Cheongju Korean restaurant for spicy hanwoo beef gukbap: Ojangdong

Today I visited Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch (오장동흥남집 청주점), known as a go-to near Daecheong Dam and Cheongnamdae in Cheongju. It's in Namil-myeon, so it's a great stop if you're driving toward Cheongnamdae or Daecheong Lake. Hanwoo (Korean beef) raw bulgogi, Hamhung naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and hanwoo gukbap (rice soup) are the signature dishes, and they say they select ingredients daily and prepare side dishes and sauces themselves. With a big parking lot and group seating, it's perfect for family meals or get-togethers too. Let me show you this Daecheong Dam favorite in Cheongju💗

Location and hours of Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch

The restaurant is at 721 Danjae-ro, Namil-myeon, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, and it's open 11:00 to 20:40. Break time is 15:30–16:30, last order is 20:00, and it's closed every Wednesday.

The big "Ojangdong Heungnamjip" sign on the brick exterior stands out, so it was easy to spot from far away. There was also plenty of parking out front, haha.

The entrance autograph wall and hanwoo raw bulgogi sign

Stepping inside, one wall was packed with handwritten autographs and messages from people who have visited.

There was also a sign by the entrance introducing their hanwoo raw bulgogi (1+ and 1++ grades), billed as Cheongju's first and finest. It says they were the first in Cheongju to serve top-grade hanwoo as made-to-order bulgogi, Eonyang-style bulgogi that keeps the strengths of traditional Seoul bulgogi, so my expectations went up. Seeing the photos of bulgogi and naengmyeon next to it, I really wanted to try it as a signature dish!!

Is the inside roomy enough for group gatherings?

The interior was much bigger and more comfortable than I expected, and there's separate group seating. Tables were spaced generously and there are lots of seats, so it looked good for family meals and bigger parties alike. Sunlight came in through the large windows, making the whole place feel bright and open, and with this much space it looked suitable for family gatherings, company dinners and group events, haha.

How to enjoy hanwoo bulgogi

Around the restaurant there are also instructions for enjoying hanwoo bulgogi at its best. Put the vegetables in the broth and eat them together, and grill the meat in the center of the pan to really bring out the beef's nutty flavor. Cooked meat can also be dipped in the broth for a softer bite. They also state that they use top-grade domestic hanwoo raw bulgogi, which raised my expectations even more.

Self-serve corner and warm naengmyeon broth

On one side there's a self-serve corner where you can grab side dishes and tableware yourself. If you order naengmyeon, warm naengmyeon broth is available too, and cups and spoons were neatly arranged so you can take just what you need.

The side dishes were tidy too: napa cabbage kimchi, seasoned radish strips and pickled onion, which go nicely with the meat or main dishes!!

What we ordered at Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch

Here's what we ordered that day.

• 2 hanwoo gukbap (special, rice included)
• Hoe bibim naengmyeon (spicy mixed cold noodles with raw skate)

With the table full and side dishes alongside, the spread looked hearty just to look at. The visuals are insane, right? haha

How was the special hanwoo gukbap?

The hanwoo gukbap (special) had a spicy, deeply savory broth with a generous amount of beef. Rich broth loaded with beef, green onion and vegetables made it look very filling.

The broth was spicy yet deeply savory, and the beef was tender, getting nuttier the more you chewed. Mixing the rice into the broth blended the fiery soup with the beef's flavor, and it fills you up right down to your stomach!!

True to the special size, there was plenty of meat and other ingredients, so even one bowl is a hearty meal.

Hoe bibim naengmyeon topped with skate

The hoe bibim naengmyeon comes with springy buckwheat noodles topped with tangy, spicy sauce and a generous helping of raw skate (ganjaemi). It looked appetizing enough to wake up my appetite right away.

The sauce balanced sweet, sour and spicy nicely, and the chewy noodles, crunchy cucumber and skate made for fun textures.

The skate blended especially well with the sauce, and rolling it up with the noodles gave real depth of flavor!! Ordering it with the spicy hanwoo gukbap meant I could alternate between the hot broth and the tangy, spicy noodles.

Coffee self-serve bar after the meal

There's also a coffee self-serve bar for after your meal. The coffee machine, paper cups and syrups were neatly set out, so it was nice to enjoy a coffee easily. Being able to wrap everything up, from meal to coffee, in one place made it an even more satisfying meal, haha.