Cheongju Korean restaurant with giant beef bulgogi: Gorae Budae Jjigae

Gorae Budae Jjigae (고래부대찌개) Ochang Main Branch is said to be sooo good in Ochang. As its name suggests, budae jjigae (army stew) is the signature here, but I went with the giant flower beef bulgogi this day '◡'

Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch: Location and information

It is in Ochang's central commercial area, so it was easy to find and makes a nice spot for lunch or dinner. Takeout and delivery are available, and apparently you can make a reservation too, so keep that in mind. ミ★

Lunch-hour waiting and the wait

Once lunchtime rolls around, waiting is a must..!! The fact that they have Tabling says it all, right? 👍

We got in without waiting, but they even had coffee and ice cream so waiting guests would not get bored. Seriously, such a thoughtful touch ✔️

Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch, with its homemade ham you can trust and enjoy ❣️

Kiosk ordering and a comfortable dining room

Once inside, the restaurant was neatly organized too. The tables were not packed too tightly together, so it was comfortable for a meal, and there were lots of diners around lunchtime.

A kiosk, of course! I looked over the menu 😊 There were, naturally, all kinds of budae jjigae options, and the beef bulgogi we wanted was easy to spot too 👀 I was curious about the signature budae jjigae, but it felt a little heavy for lunch that day, and I was craving meat so badly that giant flower beef bulgogi was an immediate decision!

The self-service bar was such a thoughtful touch too 🤍

Just how generous was the giant flower beef bulgogi?

It was honestly way more generous than I expected!! I could see why “giant flower” is in the name. The meat fanned out like a flower from the center, so it looked delicious and made the whole table feel completely full 🩷

Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch is known as a budae jjigae specialist that makes and uses its own homemade ham. At first, I was naturally planning to try the budae jjigae, but I chose the giant flower beef bulgogi that day. Once I actually tried it, though, the beef bulgogi was quite satisfying too. Just because a place is famous for budae jjigae does not mean you have to eat only budae jjigae, haha. If you are craving a meat dish that day like I was, I think giant flower beef bulgogi is worth adding to your options!

Ahh, I am sooo full,,, 🤍

Budae jjigae is the main event, so it is a great reason to visit, but I also recommend the giant flower beef bulgogi for days when you are craving meat! It is not a place with just one good dish—you can choose among several dishes to suit your taste—so I highly recommend it for family meals or groups too! If you are looking for a proper budae jjigae spot in Ochang, I would recommend Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch. And if you are craving beef bulgogi that day like I was, remember the giant flower beef bulgogi too 🤍