Dujeong-dong army stew restaurant packed at 7pm: Cheongwon Sikdang

Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch

Cheongwon Sikdang in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan: hours and parking

• Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00–21:00 (last order 20:30 / closed every Sunday)
• Parking: 4 spots in front of the restaurant, plus 2 hours free at the Starpellis officetel (1492 Dujeong-dong) underground lot right across the street
• Restrooms: separate men's and women's restrooms inside (kept very clean)
• High chairs available
• Address: 1F, 32-4 Dujeongsangga 4-gil, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea (10-min walk from Dujeong Station Exit 1)

I visited a budae-jjigae (army stew) spot in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan that nails deep, rich broth AND great value! 😊 Today's post is my review of Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch, where they simmer the stew with 1++ Korean beef mince and fresh ingredients.

How to walk from Dujeong Station, and where to park

Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch sits near the Dujeong-dong commercial district, so it's super easy to find. ✨ If you're driving, you can park for free for 2 hours in the underground lot at the Starpellis officetel right in front of the restaurant, which is really convenient.

From the entrance, you could already smell that unmistakable 'this place is good' stew aroma, and it was packed with people!

What Cheongwon Sikdang is like at 7pm on a weekday — can you eat alone?

I visited Cheongwon Sikdang around 7pm on a weekday, and the place was already completely full — popularity level: explosive! The space is bright and impeccably kept, making it a great spot for lunch or a dinner-with-drinks gathering.

There were so many people that I rushed through taking interior shots, sorryyyy ㅠㅠ felt a bit self-conscious haha 💦 Notably, solo dining works fine here too, and I saw quite a few people eating alone. Seems like it's a well-known local favorite.

Cheongwon Sikdang menu and prices

• Signature Songtan Budae-jjigae: a classic, clean-tasting budae-jjigae, ₩11,000
• Charming Cheongwon Budae-jjigae: spicy and tangy with cheongyang chili, ₩12,000
• Pork cutlet (kids' side menu): a crowd-pleaser for all ages, ₩9,000
• Free unlimited rice and ramyeon-sarigi refills with any budae-jjigae order / free rolled egg omelet for visits before 11:30am

I ordered Cheongwon Budae-jjigae (for two), ₩12,000 x 2, plus glass noodle sarigi for ₩2,000.

Side dishes and how the self-serve refill bar works

The basic banchan (side dishes) are crunchy kimchi, mild bean sprouts, and savory stir-fried fish cake to whet your appetite.

Kimchi, bean sprouts, rice, and ramyeon-sarigi can all be refilled as much as you want at the self-serve bar, and if you ask staff for more fish cake, they'll happily bring you a refill!

Cheongwon Budae-jjigae for two with extra glass noodles

I got the spicy, refreshing Cheongwon Budae-jjigae for two with added cheongyang chili, plus a glass noodle sarigi on top! It came out right after ordering.

The glass noodle sarigi isn't included by default, so you have to order it separately haha.

Once the pot arrives, the key tip for the best flavor is to leave the lid on and wait until a staff member comes to stir it for you before opening it.

It's loaded with 1++ Korean beef mince, ham, sausage, and domestic scallions and onions, so the broth flavor is really rich and deep. Taste the broth first, then add more stock later depending on your preference.

That beef mince is honestly a hidden delicacy. This stew just wouldn't be the same without it haha. And the scallions are so plentiful and tasty, plus the ham is clearly not the cheap stuff.

The chewy glass noodles soak up the stew broth perfectly — slurping them down is an amazing texture haha.

What makes Cheongwon Budae-jjigae special is the beef brisket slices, which make it even richer and nuttier. It's my first time having budae-jjigae with beef brisket in it, and it's ridiculously good haha. So. Good.

The tangy kick of the cheongyang chili totally cuts through the richness of the ham, so you never get tired of it, right down to the last bite. Love the spiciness.

Mixing the broth, ham, glass noodles, ramyeon-sarigi, and rice all together and slurping it up piping hot is just so, so good. The milky broth gives it an even deeper flavor? And the portions are genuinely huge!!

How spicy is Cheongwon Budae-jjigae?

Maybe because I'm a spice wimp, but the Cheongwon Budae-jjigae's spice level was spicier than I expected — had me going 'whew.' Spicier than Shin Ramyeon, but a bit less spicy than Teumsae Ramyeon, maybe? Cooking in the unlimited ramyeon-sarigi refills made for a truly filling meal haha.

With unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles, this would be great for big eaters too. Top-tier value for money!

Final verdict on Cheongwon Sikdang

Generous ingredients, real care in the cooking, and the amazing value of free rice and ramyeon-sarigi refills — this place had it all! If you're in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan looking for a rich, spicy local budae-jjigae spot, I recommend Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch 👍💕