Dujeong-dong budae-jjigae cooked tableside by staff: Cheongwon

There are days you just crave something spicy and piping hot, right~ So after a while, I went back to Cheongwon Restaurant, a budae-jjigae (army stew) favorite in Dujeong-dong. This is probably my 3rd, 4th... 5th visit? A place I keep coming back to, haha!

It's a spot where you get plenty of ham and sausage, plus unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles.

How busy is Cheongwon Restaurant at 6pm on a weekday?

This time I got to Cheongwon Restaurant a little after 6pm on a weekday. Wow... if I'd come any later, I might have had to wait! By 7pm there wasn't an empty seat left~ Word's gotten out, word's gotten out~ it's known as a Dujeong-dong favorite~~

A 10-minute walk from Dujeong Station, and where to park

Cheongwon Restaurant is about 652m from Exit 1 of Dujeong Station, roughly a 10-minute walk. It wasn't hard to find, tucked into the alley behind the Starpellis Officetel. About 4 cars can park in front, and when it's full, you can use the Starpellis Officetel underground parking lot right in front for free for 2 hours. If you're driving, it helps to know the parking spot ahead of time.

Inside, the tables had generous spacing and the place felt clean overall. There were also large tables good for bigger groups, making it seem like a solid spot for office lunches, family meals, dinner get-togethers, or gatherings. That day I also saw office workers who'd made a reservation and come straight after work!

Songtan budae-jjigae vs Cheongwon budae-jjigae: what's the difference?

On the wall, there's a write-up explaining the difference between the signature menus and the best way to enjoy them, worth a read before ordering~ If you're hunting for a Cheonan budae-jjigae favorite, you might wonder which to pick~ Songtan budae-jjigae sticks to the basics with a deep broth flavor, while Cheongwon budae-jjigae adds beef brisket and cheongyang chili for a spicier kick.

Songtan budae-jjigae for two, plus beef brisket, ham sausage and cheese

That day we ordered Songtan for two, with beef brisket, ham and sausage, and cheese add-ons, plus a pork cutlet. A large pot arrived generously loaded with ham, sausage, minced meat, green onion, and various vegetables. Looks pretty hefty even in the photo, right?

Per the store's info, they use 1++ grade Korean beef mince along with domestic green onion, onion, and other fresh ingredients, and the broth is carefully simmered. Instead of being just packed with ham, the mix of vegetables and minced meat gave the broth a richer flavor.

Staff cook the stew at your table until it's ready to eat

Here, the staff cooks it themselves until it reaches the ideal state to eat. We didn't have to keep stirring it ourselves from the start, and they let us know exactly when to start eating, which was really convenient. While it simmered, they mixed the ingredients evenly, and as the seasoning underneath dissolved, the broth gradually turned a deeper orange.

At first the broth looked relatively clear, but as the ham, minced meat, and vegetables blended in, the flavor deepened. Rather than being aggressively spicy, what came through first was a heavy, savory richness, with a subtle lingering heat at the end that made you crave rice.

Scooping up the ingredients, there was plenty of ham and sausage inside~ From thin ham to thick sausage, there was enough variety to make picking through it fun, and the minced meat dissolved throughout the broth, so every spoonful brought a savory taste along with it.

Side dishes, plus unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles

The basic side dishes were kimchi, seasoned bean sprouts, and fish cake. The main dish was so generous that having fewer side dish types was more than enough. The bean sprouts cleared the palate between bites, and the kimchi went well with rice.

What I liked most was being able to get unlimited rice and ramyeon noodles. With soup dishes, you often run short on rice or want to add more noodles, so being able to eat without worrying about extra cost felt reassuring.

Piling ham, sausage, and vegetables on top of rice and pouring the broth generously over it worked really well together. Once the broth had simmered long enough, the flavors of the ingredients came through even deeper than at first, so it stayed warm and delicious all the way to the end.

What the beef brisket add-on changes in the stew

The base setup was already generous, but adding the beef brisket sarhi made the broth flavor much richer. The meat cooked quickly too, so we didn't have to wait long. As the meat cooked, it added a savory note to the broth, giving a texture distinct from the ham and sausage. If you're visiting with a group or want to eat a bit more generously, this is a sarhi worth adding.

Pork loin cutlet: the dish to order with kids

The pork loin cutlet was bigger than I expected too. The golden-fried cutlet came with fries, ketchup, and a house-made sauce.

Crispy on the outside with a thick piece of meat inside. After eating the spicy broth, having a bite of crunchy cutlet turned out to be a pretty good combo. It also seems like a safe order if you're visiting with a kid who can't handle spicy food well.

The broth got richer as time went on, but it never felt overly salty or heavy.

Round two with ramyeon noodles and a broth refill from the kettle

After working through the ingredients and rice, you can't skip the ramyeon noodles, of course~ Broth is kept in a large kettle at each table, so add more as needed~ Since the ham and meat had fully infused their savory flavor by then, the broth soaked right into the noodles and it felt like a whole different dish. After finishing the noodles too, I was genuinely, satisfyingly full!!

✔ Fyi, customers who visit before 11:30am get a free lunch egg roll as a service item. If you're planning an early lunch, worth checking out.

Cheongwon Restaurant, with its generous ingredients and staff who cook the pot for you, made for an easy, comfortable meal. Being able to eat all the rice and ramyeon you want means even big eaters can leave satisfied. If you're craving a rich soup dish or looking for a spot in Dujeong-dong for an office lunch, family meal, or dinner gathering, this place is worth a visit.

Cheongwon Restaurant, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch: hours, parking, address

• Address: 32-4 Dujeong-sangga 4-gil, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si, Chungnam, South Korea, 1F
• Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–21:00 / last order 20:30
• Closed every Sunday
• Transit: About 10 min walk from Exit 1, Dujeong Station, Line 1
• Parking: About 4 spots in front; if full, 2 hours free at Starpellis Officetel underground parking