Crab pot rice with scorched rice finish, Cheongju: Sorori Sotbap

Today I want to introduce a pot rice spot in Gagyeong-dong, Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch! This place is known not only for its hearty pot rice but also as one of Cheongju's best gimbap (seaweed rice roll) restaurants, so it's always packed at lunchtime! I especially recommend it to anyone looking for a good restaurant near Gagyeong-dong IPARK.

Where to park? 200 spots behind Seohyeon Plaza

The parking lot is behind the Seohyeon Plaza building! It's huge, fitting around 200 cars, so don't worry about parking at all! Just make sure to validate your ticket before you leave — that's what gets you 2 hours free!

The look outside and inside

Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch catches the eye with its clean, modern interior. Beside the entrance, their signature menu items are displayed so you can check the menu before going in!

The inside of the restaurant is equally clean and cozy! The tables are spaced generously apart so you can enjoy your meal comfortably!

Sorori Sotbap menu and prices

• Beef rib pot rice: ₩16,000
• Hairtail pot rice: ₩15,000
• Abalone butter pot rice: ₩16,000
• Mackerel pot rice: ₩13,000
• Freshwater eel pot rice: ₩20,000
• Korean beef intestine pot rice: ₩15,000
• Crab pot rice: ₩14,000
• Cockle pot rice: ₩12,000
• Mentaiko butter pot rice: ₩11,000
• Raw salmon buckwheat gimbap: ₩11,000
• Buckwheat gimbap: ₩9,000
• Shrimp buckwheat gimbap (limited): ₩13,000
• Jumbo buckwheat futomaki, half roll, 5pc (limited): ₩14,000

[Order list] Crab pot rice, beef rib pot rice (there were two of us!)

The table setting and self-serve bar

The water is bottled, which feels hygienic and nice! Each table has a cute little container of soy sauce and furikake!

There's a self-serve bar set up so you can freely help yourself to various side dishes! The kimchi here is amazing!!! Total standout!

Why it's fine even if it's your first time with pot rice

After you leave a review on Kakao Map or Naver, try the memory draw event! No losing tickets, apparently~!

If you're new to pot rice — how do I even eat this...? No need to feel self-conscious! Each table has instructions for enjoying the dish properly, so I got to read them while waiting for the food, which made it taste even better!

When you order pot rice, it comes with seaweed soup, salted seafood, pickles, seaweed, butter, and various other side dishes! All the side dishes are fresh and delicious! Wrapping the pot rice and butter in seaweed is especially delicious, so you have to try it!

And this seaweed soup especially! Eating pot rice alone can feel heavy or greasy, but one spoonful of the soup and it's soooo clean and refreshing!

And this kimchi I mentioned above!!! Don't forget to go to the self-serve bar and try it!

Crab pot rice — crab meat piled high under the shell

The crab pot rice is overwhelming right from the visuals! A large crab shell sits in the center of the pot, and underneath it, savory, rich roe sauce and plump, creamy crab meat are piled so high that the rice is completely hidden!

For the first bite, I lightly mixed the roe sauce, crab meat, and rice together and took a big spoonful! The rich, deep flavor of the crab roe and the clean, sweet taste of the crab meat itself came through fully, filling my mouth with the flavor of the sea! Any fishiness the roe might have had was perfectly tamed, leaving only savory richness behind!!

Beef rib pot rice — the meat pulls apart along the grain

The beef rib pot rice hits your nose first with a subtle sweet-and-savory sauce aroma and a nutty fragrance! Inside the pot, glossy rice is generously topped with thick, hefty beef ribs, sweet pumpkin, and shishito peppers!

The beef rib is cooked so thoroughly it pulls apart softly along the grain with barely a chew needed, and the sweet-and-savory soy sauce marinade has soaked deep into every fiber of the meat! Even eaten on its own, the meat isn't dry at all — the tender texture really stands out.

Mix a little of the butter that comes as part of the table setting into the pot rice and stir it through — the nutty butter and the sweet-salty beef rib sauce blend together for deep umami! Put some rice and a tender piece of beef rib on the roasted seaweed provided, add a touch of salted seafood, and wrap it up — the combination of savory and spicy is wonderful! This is a signature dish that people of all ages will love without exception, so definitely make sure to try it!

Finishing with scorched rice

What else would finish off pot rice but this?! Scraping the bottom of the pot with a spoon and eating the warm broth together with the nutty scorched rice grains washes away all the richness or saltiness from the pot rice you just ate, leaving your mouth completely refreshed! Placing a bit of the squid jeotgal (salted seafood) or salty pickles that come as part of the table setting on top of a spoonful of scorched rice combines nuttiness with umami for a clean, hearty finish! It warms and settles your stomach comfortably, letting you finish the meal satisfied down to the last bite~

On your way out, toothpicks, dental floss, and mouthwash are all set out, which is really nice to use! Such a thoughtful touch!

Wrap-up

Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch has established itself as a go-to restaurant in Gagyeong-dong with its clean interior and delicious pot rice! I strongly recommend it to anyone wanting a hearty meal, and especially to those looking for a good restaurant near Gagyeong-dong IPARK!