Cheongju Korean restaurant for beef bulgogi and cold noodles

While looking for somewhere in Cheongju to enjoy a relaxed meal with my family, I visited Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch. It is a great place to stop after a drive around Daecheong Lake and Cheongnamdae, so I was even more excited! With scenery to enjoy nearby and a hearty Korean meal waiting, it felt like a fitting restaurant for anyone looking for good food around Daecheong Lake.

How are the location and parking?

Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch is a Korean restaurant near Daecheong Lake in Sangdang-gu, Cheongju, conveniently located for people heading toward Daecheong Dam or Cheongnamdae. From Cheongju, go straight toward Cheongnamdae from Hyochon, Namil-myeon, near the Korea Air Force Academy, and the entrance is on the left.

It is easy to visit by car, and its large scale makes it suitable for families or gatherings with several people.

There is plenty of parking.

Opening hours

• 11:00 AM–8:30 PM
• Orders accepted until 2:50 PM
• Break time: 3:30–4:30 PM
• Last order: 7:30 PM
• Closed every Wednesday.
• If Wednesday falls on a public holiday, it closes the following Thursday instead.

Outside and inside the restaurant

You can spot signs for their signature Korean beef fresh bulgogi, Korean beef gukbap, and Hamheung-style naengmyeon (cold noodles).

This is a branch, and there is a display about the history of the original restaurant. It says the family came from the Hungnam pier during the Korean War to Ojang-dong, Seoul, and has passed down this long-running naengmyeon restaurant through three generations for 60 years. I suppose that is how the name Ojangdong Heungnamjip came about.

It was even featured on Wednesday Food Talk. And of course, I could not pass up the receipt-review event!

Here is the guide to using the self-service bar.

There is also a guide to enjoying mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup). Though it is Hamheung-style naengmyeon, it is made in the Pyongyang style, so the broth is mild; vinegar, sugar, and mustard are provided to add as you like. Sometimes mild is nice too, right? You can also add the prepared seasonings to suit your taste.

The Korean beef fresh bulgogi is a blend of the Ulsan Eonyang and Seoul styles, made with top-grade domestic beef. There is also a note recommending that you enjoy it dipped in the broth.

Menu and prices

The cold noodle dishes are ₩12,000. Korean beef gukbap is ₩12,000, or ₩16,000 for the special version, while Korean beef fresh bulgogi is ₩25,000 per person; the first order must be for at least two people.

Korean beef suyuk (boiled beef slices) is ₩49,000 for large and ₩35,000 for small. Ganjaemi hoe muchim (seasoned raw skate) is ₩18,000 for small and ₩28,000 for large.

Korean beef fresh bulgogi and ganjaemi hoe bibim naengmyeon

Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch is known for Korean beef fresh bulgogi, cold noodle dishes, and other Korean fare. This time, I ordered the Korean beef fresh bulgogi and ganjaemi hoe bibim naengmyeon.

The Korean beef fresh bulgogi uses only premium 1+ or 1++ Hanwoo beef and is seasoned as soon as you order, so the quality was excellent. Naturally, so was the taste.

The tender beef was well infused with a subtly sweet, savory seasoning, making it especially good alongside the cold noodles.

Rather than being aggressively salty or sweet, the seasoning stood out for letting the beef's natural flavor come through.

Once I started picking up pieces of the warmly cooked bulgogi, dipping them in the broth, and eating them in big mouthfuls, it was gone before I knew it.

One bite with fresh seasoned lettuce and shredded scallion, and the lettuce just kept disappearing.

I tried the glass noodles soaked in broth too, then had a bite with oyster mushrooms and shredded scallion, and another topped with bok choy.

Then I went for a big bite with glass noodles, mushrooms, green-onion kimchi, and pickled garlic scapes. After eating, I thought it was a dish that both young children and adults could enjoy without much fuss, making it a good fit for family meals or gatherings.

The ganjaemi hoe bibim naengmyeon, a Hamheung-style cold noodle dish topped with chewy ganjaemi raw skate, was another special treat that I ordered with the Korean beef fresh bulgogi. Its chewy noodles and skate came together with tangy, sweet, and spicy bibim sauce to really wake up my appetite.

Having the cold noodles after the rich, subtly sweet beef made my mouth feel much fresher. The skate's distinctive chewy texture matched the tangy seasoning beautifully, giving it a personality different from ordinary bibim naengmyeon.

What makes Ojangdong Heungnamjip special

The biggest appeal here is the naengmyeon: Hamheung naengmyeon with sweet-potato-starch noodles in a savory beef-bone broth, seasoned in a way that seems to value the harmony of ingredients over an aggressive hit of flavor.

The Korean beef fresh bulgogi had a subtly sweet soy-based savoriness that soaked naturally into the meat, while the cold noodle seasoning struck a lovely sweet, tangy, and spicy balance. The depth of the basic seasoning and combination of ingredients showed Ojangdong Heungnamjip's distinctive homemade touch.

If you are looking for somewhere to eat after an outing around Daecheong Lake, I would recommend Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch. With ample parking, Korean dishes, and a comfortable dining atmosphere, it works well for group gatherings or company dinners in Cheongju and feels easy to visit with family too. If you are looking for good food around Daecheong Lake, Sangdang-gu, or Cheongnamdae in Cheongju, consider adding Ojangdong Heungnamjip Cheongju Branch to your driving route.