Bean sprout soup and beef knee soup in Jeonju: Ogeorijip

A local favorite in Seoseohak-dong, Jeonju — Ogeorijip is a bean sprout soup and beef knee soup restaurant near Jeonju National University of Education.

Pesticide-free, organically grown domestic soybean sprouts simmered with kelp, onion, green onion, radish, anchovy, sprat, dried shrimp, shiitake, pollack, squid, chili seeds and about 15 other fresh ingredients, hand-boiled by the owner — a tonic to protect your health for the day.

Made with Korean beef knee cartilage, simmered long with domestic sun-dried salt and medicinal herbs like ginseng, astragalus, licorice and jujube — the ultimate nourishing dish.

A bowl of gukbap near Jeonju National University of Education

When we wanted a hot, hearty bowl of soup near Jeonju National University of Education for breakfast or lunch, we headed to Ogeorijip in Seoseohak-dong. The two of us each ordered a different soup — the Emperor Bean Sprout Soup and the Special Hanwoo Beef Knee Soup — so we could enjoy two very different broths at once. Comparing the clean, refreshing taste of the bean sprout soup against the deep, rich flavor of the beef knee soup made for a great combo on a day out looking for Jeonju bean sprout soup.

Ogeorijip location and hours

Ogeorijip sits at 45 Seohak 2-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk, South Korea. It's close to Jeonju Hanok Village, Jeonju National University of Education and the Seoseohak-dong Art Village, making it a convenient stop for a meal after exploring downtown Jeonju.

It's open from 6:30am to 2:00pm, with last order at 1:30pm, and closed every Tuesday. Closing time can be moved earlier if ingredients run out, so if you're planning a later visit, it's worth checking ahead.

The shop's signage describes itself as a meeting of "rich ox tail soup and refreshing bean sprouts," highlighting organic bean sprouts and house-made broth for a clean taste. With both bean sprout soup and beef knee soup on the menu — two very different broths — it's an easy Jeonju restaurant to pick from whether you want something light or something rich.

Emperor Bean Sprout Soup, ₩9,000

First up, the Emperor Bean Sprout Soup at ₩9,000. It's the signature dish, made with a deep broth loaded with dried pollack and squid. The crunchy bean sprouts paired with pollack and squid made it a great order for a day when you want more variety in your bowl than a basic bean sprout soup. Eating the hot broth with rice made for a light breakfast, and it had all the refreshing charm typical of Jeonju-style bean sprout soup.

What does the Special Hanwoo Beef Knee Soup taste like?

The Special Hanwoo Beef Knee Soup we ordered alongside it is described as a more elevated version of the regular beef knee soup, which itself is made with Korean beef knee cartilage along with ginseng, astragalus and licorice. It has a completely different appeal from the bean sprout soup — rich and deep — so it made more sense for each of us to order our own rather than share one bowl. Alternating between the light, clean gukbap and the deep-flavored soup made the whole meal feel even more filling.

If two people are ordering

Ordering the Emperor Bean Sprout Soup and the Special Hanwoo Beef Knee Soup together let the two of us enjoy very different broth moods within a single meal. I'd recommend the beef knee soup for anyone who finds bean sprout soup alone a bit lacking, and the Emperor Bean Sprout Soup for anyone who prefers a lighter, cleaner broth over a rich one.

We didn't order them, but the Yangban Bean Sprout Soup and regular Hanwoo Beef Knee Soup are also on the menu — next time I'd like to see how they compare to the versions we tried.

If you're looking for an early meal near Jeonju National University of Education, or want to try both ox tail-style soup and bean sprout soup in one Jeonju restaurant, I'd recommend Ogeorijip, a spot locals in Jeonju know well. From the signature gukbap built on organic bean sprouts and house-made broth to the beef knee soup, it's a Seoseohak-dong restaurant where two people can each pick a warm bowl to match their own taste.