• Whole bacon cream pasta ₩15,000
• Pork jowl and wild garlic oil pasta ₩14,000
• Shrimp basil pasta ₩15,000
• Lemon cream shrimp ₩9,000
• Katsu sando ₩9,900

We ordered the salmon futomaki and Choi bone-in tonkatsu — one maki and one tonkatsu, going for two different flavor profiles. (We were curious about the soba and pasta too, but the bone-in tonkatsu had a decent-sized portion, so we settled on two plates, haha.)

🍣 Salmon futomaki (thick seaweed roll), 13,900 won

The first thing that caught my eye when the plate arrived was how much thicker it was rolled than a regular gimbap (seaweed rice roll). True to its name, futomaki (thick roll) was a bit much for one bite, but I gave it a shot anyway. (My mouth is bigger than it looks... but my partner struggled, haha.) Plenty of aged salmon sat on top of the rice, and the fillings inside were generous too, so one bite left my mouth completely full.

So even though it's technically maki, it felt closer to eating salmon sashimi. The salmon had no fishy edge, and the fattiness spread smoothly in the mouth, so even a small dab of wasabi cleaned up the flavor nicely. (You can also add a bit of the mayo that comes with it, depending on your taste!) The rice didn't have a strong vinegared tang either, so it didn't overpower the salmon.

Since the filling is so generous, it tends to loosen up a bit when you pick it up, so it's best grabbed with chopsticks in one motion. (Hesitate and it all falls apart... grab it once and eat it in one go!!) It's sizeable enough for two people to share, and even if you're not a huge raw fish fan, it's an approachable dish — a solid first order if you're checking out Okjeong's Japanese food scene.

🍖 Choi bone-in tonkatsu made with aged bone-in loin, 16,500 won

The tonkatsu is made from aged bone-in loin, served with a house-made sauce. It came pre-sliced, which made sharing easy, and the cross-section showed real thickness. The breading was thin, so you get a crisp crunch first, followed by the meat's juiciness.

Despite the thickness, the meat wasn't dry at all, so it was surprisingly flavorful even without sauce. True to its name, the bone was left intact, so for the last piece, we picked it up and gnawed on it like a rib — surprisingly fun 😆. The meat closest to the bone was noticeably juicier, so we deliberately saved that part for last. The sauce wasn't overly sweet, just enough to complement the meat without masking it.

The aged kimchi served alongside was perfect for alternating with the rich, fried tonkatsu, and the plate emptied fast 😋. Switching between a bite of maki and a bite of tonkatsu meant alternating cold and hot dishes, so we never got tired of eating. If you were searching for tonkatsu in Okjeong, this one dish alone would be enough for lunch.

Verdict: is Choi Dining worth it for lunch in Okjeong?

What struck me most was that customers kept coming in even though it was well past normal lunch hours. There were families and people who seemed to be grabbing a meal nearby, so I could kind of see why this place comes up so often in Okjeong. The staff stayed busy but were still friendly, and the tables and dishware were neatly set, which made the whole meal feel pleasant ☺️.

The restaurant is fairly spacious, so the tables didn't feel cramped, and with baby chairs and a kids' menu available, it seemed like a good spot to bring children too. Free corkage means some people probably bring a bottle for dinner, and the plating looks great for photos, so it'd suit a date or a family meal just as well.

If you keep ending up at the same lunch spot in Yangju Okjeong, this is a place worth switching things up for. None of the portions were small, so two plates between two of us was plenty to leave full. If you're looking for somewhere in Yangju Okjeong that does both Japanese food and tonkatsu, how about a plate of salmon futomaki at Choi Dining Yangju Okjeong? :)