Gochang loach soup and pot rice: Sangol Chueojeong

Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch (산골추어정 고창본점) is at 136-3 Sanjeong-gil, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea. It is open from 11:00 to 21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 16:30, and closed on Mondays. There is dedicated parking, too.

Gochang loach soup on a day trip near Gwangju

It was an early-autumn weekend with absolutely gorgeous weather~ We stopped by Sangol Chueojeong, a great restaurant in Gochang, Jeonbuk, while out on a family day trip near Gwangju. ❤️

In Gochang-eup, close to Gwangju

Sangol Chueojeong is in Gochang-eup, relatively close to Gwangju, rather than near Seonunsa Temple or the coast. Seokjeong Hill CC and Seokjeong Wellpark City are nearby too, so it is in a lovely spot for a drive from Gwangju!

A traditional atmosphere perfect for bringing family

The moment we walked in, the upscale, tidy, traditional atmosphere had everyone in my family going, “Wow~”

Since it was the weekend, we deliberately came a little before dinnertime and turned out to be the first guests. As it got close to 6, lots of families came in. There were plenty of takeout orders too! It really is just the right atmosphere for bringing your parents~ Set in a mountain valley, the green views around it were so pretty. 🌳

A menu of loach soup and pork cutlets

• Signature sanghwang mushroom loach soup + Sindongjin ginseng pot rice ₩13,000
• Signature black garlic loach soup + Sindongjin ginseng pot rice ₩14,000
• Signature cordyceps loach soup + Sindongjin ginseng pot rice ₩15,000
• Signature small boiled pork platter ₩18,000
• Signature fried loach specialty ₩16,000

It is known for loach soup, but there are no fewer than three kinds of pork cutlet on the menu, so wouldn’t it be great for bringing kids too?

A self-service bar for extra side dishes

As I looked around the restaurant, I found that they had a self-service bar too! These were the side dishes served with the basic setting, and it was nice that we could take more of whatever we wanted. Kimchi, salted seafood, cabbage, chives, and more—it was all very neat and nicely presented.

They provide water for the meal and for making scorched rice, and it was sanghwang mushroom and Solomon’s seal tea, so it was pleasantly nutty to drink.

Healthy-table-style side dishes

The side dishes were salad, salted squid, fresh kimchi, and tofu. Such a healthy table!! The tofu was not just store-bought tofu—it had that nutty, handmade tofu flavor you might find at a market.

One order each of all three loach soups

Signature sanghwang mushroom loach soup ₩13,000, signature black garlic loach soup ₩14,000, and signature cordyceps loach soup ₩15,000. There were three of us, and there happened to be three kinds of loach soup, so we ordered one of each.

Add Cheongyang chili peppers, minced garlic, and perilla seed powder to your liking. Just a heads-up: the Cheongyang peppers are seriously spicy. Hahaha.

Signature black garlic loach soup ₩14,000

The black garlic loach soup my mom had! All three—the basic loach soup, black garlic version, and cordyceps version—were not dramatically different in their base flavor; only the added ingredients varied a little.

They serve the black garlic separately, and you can add it to the soup. Once we did, a subtle black garlic aroma definitely came through?! Even if you do not usually love black garlic, its flavor was mild enough that I think it is worth trying.

The earthenware bowl was surprisingly big?! The portion was generous, and they say they finely grind loaches prepared fresh every morning, carefully simmer them, add sanghwang mushrooms, and cook everything slowly for a long time. Maybe that is why the loach was wonderfully smooth without any chewy bits, while the broth was rich but clean-tasting! The freshly cooked pot rice was wonderfully sticky~ The Sindongjin ginseng on top gave us a proper energy boost too :)

Signature sanghwang mushroom loach soup ₩13,000

The most basic menu item, signature sanghwang mushroom loach soup! Its base flavor was similar to the soups we had already tried, and it was loaded with dried radish greens and bracken fern, so there was plenty in it. Personally, I think you would be perfectly satisfied with just this basic signature soup :)

My sibling had a cold, but after having the loach soup, they said it made them feel all warm and finished a whole bowl deliciously. Hope it helps nourish them and they get over that cold soon. 🙏

Signature cordyceps loach soup ₩15,000

Last was the cordyceps loach soup! It is the basic sanghwang mushroom loach soup with cordyceps added. The distinctive scent and flavor of cordyceps were not strong, so it was easy to eat without hesitation. It was not hugely different from the basic soup, but if you want something a little more special and restorative, I recommend the cordyceps version :)

It was my first time trying cordyceps, and I gasped at first because its color and shape were so unusual, but it had no particular aroma and was soft.

Mixing rice into the soup~ Topping it with salted squid~ It is the perfect match with the salted squid.

Crispy fried loach

Since it had been a while since our family day out, we ordered fried loach too. The portion was generous, and we were seriously full.

There was fried kabocha squash mixed in with the fried loach. The batter was on the slightly thick side, but that gave it a wonderful crisp texture, so I was a fan!

Finishing with pot-rice scorched rice and misutgaru

You have to finish pot rice with nurungji (scorched rice), right? Properly crisped rice~ Even though I was full, I made sure to eat it.

On your way out, they even give you misutgaru (multigrain powder drink) for dessert. Loach soup, pot rice, then misutgaru to finish~ It is such a filling full course that older diners would really enjoy, right? 🤭

Be sure to try the barley gangjeong (puffed-grain snack) provided through the review event too. You always crave something sweet after a meal, you know.

It is not far from Gwangju, making it a great place for a filling meal after a day trip near Gwangju or a Gochang drive! If you are looking for a good Gochang restaurant to take your parents to, I recommend Sangol Chueojeong :)