Cheongju donburi restaurant lunch: tarae-buta-don at Momo Lab

Momo Lab on Seongan-gil is the place I keep coming back to because the black katsu and sinhodeung cream udon nabe are so good, and it doesn't hurt that my office is right nearby!

This time, instead of my usual katsu, I timed my lunch break to try some rice bowl (don) menus I'd never had before.

Where is Momo Lab, where to park, and when to arrive for a no-wait lunch

Momo Lab sits right in the middle of Seongan-gil in Cheongju, so it's super accessible for office workers nearby or anyone on a date downtown. If you're driving, there's a parking tower close by you can use easily.

Since my office is right around the corner, I just walked over. I got there just before the lunch peak, and luckily I was seated with no wait at all. The food also came out fast, which makes it a perfect lunch spot for busy office workers.

Inside Momo Lab: the welcome drink and what's in the table drawer

As soon as you sit down at Momo Lab, they bring out a welcome drink in a cute little red cup. The interior is gorgeous the moment you walk in — the kind of place that makes you go "wow." It's a nice way to cleanse your palate before the meal.

Open the table drawer and you'll be charmed all over again by how thoughtful the owner is. There's disposable Japanese-style floss to help you finish up neatly after eating, and even hair ties so you can tie your hair back comfortably while you eat!

Small details, but you can really feel how much they care about their guests.

How do Momo Lab's yakitori-don and tarae-buta-don taste?

Leaving my usual gyukatsu behind, I ordered two bowls I'd never tried: yakitori-don and tarae-buta-don.

Yakitori-don at Momo Lab

Think of it as a Japanese-style chicken skewer rice bowl. Warm rice comes drizzled with just the right amount of sweet-savory soy-based tarae sauce. Crack the nutty egg yolk sitting on top and mix it all together, and the tenderness of the chicken and the umami of the sauce just explode.

Tarae-buta-don at Momo Lab

In the name, "tarae" refers to the sweet-savory sauce, "buta" means pork, and "don" means rice bowl. So it's exactly what it sounds like — a delicious seasoned pork rice bowl! The difference between yakitori-don and tarae-buta-don basically comes down to chicken versus pork as the main ingredient. The buta-don also comes topped with a fresh egg yolk, and mixing it in brought together the savoriness of the pork and the tarae sauce fantastically.

Verdict: Momo Lab as a Seongan-gil lunch spot

After always ordering katsu, this was my first time trying the rice bowl menu, and it exceeded my expectations. It's great for a quick, filling lunch, and with the good price and great taste, it was a total thumbs-up for my palate!

If you're looking for a place on Seongan-gil in Cheongju with a great atmosphere and thoughtful little touches, I highly recommend visiting Momo Lab and trying not just the black katsu but also these delicious rice bowls.

Momo Lab: address, parking and visit details

• Name: Momo Lab (Cheongju Seongan-gil)
• Location: inside Seongan-gil, Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk (parking tower available)
• Recommended menu: Yakitori-don / Tarae-buta-don / Black katsu / Sinhodeung cream udon nabe
• Highlights: welcome drink provided / thoughtful service with hair ties and floss / fast food service