Cheonan Korean restaurant for cheesy Songtan budae-jjigae: Cheongwon

I returned to Cheongwon Restaurant: Cooking Budae-jjigae, Cheonan Dujeong Main Branch with my parents for a weekend meal. This time, we chose Songtan budae-jjigae (army stew), tasted the broth as it came, then added cheese noodles to enjoy how the flavor changed.

Is it easy to reach from Dujeong Station, and is parking available?

Cheongwon Restaurant is near Dujeong Station and was also easy to reach by bus. There was room for about three cars in front of the restaurant, and nearby side streets or paid parking lots were also options.

What are the menu, takeout, and unlimited-refill conditions?

At the time of my visit, takeout was available from two servings, with a ₩2,000 discount. When dining in, rice and ramyeon noodles were unlimited, so I thought it would be useful to choose based on how much you plan to eat and whether you want refills.

There were two types of budae-jjigae: Songtan budae-jjigae and Cheongwon budae-jjigae. Orders had to match the number of diners, excluding preschool children, and we chose the standard Songtan budae-jjigae.

How do you get more rice and side dishes?

The staff brought out rice and side dishes at first. If we needed more, we could get them from the self-service bar; for the fish-cake side dish, the staff would bring out a freshly warmed serving if asked.

A generous amount of broth was set beside the table, making it easy to add more when needed. I could not photograph the add-on menu at the restaurant, so I used an image from Cheongwon Restaurant's Naver Map listing. The included add-ons felt sufficient to us, so we added only two cheese noodle portions.

The self-service bar had two kinds of side dishes, ramyeon noodles, and rice, as well as chargers and aprons. It was kept tidy, so it was easy to pick up what we needed. Hair ties were also available at the counter.

What service did we receive for arriving early?

My family usually eats early, so we arrived just before 11:30 a.m. that day as well. While we waited after ordering, the staff served us rolled omelet as a complimentary item, and it was 11:32 when I checked the time. Its familiar ketchup-accompanied flavor went well with the budae-jjigae. My original post said that rolled omelet was also available through a review event, but I did not record the exact time cutoff or event conditions.

How were the portion and broth of the Songtan budae-jjigae?

The budae-jjigae arrived with its lid on. Following the instruction not to open it ourselves, we ate the side dishes while waiting, then a staff member told us it was ready and opened the lid.

There was plenty of ham and sausage, and the minced meat was memorable too. The broth was rich but clean-tasting. I usually expect budae-jjigae to leave me feeling uncomfortable afterward, but this one did not feel heavy for me. I was also satisfied with the ham and sausage.

How does adding cheese noodles change the flavor?

The original broth was good, but I thought of the flavor of sliced cheese in budae-jjigae and added two portions of cheese noodles.

As the cheese melted, the broth became noticeably creamier and richer. The clean flavor of the original broth and the fuller flavor with cheese were different, making it enjoyable to try them in that order.

On my previous visit, I also enjoyed the ramyeon noodles, but this time I ate it with rice alongside my parents. I had two bowls of rice and did not add ramyeon noodles. What stayed with me was that it did not leave me feeling uncomfortable afterward and that I could enjoy the broth in two different ways.