# Ochang, Cheongju lunch with free parking: handmade ham army stew - By Boram Sim (https://superchart.com/en/@daejeon-tin-counter/) - Written Sep 20, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Cheongju, Chungbuk - Sponsored: This post was written based on a sponsored store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@daejeon-tin-counter/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@daejeon-tin-counter/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/index.md) ## In short Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch is a budae jjigae (army stew) restaurant in the central commercial district of Ochang, Cheongju, and it makes the ham that goes into its stew in house. On this visit, a regular who stops by whenever work brings him to Ochang ordered two servings of the new Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi (giant beef bulgogi) plus one serving of Gorae Jeongtong Kkot Budae Jjigae, then added ramyeon noodles and rice to the pot. Bulgogi that is savory rather than sweet, a sharp handmade-ham army stew, and a free private parking lot right out front make Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch an easy business-trip lunch. ## Good to know - **Name**: Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch - **Address**: 13 Jungsimsangeop 2-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do - **Hours**: 10:30–21:20 (check with the restaurant before visiting) - **Break time**: 16:00–17:00 - **Last order**: 20:40–20:50 - **Parking**: Private lot in front of the restaurant, free - **Takeout & reservations**: Takeout available / reservations available - **Signature dish**: Handmade ham Gorae Kkot Budae Jjigae (army stew) - **This order**: Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi for 2 + Gorae Jeongtong Kkot Budae Jjigae for 1 - **Unlimited refills**: Ramyeon noodles and rice refilled free, self-serve side dish bar - **Dessert**: Coffee, ice cream *as written by the visitor on Sep 20, 2026* ![Cover photo of Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-01-vjepa-1200.webp) There's a restaurant I always stop by when I'm on a business trip to Ochang — Gorae Budae Jjigae!!! ![Interior of the Gorae Budae Jjigae restaurant in Ochang](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-02-uarn3-900.webp) I originally just came for regular budae jjigae (army stew), but I fell for the version with handmade ham, and now it's become a spot I stop by whenever I'm in Ochang. ![Exterior of the standalone building housing Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-03-j09d7-900.webp) I went last October!! You never know when the next business trip will come, so you've got to eat what you can when you're in Ochang. I made a beeline for Gorae Budae Jjigae, a well-known spot in Ochang, Cheongju. ## Where is Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch, and is parking free? Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch is located at 13 Jungsangeop 2-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do. Hours are 10:30–21:20 with a break time of 16:00–17:00, and last order is 20:40–20:50. Both takeout and reservations are available, and the signature menu is the handmade ham Gorae Kkot Budae Jjigae. (I'd recommend checking hours with the store before visiting.) There's a private parking lot right in front of the restaurant!!! This is honestly the most important point. Parking is a nightmare in this commercial district. But Gorae Budae Jjigae has its own lot, so you can drive there without worrying about parking at all!! ## Lunchtime wait and what the dining room is like No matter how many times I come, Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch is always packed!!! I went a bit late to avoid the lunch rush, but it was still full of people!!! It's a standalone building with a spacious dining hall, but it's always crowded from 11am to 1pm. Last time I visited, the noodles and rice weren't unlimited, but now they are!!! ![Unlimited refill ramyeon noodles placed on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-04-10maz-900.webp) Each table has a pile of ramyeon noodles ready to go, and there's always a rice cooker on standby at the self-bar where you refill the tasty side dishes. Oh!!! Last year only the rice was unlimited, so I refilled rice twice haha The restrooms are indoors and separated by gender, which I liked. ![Display of handmade ham sold at the restaurant](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-05-1p8og-900.webp) ![Sign showing types and prices of handmade ham](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-06-jk1lk-900.webp) True to being a handmade-ham budae jjigae specialist, they also sell the ham itself. I checked the prices and varieties, and it's a really good deal for handmade ham!!! ## What we ordered and the side dish bar ![Menu board at Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-07-1gtsi-900.webp) Two servings of Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi and one serving of Gorae Jeongtong Kkot Budae Jjigae. Normally I start with the budae jjigae here, but since they had a new beef bulgogi menu item, I tried the Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi first. ![Three basic side dishes including spicy radish salad](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-08-1hms4-900.webp) As soon as we ordered, three tasty side dishes appeared. The best one was this mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) — sweet and tangy, and it paired amazingly with both the bulgogi and the budae jjigae. I refilled it three times at the self-bar haha ## Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi: beef bulgogi that isn't sweet The daewang (giant) kkotso bulgogi is impressive from the visuals alone. It arrives shaped into a flower using bacon, and everyone went wow!!! You can immediately see why it's called flower beef bulgogi!!! It was so pretty I kept taking pictures. At first the staff puts the bulgogi on for you and you grill the rest yourself, but the copper plate doesn't get super hot, so you need to add it a little at a time. That said, since the beef bulgogi is sliced thin, it cooked pretty quickly. At first, when I heard 'beef bulgogi' I expected a sweet flavor that even kids would like. But after tasting it, my expectations were completely off. ![Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi on the copper plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-09-int4m-900.webp) ![Flower-shaped visual of the giant beef bulgogi made with bacon](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-10-w9p60-900.webp) ![Thin beef bulgogi cooking on the copper plate](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-11-1xiwe-m-899.webp) ![Glass noodles cooking alongside the beef bulgogi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-12-bkarg-900.webp) ![Flower beef bulgogi simmering in broth](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-13-bzi6e-900.webp) It wasn't overly sweet, but it wasn't salty either. The subtle broth flavor and the beef bulgogi went really well together. The seasoning wasn't strong, so I ate the meat plain without rice and it still wasn't overwhelming. There were also glass noodles mixed in, and eating them together with the bulgogi was another treat. ![A piece of beef bulgogi picked up with chopsticks](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-14-rci9i-900.webp) ### The tangy dipping sauce that ties the bulgogi together And personally, the real kicker here was the sauce. Dipping the beef bulgogi into the sauce completely changed the flavor compared to eating it plain. It had a hint of something reminiscent of Southeast Asian food, but the aroma wasn't strong enough to be a love-it-or-hate-it flavor. ![Tangy sauce for dipping the beef bulgogi](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-15-fbpj8-900.webp) The tanginess made it great to dip into every once in a while while eating the bulgogi, and personally I found this combination quite tasty. ![A bite of beef bulgogi dipped in the sauce](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-16-5q2e7-900.webp) ![Full table spread of beef bulgogi and side dishes](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-17-ogv2t-900.webp) If you're not a fan of sweet beef bulgogi, you might actually enjoy this one even more!!! ![Beef bulgogi broth with rice](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-18-injia-900.webp) The broth was tasty too, so I spooned some rice into it — if it weren't budae jjigae, I bet simmering rice down in that broth would be amazing!!! ![Gorae Jeongtong Kkot Budae Jjigae served in a flower shape](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-19-1rchp-900.webp) ## Adding one serving of Gorae Jeongtong Kkot Budae Jjigae: how the handmade ham tastes You might think eating the beef bulgogi was enough, but NoNo!!! There's no way I'd come all the way here and not eat the Gorae budae jjigae. This budae jjigae is actually the reason I fell for this place in the first place. Since I never know when my next business trip will be, I have to eat it while I can, so I immediately added one serving of budae jjigae. The budae jjigae also comes shaped into a flower, so I took a photo!! I was so amazed by the flower budae jjigae the first time. I fell for the visuals, then fell for the taste. And once again this time, my judgment wasn't wrong — it's just so good, ugh!! There's a good variety of ham inside, and all of it is handmade — that's the biggest reason I love the budae jjigae here!!! ![Budae jjigae filled with various handmade ham](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-20-xozgo-900.webp) ![Handmade ham flower budae jjigae boiling](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-21-70n35-900.webp) ![Handmade ham lifted out of the budae jjigae](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-22-v3j7-900.webp) ![Budae jjigae with ramyeon noodles added](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-23-1w2ho-900.webp) Usually, eating ham in budae jjigae, after a few pieces the distinct ham smell or greasiness can get a bit much. But the handmade ham here barely had that at all. It was clean-tasting, and each type of ham had a different texture, so it was fun to pick and choose. Even with a lot of ham inside, the broth didn't turn heavy or greasy — it stayed spicy and kept my spoon going. And of course, budae jjigae needs ramyeon. Adding the ramyeon noodles and letting it bubble away, then eating it together with the ham — it felt like all the fatigue of the day melted away, and I just wanted to take a nap right there!!! But you can't finish budae jjigae without rice. I mixed rice in and ate it once more, cleaning the pot completely before leaving!!!! ![Ice cream dessert after the meal](https://img.superchart.com/images/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch-24-pe9fm-900.webp) ## Free dessert: ice cream and coffee Dessert is also available — you can have coffee or ice cream. I finished with ice cream, and it felt lighter and more refreshing than the usual thick vanilla soft serve, more like a sherbet. It was a nice, clean way to finish the meal. ## Verdict: worth a return trip whenever work brings you to Ochang The first time I came to Ochang, I sought this place out specifically for the handmade-ham budae jjigae. Now it's naturally the first place that comes to mind whenever I have a business trip to Ochang. This time I tried the Gorae Daewang Kkotso Bulgogi, and it wasn't the sweet bulgogi I expected at all — it was neither too salty nor too sweet, more of a clean, savory style, and I liked it. The combination with the tangy dipping sauce was especially good. Still, for me, the true heart of Gorae Budae Jjigae is the Gorae Kkot Budae Jjigae. Clean-tasting handmade ham, a spicy broth, ramyeon noodles added in, and finally rice mixed in at the end — that's how it has to end. I ate two servings of beef bulgogi plus added a serving of budae jjigae, ended up mixing in rice at the end, and finished off with ice cream. My diet... will resume after the Ochang business trip is over haha. A place I'll definitely go back to whenever I'm in Ochang!!! ## Where it is - Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch (수제햄 고래부대찌개 오창본점) - 13 Jungsangeop 2-ro, Ochang-eup, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea - 충청북도 청주시 청원구 오창읍 중심상업2로 13 수제햄 고래부대찌개 오창본점 - 36.7120697, 127.4311614 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%88%98%EC%A0%9C%ED%96%84%20%EA%B3%A0%EB%9E%98%EB%B6%80%EB%8C%80%EC%B0%8C%EA%B0%9C%20%EC%98%A4%EC%B0%BD%EB%B3%B8%EC%A0%90/@36.7120697,127.4311614,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@daejeon-tin-counter/gorae-budae-jjigae-ochang-business-trip-lunch/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt