Cheonan Korean restaurant with free egg roll: Cheongwon

Hot Songtan budae-jjigae in Dujeong-dong

On a day when I was craving hot, rich broth, I headed out with a friend for a proper meal. I had heard this Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae (army stew) specialist was already the talk of the locals and fills up quickly at peak times, so we hurried over. With generous ham, rich broth, and all the rice and ramen noodles you could want, Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch was such a satisfying find.

Parking and the free egg roll event

Parking is always the biggest concern around Dujeong-dong's dining alley and busy commercial streets, right? Here, though, there was room for about four dedicated cars directly in front of the building, so we could park comfortably and head in. People were parking in the nearby alleys too.

The banner at the entrance and the notice on the table really caught my eye! Early-bird guests who arrive before 11:30, or guests who write a Naver receipt review, receive one plump egg roll per table for free. If you are planning a visit, come a little early or make sure to save that receipt review and enjoy the perk.

A self-service bar for all the rice and ramen noodles you want

On one side of the dining room is a self-service bar with a large rice cooker, ramen noodles, and neatly arranged side dishes. Just like the large sign on the wall says, “Please help yourself,” you can take unlimited bowls of rice and ramen noodles without feeling self-conscious. With prices so high these days, this kind of generous service was simply touching from a guest's perspective. A group of students came to the next table, and before their food even arrived, they excitedly carried their bowls over to the rice cooker because they eat so much rice. For always-hungry students, this must be the best restaurant ever.

Looking around, I found that beyond the airy main hall, there was also a separate cozy room farther inside. It had the perfect layout for a private, quiet meal whether you come for a family dinner, a work lunch gathering, or a group get-together.

Not long after we settled in, office workers and regulars kept streaming through the door, and the place was full in no time. It really felt like a popular Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae spot. Even amid the rush, the staff and owner greeted everyone warmly and energetically, which made the whole meal feel especially pleasant.

Two servings of Songtan budae-jjigae and an event egg roll

The wall lists the signature Songtan budae-jjigae, Cheongwon budae-jjigae, pork loin cutlet, and more, along with friendly instructions on how to enjoy the stew. My friend and I ordered two servings of Songtan budae-jjigae because we wanted to properly enjoy its original flavor.

The basic sides arrived first: stir-fried fish cake, seasoned bean sprouts, and kimchi. Then came the freshly made event egg roll. “Cheongwon Restaurant ♥” had been carefully written across the top in red ketchup, which was so cute, haha. It was fluffy and soft with just the right savory seasoning—perfect for waking up our appetites before the meal.

At last, the main dish appeared! When the lid came off, it looked so generous that I could not help but gasp. Triangular ham, linked sausages, plenty of minced beef, fresh shredded scallions, and yellow cheddar cheese filled every corner and made my mouth water just looking at it. They told us they would stir it themselves once it was cooked.

Rich broth with ramen noodles

As the broth started to boil, the seasoning paste dissolved evenly and a spicy, savory aroma rose right to my nose. With just one deep scoop of the ladle, sausages, ham, and shredded scallions came up in abundance—it was clear they had not been stingy with the ingredients.

After eating a good amount of the broth and ham, we dropped in ramen noodles, the highlight of budae-jjigae!

We topped up the broth with the pitcher on the table, added the noodles, and boiled everything over high heat. The rich flavor drawn from the ham soaked into every strand, and the pleasantly chewy ramen was truly excellent.

I piled rich broth, sausage, and chewy ramen onto the hot rice served in a wide bowl, then mixed it all together. It was the ultimate rice thief. Rather than being merely aggressively spicy, the broth was deep and clean, almost like a beef-bone base, so we marveled all the way through the very last spoonful. That familiar flavor you keep thinking about again!! 🩷

Near the exit after we had filled up, there was a bean-to-cup coffee machine, a vending machine for instant mix coffee, and even a stylish mirror photo zone. From the meal and parking to dessert, the thoughtful care for guests stood out, making this a pleasant visit right to the end.