Cheongju braised ribs dinner for four under ₩50,000: Hongdeung Sikdang

Lately when my family debates where to go on weekends, we've been heading to Cheongju a lot more. We've been to just about everywhere in downtown Daejeon, so these days our eyes naturally drift toward Cheongju. This time, we went out for a family dinner and my daughter's friend joined too, so four of us went to Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 (홍등식당1997) in Yulryang-dong.

Where is Hongdeung Sikdang 1997? Hours and parking in Yulryang-dong

• 📍 Address: 7 Sattum-ro, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours 09:00–24:00 / break time 15:00–17:00
• Closed every Tuesday
• 🚗 Parking for 4 cars in front of the restaurant

I worried it might be crowded on a weekend evening, but when we walked in there were families dining too, and it looked comfortable enough for a group our size. Scanning the menu, we decided on galbitang (short rib soup) for five and spicy braised pork ribs.

Spicy braised pork ribs simmered at the table for 13 minutes

The braised pork ribs at Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 don't come pre-cooked — you simmer them yourself at the table. The staff set a 13-minute timer on an electric clock for us, so all we had to do was wait it out, haha.

Galbitang for five at ₩14,000: enough for a kids' meal

We ordered the galbitang for the kids, and it had more rib bones than I expected, plus a good amount of meat. I picked the meat off for the kids and tasted some myself — the broth wasn't too salty or too bland, seasoned just right so it went down clean.

Even just the meat from the galbitang was a decent portion, plenty for the kids to have a solid meal. For ₩14,000, the value for that amount felt pretty good.

The spicy braised pork ribs the adults picked down to the bone

We ordered the spicy braised pork ribs, and eating the pork ribs with that spicy sauce was even better than I expected. My husband and I were so into picking the meat off the bone that the plate was practically empty before we knew it, haha.

Bottom line: this spicy braised pork ribs dish was really tasty, more than I expected. When braised ribs come out, picking the meat off the bone is kind of a hassle, but that day my husband and I sat there happily doing exactly that, haha.

The spicy sauce soaked well into the ribs, so it was great with rice too, and the meat itself was fun to eat. With my daughter's friend at the table, I wondered if the kids would eat well, but it was really us adults who were busy tearing into the ribs.

Free side dishes: mukbap and one serving of steamed egg

Something I unexpectedly liked was the mukbap (buckwheat jelly in cold broth) that came as a free side dish. Eating the spicy braised ribs makes your mouth heat up a bit, and the mukbap paired well in between bites. I didn't expect much from a basic side dish, but it was tastier than I thought, so I kept going back for more.

Another nice touch was the steamed egg served for free. It was listed as ₩2,000 if ordered separately, but we got one serving as a free extra. These days when eating out, steamed egg is often something you have to order and pay for separately, so it was funny to see the price listed for a dish that came free anyway. Having steamed egg alongside a spicy dish is great for kids, and it helps adults cool down between bites too — handy when eating in a group.

Fried rice fried in the leftover braising sauce

After eating a good amount of the ribs, it felt like a shame to stop there, so we ended up ordering fried rice too. You really can't skip fried rice after braised ribs. Frying the rice in the leftover sauce made for its own little treat.

I thought I was pretty full from the meat, but somehow the fried rice still went down, haha. Honestly, I'd assumed a dish like braised ribs would run up quite a bill for a family meal out.

Four people, galbitang, braised ribs and fried rice for under ₩50,000

But when we checked the bill after four of us ate galbitang, spicy braised pork ribs, and fried rice, the total didn't even reach ₩50,000. That surprised me all over again. These days, a family of four eating out with one solid meat dish plus a side or two easily crosses ₩50,000, but this time, even with several dishes ordered, it stayed under that, so the cost felt light.

It wasn't just cheap, either — the spicy braised ribs were tastier than expected, and the free banchan of mukbap and steamed egg added to the value for the price.

With my daughter's friend joining us four for a weekend dinner, we got to pick from a nice variety of dishes, and finishing with fried rice made it a pretty filling meal. If you're looking for a place to eat with family out in Cheongju, Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 is worth checking out when you search for Yulryang-dong restaurants.

It also looks like a solid option for a filling Yulryang-dong lunch, or as a Cheongju lunch spot to remember if you want somewhere easy to eat with family or friends. We went in the evening this time, but next time we're out in Cheongju around lunch, I think we'll stop by again.

We used to only go out around Daejeon, but lately we've been heading to Cheongju more often, and there's something fun about discovering a new restaurant like this each time.

What stuck with me most is that four of us ate our fill and still came in under ₩50,000. I'd assumed braised ribs would be a pricier menu item, but it turned out lighter on the wallet than expected, and the taste held up too — a place I'd recommend to anyone looking for a family dinner spot. If you're in Cheongju looking for somewhere to eat with your kids, or want braised pork ribs without breaking the bank, give Hongdeung Sikdang 1997 a try. We came away having enjoyed the spicy braised pork ribs quite a bit. :)