Chungju's 3 Restaurants That Stopped a Food Expert Mid-Bite
When rapper and self-described obsessive eater Choi Ja — the man behind the "Choi Ja Road" YouTube channel with over 26 million cumulative views — agrees to appear on Korea's most-watched dining series, you know the episode is going to matter. Episode 322 of Sikhek Heo Young-man's Baekban Giyaeng sent him deep into North Chungcheong Province, to a city better known for apples than Instagram queues. He came back raving. This guide compiles every piece of practical information you need before you follow in his footsteps.
⚠️ Why Walking In Without a Reservation Is a Bad Idea
Baekban Giyaeng has a well-documented post-broadcast effect: Kakao Maps ratings flood in, SNS searches spike, and by the weekend after air date, typical waits stretch to one or two hours at the door. Choi Ja himself noted on the show that almost every restaurant he'd already loved had previously been visited by Baekban Giyaeng — which tells you something about how reliably this program finds places worth caring about. Check hours by phone before you drive, and book ahead wherever reservations are accepted.
At a GlanceAll Three Restaurants — Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Signature Dish | Reservation | Closed | Last Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silheewon | Mulberry Leaf Rice Set | Required | Every Monday | 6:50 PM |
| Namhangang Makguksu | Pure Buckwheat Noodles · Chive Pancake | Optional | Open year-round | 7:00 PM |
| Suanbo Daejanggun | Emperor's Pheasant Course | Required | Every Wednesday | 6:30 PM |
※ Hours and closures can change without notice — always call ahead on the day of your visit.
Restaurant One
🌿 Silheewon — Where Mulberry Meets a Centuries-Old Courtyard
실희원 · Silheewon
| 📍 Address | 26-6 Jodonjwitmalgil, Dongnyang-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do |
| 📞 Phone | 043-855-5556 | 010-8221-4623 |
| ⏰ Hours | 10:30 AM – 8:00 PM Last Order: 6:50 PM |
| 🚫 Closed | Every Monday · 2nd & 4th Tuesday of each month |
| 🍽️ Menu | |
| 🅿️ Parking | Free dedicated on-site parking |
What Makes Silheewon Worth the Drive
Silheewon sits inside a restored traditional Korean hanok, surrounded by a quiet garden that feels deliberately removed from the rest of Chungju. The kitchen grows its own mulberry leaves on-site and cooks entirely without artificial seasonings or MSG — a commitment that shows up clearly in the clean, layered flavors. The move that locals swear by: drizzle a little aged soy sauce over the mulberry rice and mix it through before your first bite. It's a small ritual, but it transforms the bowl. After lunch, the Chungju Lake scenic drive is an obvious — and excellent — next stop.
Watch Silheewon on YouTubeRestaurant Two
🍜 Namhangang Makguksu — 100% Buckwheat, Zero Compromise
남한강막국수 · Namhangang Makguksu (Jungangtap Main Branch)
| 📍 Address | 113 Jungangtapgil, Jungangtap-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do |
| 📞 Phone | 043-855-2359 |
| ⏰ Hours | 10:50 AM – 7:30 PM · Open year-round Break: 3:50 PM – 5:00 PM Last Order: 7:00 PM |
| 🚫 Closed | Open 365 days (confirm on major public holidays) |
| 🍽️ Menu | |
| 🅿️ Parking | Dedicated lots at front and rear · Jungangtap Historic Park lot also within walking distance |
Ordering Strategy at Namhangang Makguksu
The noodles here are milled and cut in-house from 100% buckwheat — no blending with wheat flour, which is still common practice at many makguksu spots. That purity means a deeper, earthier flavour in the noodle itself, and a broth that doesn't need to work as hard to impress. The standout order from the broadcast was the black sesame and perilla oil noodles: nutty, rich, and gentle enough that both teenagers and grandparents at the same table will finish their bowls. Pair it with the chive pancake (it arrives wonderfully crisp) and you've got a nearly perfect lunch. The Jungangtap Historic Park is right around the corner — a slow walk after eating is the obvious move.
Watch Namhangang Makguksu on YouTubeRestaurant Three
🦚 Suanbo Daejanggun — Five Generations of Pheasant Cookery
수안보대장군 · Suanbo Daejanggun
| 📍 Address | 105 Mireuksonggye-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si, Chungcheongbuk-do |
| 📞 Phone | 010-8546-1905 |
| ⏰ Hours | 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM Break: 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM Last Order: 6:30 PM |
| 🚫 Closed | Every Wednesday |
| 🍽️ Menu | |
| 📅 Reservations |
Weekdays: Call by the day before Weekends & Holidays: Call at least two days in advance |
Why the Pheasant Course is Unlike Any Other Meal in Korea
Suanbo Daejanggun has been in continuous operation for over a century, passing through five generations of the same family near Suanbo Hot Springs. Long before Baekban Giyaeng arrived, this was the kind of place Chungju residents drove an hour to reach for milestone dinners. The Emperor's Course unfolds over several dishes — pheasant sashimi, hand-formed dumplings, a vivid five-colour noodle stir-fry, and a silky mulberry leaf porridge to close — and the kitchen has clearly refined each one over decades rather than seasons. On the show, Choi Ja reached for specialist language to describe what he was tasting: umami that builds from the back of the tongue, and a seasoning philosophy that keeps the meat's own flavour centre-stage. Pairing the meal with a soak at the adjacent Suanbo hot spring resort is, frankly, the only way to end the day.
Watch Suanbo Daejanggun on YouTubeAddresses
🗺️ All Three Locations at a Glance
-
1
Silheewon
26-6 Jodonjwitmalgil, Dongnyang-myeon, Chungju-si -
2
Namhangang Makguksu (Jungangtap Main Branch)
113 Jungangtapgil, Jungangtap-myeon, Chungju-si -
3
Suanbo Daejanggun
105 Mireuksonggye-ro, Suanbo-myeon, Chungju-si
📌 These three restaurants are in different corners of the city — map your route before you leave to avoid backtracking.
🚗 One-Day Chungju Food Route
Start your day in the countryside with the mulberry leaf rice set. The courtyard and garden are worth arriving a few minutes early to wander before your table is ready.
A bowl of buckwheat noodles doesn't take long, which leaves you time to walk off lunch at the Jungangtap Stele — one of the tallest surviving stone pagodas in Korea.
Close the day with the Emperor's pheasant course, then cross the road to Suanbo Hot Springs. There is no better way to finish a long day of eating.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just walk into Silheewon without calling ahead?
The café space is open to walk-ins, but the dining room (where the mulberry leaf rice set is served) operates by phone reservation only. Call 043-855-5556 or 010-8221-4623 at least one day before your visit — ideally two days, since post-broadcast demand can book the place out quickly.
Is there parking at Namhangang Makguksu?
Yes — the restaurant maintains dedicated parking at both the front and rear of the building. The Jungangtap Historic Park lot is also a short walk away if those fill up. On weekend peak hours, booking via Naver Reservation is the simplest way to avoid a long queue.
How much does the Emperor's Pheasant Course cost at Suanbo Daejanggun?
Course pricing is per-person and can change seasonally, so the most accurate figure comes from calling the restaurant directly at 010-8546-1905 when you make your reservation. Since the course spans multiple dishes — pheasant sashimi, dumplings, japchae, and porridge — the price scales with group size.
Is Chungju worth visiting just for the food, or should I build a longer itinerary?
The city earns a day trip on food alone, but it rewards a longer stay. Chungju Lake (Chungju-ho), the Jungangtap Stone Pagoda, Suanbo Hot Springs, and the surrounding mountains all sit within easy reach. Autumn, when the apple orchards and lake scenery peak, is arguably the ideal time to visit.
- Call Silheewon and Suanbo Daejanggun to confirm your booking — phone-only reservations, no online option.
- Check each restaurant's hours on the morning of your visit; unscheduled closures do happen.
- All three venues are in different parts of Chungju — plan your driving route before leaving.
- Seasonal ingredients mean menus shift slightly through the year; ask what's fresh when you call.
- Post-broadcast weekend crowds are real — earlier weekday visits are significantly calmer.
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