Cheongju rib restaurant with free corn cheese refills: Hongdeung 1997

📍 Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 🕒 Hours: Wed–Mon 09:00–24:00 Break time: 15:00–17:00 (Closed every Tuesday) 🚗 Parking: private lot beside the restaurant, about 7 spots

My stomach's been a bit off lately so I can't eat much of anything, but weirdly spicy food still goes down fine haha. So this evening I went with my mom and brother to eat spicy braised pork ribs at Hongdeung Sikdang 1997. I'm pretty spice-shy so I always get nervous ordering anything spicy, but they said the mild level is about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, so I gave it a shot?!

Cutting to the conclusion — it was much easier to eat than I expected, and the rib meat came off the bone really easily, so I ended up eating a really generous meal after a long time haha. If you're in Yulryang-dong looking for something spicy for lunch or dinner, you can choose your spice level and the sides are solid too, so it's worth checking out.

Where is Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 in Yulryang-dong, and where do you park?

Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 is located at 7 Sattteum-ro, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. Parking can be a headache at a lot of places when eating out in Yulryang-dong, but this restaurant has its own lot right beside it, so I parked easily! The private lot fits about 7 cars, and if it's full, signage says you can park in front of the restaurant or across the street depending on the time of day.

There's also a note about a roadside enforcement grace period from 11:30am to 2pm during lunch, which is handy if you're stopping by for lunch in Yulryang-dong. We arrived a bit late around 7:30pm and customers kept coming in. I thought it might be quieter that late in the evening, but people kept streaming in steadily, which really shows how many people are after spicy braised ribs haha.

Inside Hongdeung Sikdang 1997: is it comfortable for a family dinner?

Walking in, the tables were spaced generously so it didn't feel cramped at all. It was comfortable for us as a family, and it looked fine for larger groups too. Personally, I've had bad experiences where tables were too close and I felt self-conscious about the next table over, so I appreciated that it didn't feel that way here.

Spicy braised pork rib prices and the three spice levels

Hongdeung Sikdang's signature dish is the spicy braised pork ribs, priced at 14,900 won per serving. The mild level is described as about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, the spicy level about as spicy as Buldak Bokkeummyeon (fire noodles), and there's an even stronger extra spicy option. Since I'm spice-shy, I ordered two servings of the mild spicy braised ribs and added extra ribs on top!

The Hongdeung Lottery you get for writing a receipt review

The receipt review event was pretty fun too lol. If you write a receipt review, you get a Hongdeung Lottery ticket with no losing tickets — 1st prize is a ₩30,000 discount coupon, 2nd prize a ₩10,000 discount coupon, 3rd prize a rice ball or a bottle of alcohol, and 4th prize a drink or extra noodles. Best of all, there's no losing outcome, and up to 2 people per table can participate, so it's fun to try after the meal!!

Side dishes at Hongdeung Sikdang 1997: steamed egg and mukbap (chilled acorn jelly soup)

Once we sat down, the side dishes came out first, and I liked the place from that point on haha. There was a refreshing mukbap (chilled acorn jelly noodle soup), and my favorite, steamed egg custard, came as a default side. The egg custard was seasoned just right, not too strong or too bland, so I kept spooning it up even before the braised ribs arrived!

After the 13-minute timer: does the rib meat fall off the bone?

After a bit, the spicy braised ribs arrived, and the pot itself was generously packed. It wasn't just ribs — there was plenty of glass noodles and rice cake mixed in, so there was plenty to fish out from the start without adding extra noodles separately. The staff set a timer for 13 minutes and told us to eat once it went off, so we waited.

After the 13 minutes were up, I picked up a rib and what surprised me most was how easily the meat separated. Usually when I eat braised ribs, the meat clings so tightly to the bone that I struggle to pull it off, but here just a light grip on the bone and the meat slid right out, making it really easy to eat. The meat was tender too, and the sauce had soaked all the way through, giving it a flavor that made me crave rice.

Corn cheese refills are free at Hongdeung Sikdang 1997

Corn cheese also came alongside the dish, which was genuinely a welcome sight. When eating spicy food, corn cheese helps tone down the heat in between bites, and its sweet-savory flavor pairs really well. Best of all, extra corn cheese is free when you order the spicy braised ribs, so we asked for another round partway through!

How hot is the mild level for someone who can't take spice?

I was worried even the mild level would be too spicy for me, but eating it, it turned out to be totally manageable. It's described as about as spicy as Shin Ramyun, and for me, having the corn cheese and egg custard alongside made it even easier to handle. So next time I'm planning to bump it up one level to spicy lol. If you can normally handle spicy food well, I think starting at the spicy or extra spicy level would suit you better than the mild one, and if you want it spicier, you can just ask them directly.

Final verdict on Hongdeung Sikdang 1997

My stomach hasn't been great lately so I was cautious about even choosing a menu, but this time I got a proper spicy meal after a long while! What stood out most was how easily the rib meat pulled off the bone, and how the egg custard and corn cheese that came as defaults were great to pair with the spicy food. Next time I want to try one level spicier than the mild option. If you're looking for good food in Cheongju or spicy braised ribs for lunch or dinner in Yulryang-dong, Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 is worth checking out!