Where to Eat

A new site

2010-12-13T19:24:00.001+09:00

I've created a new site for Where to Eat in Cheonan because I think this one is a bit confusing with everything not on the main page. I hope this new one will be easier to navigate.

And, I also have another site listing my favorite expat restaurants in Korea (mostly Seoul). Check it out here.

And...one last one about how to get foreign food in Korea. All the secrets unveiled!

Welcoming the Moon...Italian Restaurant

2010-12-02T07:36:00.000+09:00

A new restaurant just opened last week, downtown. It's in the building next to Club Sizi, on the second floor. They have wine, steaks, pizza and pasta. The good things about it are the impeccable service, amazing atmosphere and impressive wine selection. The bad thing was the overpriced, small portions of food. I tried both the pizza and cream pasta and they were just okay.

Anyway, I would go back if it was the only place in town. Except, it's not. For my hard-earned wons I'd much rather go to Cafe Riposo for the pizza, or Dono Marco for the pasta. Prices are similar at all three places, except you get substantially more food at Riposo and the Dono.

The most delicious duck I've ever eaten

2010-11-15T09:34:00.000+09:00

...can be found at Gwandeoksan, a local mountain just outside of Cheonan. It's so delicious because they slow-smoke it first over an open fire before they bring it your table. And, the side-dishes are amazing, especially the pumpkin and salad. They also have very good samgyeopsal and sausages.

Your menu options are basically a 1/2 or whole duck (40 000 Won), or a set of assorted meat (50 000/4 people).

How to get there? Take bus #600 from in front of the Yawoori until the very last stop. From the bus stop, walk up the hill down the road, continuing on in the same direction the bus was going. Walk for about 3-4 minutes and you'll see a big restaurant on your left-hand side. They have the fire thing going on out front.

Thai Restaurant in Baebang

2010-10-12T15:31:00.000+09:00

There's a new Thai restaurant that just opened up about a month ago. They have Singha beer, delicious green curry and spring rolls, decent pad Thai and lots of other stuff on the menu as well. The restaurant is beautiful and relaxing inside. It's run by a Korean guy, who grew up in Australia and spent a year and a half studying cooking in Thailand. The name is Baan Thai and the phone number is: 041-545-9797.

It's located in Baebang, 1/2 way between Cheonan and Asan. The easiest way to get there would be to take the subway to Baebang. Then, take a taxi from Baebang Station to Samsung Electronics (Baebang-Eup, Samsung Jeon-Ja). It's not far, maybe a 3000 Won taxi ride. Across the street from the main gate of the factory, you'll see a Family Mart and Samsung Kindergarten (Yu-Chi-Won). Walk between the two into the back street. Take your first right. Walk for 2 or 3 minutes and you'll see it on your right hand side (as an aside, there is a franchise of the most delicious Fry Pan right across from the Thai Restaurant).

The Fry Pan

2010-05-13T21:24:00.000+09:00

This place has the best fried chicken I've ever eaten in my life! Juicy and tender. The menu is small, only chicken (breasts/drumsticks or combo), homemade chips, salad and beer. Prices are decent...2 people can get a beer and a set for about 20 000 Won.

Directions: Go to the Baskin Robbins across the street from the Yawoori Department Store downtown. Walk 2 streets back. You'll see a small park on your right. Look around. You'll see a red sign with English writing, "The Fry Pan." It's on the first floor. There's a coffee shop above it. Hours are dinner/evening only.

All that BBQ

2009-08-09T21:27:00.002+09:00

A new Western Style restaurant just opened up about a month ago in downtown Cheonan. It's called "All That BBQ" and it's located right below the Art Gallery/Coffee Bean, next to the Yawoori.

The basic menu is a salad bar, for 9000-12000 won, depending on when you go. Salad, pasta, good bread, fruit and grilled veggies, rice dishes, soups, coffee, tea are all included. Everything was fresh and tasted great. It was a pretty good deal in itself.

Then, you can add on some BBQ ribs, scallops, shrimp, duck, pineapple or steak. The prices were very reasonable. I had some BBQ pork ribs, which were a generous, meaty portion for about 3000 won. My friend had scallops and shrimp and said they were amazing. Again, about 3000 won for a decent portion.

Draft beer is quite cheap as well.

Italian

2009-05-15T07:55:00.003+09:00

Update: I know this is an old entry but it's so delicious, it's worth another one!

There's a delicious Italian place, hidden away in the backstreets at the bus terminal. The owner actually lived in Italy for a bit, so it's the real deal.

Go to Dunkin Donuts, and walk straight down that back street (your back is at the YaWooRi) for about 3 or 4 blocks. It's on your right hand side, with a yellow sign. It's called Dono Marcos.

Nepalese/Indian

2009-05-15T07:53:00.002+09:00

A new restaurant just opened up this week. The food was delicious and the owners were cute and nice.

Go to the train station, courtyard side (with the tourist information). Go to the taxi stand and go under that main street so you're just opposite the taxis. Walk straight up the hill about 10 seconds. Look up, it's on the second floor. It's called Mount Fishtail. Please go, I don't want this place to shut down!

Food Courts

2007-03-15T13:34:00.000+09:00

Lotte Mart The big Lotte Mart in Dujeong Dong has a great foodcourt where you can get a variety of different foods for 4000-6000 Won. Sweet and Sour Pork, Spaghetti, Lasagna, Bibimbap, etc. Ordering is easy because there are replicas of all the food.

Vegetarian

2005-06-17T12:41:00.000+09:00

"Shigol eum-ma son dubu" (시골 엄마손두부) - This is the best tofu (Koreans call it dubu) restaurant in Cheonan. Order the "soon-dubu cheongshik" full course tofu meal for 6,000. All the side dishes were vegetarian friendly. Very satisfying. Located in Anseo-dong, near Hoseo University. (안서동 호서대 아래) Tel: 041-558-8833.

Korean

2005-05-24T13:16:00.000+09:00

Mashil (마 실) has traditional Korean dishes served on handmade pottery. Beautiful wood interior creates a cosy atmosphere. Order the "Cheong-shik" full course (시골밥상), which has about 20 separate dishes and rice served in bamboo. Cost is 12,000 for the "dwenjang" course or 13,000 for the "cheongkukjang" course. Located 5 minutes from Ssangyong High School in Ssangyong-dong. Tel: 041-571-7007.

"Deul ggot" (들 꽃) has delicious Korean food and a scenic location facing Mt. Taejo. Menu consists of "kalbi" (pork ribs) 12,000 won, "posut(mushroom) bulgogi" 11,000 and squid "sam bab" 10,000. After dinner take a stroll in the garden behind the restaurant and enjoy the evening air on the swings. Beside the restaurant is a nice coffee shop, Ivy League, that shows movies on an outdoor screen on Tuesday evenings. Located in Yuryang-dong, near the entrance to Mt. Taejo park (태조산 구름다리 밑). Tel: 041-522-0280.

Italian

2005-05-24T13:15:00.001+09:00

Dono Marco's Check it out for some delicious Italian food, just like back home. It's downtown, across the street from the bus terminal. Go to the Dunkin Donuts and head down the side street away from the terminal 3 or 4 blocks. It's on your right-hand side with a big sign. You can't miss it. The broccoli-salmon is highly recommended!

Cuchina's Italian Restaurant with an excellent chef and an intimate atmosphere. Great music and mood lighting. Make a reservation on Friday or Saturday nights. Located near Bong-seo Elementary School (봉서초드학교) Tel: 041-578-5556

Japanese / American

2005-05-24T13:13:00.000+09:00

Raw is a new Japanese - American style sushi roll restaurant. Yummy California rolls and salmon rolls are available. Located in Shinbudong, kitty corner from Zhaus. It's on the 2nd floor. Tel: 041-552-7724. Hours: 11 am -10 pm ( recommended by Julie)

Chain Restaurants

2005-05-24T13:11:00.002+09:00

Outback Steakhouse is across the street from the Express Bus Terminal on the second floor. Outback opened in December 2005 in Cheonan. It's a very busy and popular on weekends. They serve free wings to waiting patrons. It is possible to make a reservation at Outback and the have a new pager system too. You can get the Outback pager and wander around nearby stores, like the bookstore downstairs. Website

Pizza Hut has 2 locations in Cheonan. One is near the bus terminal, located in Yawoori department store. The other is 2 minutes from E-mart. Both Pizza hut locations are very popular in Cheonan. Be sure to go early around dinner time. Korean Website

Sorrento pasta restaurant. It's a chain restaurant with a bright cheery interior. Located in Dujong-dong. Sorrento's is one of the few places you can get pasta dishes in Cheonan. Tel: 041-558-3777 Ko rean Website

Fast Food Restaurants

2005-05-03T23:07:00.001+09:00

There are many places in Cheonan where you can get your fast food fix. There are a number of McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Popeye's, Subway and Lotteria restaurants in Cheonan.

Burger King is located in the Express Bus Terminal on the first floor. The Burger King is directly attached to the Express Bus Terminal so it's a convenient place to grab a burger before getting on the bus. There are always foreigners in Burger King.

KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) has two locations in Cheonan. KFC is located across the street from Yawoori and the other KFC is half a block from the Cheonan train station.

Lotteria is a Korean fast food chain. They make a popular Lotteria Bulgogi burger, which is made from pork and a sweet barbeque sauce. There are too many locations to

McDonald's Restaurants have put their stamp on Cheonan. There are a total of 5 McDonald restaurants in Cheonan. Located in the top floor of Yawoori Department Store, Megamart, E-mart, near the train station (by the old movie theatres) and near the Lottemart in Ssangyong-dong. McDonald's restaurants first came to Cheonan in 2001.

Popeye's is located on the top floor of Yawoori Department Store. There is only one Popeye's fastfood restaurant in Cheonan. Although there are several Popeye's Kalbi restaurants.

Subway Sub Sandwiches. Subway subs is a relatively new establishment in Cheonan. There is only one Subway location in Dujong-dong on the bus 111 route. They will deliver your Subway Sub if you have a large order. Tel: 041-568-7555.