Gochang loach soup with dessert misugaru tea: Sangol Chueojeong

It had been a while since I took my parents on a trip, and while we were in Gochang I went looking for somewhere to eat. Since it was a meal with my parents, I wanted somewhere with warm soup and a filling meal rather than anything too spicy or with a limited menu — and Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch caught my eye because you can pick from several kinds of chueotang (loach soup) to suit your taste, plus order a handmade pork cutlet on the side. Even before visiting, I liked the menu lineup. Once we got there, the place was clean and well kept, and the tables weren't crammed together, so it was comfortable to eat with my parents.

Where is Sangol Chueojeong in Gochang, and when is it open?

Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch is at 136-3 Sanjeong-gil, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeonbuk. It's open Tuesday through Sunday, 11:00 to 21:00, and closed every Monday.

Three loach soups: Sangol, cordyceps and black garlic

What I liked most was that Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch has several kinds of chueotang. Alongside the basic Sangol Loach Soup, there's Cordyceps Loach Soup and Black Garlic Loach Soup, so everyone could pick what they wanted. Even if you love chueotang, ordering the same thing every time can get a bit dull — having this many options meant there was something new to try on future visits too. Since I was there with my parents, it was especially nice that we didn't all have to agree on one dish; everyone could order to their own taste.

We ordered Sangol Loach Soup, Cordyceps Loach Soup, Black Garlic Loach Soup, and the handmade pork cutlet. Ordering several dishes at once meant the table filled up fast, and having pork cutlet alongside the soups meant there was a wide range to choose from. Even a family member who isn't keen on chueotang could just order the pork cutlet, which makes this a convenient spot for a family meal.

What is on the self-serve banchan bar?

Before the food arrived, I checked out the banchan (side dishes) first — a good variety, and all neatly presented. When eating with my parents, the main dish matters, but I also quietly pay attention to how tidy the banchan are, and these were good to work through one by one. If anything ran low, there was a self-serve bar to grab more, so we used it as much as we needed. The self-serve bar itself was kept clean too, which felt well managed for a space shared by many people.

How does the loach soup taste with pot rice?

The chueotang at Sangol Chueojeong had a rich broth from the first spoonful, which went great with rice. A spoonful of hot broth followed by rice made me feel full and satisfied right down to my stomach. My parents enjoyed it too, which made me happy since I was the one who'd brought them along.

Mixing the rice into the broth made for a satisfying meal even without piling on a lot of side dishes. I stirred the rice into the rich broth, added a bit of banchan on top with each bite, and before I knew it, I'd finished a whole bowl of rice.

I also liked that the rice came as pot rice. It has a different charm from plain rice in a bowl, and paired with the hot chueotang it made the meal feel even heartier. Scooping out the rice and then finishing off what was left stuck to the pot, both my parents and I wrapped up the meal quite satisfied. When eating with parents, choosing a meal with warm rice and soup really does seem to raise the satisfaction level.

Cordyceps Loach Soup felt a little different from the name alone, and Black Garlic Loach Soup let us try something outside the usual chueotang too. Splitting several dishes between us made it fun to taste the differences one by one. If we'd only ordered one dish it would've felt like a missed opportunity, but ordering a variety let us share bites and chat about them, which suited a family meal well.

Handmade pork cutlet for anyone who skips loach soup

And the handmade pork cutlet we ordered was memorable too. I'd assumed a loach soup specialist would only serve soup dishes, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a handmade pork cutlet on the menu as well.

Especially for families visiting with kids, or anyone who doesn't care for chueotang, having the pork cutlet option cuts down on the menu-choosing stress. Sharing a bite of cutlet between spoonfuls of chueotang made the table feel even more varied.

Why Sangol Chueojeong suits a meal out with parents in Gochang

If you want a hearty meal with your parents while visiting Gochang, Sangol Chueojeong Gochang Main Branch is worth a stop. The restaurant is clean and the menu varied, making it easy for a family to visit together, and the self-serve bar and extra banchan were kept tidy throughout the meal, so there was no discomfort at all.

Especially if your parents love chueotang, I liked that they could pick something other than the standard Sangol Loach Soup — like Cordyceps Loach Soup or Black Garlic Loach Soup.

It had been a while since I'd taken my parents out, and finishing the day with a satisfying meal made the whole outing feel even better. From the clean interior to the variety of chueotang, the neat banchan and self-serve bar, the pot rice, and even coffee and misugaru for dessert afterward — there was a lot that made this an easy, comfortable choice for a family meal. I'd recommend it whenever you want a warm, filling meal with your parents.

Dessert at Sangol Chueojeong: coffee and misugaru tea

After the meal, I also checked out the spot for tea. Along with coffee, there was misugaru (roasted grain tea) available too, which was nice for cleansing the palate after eating. I sipped a warm tea and chatted with my parents for a bit — having even these small touches meant the meal didn't feel rushed, and we could wrap things up at a relaxed pace.