Cheongju poke café by Chungbuk National University: Eopcheonri382

Today I'm introducing Eopcheonri382, a café near Chungbuk National University in Cheongju.

Where is Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch, and what does it look like?

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch sits right on the corner of the alley behind Chungbuk National University's back gate, so it was easy to find on foot. The ground floor of a red brick building has a vintage-style brown sign that's easy to spot from a distance. Out front, retro yellow waiting chairs are lined up side by side.

Stepping inside, the hall was bigger and more open than I expected. Soft chandelier lighting, rattan chairs, and wooden tables came together for a cozy yet tidy atmosphere. The seating was spaced out generously, making it a great spot to chat quietly or eat a meal. Green plants scattered around the center and windows added a fresh touch.

There's a self-service kiosk at the entrance, so I browsed the menu and paid without any hassle.

Eopcheonri382 menu: poke bowls, salads and sandwiches

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch is a Cheongju café known not just for drinks but for a varied lineup of hearty meal options.

• Poke and salads: from the 100% fresh basic poke to crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-inside chicken tender poke, light chicken breast poke, and bulgogi poke. A nice touch was being able to choose your base — brown rice or pasta noodles — to taste.
• Sandwiches & toast: a hearty lineup including bulgogi sandwich, ham cheese sandwich, egg mayo sandwich, plus kaya toast, Nutella toast, and pastry waffles.
• Halmaenial (grandma-style) snacks: a solid roster of nostalgic traditional treats loved by all ages — gam-mallaengi (dried persimmon), misugaru (roasted grain powder), bat-durang bean bread, root-vegetable bread, and yakgwa (honey cookies).
• Drinks: a wide range of options including the signature Eopcheonri coffee, large 1-liter bottle drinks, misugaru latte, and cold-pressed ABC juice.

Tasting the poke salad, chicken breast poke, ABC juice and gam-mallaengi

100% fresh poke salad: it came generously loaded with lettuce, red cabbage, egg, corn kernels, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, flying fish roe, and grain rice. Mixed with the dressing, the crunchy vegetables and the popping texture of the flying fish roe felt really light and clean, haha.

Chicken breast poke: the chicken breast was shredded soft with no dryness at all, and it was piled on generously, making for a solid high-protein meal. It had no gamey taste and was clean and light, pairing really well with the grain rice.

ABC juice: apple, beet, and carrot blended in an honest ratio, giving it a fresh taste without any heaviness. There was no artificial syrupy sweetness, making it perfect to drink alongside a meal.

Gam-mallaengi: chewy on the outside and sweet inside like a dried persimmon (gotgam), it was just right as an after-meal snack ♡.

One-line review of Eopcheonri382

A well-balanced café near Chungbuk National University where you can enjoy a meal made with fresh ingredients and a nostalgic dessert at the same time, haha.

Where can you park at Eopcheonri382?

Eopcheonri382 Chungbuk National University Branch has a neat dedicated parking area out front that fits about 2–3 cars. Given how crowded parking can get in this university alley commercial district, having a dedicated parking line right in front of the store was really convenient. If it's full, the nearby residential alleys or the pay parking lot at Chungbuk National University, a 3-minute walk away, are good options.

Is Eopcheonri382 worth a visit near the CNU back gate?

I'd recommend this place to anyone looking for a gentle, nutritionally balanced meal instead of a heavy dining-out option. A single bowl of poke came packed with carbs, protein, and fiber, giving a satisfying fullness. Thanks to the sealed can packaging on every menu item, it worked just as well for dine-in as for takeout or delivery. With its comfortable vibe and filling meals, I think I'll be coming back often.