Budae jjigae with preservative-free ham and soft-serve dessert

In Ochang since 2011: Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch

I visited Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch, which has held down the same spot in Ochang since 2011.

It's been running in this same location for so long that it's been featured on several TV programs, including Saengsaeng Jeongbotong — a real Ochang local favorite!

It's a great place to eat well from lunch to dinner, and I'd recommend it for group dinners or gatherings, too :)

What we ordered — Gorae daewang kkot beef bulgogi and Gorae jeongtong kkot budae jjigae

I thought a budae jjigae place would only serve budae jjigae, but it turns out they also serve beef bulgogi! We ordered the Gorae daewang kkot beef bulgogi and Gorae jeongtong kkot budae jjigae.

The basic side dishes for the Gorae daewang kkot beef bulgogi were water kimchi and seasoned radish, plus a dipping sauce for the meat. A bowl of rice came included as well. Any extra side dishes or rice you want can be freely taken from the self-serve corner.

Grilled on top, simmered below — the daewang kkot beef bulgogi

First up, the Gorae daewang kkot beef bulgogi! It was piled sky-high with meat, vegetables, and even glass noodles — really generous. With this dish, you grill the bulgogi on top while vegetables and glass noodles simmer in broth underneath. The portion was so plentiful that two people would end up completely full.

The seasoning was sweet and savory-salty — total rice thief territory. The bulgogi is delicious on its own, but it's even better eaten with the bean sprouts!

There was handmade ham in the bulgogi too! I'm not usually a fan of ham, but Gorae's ham had a healthy, bacon-like flavor that I really enjoyed.

Dipped in the sauce that came with it, it got a slightly spicy, savory kick, and it paired well with the seasoned radish too.

After eating some of the meat, I moved on to the well-cooked glass noodles. The seasoning had soaked in perfectly, so they slurped down soft and totally delicious!

Gorae jeongtong kkot budae jjigae, made with 3-free 1-low handmade ham

The Gorae jeongtong kkot budae jjigae uses their own handmade ham and sausage instead of regular ham, I was told. It's 3-free 1-low handmade ham — no preservatives, no artificial coloring, no starch, and lower sodium! Maybe because of that, it had a mild flavor rather than the usual salty edge of ham, so even I, who doesn't usually like ham, ate it happily.

The broth of the Gorae jeongtong kkot budae jjigae was spicy and hot, and went really well with rice. It was already delicious the first time I tried it, but as it kept bubbling away, the broth got richer and even better.

Scooping up the handmade ham and sausage from the spicy broth along with a bite of rice — total perfection!

Ramen noodles are ready right at the table

You can't have budae jjigae without ramen noodles. Rice and ramen noodles come together with the meal, and the noodles are already set out on the table so you can toss them straight in!

The spicy broth soaked right into the noodles, making for a savory-salty, delicious bowl of ramen.

Budae jjigae and ramen noodles really are a match made in heaven :)

Dessert coffee and soft-serve ice cream, too

There's a coffee machine at the entrance, so you can grab a cool cup of coffee after your meal.

There was even a soft-serve ice cream machine! I'd never seen a restaurant with an ice cream machine before, and it was the perfect dessert after a spicy budae jjigae. That's my full review of Handmade Ham Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch, complete with a sweet finish :)