Jokbal restaurant in Chungju: small jokbal for two at Deomasitneun

Today I'm writing up my go-to jokbal (pork trotter) spot in my neighborhood, Deomasitneun Jokbal Bossam Seochungju Branch. I go with friends and family sometimes too, and after living in this neighborhood four years now, it basically feels like my local regular spot.

On the hottest days of summer, hot health food like samgyetang doesn't really appeal to me. So this time I was thinking, what's a health food that's satisfying but still feels cool and refreshing? My husband and I decided, "Let's get jokbal!" haha.

Is the small jokbal enough for two people?

What we ordered that day at Deomasitneun Jokbal Bossam Seochungju Branch was the regular jokbal, small size. At a lot of jokbal restaurants the portions are awkwardly large for two people. But here, ordering the small jokbal gives you just the right amount, which is why my husband and I come back often.

We both love jokbal, and that day we wanted something clean and simple, so we ordered the regular (non-spicy) jokbal, small.

They say the jokbal is boiled fresh every day, and maybe that's why it was so tender with no gamey smell — clean flavor all around.

It has this subtle umami that builds the more you eat, so your chopsticks just keep going back — such an addictive jokbal haha.

Wrapping a piece of jokbal in lettuce and perilla leaf was so good! It even felt kind of healthy, which made it even better. They say it's 100% Dodram grade-1 Korean pork, and you could really taste the clean quality of the meat itself.

Makguksu and sundubu jjigae come free with every jokbal order

Here's another reason I love this Chungju restaurant. The free side dishes! When you order a main dish, makguksu (cold buckwheat noodles) and sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) come along with it.

Even without ordering extra sides separately, the table feels completely full right from the start.

The tangy-sweet makguksu pairs perfectly with the jokbal. And the sundubu jjigae quality is genuinely better than you'd expect.

The sundubu jjigae was so good that day that we ended up automatically adding a bowl of rice too ;; 😋 On days when we're craving more carbs we sometimes add both a rice ball and a bowl of rice, and then we walk out of there absolutely stuffed lol.

And the water they serve isn't just plain water — it's heotgae tea! Makes you feel even healthier, which is what I love about my neighborhood jokbal spot.

Four kinds of kimchi at the self-serve bar, plus a 10% discount

At Deomasitneun Jokbal Bossam Seochungju Branch, you can freely help yourself to lettuce, perilla leaves, and other side dishes at the self-serve bar.

The kimchi selection is especially varied.

• Radish kimchi
• Jeolla-style green onion kimchi
• Cabbage kimchi
• White kimchi

It was great being able to pair such a variety of kimchi according to my taste. And there's another nice perk I know about here! 👉🏻 10% off for firefighters, police, military, and pregnant customers.

A place that takes care of people who work hard every day, plus pregnant customers — it goes beyond just being a tasty Chungju restaurant and feels genuinely warm-hearted :-) If you're planning to visit, it's a good idea to check the discount conditions with the store directly.

Does Deomasitneun work for a group dinner?

The restaurant is spacious and comfortable, so it would work well as a group dinner spot too. It's great for grabbing drinks with coworkers after work, and just as easy-going for a family meal or a get-together with friends. Takeout and delivery are also available if you'd rather enjoy it comfortably at home.

Why Deomasitneun is still our neighborhood regular in Chungju

Actually, there's one more reason I trust and keep coming back to Deomasitneun Jokbal Bossam Seochungju Branch.

I used to live in the same apartment complex as the owner, and I'd run into them often — always heading out early and coming home late. Seeing that a few times, I thought, "Wow, they really run this place with dedication," and naturally I started trusting the food more too haha.

But most of all, I've been visiting steadily for years while living in this neighborhood, and the taste hasn't changed at all — always delicious. That's the part I'm most satisfied with. The charcoal-grilled spicy jokbal is great too — spicy when I want spicy, and regular jokbal like this time when I want something clean.

If you're looking for dinner options in this part of Chungju, a full spread of jokbal is a hearty choice, and I'd also recommend it as a group dinner spot. Best of all, ordering just the jokbal gets you makguksu and sundubu jjigae too, so it's a great value day :-)

I think I'll keep coming back here with friends and family — it's our neighborhood regular. If you're after jokbal in this part of Chungju, try the tender jokbal along with the makguksu and sundubu jjigae all at once!

When you eat jokbal, are you team makguksu or team sundubu jjigae? 😋