Boneless hairtail sotbap lunch in Gagyeong-dong, Cheongju: Sorori

I had such a good meal at Sorori Sotbap on Seongan-gil ages ago, and now they've opened two more direct branches. I was craving it again, so I headed to the Gagyeong Direct Branch.

Where is Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch, and how do you find the entrance?

Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch is inside Seohyeon Plaza near Gagyeong-dong Ipark. If you go in through the front door like this, you actually need to take the escalator down and enter from the opposite side!!!

It's on the 1st floor, and there's a parking lot behind the building — it's really big and spacious, so parking is easy.

Weekday lunch at Sorori Sotbap: atmosphere and kiosk ordering

The inside of Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch was much bigger than I expected, with a lot of tables. The clean, pleasant atmosphere made it comfortable to eat in — even on a weekday lunch, quite a few office workers seemed to be stopping by for lunch.

There's a kiosk at every table, so you pick your menu and prepay! They're also running a review event and a nostalgic dial dispenser lottery, so give it a try!

The hairtail pot rice served only at the Gagyeong branch, and the rest of the menu

Sorori Sotbap has quite a few different pot rice types, and the menu seems to vary slightly by branch. From what I found, the hairtail pot rice is only at the Gagyeong Direct Branch. Besides the pot rice dishes, there are side menus to go with it, like buckwheat gimbap (seaweed rice roll) and futomaki.

Here's the hairtail pot rice (₩15,000) and beef rib pot rice (₩16,000). Mouthwatering looks and smell — pass. Since the pot rice is cooked from scratch after ordering, it took about 10 to 15 minutes for the food to come out.

The table setting comes with the main pot rice, clam seaweed soup, seaweed and butter, seasoned squid, and three types of pickles. It's such a neat and generous spread that I thought it'd be a great place to bring special guests or elders.

How did the hairtail and beef rib pot rice taste?

This is the hairtail pot rice I ordered. I really wanted to try this dish, so I came all the way to Gagyeong-dong, haha. The savory grilled hairtail smell was seriously insane. There were about 2–3 plump strips of grilled hairtail on top.

And this is my friend's beef rib pot rice! I remember it being really delicious before, and looking at it again, it looks just as appetizing. It's loaded with big chunks of beef rib meat, along with kkwari peppers and sweet pumpkin.

The soup was packed with what I think were scallops, and the broth was refreshing and clean — great to spoon up in between bites of the pot rice. I don't usually like seaweed soup, but I genuinely enjoyed this one!!

You mix in as much butter as you like, and since the hairtail is boneless, you can just scoop it up without the hassle and trouble of picking out fish bones — so convenient, love it!!!! The seasoning was just right, savory and salty, with well-cooked hairtail flesh you could bite into here and there — so good.

I also stole a bite of my friend's beef rib pot rice. Tastes exactly like I remember. It's like the sweet, tender beef rib flavor your mom makes, seasoned just right too. I think even kids who aren't big on pot rice would eat this up!

Taking a big spoonful of pot rice with some seasoned squid on top is also really delicious, with a crunchy-chewy texture.

Wrapping it in seaweed like this is also a nice change of pace!!

After the meal at Sorori Sotbap: amenities and parking validation

After the meal, the thoughtful owner has floss, toothpicks, and mouthwash ready for you to use as you like. Parking is free for 2 hours, and you can check out yourself.

The taste is great, of course, but the neatly served table alone puts you in a good mood before you even start eating. It felt like being treated to something special, so I think it's a perfect spot to take your parents. Sorori Sotbap Gagyeong Direct Branch, a must-visit restaurant near Gagyeong-dong Ipark in Cheongju — I highly recommend giving it a try!