Chowol Station duruchigi restaurant hotter than ramyeon: Oneuldo Utja

Here's my review of Oneuldo Utja Chowol — I went in without high expectations and left extremely satisfied with the meal.

I really wish this place would open a branch right in front of my house.. if it did, I'd become a regular!!!

Oneuldo Utja Chowol hours and parking

• 🕘 Hours: Mon–Sat 11:00–22:00 (last order 20:50) / Sun 11:00–21:00 (last order 19:50)
• 🚗 Parking: Free parking available in front of the restaurant

Inside Oneuldo Utja Chowol: is it good with a baby?

From the outside it looked like a lunch spot for office workers, so I figured it'd be quiet on a weekend evening — but it was nearly full. Most of the seating inside was 4-person tables, and the space was wide and comfortable, great for eating at ease.

Baby chairs are also on hand, so families traveling with little ones can visit comfortably too.

What's on the menu at Oneuldo Utja Chowol?

The menu is made up of the following: pork duruchigi / squid pork duruchigi / squid duruchigi. There's also kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew), but since this place specializes in duruchigi, most customers seemed to be eating duruchigi.

Squid pork duruchigi for two: 37,000 won all in

• Squid pork duruchigi (2 servings) ₩28,000
• Added glass noodles ₩2,000
• Added half tofu ₩2,000
• Sotbap ₩2,000
• Utja sikhye (sweet rice punch) ₩3,000
• Total ₩37,000

The default side dishes are simple, but the main dish's flavor is so intense that your chopsticks barely wander to the modest banchan (side dishes).

How spicy is it? Grab the self-serve seaweed soup

The seaweed soup isn't included by default — the owner told us that since the dishes here are quite spicy, we should help ourselves at the self-serve bar. My spice-wimp boyfriend probably couldn't have finished the duruchigi without it, haha ㅜㅜ Just so you know, the duruchigi is spicier than Shin Ramyun.

The squid pork duruchigi for two comes out really generously portioned, right? Oneuldo Utja checks the condition of their aged kimchi in storage every day and separates it by fermentation level — using it either for kimchi jjigae or for duruchigi. I was impressed that they match the kimchi's fermentation to whichever dish it suits best.

The owner first comes by to prep everything for easy eating. The meat comes already fully cooked, so you can dig in right away, which was nice. Using 100% domestic fresh meat, there's zero gamey smell — it's tender and the seasoning soaks in deep, seriously addictive.

Everyone... this sauce is a serious rice thief. You know that feeling where it's painfully spicy but you just keep eating anyway?

Deep-sea squid with pork: why the mix works

The squid isn't frozen — it's deep-sea caught, so it's fresh and springy with real squid flavor. Personally I'm not usually a fan of mixing meat and seafood, but at this place, please, please order the squid duruchigi!!!!!!!

Adding glass noodles and half a block of tofu

One taste of the broth and we knew we absolutely had to add glass noodles ^^ My boyfriend's pick of noodles and my pick of tofu, both added in harmony~

Suhyangmi sotbap is a separate order, nurungji included

The sotbap (hot pot rice) is a separate order. When we lifted the lid, my boyfriend and I both gasped at the glossy shine at the same time.

They use a rice called suhyangmi, which is 2-3 times pricier than regular rice, and that's apparently why it has such a distinct shine ㅇ_ㅇ

I guess expensive really is better haha.. the nurungji (scorched rice) was especially nutty and delicious too.

Finishing with Utja sikhye, the house rice drink

I'd recommend the house-made sikhye (sweet rice punch) at Oneuldo Utja as a palate cleanser. It has a subtly bitter edge, which makes it perfect for that purpose. The brand started in Hanam and has now opened a branch in Gwangju, Gyeonggi. Why on earth hasn't it opened in Seoul yet... ㅠㅠ For anyone looking for good food in Hanam or Gwangju, Gyeonggi, or craving something spicy — this has been my Oneuldo Utja review.