Army stew family dinner for four in Ochang, Cheongju: 3 ramen refills

Today's story is about revisiting a handmade ham budae jjigae spot in Ochang. I try to be a bit careful about what I eat for the sake of my health, so I always make sure to eat things that are actually good for my body — which is why this time I took my family out to dinner at a well-known gorae budae jjigae (whale army stew) restaurant in Ochang.

• 📍 Address: 충북 청주시 청원구 오창읍 중심상업2로 13
• ⏰ Hours: 10:30–21:20
• ☕ Break time: 16:00–17:00
• 🅿️ Parking available around the store (roadside)
• High chairs available

I still remember how good the food was on my last visit, so my heart was fluttering at the thought of eating that handmade ham again today, haha.

What is the dining room like at Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch?

Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch is an Ochang institution that has stood in the same spot since 2011. That's really quite a while. It shows just how much effort the owner has put in — they've won plenty of awards too. Walking in, I felt kind of proud to be at such a solid restaurant.

I love how spacious the inside is. There are all kinds of tables for family meals or group get-togethers, and the spacing between tables never feels cramped.

Another thing I love about this restaurant is that rice and ramen are unlimited refills, haha.

The side dishes came out first. White kimchi and mu-saengchae (spicy radish salad) pair perfectly with budae jjigae. Since the owner makes the kimchi herself, it's really delicious.

What a family of four ordered, and the handmade ham

You order through a kiosk. With four of us there, we ordered two servings of Gorae Daewang Flower Beef Bulgogi and two servings of Gorae Budae Jjigae.

The ham that goes into every dish is boiled up from the owner's own handmade ham. It's called '3-mu, 1-jeo' (three nos, one low) handmade ham — no preservatives, no coloring, no starch, and low sodium. The pork used in the ham is domestic Korean pork, which made me trust it even more.

First dish: Gorae Daewang Flower Beef Bulgogi

The giant flower beef bulgogi hot pot arrived first ~ the flower-shaped beef instantly catches your eye ~ it looked so pretty I snapped a photo right away.

A staff member placed the beef into the hot pot themselves and kindly explained how to eat it. You grill the beef bulgogi, then let the broth with mushrooms and vegetables simmer well. The broth tasted incredibly clean yet deep.

You know that feeling when a hot, refreshing broth instantly hits the spot ~ that's exactly it. The meat and broth were the kind that call for a drink, but since I had to drive, I just enjoyed the eating today.

Dipping the grilled beef in sauce and eating it with well-cooked rice earned an instant thumbs up ~ the beef was well marinated, slightly sweet but never sickening.

Second dish: Gorae Budae Jjigae with three ramen refills

Next we tried the gorae budae jjigae, and a pretty flower bloomed in this one too. The sight of handmade ham piled in generously — doesn't it make your mouth water just looking at it?

Once you mix the seasoning through the stew, the broth turns this deep, spicy red — a proper fiery budae jjigae. I expected it to look pretty spicy, but the broth tasted completely clean.

There was so much handmade ham in various shapes that I happily scooped up plenty of it. The ham wasn't harsh, salty, or greasy at all.

I'm normally not a big fan of store-bought ham, but the handmade ham here was the kind I kept reaching for. My family also raved about how clean the flavor was! Once you've fished out all the ham and vegetables, it's time to add the ramen.

Since the broth was so clean, adding a ramen noodle block made for an incredibly tasty bowl of ramen. The four of us added three servings of ramen and ate until we were completely full.

Since the handmade ham budae jjigae made with Korean pork is available for takeout, it would be great to cook it at home with the family too.

Free dessert coffee and ice cream

This is a restaurant that satisfies guests right to the end. You can have coffee to your taste, and there's even ice cream, so not just the kids but the adults were 100% satisfied too.

Good food is just the kind of thing you can't stop thinking about — and since this was our family's second visit, it was a more relaxed time to really savor the flavors.

Is Gorae Budae Jjigae Ochang Main Branch worth a family dinner?

• ✔️ Recommended for anyone who wants to take care of their health while eating budae jjigae made with handmade ham
• ✔️ Recommended for family dinners or group gatherings
• ✔️ Recommended for families looking for a healthy meal to share with their kids

Ochang Lake Park is nearby, so taking a family stroll there after dinner would be a nice way to wrap up the outing!