Duck vs chicken baeksuk for Chuseok in Eumbong, Asan: Oneungi Shabu

Why Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk in Eumbong, Asan, for our Chuseok family meal

This year's Chuseok family gathering was at Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk (오능이샤브백숙) in Eumbong, Asan, where we restored our energy with duck and chicken neungi nurungji baeksuk (whole-bird soup with neungi mushrooms and scorched rice). My sister-in-law is about to give birth, and I wanted to treat my father to a hearty meal too, so after worrying about what to pick, I chose this place.

I already like baeksuk and other restorative dishes, so I went in with high hopes, and it was far better than expected, from the deeply infused neungi broth to the chewy nurungji. The whole family was happy. We ordered duck and chicken together and compared them, and each had its own charm. I'll introduce it as an Asan baeksuk spot that suits days when the family gathers, like Chuseok, or when you want a filling meal with your parents.

Location, parking and reservations at Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk

Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk is at 5 Eumbong-ro 401beon-gil, Eumbong-myeon, Asan, Chungnam, with dedicated parking in front. It's near the Eumbong Industrial Complex, so it's easy to reach by car from central Asan and nearby areas, and convenient for families.

We all traveled together by car this time, and the parking lot was roomy enough that it was no trouble at all. Baeksuk can take a long time to cook, so we reserved ahead.

When we arrived at our reserved time, the food was ready and we could start eating without a long wait, which I liked. If you're going with parents or kids, I recommend reserving first.

Inside Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk and the private rooms

Inside, the space is bigger than I expected, and there are separate private rooms. It feels clean and comfortable, well suited to a family meal, and it looked good for a parent's birthday or a gathering where you want some quiet.

We came for Chuseok, and sitting together as a big group, slowly sharing baeksuk, definitely gave it a holiday feel. Baeksuk is the kind of dish you set out on the table and enjoy while chatting for a long time. And, I don't know, it just makes you feel healthier, haha.

Duck and chicken neungi nurungji baeksuk: one of each, shared

We ordered the duck neungi nurungji baeksuk and the chicken neungi nurungji baeksuk. With a family this size, instead of picking just one, we got one duck and one chicken and shared. When the food reached the table, the deep color of the broth jumped out at me.

Big pieces of duck and chicken sat in broth steeped with neungi mushrooms, along with plenty of nurungji (scorched rice). It looked incredibly filling just to look at.

There was also a wide variety of mushrooms to eat with the baeksuk, and it's fun to drop them into the broth one by one and cook them~

We came partly to look after my sister-in-law, who is about to give birth, so I wanted something filling but not harsh, and this felt like the right choice.

Ginseng comes as a side dish~ and the kimchi was so good! It also went well with the pickled onions.

How the neungi broth tasted

What I personally liked most at Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk was, of course, the neungi broth. The aroma of neungi mushrooms spreads subtly, and the broth is really rich and deep. It isn't too heavy or greasy though; the warm, thick broth fills your stomach comfortably.

The depth of a long-simmered baeksuk broth plus the neungi aroma kept my spoon going. At Chuseok you end up eating a lot of greasy food, so a spoonful of this hot broth really settled my stomach.

It tasted like the reason people take their parents for baeksuk when they need restoring. After one bowl, my body felt warm and healthy.

Duck baeksuk vs chicken baeksuk: how does the meat differ?

The duck in the duck neungi nurungji baeksuk was cooked through and really tender, while the chicken in the chicken version was a little milder. The duck pulled apart along the grain with just chopsticks, with nothing tough about it, and it kept duck's distinctive savory flavor while still tasting clean. The chicken baeksuk was also tender and moist.

Since chicken is a bit milder than duck, people who like their baeksuk light may prefer the chicken neungi nurungji baeksuk. Even in our family tastes differed, and splitting into team duck and team chicken was fun. Eaten with the neungi broth, the meat was much moister and tastier than meat alone.

The chewy nurungji is the real treat

What I really want to talk about is the nurungji in the baeksuk. Usually you finish baeksuk with porridge or sticky rice, but here the nurungji is already in the pot, so the texture is much more fun.

The nurungji soaks up the rich neungi broth and softens, yet it doesn't dissolve completely into porridge; it stays chewy. A big spoonful with broth is nutty and chewy, with a faint neungi aroma rising up, and it was really delicious. Even though I was pretty full, I kept reaching for the nurungji.

Personally, the meat was tasty, but this chewy nurungji is what I remember most. My family was busy scraping up the nurungji right to the end.

Finishing with golden mushroom tea and sikhye

To end the meal, Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk offers golden mushroom tea and sikhye (sweet rice drink), so it fully takes care of the elders' palate cleanser too. A great Asan restaurant! Haha.

If you're looking for an Asan baeksuk restaurant and wondering where to take your parents or have a family meal, it's worth a visit. From a Chuseok family gathering to a parent's birthday to any day you need restoring, Oneungi Shabu Baeksuk was a great place for a hearty meal.