Cheongju snack bar for tteokbokki and fried squid: Bubu Duri

There’s a snack bar in Geumcheon-dong, Cheongju, where you can enjoy tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes) and beer together, so I went to check it out. It’s Bubu Duri Tteokbokki Cheongju Geumcheon Branch, open until 2 a.m.

Parking and the atmosphere

There’s a parking lot at the Bubu Duri Tteokbokki building, so I parked there before going in.

An interior like a school-front tteokbokki shop

The moment I walked in, I felt like a student again. It had the feel of a tteokbokki shop in front of a school, and the place was spacious with plenty of tables, so groups could visit too. There are no high chairs.

This is the self-service bar. Water, fish cake broth, and pickled radish are self-serve.

Bubu Duri Tteokbokki menu and order

• Duri Tteokbokki ₩6,000 / chewy sundae ₩6,000
• 3 spicy fish cakes or plain fish cakes ₩3,000 / 1 fish cake ₩1,000
• Basic fritters ₩4,000 (2 seaweed rolls + 2 sweet potatoes + 1 dumpling) / 3 vegetable fritters ₩4,000 / 5 fish cake dumpling fritters ₩4,000
• 2 chili pepper fritters ₩4,000 / 3 fried squid ₩4,000 / French fries ₩4,000
• Bubu Fritters ₩8,000 (3 squid + seaweed roll + 2 sweet potatoes + 1 dumpling)
• Bubu Duri Set ₩24,000 (tteokbokki + sundae + plain fish cakes + spicy fish cakes + Bubu Fritters)
• Bubu Sanmaek Set ₩24,000 (basic fritters + fried squid + French fries + 1 chili pepper + 1 vegetable fritter + 2 draft beers)

I ordered one serving each of Duri Tteokbokki and chewy sundae, three spicy fish cakes, one fish cake, and three fried squid. If I hadn’t had my car, I think I would have ordered the Bubu Sanmaek Set. Tteokbokki and beer go surprisingly well together. It’s not easy to find a snack bar where you can have drinks with your food... I wish there were one near my home too ㅠㅠㅠ haha. Bubu Duri Tteokbokki is a nice place to stop by for a casual beer.

Chewy rice cakes and a broth that stays on your mind

Bubu Duri Tteokbokki tasted similar to the tteokbokki I used to eat in front of school. The rice cakes were wonderfully chewy. The sauce was so appealing that it was perfect for dipping fritters and sundae in. I think it would be a good place to visit when you’re looking for great tteokbokki in Cheongju.

Chewy sundae served with liver

The sundae came with liver. They gave us lots of liver too, which was exactly my kind of thing. It had no odor at all, and the sundae was pure chewiness. It was good dipped in salt, but personally, I liked dipping it in the tteokbokki broth more. That tteokbokki broth is legendary... haha.

Crispy fried squid

The fried squid had big pieces of squid inside! I loved how crispy the batter was. I recommend dipping it in the tteokbokki broth, haha. At this point, this is basically an ode to Bubu Duri Tteokbokki’s broth... haha.

Refreshing fish cake broth and spicy fish cakes

I tried the broth before tasting the fish cake, and it was so refreshing. I think it would make a great drinking snack with a glass of alcohol. The fish cakes were nice because they hadn’t gone soggy.

The spicy fish cakes had a little kick, and I enjoyed them. My partner said they were really spicy and mixed in some fish cake broth, hahaha. I think spicy fish cakes could help blow off some stress when you’re feeling stressed... haha.

A nostalgic prize draw on the way out

After a delicious meal, be sure to try the nostalgic prize draw before you leave. There are prizes from first through fifth place; I got fifth place and received a coupon for one can of soda. I’ll have to use it next time I visit Cheongju! If you’re looking for a tasty tteokbokki spot in Cheongju, or somewhere to have a simple drink, how about Bubu Duri Tteokbokki, a great snack spot in Geumcheon-dong?