Cheonan budae-jjigae restaurant at 7:40pm dinner for two: Cheongwon

Dining out prices are getting kind of ridiculous these days, right? 😵‍💫 So naturally I've been on the hunt for places that are both affordable and never disappoint! In Dujeong-dong, Cheonan, there's a spot known for having loyal regulars who keep coming back for lunch or dinner because it's filling, tasty, and cheap — 'Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae'. It's a budae-jjigae (army stew) place in Dujeong-dong, Cheonan with unlimited ramyeon noodles and rice! Here's our review after my husband and I stopped by for a hearty meal after work!

Where is Cheongwon's Dujeong main branch, and what are the hours?

• 📍 32-4 Dujeongsangga 4-gil, Seobuk-gu, Cheonan-si
• ⏰ 11:00 ~ 21:00 (last order 20:30) / closed every Sunday
• 🅿️ 4 spots in front of the store or Star Felice Apartments underground parking (parking support available with purchase)
• ✔️ Unlimited refills, takeout available, takeout discount
• ✔️ High chairs, group seating, wheelchair accessible

Cheongwon menu and prices: Songtan vs. Cheongwon budae-jjigae

• Songtan budae-jjigae ₩11,000
• Cheongwon budae-jjigae ₩12,000
• Pork loin cutlet (kids' side menu) ₩9,000
• Ham / beef brisket add-on ₩5,000
• Glass noodle / shin ramyeon add-on ₩2,000
• Cheese add-on ₩1,000

📌 Songtan budae-jjigae — a classic Songtan-style budae-jjigae with 1++ grade Korean beef mince for a rich, deep broth flavor.

📌 Cheongwon budae-jjigae — the same Songtan base but with beef brisket and cheongyang chili added for a spicier kick.

Parking at Cheongwon: the Star Felice underground lot is easiest

Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, a Dujeong-dong favorite, sits near Dujeong-dong Acrotel, right across from Star Felice Apartments. There are about 4 parking spots in front, but during peak hours they might be full, and the alley itself is narrow and busy with cars, so it can get congested. We'd recommend parking at Star Felice's underground lot, where parking support is available if you're a customer, for peace of mind!

What Cheongwon is like at 7:40pm, plus the self-serve banchan bar

The place is really clean and pleasant. There are lots of tables, and there's even a small room next to the self-serve bar! We came in around 7:40pm, and there were already a lot of customers — and more kept coming in even while we were eating! 😲 You could really feel that this is a Dujeong-dong favorite!

Cheongwon, a Dujeong-dong favorite, offers unlimited ramyeon noodles and rice! You just help yourself to ramyeon noodles, rice, and banchan (side dishes) at the self-serve bar.

They say they only use fresh, quality ingredients — domestic green onions, domestic onions, and 1++ grade Korean beef mince. There are instructions posted on how to enjoy Cheongwon's budae-jjigae, so give it a read and enjoy!

Takeout discount and the free egg roll at Cheongwon

• ✔️ ₩2,000 takeout discount
• ✔️ Free egg roll if you visit before 11:30am
• ✔️ Free egg roll with the review event

Give it a try sometime!

Two servings of Songtan budae-jjigae: keep the lid on until staff stir it

Our two servings of Songtan budae-jjigae came out really fast! It arrives with the lid still on, and as the instructions for enjoying Cheongwon's budae-jjigae say, you're not supposed to open the lid until a staff member comes to stir it. I really wanted to open it for a photo, but I held back! 🥹

I snapped a quick photo when the staff came to stir it haha. The Songtan budae-jjigae has 1++ grade Korean beef mince, cheese, various hams, kimchi, shredded green onion, and onion.

The staff first loosened up the beef mince, cheese, and sauce in the center, then pulled in the shredded green onions and stirred. There must be a reason they do it in this order, right?!

You let it boil for another 1-2 minutes before eating — doesn't it look amazing?!!! 🤤🤤

There's a broth kettle set up on the table — you taste the soup first, then add broth to your liking!

At ₩11,000 per person, it's already packed with ham, and with unlimited ramyeon noodles and rice refills, isn't the value amazing?!

Cheongwon's signature Songtan budae-jjigae has kimchi in it, so the broth has a slight tang and is clean without any heaviness, while the 1++ grade Korean beef mince gives it a rich, deep flavor! It's loaded with ham, sausage, and fresh vegetables, so you really get to taste the essence of budae-jjigae — and the longer it simmers, the deeper and more delicious it gets.

The kind of flavor that makes a whole bowl of rice disappear!

Ham add-on, a broth refill, and one more bowl of rice

We were eating so intently that before we knew it, the pot was empty. A little disappointed, we added a ham topping! We're both big eaters after all... haha 😂😂 The broth had reduced quite a bit, so we added a little more broth and ended up eating another bowl of rice too!

Finishing with two ramyeon, cheese, and the free seasoning sauce

After finishing the rice, we added ramyeon noodles as the final touch!! One packet alone might not be enough, so we put in two, and while we were pouring in more broth, the staff brought over some sauce for us.

Such great attention to detail!!!👍 You could really feel they were paying close attention to their customers. From adding so much broth the flavor had gotten a bit bland, but once we added the sauce, the seasoning was spot on!

Added cheese to the ramyeon too!!!

Adding cheese made the broth nutty and rich — even more delicious!! Eating it with the ramyeon and the bean sprout side dish was so good.

After eating like that without pause, we came out and had a sweet coffee. Somehow after a stew or soup like this, I always crave a sweet instant coffee...? haha This is probably why I keep gaining weight 🥲

Is Cheongwon in Dujeong-dong worth it? Final verdict

The budae-jjigae was loaded with ham and sausage, and with unlimited rice and ramyeon refills, we left feeling completely full. Clean, pleasant atmosphere plus thoughtful, friendly staff service!!! It felt like a genuinely pleasant meal. There really is a reason places with lots of customers stay busy.

Oh, and looking at other reviews, it seems like solo dining is possible too? Since there are a lot of officetels and studio apartments in Dujeong-dong, there must be a lot of people living alone, so it's great that a place like this exists! If dining in feels like too much, they also offer a ₩2,000 takeout discount, so give that a try.

A hearty restaurant with a clean, savory, deep broth flavor and perfect value for money! Once you visit, you're bound to become a regular — 'Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae', a Dujeong-dong favorite in Cheonan! Give it a visit.