Choga Mungteong Jjigae, Chuncheon: The Kimchi Stew Worth a 2-Hour Wait

A friend who lives in Chuncheon had been dying to take me to one restaurant. I did not expect to wait two hours for kimchi stew, but here we are. Choga Mungteong Jjigae in Sinbuk-eup serves a rich, deep stew where the kimchi and pork are perfectly balanced. It was worth the wait.

Name	Choga Mungteong Jjigae (초가뭉텅찌개)
Address	107-1 Yulmun-gil, Sinbuk-eup, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do 강원 춘천시 신북읍 율문길 107-1
Hours	10:30–21:30 (last order 21:00) · Break 16:00–17:00 · check closing days before you go
Phone	033-241-0078
Price	Mungteong jjigae ₩12,000 per person (minimum 2 servings)
Parking	Large lot next to the building
Paid by	Me — this is not a sponsored post

A log cabin on the main road

It is in Sinbuk-eup, a little outside central Chuncheon. The sign is visible from far down the main road. The building is made of logs, which matches the name. Choga means a traditional thatched-roof house. A big parking lot sits right beside it, so driving is easy. The opening hours are posted on the door.

The wait: be ready for it

I have to say this first. We arrived at 11 a.m. on a Sunday and still waited about two hours. Even right after opening, there was a long line. The restaurant has been on Korean TV several times, so many people drive in from other cities. Inside, every table was full. Waiting was honestly tough, but after eating, I understood the line.

Tip: go on a weekday if you can.

Menu and prices

– Mungteong jjigae ₩12,000 per person (order 2 or more) – Pork belly 180 g ₩17,000 – Sides: seasoned laver ₩500 · rice ₩1,000 · ramyeon noodles ₩1,500 · naengmyeon noodles ₩2,000 · fried rice (with pork belly) ₩2,000 · doenjang stew (after pork belly) ₩3,000 · mini dumplings ₩3,500 – Reservation-only (book 4 hours ahead): native chicken baeksuk (boiled chicken soup), dakdoritang (spicy braised chicken) or jjimdak (soy-braised chicken), ₩60,000 each – Drinks: soju, beer or makgeolli ₩4,000 · cheongha ₩5,000 · soft drinks ₩2,000

There were four of us, so we ordered four servings of the stew.

Side dishes and setup

Bean sprouts, seasoned cucumber and kimchi come first. The pot goes on a burner in the middle of the table. There are not many sides, but you barely need them. The stew alone is enough to make rice disappear.

What is mungteong jjigae?

Jjigae means stew, and mungteong describes something cut into big, chunky pieces. The pot comes packed with kimchi and thick chunks of pork shoulder, with tofu dusted in chili flakes, enoki mushrooms and crown daisy on top. As it boils, the broth turns deeper red.

The pork is incredibly tender

Lift a piece with the tongs and you will see how thick it is. It pulls apart easily without any chewiness, and long simmering has rendered out the fat. The portions are generous.

The aged kimchi steals the show

Honestly, this is what I remember most. Whole leaves of aged kimchi (mugeunji) go into the pot and stretch out long when you lift them. Because it is well-fermented, the sourness is deep and mellow. There is plenty of it, so eat as much as you like.

Broth and rice

The rice comes cooked with beans. The broth is rich but not salty, with kimchi and pork flavors in just the right balance. A bowl of rice vanishes fast.

Finish with noodles

When the stew runs low, add noodles to use up the broth: ramyeon for ₩1,500 or naengmyeon noodles for ₩2,000. We scraped the pot clean.

Zoapik’s verdict

– Mungteong jjigae ₩12,000 per person (2 or more): rich broth that is not salty – Very tender pork shoulder in big chunks – The aged kimchi is the highlight: deep, mellow sourness and lots of it – So good with rice that you will ignore the side dishes – Add noodles at the end and finish the broth – Big parking lot; featured on several Korean TV shows – Heads-up: very long waits. We arrived at 11 a.m. on a weekend and waited 2 hours. Go on a weekday if possible. – Heads-up: break time 16:00–17:00, and check closing days before visiting

The two-hour wait was worth it. If you are in Chuncheon, this kimchi stew is a must, ideally on a weekday.