Namyangju chueotang restaurant with a 28-seat group room: Chuojeong

If you're planning a trip or drive to Gwangneung Arboretum, it's a good idea to line up a solid meal first. Eat well, then head over for a walk through the arboretum — that makes for a well-rounded day.

What kind of place is Chuojeong Namwon Chueotang?

Chuojeong Namwon Chueotang simmers its broth every morning using domestic yellow-clay loach, made carefully by the owner. The room seats up to 28, so it works well for gatherings and company dinners too. Every dish can be packed for takeout, and the menu is built with group meals and dinners in mind.

Even people who can't eat chueotang (loach soup) have options like pork cutlet, crab jang, and stir-fried octopus, so feel free to ask.

Address, hours and basic info

• Name: Chuojeong Namwon Chueotang
• Location: 1828-4 Geumgang-ro, Jinjeop-eup, Namyangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 09:30–21:00
• Closed: Call ahead to confirm
• Signature dishes: Chueotang, spicy chueotang, chueojeongsik set, stir-fried octopus, crab jang
• Parking: Available
• Group dining: Room, group meals possible

Easy to find on Geumgang-ro, with a large parking lot

Chuojeong Namwon Chueotang sits right on a major road, so it was easy to find. The parking lot is spacious too, making it convenient to visit by car — a solid pick for anyone looking for a Jinjeop restaurant that's easy to get to.

A modern, comfortable dining room

Inside, it wasn't the rustic vibe you'd expect from a typical loach soup restaurant — it felt clean and modern. The bright, comfortable interior made for an easy meal.

A loach soup restaurant with a wide menu

There were several types of chueotang on offer — chueotang, spicy chueotang, whole chueotang, mud snail chueotang, octopus chueotang, and abalone chueotang. There's also handmade sweet pumpkin cheese pork cutlet, classic pork cutlet, stir-fried octopus, soy-marinated crab, fried loach, and loach dumplings, so there's plenty of choice even if you're dining with family who don't care for chueotang. It seemed like a solid lunch spot with clean Korean dishes to enjoy alongside.

Tidy side dishes and a self-serve bar

The side dishes overall were clean and well-prepared, and if you needed more, there was a self-serve bar set up conveniently so you could help yourself.

Spicy chueotang with hot-stone pot rice

I ordered the spicy chueotang that day. The broth was rich and warm, but true to its name, it had quite a kick of spice. It'll suit those who handle spicy food well, but if you're dining with young kids or elderly family, the plain chueotang might be the better choice.

Some people worry about the distinctive smell of chueotang, but I didn't notice any fishy or off smell at all. The rice came in a hot stone pot instead of a regular bowl, which was a nice touch, and at the end I even got to enjoy the burnt rice — it made the meal feel even more complete.

Crispy, nutty fried loach

I also tried the crispy, savory fried loach — the batter had a greenish tint, seemingly from chives, and it fried up nice and crunchy. Neither the soup nor the fried loach had any fishy smell at all, so even first-timers should be able to enjoy the fried loach without hesitation. Dipped lightly in the soy sauce, the crispy texture and mild flavor went really well together.

Soy-marinated crab on the next visit

There was a certificate for a soy-marinated crab (ganjang gejang) master on the wall. I visited solo this time, so I didn't get to try it, but I definitely want to next time. It gave me the impression that this place takes soy-marinated crab as seriously as it does chueotang, which raised my expectations even more.

Family meals and a Gwangneung Arboretum outing

The chueojeongsik set looks like a great pick if you're visiting with several people, since it lets you share a variety of dishes. It's well suited for family outings or group meals for anyone looking for a Jinjeop restaurant. After eating, you can head over to Gwangneung Arboretum for a walk or a drive — eating well first and then enjoying the outing makes for a nice two-in-one plan.

I liked the clean side dishes and the convenient self-serve bar, and the owner was friendly too, which made for a comfortable meal. If you're looking for a good loach soup restaurant in Namyangju and planning a trip to Gwangneung Arboretum, Chuojeong Namwon Chueotang is worth stopping by as part of the plan.