Chungnam Sundae Sejong Review 2026: Local Soup Guide
Discover the local secrets of Chungnam Sundae in Sejong. Learn how to order, customize your broth, and beat the crowds at this famous Korean soup spot.
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Discover the local secrets of Chungnam Sundae in Sejong. Learn how to order, customize your broth, and beat the crowds at this famous Korean soup spot.
While preparing to move from Jeju Island to Sejong City, we made it a point to explore our new neighborhood and seek out the absolute best local dining spots.
Among all the recommendations, one name kept popping up at the very top of Sejong's culinary map: Chungnam Sundae, located in Geunnam-myeon.
This spot recently gained massive popularity after being featured on the hit Korean food show Jeon Hyun-moo's Plan. Naturally, my expectations were sky-high. Here is my honest review of this local favorite, along with some essential tips on how to order and customize your soup.
Item | Details |
Price | Sundae Soup ~$6 / Special ~$7 |
Hours | Mon-Sat 09:30 AM - 08:00 PM (Break time: 02:00 PM - 04:30 PM) |
Parking | Nearby public parking lot or street alley parking |
Recommended For | Lovers of hearty, offal-rich Korean soups |
Not Recommended For | Those who prefer clear broths or dislike chewy offal textures |
A few days before our visit, we watched the Sejong episode of Jeon Hyun-moo's Plan. Seeing the hosts devour their bowls of steaming hot soup made us incredibly curious about Chungnam Sundae.
We decided that our first dinner in Sejong had to be right here.
My husband and I arrived around 7:00 PM on a Friday evening.
While this spot is notorious for long lines during lunch hours and weekends, we got incredibly lucky and walked right in without any wait.
However, literally minutes after we sat down, a line started forming outside.
I watched a regular customer walk in, scan the room, and immediately grab a waiting ticket from the counter before heading back out to wait. It was a seamless, unspoken routine.
Seeing that level of familiarity made it immediately clear: this is a true local institution.
We both ordered the signature Sundae-gukbap (the basic version, which includes a mix of blood sausage and offal).
Talk about fast food! Our steaming bowls arrived just 2 minutes after ordering.
Even with a packed house, the kitchen operates with military efficiency.
First, I took a sip of the plain broth before adding any seasoning. To be honest, it tasted quite bland and uninspired at first.
Next, I added a spoonful of the seasoned green onion paste (pa-dadaegi).
On the TV show, the owner emphasized that this green onion paste is absolutely essential. While it added a nice herbaceous aroma and a bit of a kick, the soup still felt like it was missing its soul.
But then, I added two spoonfuls of wild sesame powder (deulkkae-garu), and the broth completely transformed!
The nutty, earthy flavor of the wild sesame tied everything together, instantly elevating the soup into something rich and deeply satisfying.
I grew up in Busan, where we typically eat pork soup (dwaeji-gukbap) without wild sesame powder. In fact, I usually avoid it because it can overpower the broth.
But here at Chungnam Sundae, the wild sesame powder is the magic key that unlocks the soup's full potential.
Pro-Tip for Maintaining the Perfect Temperature 💡
One of the highlights of this soup is the subtle sweetness that comes from the cooked green onions.
However, as the soup cools down, that sweetness becomes much more pronounced, which can make the broth taste slightly heavy or cloying toward the end.
To combat this, I highly recommend either dumping your entire bowl of rice in at the very beginning to keep the temperature up, or keeping the rice and soup completely separate as you eat.
I made the mistake of adding my rice in small portions, which cooled down the broth too quickly. The final few bites lost that piping-hot magic.
Next time, I am definitely dumping all the rice in right away!
The basic Sundae-gukbap here is packed to the brim with finely chopped offal. There are only a few pieces of actual blood sausage (sundae) in the bowl.
I personally love the chewy, rich texture of offal, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My husband, however, isn't a big fan of offal, so he found the sheer volume of chopped pieces a bit overwhelming.
To make sure you get the perfect bowl, use this ordering guide:
If you love offal: Order the Basic Sundae-gukbap (기본)
If you prefer meat over offal: Order the Sundae-meori (순대머리 - sausage + head meat)
If you want a bit of everything: Order the Jjamppong (짬뽕 - mixed)
Even though I enjoy offal, the ratio in the basic version was incredibly generous. Next time, I think I'll try the Jjamppong or Sundae-meori for a more balanced bowl.
Chungnam Sundae operates at lightning speed. The staff are quick, efficient, and loud when shouting orders back and forth.
If you prefer a quiet, slow-paced dining experience, the bustling, high-energy atmosphere might surprise you at first.
If there is a line when you arrive, head straight to the counter inside to grab a numbered ticket, then wait in the designated waiting room next door until your number is called.
📍 Chungnam Sundae
97-11 Yongpo-ro, Geunnam-myeon, Sejong
After visiting myself, I can confidently say that Chungnam Sundae easily earns its reputation as Sejong's top comfort food destination.
The massive crowds make total sense. The rich broth and incredibly generous portions of offal are a dream come true for traditional Korean soup lovers.
Just remember to customize your order if you aren't big on offal, and don't skip the wild sesame powder!
Now that we are officially Sejong residents, this will undoubtedly be our go-to spot whenever we crave a warm, comforting bowl of soup.
On our next visit, I'm excited to try the Jjamppong version and maybe order a side of their famous assorted steamed sundae (modeum-sundae)!
It is open from Monday to Saturday, 9:30 AM to 8:00 PM, with a break time from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM. For parking, you can use the nearby public parking lot or park in the alleys.
If there is a waiting line, you must first grab a number ticket next to the counter. After getting your ticket, wait in the waiting room next to the restaurant until your number is called to enter.
The basic Sundaegukbap (blood sausage soup) comes with a very generous amount of finely chopped offal, which might be overwhelming if you don't like it. If you prefer not to have offal, it is recommended to order 'Sundae Meori' (blood sausage and head meat) or 'Jjamppong' (a mix of everything).
Adding about two spoonfuls of perilla seed powder along with the green onion seasoning (dadaegi) enhances the savory flavor and brings out the taste of the broth. Also, as the broth cools down, the sweetness of the green onions becomes stronger, so it is better to mix the rice in all at once or eat it as Ttaro Gukbap (soup and rice served separately) to maintain the temperature.
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