Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae with stir-fried fishcake banchan: Cheongwon

Stew is basically Korean soul food, and sometimes you just crave a deep, rich budae-jjigae (army stew). Cheonan has a spot that can go toe-to-toe with the famous budae-jjigae towns of Songtan and Uijeongbu — Cheongwon Restaurant in Dujeong-dong, which always seems to be packed no matter when you go. Let me walk you through this proper budae-jjigae spot that means you don't even need to make the trip to Songtan or Uijeongbu.

Where is Cheongwon Sikdang? An alley off the Dujeong Station intersection

Cheongwon, this Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite in Dujeong-dong, sits near Dujeong Station, tucked into the alley just off the station intersection.

Parking at Cheongwon: the dedicated lot, and the alley out front when it is full

Cheongwon has its own private parking lot in front, but the place is so popular that it fills up fast — when that happens, the alley in front works fine. When we visited, the lot was full so we found an open spot in the alley.

Cheongwon Sikdang hours and closing day

Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong is closed every Sunday, but otherwise open from 11am to 9pm, which made it easy to plan a visit. No break time either, which made things even more relaxed.

Free giant egg roll before 11:30am

Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong is known as a genuinely generous, great-value spot. Visit before 11:30am and you get a free egg roll per table, which pushes the value even higher. Back when I was still working, I came in before 11:30 and got one — the size was honestly impressive. It's delicious, so if your schedule allows, definitely try to come early.

Inside Cheongwon at 2pm: still every table full

The interior at Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan was clean and comfortable. There's usually a wait at lunchtime, but we visited around 2pm and had it a bit easier. Still, even at 2pm the place was full — proof this is a genuinely popular spot.

There's a private room inside, good for group gatherings or work dinners, and baby chairs are on hand too, which makes it a solid choice for eating out with kids.

The menu: Songtan budae-jjigae or Cheongwon budae-jjigae

True to its reputation as a budae-jjigae specialist, Cheongwon in Cheonan serves only budae-jjigae — the classic Songtan budae-jjigae and the spicier Cheongwon budae-jjigae. I like it spicy, so I went with the Cheongwon budae-jjigae plus a glass noodle add-on.

Unlimited ramyeon noodles and rice

Cheongwon in Cheonan also delivers on value — with prices high everywhere these days, unlimited ramyeon noodles and rice made the meal feel worry-free.

Hanwoo ground beef in the stew

Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong uses 1++ grade hanwoo (Korean beef) ground meat in the stew. That's probably why it tastes rich yet clean, without any gamey aftertaste.

Three banchan, and why the stir-fried fishcake stands out

The basic banchan (side dishes) come in three types, all of which pair well with budae-jjigae.

Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong is famous enough for its stir-fried fishcake that the freshly made, still-warm fishcake was genuinely delicious — sweet and chewy in a way that keeps you coming back for more.

Cheongwon budae-jjigae cooked tableside by staff, with watermelon for dessert

Soon our Cheongwon budae-jjigae arrived. Staff stirred it at just the right moment and added the glass noodles themselves, so all we had to do was wait — a nice touch.

Every time I come to Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong, the staff are kind and thoughtful. On this hot day, they even brought out watermelon for dessert as a complimentary service.

Adjusting the seasoning with extra broth

Staff let us know the best time to start eating. There's broth on the table if you want to adjust the seasoning yourself. We didn't add any extra broth and it was still perfectly seasoned and delicious as is.

Why the glass noodle add-on is worth ordering

I really want to recommend adding glass noodles to Cheongwon's budae-jjigae. The basic ramyeon is there too, but the glass noodles bring their own distinct flavor that makes the dish even better.

The Cheongwon budae-jjigae was spicy yet clean, genuinely delicious — tender beef brisket added nuttiness while cheongyang chili peppers ramped up the heat, and the balance was excellent. It's loaded with sausage and ham too, and the sheer portion size makes this Cheonan budae-jjigae spot all the more impressive.

Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan delivers both generous portions and great flavor. Adding the glass noodles makes it even better. If you're a budae-jjigae fan, I recommend Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan.