Today let’s learn about cooking budae jjigae (부대찌개) at home! Budae jjigae, or army base stew, is delicious meat stew in Korea. Since this dish is one of Korea’s most popular hot pots, you can find many places to try this spicy goodness, but it is even better at home! About the South of Seoul “A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. However, time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Budae Jjigae 부대찌개 The name of this stew comes from the two Korean words: budae (부대), a term meaning base or army, and jjigae (찌개), a term meaning soup or stew. Therefore it is no surprise, that budae jjigae is often referred to as army base stew, soldier stew or army stew. Simply put, budae jjigae is a Korean fusion stew that uses many American processed products, like Spam, hot dogs, sliced American cheese, and canned pork and beans. After the Korean war (1950 to 1953), food was in short supply in Korea. The processed foods that were around were imported by the military. Since the Koreans had access to these foods, they used them to create this delicious stew. We believe two versions came about around the same time, Songtan style and Uijeongbu style. Uijeonbu is most famous for this stew and even has a street dedicated to this goodness! Even though there are two versions, they are unique dishes themselves. The Songtan version includes fewer ingredients and requires less time to put together and cook. The Uijeongbu version has a little more work involved. However, the flavor that develops is fabulous. Traditionally, this dish is cooked on the table at the restaurants on a gas stove. This enables you to be able to enjoy the dish family style. Also, you can choose to add ramen or cook stir-fried rice at the end. Biggest Hurdle in Cooking Budae Jjigae When trying to decide what the biggest hurdle for cooking this dish was, we decided that it was determining: Once you make your decision, the dish is relatively easy to put together and then enjoy! Four Recommended Cooking Budae Jjigae Videos to Watch We were so excited to make this dish at home. Even though there are a great deal of processed ingredients, we love this dish and really wanted to be able to make it at home. After we cooked the Songtan version of budae jjigae, we knew that we had to try the Uijeongbu version since neither of us had had it before. The Uijeongbu version includes more vegetables, rice cakes, tofu and pork and beans. Honestly, it is a flavor onto its own when it cooks. Also, you add the ramen noodles in earlier in this dish. However, the Songtan version adds the ramen noodles once you have mostly broth left in the pot. Adding an additional slice of cheese in when you cook the ramen gives that broth an amazing flavor and it coats the noodles perfectly. Korean American Cooking Budae Jjigae Korean Cooking Budae Jjigae American in Korea Cooking Budae Jjigae Uijeongbu Budae Jjigae Songtan Budae Jjigae Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you make budae jjigae for the first time at home, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it turned out! Also, if you live in Pyeongtaek, you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. If you are looking for other dishes (Korean or otherwise) or reviews of restaurants, be sure to check out the KimchiRednecks channel or check out our social media accounts on Facebook or Instagram, where we often share what we are cooking or eating. Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Are you looking for the best budae jjigae 부대찌개 restaurants in the Pyeongtaek area? Then, here are eleven spots where you can find this hearty, spicy army base stew. Where is Pyeongtaek? Feel free to skip this section if you live in Pyeongtaek or know about the area. Pyeongtaek-si is located in the southern portion of the Gyeonggi-do province. This large city includes both US military installations, Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. The budae jjigae restaurant recommendations provided exist within the city of Pyeongtaek. Therefore, In this blog post, South of Seoul provides addresses and phone numbers. However, we recommend using this information in either Naver Maps or Kakao Maps for the best results. As a result, such apps help you figure out how far each restaurant might be from you. What is Budae Jjigae 부대찌개? The name of this stew comes from the two Korean words: budae (부대), a term meaning base or army, and jjigae (찌개), a term meaning soup or stew. Therefore it is no surprise, that budae jjigae is often referred to as army base stew, soldier stew, or army stew. Simply put, budae jjigae is a Korean fusion stew that uses many American processed products, like Spam, hot dogs, sliced American cheese, and canned pork and beans. After the Korean war (1950 to 1953), food was in short supply in Korea. So, the processed foods that were around the area were imported here by the military. Since the Koreans had access to these foods, they used them to create this delicious stew. We believe two versions came about around the same time, Songtan style and Uijeongbu style. Uijeonbu is most famous for this stew and even has a street dedicated to this goodness! Even though there are two versions, they are unique dishes themselves. Most often you will find the Songtan style around Pyeongtaek, however there are locations that serve Uijeongbu style. Traditionally, this dish is cooked on the table at the restaurants on a gas stove. This enables you to be able to enjoy the dish family style. Also, you can choose to add ramen or cook stir-fried rice at the end. Budae Jjigae Restaurants in Pyeongtaek * Please note that Abujji Budae Jjigae is a Take-Out only restaurant. KimchiRednecks Budae Jjigae Videos We both love budae jjigae. Since it is a meat-heavy stew, we do not eat it as often except for a few times a year. Currently, we have only videoed one location locally, which is our favorite. Still, since this list is extensive, we will definitely be checking out more of the options above for variety. Also, we recently made both versions of budae jjigae at home. However, we determined that both had profiles we enjoyed. As someone who had a very low spice level prior to living in Korea, the idea of this spicy stew was a bit overwhelming. However, I found eating it with rice and having a cup of water available to add to my broth reduced the spice to a tolerable level for me. Now, my spice level is much higher so I no longer have to dilute the broth when we eat out! However, if you check out our YouTube channel, you can find other restaurant reviews, cooking videos, and much more. Also, we update content regularly and enjoy sharing our love of Korea and the culture. How to Source Additional Information About These Locations Whenever you have questions about things like business hours, you can use the free foreigner support app/phone number 1330. In addition, this is really helpful especially around holidays to make sure if a business will be open when you want to visit. With this app, you can prevent a wasted trip to a location when they are enjoying their regular day off or a holiday. A Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. The time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. Be sure to follow the series so you can add some delicious Korean dishes to your weekly meal plans! Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. While this list of budae jjigae restaurants in Pyeongtaek is not comprehensive of the entire area, we may have missed your favorite spot. Therefore, make sure to share with the community and share your favorite spots with us! Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Are you looking for the best spicy Korean stews/soups to keep you warm all winter long? Whether you want to eat out or make it at home, we have you covered. Spicy Korean Stews/Soups for Winter Winter is coming and when it does you are going to be thanking us for this post. When the temperature drops and your butt freezes, there are five Korean stews/soups we recommend to chase the blues away. They are spicy, ass kicking soups that make you feel like you are being hugged by an angry grandmother from the inside out. These are the dishes we crave and eat in mass all winter long. At this point we don’t know how we ever lived without them. And if spicy stews/soups are not your thing, make sure to check out 5 NOT Spicy Korean Soups for Winter. Kimchi jjigae 김치찌개 This is not for the timid, but it is the ruler of them all. When we first arrived in Korea we thought this stew was too much, but now it’s what we crave more than anything when the weather gets cold. There is just no way of replacing this unusually, delicious stew. It’s spicy, tangy, sweet, and rich. This soup is often eaten for breakfast because it sets you up to have a good day. Where We Like to Eat It: If you are in the Pyeongtaek area, make sure to check out our blog with ten locations for you to enjoy the deliciousness of kimchi jjigae. KimchiRednecks show you how to make Kimchi Jjigae at home Budae Jjigae 부대찌개 Now, if meat is what you are all about, then you want to go for some good old fashioned soldier stew. This dish doesn’t try to be fancy. It originated during the Korean War when they were making food out of scraps left by soldiers. It’s pure brilliance. If you are a food snob, don’t even bother. This is all about cheap hotdogs, sausages, and ramen noodles. OMG we want some just talking about it.  Songtan is also known for having the best budae jjigae in the country so it’s the perfect place to try it. Where We Like to Eat It: If you are in the Pyeongtaek area, make sure to check out our blog with eleven locations for you to enjoy the hearty budae jjigae. KimchiRednecks show you how to make Budae Jjigae at home Sundubu Jjigae 순두부찌개 We call this “Angry Care Bear clouds” in soup. It’s often super spicy but the soft tofu feels so comforting you’re not sure if you are in love or angry. Unbelievably awesome to eat in January and there is an especially fabulous version in Pyeongtaek not far from AK Plaza. If you are in a hurry though, this is a great dish to grab at any Korean lunch counter. Where We Like to Eat It: KimchiRednecks show you how to make Sundubu Jjigae at home Dakdoritang 닭도리탕/Dakbokkeumtang 닭볶음탕 Not exactly a soup or stew by Korean standards, but it is by ours so it makes the list. This dish can be hard to come by as it often has to be ordered ahead and is made for 3-4 people (also making it expensive on the menu). The chicken will simply melt in your mouth and the heat from this dish will keep you warm all day long. We love to go to a restaurant and order this on a weekend with friends. Especially if we have been playing outside in the cold. Where We Like to Eat It: Maangchi shows you how to make Dakbokkeumtang at home Yukgaejang 육개장 This winter classic is filled with stewed beef and unique Korean vegetables. Known for being VERY spicy and hearty. The mountain ferns give the dish and unique earthy flavor that you will either love or hate. Once again, this is for those who love Korean food and unique flavors. Where We Like to Eat It: KimchiRednecks show you how to make Yukgaejang at home Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group Share your adventures with the best spicy Korean stews/soups with our community at Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. Join the South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

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If you enjoy spicy, garlic-y, comfort food this is your jam. Budaejjigae (부대찌개), often translated into Soldier Stew, is a spicy meat stew originally made from base scraps during the Korean War. It is now a very popular, hearty meal very popular on cold or rainy days. In our house, it’s a huge favorite and we have tried it across Korea. In the five years that we have searched for the perfect Budaejjigae, we have never found anything better than these three versions in Songtan.  Our top three choices are each uniquely delicious, but all share a richness in flavor that is hard to match. 김네집 (KimNaeJeep) – Walking distance from Osan Main Gate The most popular place in Songtan is 김네집 located in a back ally just off the main shopping strip in Songtan. Just before the train tracks you go right and then take another right into an alley that looks like it couldn’t possibly be a delicious restaurant. However, there is often a long line of people waiting to get it during lunch and dinner so go early if you want to be seated quickly. There are two floors, so just because downstairs is full doesn’t mean there is no seating. Check out additional imagines on this Korean blog. Address: 경기도 평택시 중앙시장로25번길 15 Street Address: 경기도 평택시 신장동 322-38 Phone Number: 031-666-3648 숯고개부대찌개 – Walking distance from Osan Main Gate This is actually our favorite location because it has more garlic than most.  Its located on the main shopping strip in Songtan past the train tracks on the left across from the auction house. Once again, this restaurant has two floors so check upstairs for seats as well. Street Address: 경기도 평택시 신장동 325-12Driving Address: 경기도 평택시 쇼핑로 39-1Telephone: 031-666-2768  송탄최네집 부대찌개 – Walking distance from City Hall / Lotte Cinema We love this version because it’s a little lighter than the first two and tastes very fresh. It’s nice in the summer when we feel like a little less garlic. The onions are also just delicious and a highlight. We have eaten a lot of Korean food so things like the quality of the onions stands out to us. They also have Dr. Pepper which is usual and a plus. You can see more photos on this Korean blog. This is a good location if you aren’t sure you are ready to go full garlic. Address: 경기도 평택시 경기대로 1401  Street Address: 서정동 779-3

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In our lives, when it’s rainy or cold, there are two things we eat: Budae Jjigae and Kimchi jjigae. Thankfully, Songtan is one of the best places ever for Budae Jjigae / 부대찌개 (also known as soldier stew) since it’s where it all started. We have eaten this dish everywhere we go, but one of our all-time favorite places (maybe our favorite ever) is at the end of the shopping street in front of Osan Air Force Base.  It’s on the left and you will miss it if you blink.  The restaurant is two stories, very small, with seated tables on the first floor and floor seating on the second.  We recommend ordering at least one round of ramen noodles with the stew as they soak up the flavor perfectly. If you don’t know what Budae Jjigae is, it’s a spicy stew made with sausages, spam, and ham, onions, scallions, and deliciousness. It’s a lot of food so come hungry!

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