Cheongju café: rye vs white chicken sandwich & salmon, Eopcheonri382

Back at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch: the chicken breast and salmon sandwiches are my picks

Why do I keep going back to Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch?

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch isn't a place you visit once and are done with. There's always another menu item I want to try, so I keep coming back. So many tasty options that a single visit feels like not enough, and you end up wanting to work through the menu one dish at a time.

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch: hours, parking and takeout

• Address: 713-1 Sunhwan-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk
• Hours: Mon–Fri 09:00–23:30 / Sat–Sun 10:00–23:30
• Last order: 23:20
• Parking: dedicated spaces in front of the shop, but they can be tight
• Takeout: available; drinks can be sealed in cans
• Signature menu: sandwiches, toast, poke salads, tortilla wraps, drinks and more

This time I came back for the menu items I'd been curious about. I ordered a ham & cheese sandwich, a chicken breast sandwich and a salmon sandwich. I'd loved the chicken breast sandwich last time, so I compared it on different breads, and the salmon sandwich, which I tried for the first time, was better than I expected.

Eopcheonri382 is a café brand where you get retro vibes along with generous dessert menus. The Chungbuk National University branch keeps the familiar chain atmosphere, but it also has a cozy feel that I personally love, which is why I keep visiting. Photos come out pretty too, so it's a good spot to eat with a friend and snap some pictures.

Basics are best: Eopcheonri382's ham & cheese toast

The ham & cheese toast is a great pick when you just want a quick meal. Ham and cheese with jam is a familiar combination, so it's not very divisive, and it goes well with coffee or other drinks.

What I like about Eopcheonri382 is that it's not just a place for drinks. There are plenty of meal-worthy items like sandwiches and poke salads. If you want to fill up a bit at a café near Chungbuk National University, or sort out food and a drink in one go, it's a good choice.

Chicken breast sandwich: rye bread or white bread?

The item I really want to recommend at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch is the chicken breast sandwich. I like it so much that I want to say, "You have to try this one!" and I ordered it again on this return visit.

This time I did something a little special and compared bread types. I ordered one on rye and one on regular white bread. Even the same chicken breast sandwich tastes and feels quite different depending on the bread.

• The rye bread definitely tasted a little healthier. If you like a plain, savory flavor or usually enjoy rye bread, I think you'd be happy with it.
• The white bread, on the other hand, was a bit sweeter. I liked the white bread one better, but the friend I ate with preferred the rye.

Since our tastes split like that, neither is simply better. Choose by the bread you usually like. I'd recommend rye if you want a plain, healthy feel, and white bread if you prefer a more familiar, softer taste.

Ordering the same item on different breads and sharing is a fun way to compare tastes, so if you visit with a friend, try ordering this way.

The salmon sandwich was better than I expected

Of the new things I tried this time at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch, the salmon sandwich was especially better than expected. It felt less like eating a sandwich and more like enjoying a tasty salmon salad as a filling meal. If you like salmon dishes, I think it's worth ordering once.

Sandwiches are easy to eat, but sometimes they feel like just a snack, right? The salmon sandwich was satisfying enough to replace a meal, which I liked. If you've only ever had ham or chicken sandwiches, I'd recommend switching to the salmon one.

After trying it, I added the salmon sandwich to my recommended list. If the chicken breast sandwich suits my taste perfectly, the salmon sandwich gave me a new kind of satisfaction.

Sandwiches to go for a picnic: the extra cooler bag tip

This time I added a cooler bag and took the sandwiches out from Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch. If you plan to take sandwiches away, using a cooler bag is a good idea.

It helps keep them fresh while you travel, so it would work well when you're preparing for a picnic or an outing.

When you're packing food for a park or outdoors, you want something easy to eat but filling, right? Sandwiches need no cooking and can be eaten right away, so they're easy to prepare, and it's nice to pick a few kinds and share them.

That said, sandwiches contain fresh ingredients, so I recommend eating them as soon as possible after packing. Especially on hot days, keep them cold and don't leave them at room temperature for long.

Why Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch keeps popping into my head

Eopcheonri382 has coffee, ades and smoothies, plus retro drinks like misugaru (roasted grain drink) and mugwort latte, and fruit lattes. The dessert and meal menu is broad too, with sandwiches, poke salads, toast, waffles and tortilla wraps, so there's the fun of picking something different every visit.

The Chungbuk National University branch is one I find especially cozy. As a chain café the basic interior concept is similar everywhere, but this one is comfortable to linger in and photos come out pretty, so I personally like it more.

I was also impressed that Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch has been selected as an outstanding franchise store and takes part in sponsoring Chungbuk National University, so it's a shop that engages with the community.

On this return visit I compared the bread types for the chicken breast sandwich and discovered a new recommendation, the salmon sandwich. With new things I want to try showing up all the time, the saying that one visit isn't enough is exactly right.

If you want a café and a meal in one stop near Chungbuk National University in Cheongju, check out Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch. The chicken breast and salmon sandwiches in particular are the ones I'd recommend. There are still lots of menu items I haven't tried, so I'll be coming back again and again and again.