Chungbuk Univ café in a heatwave: misugaru & egg mayo, Eopcheonri382

On the hottest day of the summer, the thermometer in my car hit a whopping 37°C at around 3 p.m. I was looking for a good café near Chungbuk National University where I could rest somewhere cool and grab at least a light bite, and that's how I ended up at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch.

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch: hours and parking

• Address: 713-1 Sunhwan-ro, Seowon-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea (1st floor)
• Hours: weekdays 09:00-23:30, weekends 10:00-23:30
• Last order: 23:20
• Parking: spaces in front of the shop

What's the atmosphere like at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch?

Retro charm in the middle of the city

This branch is a spacious shop with wood-tone interiors mixed with a modern feel, so it's roomy even for a big group. Eopcheonri382 is a brand built around a homey countryside feel, as the name suggests, so the modern touches were a little unexpected, and the place is big enough that a group would be comfortable here. At 3 p.m., maybe because of the heatwave, the shop was quiet and I could look around at my leisure. I heard it gets a lot of delivery orders, which may be why the inside was so calm.

In this kind of heat, it was a relief that the restroom is inside the shop, so I didn't have to go outside. I heard the café was made in the spirit of a grandmother preparing food while thinking of her grandchildren, and once I knew what the name meant, it felt even homier.

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch menu and prices

A café near Chungbuk National University with a really wide menu

The menu is pretty varied: coffee, field lattes (bat latte, made with farm ingredients), misugaru (roasted grain drink), poke bowls, sandwiches, tortilla wraps, toast and waffles. I ordered three things that day, and I paid ₩500 extra to switch the sandwich to whole wheat bread.

• Iced americano ₩3,500
• Misugaru ₩4,500
• Strawberry jam egg mayo sandwich ₩6,900 (whole wheat bread +₩500)

How do the misugaru and americano taste?

Nutty misugaru and americano

The misugaru is available only iced. It isn't overly sweet and the nutty flavor really comes through, so it was easy to drink. You can slightly feel grain particles, which made it fun to sip.

The americano is more nutty than acidic, so it went well with the sandwich.

Strawberry jam egg mayo sandwich on whole wheat bread

A strawberry jam egg mayo sandwich that was more filling on whole wheat bread

The smooth egg mayo and sweet strawberry jam went together surprisingly well. The whole wheat bread was especially nutty and not dry at all, just plain and satisfying. I heard they use baked eggs (maekbanseok-gui-ran, cooked on heated stones), and maybe that's why the flavor was richer.

It came cut in half in a dedicated paper bag, so it was easy to eat, and it was filling enough for a meal. Looking back, it's the kind of lineup that earns a spot among the good cafés near Chungbuk National University.

Where are the best quiet seats?

The road-side window seats: a quiet view for resting

I sat at a bar table facing the window on the road side. It wasn't exactly a window seat, but just sitting quietly in the soft sunlight felt nice.

The seat under the chandelier gave photos an especially warm look thanks to the lighting. Each seat has different props, so you can get photos with a different feel depending on where you sit.

Seasonal favorites and the best time to visit

A different charm every season: visiting tips

I heard that in midsummer the refreshing iced tea and the field-series lattes are popular, while in winter more people look for hot lattes. There are also seasonal-only items, so checking the menu on each visit should be fun. Lunchtime tends to be crowded, so I'd suggest going early or in the afternoon.

Getting to Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch and nearby stops

Good to know before you go

The address is 713-1 Sunhwan-ro, 1st floor, and it's close to Chungbuk National University, so it wasn't hard to find. Parking can fill up fast at weekend lunch, so give yourself some extra time.

If you're looking for a good café near Chungbuk National University, this location is worth remembering. After the café, it's nice to stroll around the university campus, and about 20 minutes by car there are Cheongju Land Zoo and the Climate Change Experience Center. Pairing the café with a campus walk made for an easy date route.

Wrapping up

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch seems like a pretty good choice if you want a café near Chungbuk National University that isn't just for coffee but also gives you a satisfying light meal. Next time I want to try the strawberry field latte, mugwort latte, root-vegetable bread, and the poke or tortilla wrap.