Chowol Korean restaurant after a bakery café: squid duruchigi, Oneuldo

Springy ocean-caught squid and fragrant suhyangmi pot rice were perfect at this Chowol-eup duruchigi favorite, Oneuldo Utja Chowol!

What kind of restaurant is Oneuldo Utja Chowol?

Oneuldo Utja Chowol (오늘도웃자 초월) is a Korean restaurant in Chowol-eup, Gwangju, Gyeonggi, loved for kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew) and duruchigi (spicy stir-fry) made with aged kimchi and a secret seasoning. Today I went after visiting a big bakery café in Gwangju, Gyeonggi. On the way home I suddenly craved it, because I couldn't stop thinking about the duruchigi I'd eaten once before. I stop by every time I come to Gwangju, Gyeonggi, and it's got such a word-of-mouth reputation that people looking for a place near Chowol Station, and even people looking for a place in Gonjiam, come here on purpose🤍

Oneuldo Utja Chowol opening hours and parking

Oneuldo Utja Chowol is open Monday to Saturday 11:00–22:00 and Sunday 11:00–21:00. You can park in the lot in front, and when it's full, use the public Chowol Sports Town parking lot one minute away. The address is 43-1 Sansu-ro, Chowol-eup, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (1st floor), or by the old lot-number address, 96-17 Neunghyeon-ri, Chowol-eup, Gwangju-si.

A Chowol-eup favorite even the locals vouch for: Oneuldo Utja Chowol

How does the waiting list work at Oneuldo Utja Chowol?

Oneuldo Utja Chowol is popular enough that there's a wait at mealtimes. If there's a line, write your name and party size in the waiting notebook at the entrance and wait! I came for an early weekend dinner, so luckily I got in right away with no wait. Looking around inside, there were so many families. I immediately felt why it's famous as a Chowol-eup favorite.

One dish per person and takeout rules

The rule at Oneuldo Utja Chowol is one menu item per person. Kimchi jjigae takeout is available from 2 servings, and a self-serve takeout container costs an extra ₩1,000. Leftovers can also be packed up just by adding a container, so I could enjoy the meal without any worry.

The dining hall is spacious and clean, great for family gatherings or group meals. Even among the places near Chowol Station, it had a comfortable atmosphere for a relaxed meal.

Suhyangmi pot rice, the must-order at Oneuldo Utja Chowol

The one dish I really recommend at Oneuldo Utja Chowol is the suhyangmi pot rice! There's plain rice too, but most people order the pot rice. It's so central that there's a separate pot rice display on one side. Freshly cooked in a pot with suhyangmi, a premium fragrant rice, the rice itself tastes truly different👍🏻 The subtle aroma and stickiness shine, so it's delicious even on its own. If you order pot rice for your group size, you can get extra rice at the self-serve bar. Just from the rice, I understood why it's called a Chowol-eup favorite.

Oneuldo Utja Chowol menu

The menu at Oneuldo Utja Chowol splits mainly into kimchi jjigae and duruchigi. The old-style kimchi jjigae comes with pot rice, and there are three duruchigi: pork duruchigi, squid-and-pork duruchigi, and squid duruchigi! With duruchigi, ordering pot rice separately makes it even better.

Side dishes and the self-serve bar

The side dishes are cucumber, chili pepper, garlic pickles and dried radish strips.

If you run out of sides, help yourself at the self-serve bar. Seaweed soup comes too, and it goes really well with the spicy duruchigi. True to a Chowol Station favorite, even the basic setup was generous!

How was the ocean-caught squid duruchigi?

At Oneuldo Utja Chowol I debated between kimchi jjigae and duruchigi, then ordered the squid duruchigi. Last time I had the squid-and-pork duruchigi, so this time I chose the one packed with just squid. It arrives piled with big squid, bean sprouts and minari (water dropwort), and it looked mouthwatering from the start.

The squid duruchigi comes already cooked once, but it tastes better cooked a little more! At first, a staff member mixed the bean sprouts and minari evenly and cut the squid into bite-size pieces, so it was easy to eat.

They say Oneuldo Utja Chowol uses ocean-caught squid, not frozen giant squid! Maybe that's why the squid's own flavor came through strongly and the texture was really springy. It wasn't tough or mushy, and the savory depth grew the more I chewed.

The portion was huge too. Just when I thought I'd finished, more squid kept turning up underneath. It was generous for two people, so I was very satisfied. I understood why it's so often recommended as a Gonjiam favorite too.

Suhyangmi pot rice is a must, right down to the sungnyung (scorched-rice tea)

While the squid duruchigi was cooking, the suhyangmi pot rice arrived! Thanks to suhyangmi's subtle aroma, it was really delicious even on its own. A staff member said most people who have the pot rice ask which rice is used, and having tried it myself, I see why.

After scooping out the rice, pour in hot water to make sungnyung (scorched rice tea), and the end of the meal is truly perfect! If you're looking for a Chowol-eup favorite, definitely order the pot rice too.

Is the giant cheese egg roll worth adding?

Squid duruchigi alone felt like it might leave me wanting a bit more, so I also ordered the giant cheese egg roll (gyeranmari). It really was a giant egg roll, just like the name says!

The giant cheese egg roll was thick, like it used five or more eggs, and so full of cheese that it was super savory! Taking a bite of egg roll while eating the spicy squid duruchigi softens the heat, so they were a great match.

How to enjoy squid duruchigi

Squid duruchigi is delicious wrapped up with bean sprouts and minari, and just as good as a lettuce wrap! The spicy seasoning really wakes up your appetite, and a bowl of rice disappears fast. Piling plenty of squid on white rice was the best combo, a truly great meal. Anyone looking for a Chowol Station or Gonjiam favorite should be happy with this meal! Highly recommended!

Oneuldo Utja Chowol in one line

If one place comes to mind every time I visit Gwangju, Gyeonggi, Oneuldo Utja Chowol is the first I'd think of. The generous portions, springy ocean-caught squid and fragrant suhyangmi pot rice, nothing fell short! For a family meal out or a hearty bite, Oneuldo Utja Chowol was a thoroughly satisfying choice.