Cheongju Korean restaurant with budae jjigae and beef bulgogi

Gorae Budae Jjigae, a Cheongju Ochang spot famous for its restorative budae jjigae (Korean army stew)! I’ve come back here several times myself. They recently launched a new beef bulgogi, so I went to try it~ Since this is already a place with such delicious broth, the bulgogi was special too. Here’s my honest review after enjoying both beef bulgogi and budae jjigae!

Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang location and parking

Gorae Budae Jjigae in Ochang is near the post office. It is right beside Balsan Bookstore, with the entrance facing the road! Look for the white sign~

There is a fairly large parking lot behind the building (down the alley to the right when facing the entrance). Parking was easy, and if it is full on weekends, you can park in the nearby alleys.

Inside the restaurant and ordering perks

There are quite a few tables inside. I came straight after work on a weekday evening, and this Ochang budae jjigae favorite already had many seats taken!

At Gorae Budae Jjigae, rice and ramen noodles are unlimited when each person orders a menu item! For parties of two or more arriving before 12 p.m. on weekdays, one grilled bratwurst steak per table is reportedly complimentary 💓

Gorae Budae Jjigae in Ochang has a wide range of choices. Here are my menu recommendations by occasion ✅

• Want plenty of handmade beef ham → Giant Beef Ham Hot Pot
• A premium menu for elders or treating someone → Cordyceps Flower Budae Jjigae
• A restorative option to energize a tired body → Black Garlic Flower Budae Jjigae
• The signature! Ham, bacon, and boiled dumpling toppings → Traditional Flower Budae Jjigae
• A value option featuring handmade ham → Gorae Budae Jjigae
• Rich restorative broth and a mountain of meat → Gorae Giant Flower Beef Bulgogi

There are also Instagram and Naver review benefits. In particular, saving the place, making a reservation, and posting a receipt review on Naver can earn you generous extras! Add the KakaoTalk channel as a friend for the 2+1 takeout deal, too. You can also earn 5% back for cash payments and 3% for card payments 👍

Self-serve bar and dessert

The basic side dishes were mul kimchi (water kimchi) and seasoned shredded radish. Since we ordered beef bulgogi, the house special sauce came with it too.

At the self-serve bar, you can refill the basic sides, budae jjigae seasoning, rice, and ramen noodles. The staff check in and add broth from time to time, but when they are busy, it is fine to refill it yourself!

And you can even enjoy dessert! There is ice cream and a coffee machine all ready for you. Finishing with sweet soft-serve ice cream was the best 🍦

Ordering Gorae Giant Flower Beef Bulgogi and Traditional Flower Budae Jjigae

We ordered the new Gorae Giant Flower Beef Bulgogi and Gorae Traditional Flower Budae Jjigae. Instructions for enjoying the bulgogi are posted on the tablet, so definitely refer to them when you order!

500g of meat alone: Gorae Giant Flower Beef Bulgogi, small (2 people), ₩35,000

Gorae Giant Flower Beef Bulgogi has beef bulgogi piled up like a mountain over mung bean sprouts, green onion, and onion! It was a very generous portion for two people.

Along the lower edge were broth, shiitake mushrooms, and oyster mushrooms. At first, a staff member lifts some of it up and explains how to cook it!

After letting it boil a little, I tasted the broth first, and it was not the usual beef bulgogi broth. I asked later and was told it is the same broth used for the budae jjigae—the broth steeped with sanghwang mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms! That made it much more distinctive and clean-tasting, which I loved.

The meat was not tough at all; it was tender, savory, and delicious. Unlike other beef bulgogi that starts out intensely sweet and salty, this began with a lighter flavor, so it felt like something anyone of any age could enjoy in a wholesome, delicious way 🤍 There were a few slices of bacon to enjoy along with it too.

Dip it in the special sauce and the umami explodes!

There were also lots of dangmyeon (Korean glass noodles) underneath. As we ate, the broth reduced and became sweet and savory, making it perfect for mixing a little rice into! This is an Ochang beef bulgogi spot with a wholesome feel, great flavor, and a generous portion 🧡

Signature menu: Gorae Traditional Flower Budae Jjigae, ₩13,000

Since this is a Cheongju budae jjigae favorite, it would have been a shame to leave without having it. So we added just one serving! It is the signature menu with all kinds of handmade ham, bacon, and boiled dumplings as toppings ✨ Even for one serving, it was this generous!

With deep sanghwang mushroom broth, a pleasantly spicy seasoning paste, and plenty of different handmade hams, the soup here is incredible 👏 I need to go back for it again soon...