Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae with an open kitchen: Cheongwon Sikdang

Picking a restaurant for a meal out with my parents is always a bit of a puzzle. I want somewhere hearty but not too intense, and something that suits their taste too. This time we went to Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan.

Honestly I was a little worried whether my parents would like budae-jjigae (army stew), but once we tried it, the broth was rich and the ingredients were generous, so both of them enjoyed it and that made me happy too. The place was clean and the staff were friendly, so we had a comfortable meal together. Here's my honest account of this Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae spot, Cheongwon Restaurant.

How to get to Cheongwon Sikdang Cheonan Dujeong branch, and where to park

Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch is at 32-4 Dujeongsangga 4-gil, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, in the Dujeong commercial district. It's about a 10-minute walk from Exit 1 of Dujeong Station.

• Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00
• Last order: 20:30
• Closed: every Sunday
• Parking: about 4 spots in front of the store

If you're driving, there's parking space in front of the restaurant as well as nearby spots you can use. *Hours and services may change, so it's worth checking before you visit.

Why the open kitchen put the family at ease

Walking into the Cheonan Dujeong branch, I noticed it has an open-kitchen layout, so you can see into the cooking area to some extent. Personally, being able to watch the food being prepared gave me a bit more peace of mind about things like hygiene.

Since I was there with my parents, this kind of detail mattered a bit more to me, and being able to see the cooking space felt reassuring. There were plenty of other diners when I visited too — some tables of students, plenty of adult customers — a really wide range of ages.

Maybe because of that, the atmosphere didn't feel awkward for a family meal at all, and it seemed like a comfortable place to drop into for lunch or dinner.

There's space for about 4 cars in front of the restaurant, and I heard there's more parking nearby too, so it was fine to visit by car.

How rich and generous is the Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae?

With budae-jjigae, the broth is what matters most, right? Cheongwon Restaurant's budae-jjigae had a rich, deep broth.

It came loaded with ham, sausage, minced meat, green onion, onion and more, so it felt generous right from the start. They say they use 1++ grade Korean beef mince and fresh ingredients, and eating it, I really felt like they didn't skimp on anything.

Sometimes budae-jjigae is mostly broth with not much to fish out, which is a bit disappointing, but here there was plenty to scoop up. Eating it with rice, the rich broth flavor worked really well, and my parents said the broth tasted good and ate happily.

When I eat out with my parents, even if I think the food is great, it's a letdown if it doesn't suit their taste. But this time both of them enjoyed it, which made me proud. As a Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae spot to visit with parents, this was a pretty satisfying meal.

Unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles at Cheongwon Sikdang

Here's the part I really liked about Cheongwon Restaurant — unlimited refills on rice and ramyeon noodles!

While eating budae-jjigae, you always want to add a serving of ramyeon noodles, and here you can just ask for more if you need it. We started with rice and stew, then once the broth had reduced a bit, we added the ramyeon noodles — ramyeon really does go so well with budae-jjigae broth, haha.

Between the rice and the ramyeon noodles, our family ended up much more full than expected. With how much eating out costs these days, being able to order just one pot of budae-jjigae and get unlimited rice and noodles is definitely a plus. That's probably part of why customers of every age, from students to adults, come here. If you want a filling meal with good value, this place should satisfy.

What's on the self-serve banchan bar

The side dishes (banchan) at the Cheonan Dujeong branch were set up at a self-serve bar.

Being able to help yourself to as much as you need, without having to call a staff member every time you run low, was convenient. The side dishes paired well with the budae-jjigae and were tasty overall.

The budae-jjigae itself already had a generous broth and plenty to eat with rice, but adding the side dishes made the whole meal feel even more complete. My parents ate well too, adding a bit of banchan here and there.

Songtan budae-jjigae vs Cheongwon budae-jjigae: what's the difference?

Cheongwon Restaurant's signature menu items are Songtan budae-jjigae and Cheongwon budae-jjigae.

Songtan budae-jjigae is apparently good for people who like the classic budae-jjigae flavor, while Cheongwon budae-jjigae has cheongyang chili peppers in it for those who like a spicier kick. We had the basic version this time, but I'd like to try the Cheongwon budae-jjigae next time. If you like a spicy kick, that one might suit you well.

There's also a pork loin cutlet on the menu, which would be good to order for anyone in your group who isn't a fan of budae-jjigae. When you're eating out as a family, not everyone always wants the same thing, so having another option like this was nice.

The oversized free egg roll

There's something worth knowing before you visit — apparently you can get a free egg roll by taking part in a review event.

It's a big, chunky egg roll, so it would be great to share if you're visiting with a few people. It also pairs well with the budae-jjigae when the broth gets a little spicy. There's also an egg roll service for lunch customers who visit before 11:30am, so it's worth checking that before you go.

Is Cheongwon Sikdang a good place to take your parents?

Visiting in person with my parents, what stood out to me was how comfortable it felt for anyone to have a meal here.

I'd assumed budae-jjigae was mostly a young person's dish, but visiting in person, I saw customers of all ages, from students to adults. Most of all, I was happy that both of my parents enjoyed the food.

The broth was rich and the ingredients generous, pairing well with rice, and the unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles made for a filling meal. Being able to see the food being prepared thanks to the open kitchen was another plus, and the staff's friendly service made the whole meal comfortable.

It seemed like a good spot for a hearty lunch, and just as good for dinner with drinks, so it should suit anyone looking for a place in Dujeong-dong for a work dinner or family meal. There were quite a lot of customers during our visit, and seeing all ages there made it clear this is a place that works no matter who you're with.

Cheongwon Sikdang budae-jjigae: the verdict after eating there

Visiting Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch with my parents was, overall, a satisfying experience. Most of all, I was glad both of my parents enjoyed the meal.

Here's a summary of what I liked from my visit:

• Rich, deep broth
• Generous ham, sausage and minced meat
• Uses 1++ grade Korean beef mince
• Unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles
• Open kitchen lets you see the cooking area
• Friendly staff
• Self-serve banchan bar available
• Free generous egg roll with review event
• Customers of all ages, from students to adults
• Parking for about 4 cars in front of the store

I visited with my parents and both of them were satisfied, and I left feeling full and happy too — a place that's stuck with me.

If you're in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, looking for somewhere hearty to eat with your parents or family, or a budae-jjigae spot where you can eat your fill of rice and noodles, Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae is worth a visit. Next time, I plan to try the Cheongwon budae-jjigae I didn't get to this time 👍