Chungju poke restaurant for a light seafood lunch: Salad Ring

For one clean lunch.

Today, I visited Salad Ring, Chungju Terminal Branch, which is known as a great place to eat near Chungju Terminal.

I overate a little at dinner last night, so my stomach had been feeling heavy ever since. I thought lunch today should be light and clean, searched for a good place for solo dining in Chungju, and found this salad spot near the terminal. I went in looking forward to a healthy meal—and wondering whether it would be comfortable to eat alone, too.

Salad Ring, Chungju Terminal Branch: location and parking

Salad Ring, Chungju Terminal Branch is on the first floor at 35 Bonggye 1-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. Perhaps because it is right in front of the terminal, the building is large and easy to spot, so it was really easy to find. The parking entrance is on the right when facing the building.

Maybe because it was a weekday, there was plenty of parking. The building’s underground garage is free for one hour, and I could use it without registering anything, which was nice and easy.

I parked on basement level one, took the elevator up to the first floor, and turned left around the corner—then Salad Ring was right there.

A comfortable atmosphere for dining alone

Inside, it was neat and bright, with cute deep-mint accents. The large floor-to-ceiling windows gave a clear view of the street in front of the terminal from inside the restaurant.

There are five tables. It is a compact space, but even on a weekday afternoon, quite a few people came alone or in pairs. It seemed like people working nearby came here for meals, and once I started eating, the place filled up in no time.

From poke to soup: the menu

Rather than desserts, the menu focuses on healthy meals, with a good variety: bibim poke (mixed poke bowls), protein bowls and pasta, wraps, sandwiches, and homemade soup.

Ordering is simple at the kiosk by the entrance.

My seafood poke and soup order

• Seafood All-in-One Bibim Poke ₩15,900
• Truffle Mushroom Soup ₩4,900
• Iced Americano ₩2,500

I ordered the Seafood All-in-One Bibim Poke for ₩15,900. For the base, I could choose brown-rice-and-barley rice, whole-wheat pasta, vegetables only, or egg strips (keto, +₩1,000). Since it was lunch and I wanted something filling, I chose the brown-rice-and-barley rice.

There was an impressive variety of dressings: bibim sauce, myeongran wasabi mayo, gim sesame mayo, mala mayo, gochujang mayo, classic balsamic, whole-grain oil, and sweet soy sauce. Recommended pairings were listed, too. I was deliberating when a staff member recommended the bibim sauce and myeongran wasabi mayo, so I chose the myeongran wasabi mayo because I wanted something clean-tasting.

As the weather has turned cooler, I was craving something warm, so I added the Truffle Mushroom Soup for ₩4,900 and finished with an iced Americano for ₩2,500. It was a well-rounded combination with great portions and flavor.

Seafood poke with myeongran wasabi mayo

The Seafood All-in-One Bibim Poke came generously topped with scallops, salmon, and shrimp, so even though it was a salad, it gave me a satisfying protein boost.

I poured on the myeongran wasabi mayo and mixed it all together, and honestly, it was such a brilliant choice. It was subtly sweet without being rich, and it felt like it brought out the ingredients’ own flavors.

The salmon was tender, while the shrimp and scallops were springy, and the crab meat was pleasantly soft. There were so many textures to enjoy in one bowl, and the brown-rice-and-barley base kept me full for quite a while.

The Truffle Mushroom Soup had plump, satisfyingly dense mushrooms, and it paired so well with the cold poke. At a time like this, when the weather is getting cooler, I’d recommend ordering a warm soup alongside it.

The iced Americano was ₩2,500, and I was a little surprised by how good it was. It felt like a clean, refreshing way to finish the meal.

Allow a little extra time at lunch

It was nice to eat while watching people come and go around lunchtime, and the colorful vegetables and seafood on the poke made it pretty for photos, too. It fills up quickly at lunch, though, so I recommend visiting with a little extra time. Next time, I definitely want to try other toppings, like grilled chicken thigh or flame-grilled steak poke.

Visitor information

Hours are 11:00 to 21:00, with last orders at 20:30. It is at 105, 1F, 35 Bonggye 1-gil, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, right near Chungju Terminal. Reservations are also available, so groups may want to ask in advance.

A filling bowl even after overeating

It was such a delicious meal: filling enough, yet easy to eat even the day after overeating. A clean, healthy poke bowl that tastes great, too!! Next time, I’m coming back to try another kind!! If you are looking for a good restaurant in Chungju or somewhere comfortable for solo dining, I’d recommend Salad Ring, Chungju Terminal Branch.