Cheonan budae-jjigae restaurant for a rainy Friday brunch: Cheongwon

Rainy Friday!! Kicking off Friday-fun-day and cheat day early with another visit to Cheongwon Restaurant, our go-to budae-jjigae spot in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan. My husband and I have been a few times as a couple, but now that our little one is old enough to properly enjoy ramyeon noodles haha, we've been going together lately.

Parking at Cheongwon Restaurant almost full right after the 11am opening

Cheongwon opens at 11am, but even though we arrived pretty much right after opening, there were already several cars parked haha. Lucky enough to grab the last spot at the end. If there's one downside... it's parking? Just park sensibly given how the Dujeong-dong shopping street is laid out...

Inside, at least five tables were already eating. It opens at 11 and people are already having brunch? Well, I guess we are too haha haha haha.

Cheongwon Restaurant's menu: only Songtan and Cheongwon budae-jjigae

True to its reputation as a Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite, the menu is super simple. Songtan budae-jjigae and Cheongwon budae-jjigae, with just a ₩1,000 price difference!

The difference: Songtan budae-jjigae is the classic Songtan-style stew loaded with 1++ Korean beef mince for a deep, rich broth, while Cheongwon budae-jjigae takes that same base and adds beef brisket and cheongyang chili peppers for a spicier kick. Since we came with our kid, we went with Songtan budae-jjigae, three servings!!! Since rice and ramyeon noodles are unlimited here, order one stew per person (preschoolers excluded ^^).

Three servings of Songtan budae-jjigae and the side dishes that come with it

We ordered three servings of Songtan budae-jjigae, and staff brought out the stew and basic side dishes. And here it is — three servings of Songtan budae-jjigae, wow. The 1++ Korean beef mince was piled on so generously I was glad we went with three servings haha. I almost thought about doing two servings plus extra ham, but since my kid's a proper elementary schooler now haha, three servings it was!!

Basic banchan: fish cake, bean sprouts, napa cabbage kimchi haha. Honestly all I need is the budae-jjigae haha haha. My kid said the fish cake I make at home is tastier, which made me happy haha.

Order before 11:30am for a free jumbo egg roll

Ah, if you order before 11:30am at this Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite, they give you this jumbo egg roll as a free service — you cut it up yourself, and it's kind of sad how the lettering disappears when you slice it ㅠ.ㅠ haha.

The gentlemen at the next table, who arrived just as we were finishing up, were thinking about ordering an egg roll too, so I quickly told them to write a Naver review instead haha. If you're visiting after 11:30am, write a Naver review and get the egg roll as a service!!!

A lunch table piled high at Cheongwon, the Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite!! All three of us were starving, so we dug into the egg roll first!!!! My kid gags at every other egg dish mom makes... but somehow demolishes this one????????? -.-

Staff stir the stew, then you simmer it down and pick out the ham

Once steam starts rising and a bit of time passes, a staff member comes over, opens the lid, and mixes everything well. I think there's some sort of seasoning paste hidden inside!?!?

So now haha, we simmer it down bit by bit and start picking out whichever ham looks best!

Tried to cut the egg roll into somewhat pretty pieces haha. We started off with two bags of ramyeon noodles already set on the table haha (mentally prepared to leave some rice behind..haha).

That's it~ boil away~~!!!! ^^^^^^ haha.

So many delicious hams and sausages!! None of them taste cheap, which is exactly why we keep coming back! I used to not be a big budae-jjigae person, but after eating at Cheongwon, the Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite, I've come to actually love it haha.

This time they really loaded us up with 1++ Korean beef mince, and scooping it out of the broth to eat gives the whole thing an upgraded savory flavor!!!!

Adding ramyeon noodles? Pour in the broth first

My husband and I each scooped out a bowlful of solid ingredients first, then added broth, cranked up the heat, and threw in ramyeon noodles for the little one who was asking for it!!

Broth is essential haha. If you just add noodles without it, it gets too salty!!! There's a hot broth kettle at every table, so pour it in and it comes back to a boil quickly. And as always, the first bag of noodles is the tastiest haha haha.

Fish them out somewhere between slightly firm and just right haha.

Whew. Cleared both bags of noodles like that. My husband and I each cleared a full bowl of rice too. Next time we should dump both bags of noodles in at once for a deeper, richer broth!! haha.

Cheongwon Restaurant, the budae-jjigae specialist in Dujeong-dong recommended by Cheonan-Asan food connoisseurs! Definitely coming back~!!