Cheongju Korean restaurant for charcoal bulgogi lunch: Ttukbangjip

Ttukbangjip in Sajik-dong, Cheongju, open just four hours for lunch

I went to Ttukbangjip (뚝방집), a restaurant in Sajik-dong, Cheongju known for its delicious charcoal bulgogi, for lunch. There were lots of cars parked out front. A banner saying, “Open for lunch for only four hours,” really caught my eye. 👍

The dining room was already packed, so we waited briefly. Next to the waiting area, someone was par-grilling meat over charcoal, so I wandered over for a little look^^ The red-marinated meat was cooking beautifully on a grill over the briquettes. The sight and aroma had my mouth watering in no time!

This is the waiting area. There were so many people waiting that I took this photo on the way out after our meal.

Once inside, the wood-toned tables and chairs felt neatly arranged. About nine tables, maybe?

Charcoal-pre-grilled pork and complimentary cheonggukjang

The menu board on the wall listed their main charcoal gochujang grilled pork and meal dishes. Cheonggukjang (rich fermented soybean stew) comes with a meat order too, which is so filling, right? We ordered three servings of charcoal-pre-grilled pork plus two bowls of rice.

There was also a country-of-origin notice, and they accept Cheongju Pay. Be sure to keep that in mind~~

There was also a notice saying that review-event participants receive either makgeolli (Korean rice wine) or kimchi noodle soup on the house. We chose the kimchi noodle soup. You really regret letting offers like this slip by! Disposable aprons and tissues were available too.

The self bar was neatly stocked with fresh wrap vegetables and side dishes. We went back for more zucchini and wrap vegetables.

At last, the charcoal gochujang grilled pork we had been waiting for arrived. A gentle smoky aroma brushed past my nose, and it looked so appetizing. Up close, I could see that the marinade had really soaked into every strand of meat. The sweet-salty balance was perfect, so I just could not put my chopsticks down, haha.

I tried it this way and that way, and honestly, it was all delicious.

Kimchi noodle soup and side dishes

The cheonggukjang served with the meal gave off a deep, savory aroma from its earthenware pot. It was generously packed with ingredients all the way through the broth, making it perfect to mix with rice.

This is the kimchi noodle soup we received through the review event. I slurped up the cold broth with little ice crystals floating in it, along with the kimchi and noodles. Thanks to that sweet-and-tangy broth, my rich, oily palate felt completely refreshed.

Every one of the basic side dishes covering the table was delicious too: sweet-and-salty stir-fried fish cake, tender stir-fried zucchini, well-fermented napa cabbage kimchi, and shredded scallion salad.

The Cheongyang chili peppers and garlic added a sharp kick, while the sweet-and-tangy shredded radish salad kept its crisp texture—both were great alongside the meal. After finishing the lettuce and perilla-leaf wraps, we went back to the self bar for more.

I totally recommend this Korean restaurant in Sajik-dong, Cheongju—the meat is par-grilled over charcoal, so both the aroma and flavor are wonderful! It is convenient too, since it comes out fully cooked. Ttukbangjip is somewhere I already want to revisit for lunch in Sajik-dong, Cheongju.