What Is It?
Budae Jjigae (부대찌게 AKA Army Stew) is spicy stew with spam, sausage and any kind of meat that is American.
It has become a staple in Korean cuisine, but it has a kind of sad history behind it. During the Korean war, Koreans didn’t have abundant food.
Near the American base, the soldiers would give left over spams and sausages to the poor Koreans. So they invented into something now called 부대찌게 (Budae Jjigae aka. Army Stew).
Where Should I Eat Budae Jjigae (Army Stew) in Seoul, Korea?
Gemsung Budae Jjigae (금성 부대찌게)
My favorite is in Sinsadong which is called 금성 부대찌게. There are many different versions you can find now in Seoul like Myeongdong or Hongdae, but this restaurant kept it traditional.
It has a very thick and heavy taste. Because they use a lot of pepper, it can be spicy, but not too spicy. There are not only known for their army stew, but famous for their grilled sausage. It is very heavy and addicting, so be careful you don’t get addicted to their flavor fave!
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Also, it is well known for a lot of celebrities to come and visit, because of the location. It is close to many entertainment companies, and a lot of celebrities come here in disguise. So when you go may be look around other tables if you can spot anybody lol.
They also have bacons and sausage grilled. That is personally my favorite dish. tried at home but for some reason the taste isn’t the same.
Nolboo Budae Jjigae & Cheolpangui (놀부 부대찌게와 철판구이 )
This restaurant has been around for 30 years and became a franchise mogul now. I used to go here with my family for dinner and it was just a normal army stew restaurant. I never would think that it would become this big.
Nolboo Has Been Around Since the 80s
Nothing really has changed except the menu has grown with other stuff. But I would just order army stew (I haven’t tried other dishes). They sell discounted vouchers online which is like 50 cents cheaper. I think it’s great especially where the customers are mostly locals, so sometimes it can be hard to communicate with the waiters.
Bada Sikdang (바다 식당)
Bada Sikdang is another famous army stew restaurant in Itaewon. They put canned bean in the soup, so it has a bit of a sweeter taste. They call it the Johnson Stew. Personally, I don’t like sweets, so I don’t go here much. But with the lines outside people waiting, you can tell it is a popular place.
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Uijeongbu, Korea (의정부)
This is not a restaurant but a town. The army base was here back in the days and the army stew originated from here. There is a small street with hundreds of Budae Jjigae restaurant here. You can go here and try it, but it is a bit far out from where you are probably staying. I have personally never been, but if you want to know the best restaurant in Uijeongbu, let me know below comment. I will ask my friend who lives there for recommendation 🙂
How Does It Taste Like and How Do You Eat It?
Army stew basically taste like a mild Kimchi Stew that has a lot of pork in it, because of the spam. If you are not into spam, or cheap canned sausage, it will not be your cup of tea.
You just have to order two people’s portion. But always add ramen into the soup. That is the best part when the ramen soaks in the tasty soup. Just writing about it right now is making me hungry!
Some restaurants let you make it into fried rice, but it is not common. At Gemsung Budae Jjigae (금성 부대 찌게) has their special grilled bacon or sausage. It is like really on fleek. If you get to go here, don’t forget to order the grilled bacon or sausage (Or both).
With the long and sad history behind it, if you want to experience some Korean history, you can definitely try it while in Korea. If you want to know more about it or want to go near your neighborhood, please let us know below comment. We are more than happy to help you! Also, if you have tried it what did you think of the army stew?
Ask Us Anything about Restaurants! We are More than Happy to Help!
If you have any more questions about Army Stew, please let us know below comment. Also, if Gem Sung Budae Jjigae is too far from your hotel or Airbnb, please let us know below and we will help you find the best one near your neighborhood.
We are working on 50 food types in Korea. There are probably more than 100 different types of food, but because of the time constraint, I chose 50 of my favorite food. You can check it out here!
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Gem Sung Budae Jjigae (금성 부대찌게)
Tel: +82 2-547-4872
Addy: South Korea, Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Apgujeong-dong, Apgujeong-ro 46-gil, 5-12