Budae Jjigae, also known as Army Stew, is a Korean dish originating from the military bases of South Korea, particularly during the Korean War when U.S. soldiers shared their canned goods with locals. This unique stew is characterized by its unconventional combination of ingredients, blending items like sausages, spam, ramen, sweet potato noodles, and rice cakes in a flavorful broth made with meat, various vegetables, and gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes).
The dish often features a mix of crisp vegetables, spicy broth, and the rich flavors from ham, sausages, and other additions. Budae Jjigae’s distinct taste comes from the harmonious blend of these diverse ingredients. Typically, it is seasoned with gochugaru for spice, and soy sauce or salt for flavor.
Budae Jjigae is served alongside rice and is known for its generous portions. The dish is often enjoyed by mixing the rice with the flavorful broth. It can also be customized with different ingredients, providing a variety of options.
This dish has become a popular and beloved part of Korean cuisine, offering a unique and hearty dining experience. Budae Jjigae restaurants specialize in serving this flavorful stew, making it an iconic and cherished meal in South Korea, enjoyed by families, friends, and colleagues alike.
Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley Revisited
After a long time, I decided to revisit Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley. It had been a while since I last went to some of the restaurants, but I became curious and decided to give it another try.
Article and Photos by: Mingk
Compared to the past, it seems that the fame has somewhat diminished. Even on a weekend afternoon, it was surprisingly more relaxed than I had expected, though it might be due to the off-peak dining hours. Interestingly, there seemed to be a fair number of takeout customers.
Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley is easily found right after exiting from Exit 2 of Uijeongbu Jungang Station on the Gyeongui-Jungang Line.
There are a few well-known places, including Hongi Budae Jjigae, that I recognized even before visiting this time. However, places that were hyped as the best on Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley in the media turned out to be somewhat disappointing, indicating the need for some verification.
Having a decent parking facility was convenient. Many restaurants on Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley seemed to have designated parking spaces, addressing the inconvenience often associated with finding parking during meal times.
Even on a weekend afternoon, the street was relatively quiet around 4-5 pm.
This was my first time visiting this particular place, selected based on Naver reviews and ratings. The restaurant had a seating capacity for about 100 people across three floors.
Menu prices were reasonable at 10,000 won per person, including rice. Note that some places may not include rice in their servings. One of the advantages of Hongi Budae Jjigae is the unlimited refill of rice, and the portion seemed generous.
If visiting with three people, it’s worth considering ordering two servings with assorted side dishes and adding options like sweet potato noodles or other toppings.
After the initial serving of rice, you can help yourself to unlimited refills from a dedicated rice pot.
After adding sweet potato noodles and assorted side dishes, a substantial pot of Budae Jjigae was served.
Basic side dishes included fish cake, bean sprouts, and kimchi. The kimchi was particularly tasty. While other side dishes didn’t leave a strong impression, the owner’s thoughtfulness and friendliness stood out.
Personally, I had favored the Budae Jjigae at a restaurant in Dongducheon in recent years. However, rediscovering a hidden gem in Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley left a positive impression on me after a long time.
On this visit, ordering three servings for four people with assorted side dishes and adding ramen felt like a good decision.
The dish had a rich broth flavor, and the key factors were the broth, ham, sausages, and various additions like sweet potato noodles. The taste can vary significantly based on the saltiness of the ham, the ratio of meat in sausages, and the blending method used by different manufacturers.
Items like Spam and sausages play a crucial role in determining the taste of the stew, and the quantities were decent.
Items like fish cakes and dumplings may seem ordinary, but each ingredient contributes to creating a deep and flavorful taste.
In conclusion, after exploring various restaurants in Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley based on recommendations, I share my own review:
[Personal Review]
✔ The combination of ham, sausages, dumplings, and fish cakes blended well with the basic broth, creating a rich soup flavor.
✔ Parking, which used to be a challenge during previous visits to Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Alley, seems to have been addressed by many establishments.
✔ While most places offer a similar taste, a few verified ones stand out among the options.
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