How long did it take to travel from Seoul to 'Gamja-ui Jinsim Uirimji Branch' with a 5-year-old child?

We departed from Seoul at 9 AM, stopped once at a rest area, and arrived at the restaurant at 12:40 PM. Due to weekend travel, it took a total of about 3 hours and 40 minutes.

What are some good menu options for 5-year-old children at 'Gamja-ui Jinsim Uirimji Branch'?

The 'Children's Barley Rice' (Eorini Boribap) for kids is refillable and comes with seaweed flakes. 'Mandu' (dumplings) from the side menu were also mentioned as a good option for children to enjoy together.

What is the difference between 'Sun Ongsimi' and 'Jinsimi Sujebi' at 'Gamja-ui Jinsim Uirimji Branch', and which is recommended for those who like perilla?

'Sun Ongsimi' features chewy potato ongsimi (dumplings) in a savory perilla seed broth, and it was one of the author's top picks. 'Jinsimi Sujebi' is made without flour, giving it a uniquely chewy texture similar to glutinous rice. If you like perilla and prefer a chewy texture, 'Sun Ongsimi' would be a better fit.

Gamja-ui Jinsim Uirimji: Chungju's Family Potato Noodle…

Quick answer

Gamja-ui Jinsim (감자의진심) specializes in unique potato ongsimi and sujebi.
The pure Ongsimi (순옹심이) is highly recommended for its chewy texture.
Children can enjoy the Kids' Barley Rice (어린이보리밥) and dumplings.
Beware, the Ongjjolbokki (옹쫄볶이) is intensely spicy.
Located in Jecheon, near the scenic Uirimji Lake (의림지).

Starting Our Chungju Adventure with Potato Ongsimi!

Our Family Trip to Chungju & Jecheon Begins! ❤️

It's finally time for our long-awaited family getaway! Our last big trip was back in September 2025 to Jeongeup, so we were all eager for this adventure. This time, we set off from Seoul, heading towards the charming regions of Chungju (충주) and Jecheon (제천).

Our travel party included four adults and two energetic five-year-olds.

We departed from Seoul at 9:00 AM, made a quick stop at a rest area to stretch our legs, and our first destination was none other than Gamja-ui Jinsim (감자의진심)!

What's an absolute must-have on any great trip? Delicious food, of course! We were ready to kick off this adventure with a fantastic first meal. 😎

📍 Gamja-ui Jinsim (감자의진심) Uirimji Branch

618 Uirim-daero, Songhak-myeon, Jecheon-si, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea (도화리 일대)

Leaving Seoul at 9:00 AM and with a rest stop along the way, we arrived at the restaurant around 12:40 PM. It was a weekend, so the travel time was a bit longer, but arriving hungry made everything taste even better!

🩶 What We Ordered

1. Pure Ongsimi (순옹심이)

This was my top contender for the meal! The chewy potato ongsimi paired with a savory, nutty broth was absolutely perfect for my taste, especially since I love perilla seeds.

2. Jinsim Sujebi (진심이수제비)

This wasn't your typical wheat flour sujebi! Since it's made without flour, the texture was uniquely chewy, almost like glutinous rice. A delightful twist on a classic.

3. Ongjjolbokki (옹쫄볶이) 🌶️

The name alone made us curious enough to order this! However, be warned: this dish is SUPER spicy! Those who aren't fans of intense heat should definitely proceed with caution.

4. O-Gamja Jeon (오감자전)

Since we were at a potato specialty restaurant, we couldn't skip the potato pancake! We ordered this to truly savor the wonderfully chewy texture of fresh potatoes.

5. Gabrisal Suyuk (가브리살수육)

To complement our noodle dishes, we added a delicious pork belly dish!

6. Dumplings (만두)

A perfect side dish that even the kids could enjoy!

7. Kids' Barley Rice (어린이보리밥)

We made sure to order a special meal just for the little ones!

The Kids' Barley Rice is refillable and comes with seaweed flakes. Our kids devoured the meat and rice, leaving us completely satisfied!

🥔 Ongsimi vs. Sujebi: My Pick?

First off, I absolutely adore perilla seeds. I pretty much love any dish that features them, so I had high expectations for this meal, and honestly, every single item hit the spot! 😂

But if I had to choose just one? My vote goes to Ongsimi over Sujebi!

The unique, incredibly chewy texture of the ongsimi was just fantastic. The sujebi also had a different feel than typical wheat flour versions. Since it's made without flour, it had an almost glutinous rice-like chewiness. If you're used to regular sujebi, this might feel like a delightful surprise.

Both were delicious, but if forced to pick, I'm casting my vote for ongsimi! 🙋‍♀️

If you love perilla seeds and appreciate a wonderfully chewy texture, this is definitely the dish for you!

🩶 Chungju Travel Itinerary