Cheongju chicken tender and chicken breast poke to go: Eopcheonri382

Today I packed up sikhye and poke bowls to go from Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch :)

Eopcheonri382 is already a well-loved brand for its distinctive retro vibe and generous dessert sandwiches.

The mood and seating at Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch

The first thing that greets you is a warm, nostalgic interior, like visiting your grandmother's house as a kid. Dark wood-toned furniture and antique lighting fill the space with retro charm, and there's plenty to look at while you browse!

One of the biggest perks is that both dine-in and takeout are handled really conveniently. Inside, the table spacing is generous and the seats are comfortable, so it's a pleasant spot to come alone during a break and eat leisurely, or to gather with friends and chat over a meal!

Why it's becoming a poke go-to, plus the 'field' latte series

Did you know Eopcheonri382 near Chungbuk National University has recently been rising as a go-to spot for poke among people pursuing healthier diets?

By the way, besides traditional drinks like gamju (sweet rice punch) and misugaru (roasted grain powder), the 'field' latte series — drinks packed with whole fresh fruit — is hugely popular here! There's a strawberry field latte loaded with juicy strawberry chunks, a mango field latte full of sweet mango, and more — they really don't skimp on ingredients, like tipping an entire fruit field into a cup~

Chicken tender poke + citron dressing

The first main dish I ordered on this visit to Eopcheonri382 near Chungbuk National University was the chicken tender poke. For the dressing, I picked the citron dressing, which shows off Eopcheonri's signature refreshing charm!

The bowl has brown rice and fresh, vivid green lettuce piled underneath, surrounded by sweet corn, red cabbage, shredded crab meat, roasted egg, and onion flakes. The golden, crispy-fried chicken tenders are sliced into bite-sized pieces and heaped generously right in the center~ You might worry that fried meat could leave a greasy aftertaste, but this is where the citron dressing works its magic.

You can really feel the care put into each ingredient — at a glance it might look like a packaged single-meal poke, but it's a meal packed with genuine effort, substance, and nutrition!

I drizzled the citron dressing evenly over the poke, then scooped up a big spoonful of the ingredients for a bite. The first thing I noticed was the crunch of the chicken tender, followed by the moist, savory flavor of the chicken! The pieces of meat are large, so ordering the chicken tender is genuinely satisfying.

The bowl it comes in is quite tall, so the portion was pretty substantial too!

The bright, fragrant citrus scent of citron cuts right through the chicken tender's greasiness! I wanted to enjoy the brown rice even more, so I mixed in some furikake I already had at home, which made it even tastier~

Chicken breast poke + oriental dressing

The second dish I tried was the combination that's a perfect choice for anyone managing their diet — chicken breast poke with oriental dressing.

The savory, deeply umami oriental dressing gets swirled generously over the top. Made with a soy sauce and sesame base, it has a rich, nutty flavor that pairs really well with the mild taste of chicken breast! Scooping up the dressing-soaked brown rice and chicken breast together felt like eating a hearty, comforting Korean soy-sauce bibimbap — familiar and easy on the stomach~

Just like the chicken tender poke, this one has chicken breast piled high on the same colorful, generous vegetable base. People usually think of chicken breast as dry and tough, but Eopcheonri382's version must have more moisture, because it was really juicy and tender — very easy to eat!

The spicy jalapeño bits you bite into now and then give the dish a nice kick amid what could otherwise be a plain flavor, haha. Probably because of the oriental sauce, the natural sweetness of the ingredients and the dressing's saltiness balanced out nicely! Even after finishing it, my stomach didn't feel heavy — just a clean, satisfying fullness.

Eopcheonri sikhye (gamju), great for dessert

Lastly, Eopcheonri's sikhye (sweet rice drink)! Eopcheonri's gamju has rice grains floating in it and a distinctly sweet flavor. It felt just right as a dessert after the meal.

Next time, I'd love to come back to Eopcheonri382 near Chungbuk National University and try the sweet field latte series alongside a fresh poke bowl~