18 Beonji Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew)

Who can resist Korean savory, salubrious and spicy stew~?!!

Though my tolerance of spicy food is low, but I don't mind bear the spiciness and pain inside my ears for yummy foods. Especially in Korea, they've so many type of stews as they are part of almost every Korean meals. It's easy to find too as they are mostly available at food stalls or restaurants. 

We'd tried these famous stews like:  Kimchi Stew (김치찌개), Korean Bean Paste Stew (된장 찌개), Soft Tofu Stew (순두부찌개). We'd tasted Maeuntang and Samyetang which can be considered as stews because they're thicker and tangier.

Must eat foods in Korea: Stew, stew and still~ stew!!!

But... we never tried Korean Army Stew (부대찌개 = Budaejjigae). Not that I don't know this famous stew. But, this stew is more like fusion Korean-American dish because they put Spam and cheese on it. I just couldn't imagine the taste. Therefore, I got this mixing feeling to try and not to try as I'm quite picky on food and don't really like weird mixing taste~!

My hubby googled popular foods in this district. Out of the listed foods,  he picked this stew quite  as we never eat this before. For the conservative me, I actually prefer familiar foods but...

It seemed like 18 번지 부대찌개 heard my hubby's selection, 

and quickly appeared in front of our eyes!

  

 

I left me with no chance and excuse to change to other cuisine

as he walked to 18 Beonji Budae Jjigae menu banner.

   

It's on second floor of this building...

        

Just follow the arrows for direction...

      

Spicy taste or Soft taste or Beef or Hand-made Sausage Stew |

add-on ingredients for Stew and Duruchigi | Drinks.

         

Pork Belly Duruchigi / Roll sausage / Grill minced Beef Rib /

Steamed potato Dumplings / Steamed Egg.

      

 Recommended Set Menu at cheaper price.

 

Ordered Spicy Taste Sausage Stew (18 번지 부대찌개) with 18 ingredients in it. 

The price is KRW 7,000 / person.

The waitress served rice, ice water and 4 types of side dishes: 

Fish cake (오뎅 = Odeng), pickled onion, thinly sliced pickled radish, 

and cubed kimchi radish (깍두기 = Kkakdugi).

Five minutes later, the waitress carried nicely arranged ingredients
on this large pan and a jug of broth on another hand. Then she put it on
top of the stove, poured the broth, covered the lid and on the fire to boil them.

  Western ingredients such as SPAM, sausage, cheese, canned American beans, macaronis

mixed with local ingredients including kimchi, rice cakes (ddeok), tofu,

and gochujang paste, spring onions, minced garlic, sliced onion for seasoning.

Spicy savory Army Stew... Are you salivating? ;P

Ready to ATTACK~!!!

This stew was named Budae Jjigae (부대찌개), because it was most commonly found nearby American Army Bases. The soup was also called the 'Johnson Tang (존슨 탕)' combining surname of former American president Lyndon B. Johnson and Tang (탕 = Soup).

Budae Jjigae is one of Korea’s leading fusion dishes.  This dish also embodies 

the memories of the Korean War. It's originated during famine years of the war. 

They made this dish by combining leftover meat such as Spam and sausages 

discarded from U.S. Army bases with others available ingredients...

As usual, we never waste food!
Please remember how precious was this stew during the war time.

At first I was so worried to try this jjigae. You know I'd this peculiar principle of eating food. My first tasting of the food is super important that resulted either I'll continue to it or it'll be the first and the last time. For examples Durians and Singapore Laksa... I tried them once, but they failed or not suitable to my palate.

However, if I like that particular food at the first try, even the subsequent places not serving it as good as what I expected, I'll still give chances and keep eating it. It's like how I love Penang Asam Laksa!

Ok, my worry was unnecessary! Perfectly mixed and matched of East and West ingredients created  yummy and tantalizing fusion-taste stew. 

We actually wanted to add-on Samgyupsal, but they said pork belly only available for Duruchigi add-on and not for Budaejjigae. So, we skipped it since we don't really like to add others items available for Budae Jjigae. 

 Wow, there were so many celebrities had their meals and recommended this stew!

If you want to try Korean Army Stew, do come here! Maybe you can kill 2 birds with one stone. I think it's higher possibility to see the above idols dining here than on the streets :P

I'll be coming back for sure!!!

We really enjoyed this savory and satisfying Army Stew. It's affordable too and they even offer unlimited refill of rice and ramen. We didn't ask for refill, as that portion of rice is about what we eat normally.

Service was excellent too... the waitresses diligently checking and controlling the heat until it's cooked and ready for us to enjoy this tasty stew. Two thumbs up and highly recommended! ^^

 18 Beonji Budae Jjigae (18번지부대찌개)

Add: 서울시 서대문구 창천동 18-1번지 2층

Seodaemun-gu, Changcheondong 18-1 (2nd floor)

Reservations Phone: (02) 312-0717

Sinchon Station (Exit 3)

I still not used to the dry and cold winter especially at night time.

Happy to see a cart selling hot snacks to chase away the chill~!

Cute happy Koi Bread (행복한 잉어빵): "I'm sweet!"

Me: "Want want you chu~ Want you I want you~!" (ala Entoi Want You Song).

We ate this sweet egg bread (계란빵) at Hongdae. It's one of my daughter's favorite snacks.

 

Bought 2 cute Koi Breads with sweet red bean paste filling.

It's actually similar to Fish Bread (붕어빵 = Bungeoppang) or 

Chrysanthemum Bread (국화빵 = Gukhwappang). 

They are just varied in the shapes ^^

 Do you prefer to eat this Koi Bread from the head or the tail first?

Related Posts:

~ Soft Tofu Stew and Pork Ribs Haejangguk 

~ Egg Bread (계란 빵 = Gaeran Bbang)

~ Korean Sugar Pancakes (호떡 = Hotteok)

~ Chrysanthemum Bread (국화빵 = Gukhwappang)

 

Incheon - Soraepogu Traditional Fish Market (소래포구 어시장)

Ms Kim was so nice to drop us to Incheon with her cute baby blue mini Cooper after Fusion Hanbok photo taking. Actually, they're heading to Lotte World, but she's driving us to Soraepogu instead of Oryu-dong station just because she knew that I love to go to beach.

"The sun hangs on the flags of ships returning to a port leaving behind the sun. You might think the ships are carrying the sun. At that moment, let's turn to the railroad bridge... Lean your body towards Siheung and Wolgot, and then turn your head to the right and hold your breath. You would enjoy the sun setting in Sorae that paints the small mountains and the sea with beautiful colors" (Source: Soraepogu Map)

Fishing boats at Soraepogu Traditional Fish Market (소래포구어시장) 

Though it's near to Incheon metropolitan city, Soraepogu still maintaining the atmosphere of an old fishing village. 

Our top priority was to hunt for food as we're starving to the max! I might had took out the red bean breads that my friend bought for breakfast when tidy up my bag... 

Luckily, we still have some strawberries for breakfast!

From Soraepogu Station, we walked and asked direction to the beach. And what we found was this traditional market near the fishing port. 

Busy Soraepogu alleyways with stalls selling fresh seafood, various types of Kimchi, 

Crab Marinated in Soy Sauce (간장게장) and street food.

Quite similar to Jumunjin Fish Market in Gangneung, you can also buy fresh seafood at reasonable price here. It's just more crowded and busier here... maybe because it's Saturday and near to Incheon and Seoul.

Wow~~~ Surprise! see what we found here?!

Locals were sitting on the mat and having their freshly cut sashimi just in front of the stalls. It looked quite fun and you won't experience this everyday (no such place to dine like this in Singapore). 

This type of place is kinda nostalgic for me because I grew up in Indonesia... Occasionally we'll dine out outskirts in open spaces like this at fishing villages or fish farms. But they didn't serve sashimi, you can opted to grill or fry or steam the fish. Normally they serve it with boiled vegetables (lalapan) like cabbage, long beans, tapioca leaf (daun ubi), papaya leaf (daun pepaya) and belacan (terasi).

We went to one of the stall to select seafood (fish and sea squirts). Then looked for a place to sit and wait for Ajumma to prepare our food.

some random photos while waiting... ㅋㅋ

You know?... sitting on the floor when eating can prevent you from over eating. Your stomach is pressed by your legs making it virtually impossible to eat full. It is better for your health~^^

Cheers~!!! 

 Super Fresh Sashimi - 20,000 Won

잘 ~~~ 먹겠습니다! ^^

It's nice to sit and  mingle with locals and enjoy our sashimi here with seagulls singing and cold sea breeze blowing to you.  Oh~ love it! 

Chrysanthemum-shaped bread filled with red bean paste (Gukhwappang = 국화빵 )

Blame the cold weather, I need something hot to munch. We found a cart selling this traditional street snacks. We bought Gukhwappang and my hubby tested the taste of boiled silkworm larvae (번데기 = Beondegi)... yiuuks~! 

Outside Soraepogu Fish Market.

Strolling around the city...

 Seafood restaurants along the street.

Fisherman (어부) sculpture.

 Sauna, hotels and motels...

 Map of Incheon Metropolitan City

Key Attraction: 

~ Incheon Bridge (인천대교)

   The world's 5th largest bridge, selected as "10 Wonders of the Construction World"

   Incheon Bridge, the "Red Carpet" towards the world is an offshore bridge which connects the

   New Songdo City to Incheon International Airport.

~ Incheon Open Port - Chinatown (개항장 - 차이나타운)

   The fist Chinese Street in Korea with 120 years of history. The "pai-loo" (gate) at the entrance

   was recently built to celebrate the area based on Chinese traditions. 

   The neighborhood Samgukji Mural Street featuring major scenes from "The Romance of the 

   Three Kingdoms" along the street to Jayu Park.

~ Songdo Central Park (송도 센트럴공원)

   Eco-friendly park provides relaxation and entertainment with sculpture park, terraces, artificial

   waterways, water taxis and a moving stage.

  

   Visitors can ride the water taxi Michuhol in Korea's first sea park built with waterways.

~ Ganghwa Dolmen (강화 고인돌)

   There are more than 100 dolmens (Jiseokmyo) in Ganghwa area, both the southern and northern

   styles are mixed together. 

   Bugeunri Dolmen located in Dolmen Park is a typical northern style dolmen. It's designated as 

   UNESCO World Heritage site.

~ Baengnyeongdo Island (백령도)

   Baengnyeongdo is the closest island to North Korea. Originally it was the 13th largest island in 

   South Korea with size of 46.35 km. Now it is the 8th largest because of the reclamation project

   that connected Hwadong and Sagot Beach.

~ Soraepogu (소래포구)

Lively Soraepogu city.

So sad that we didn't catch the breathtaking golden sunset in Soraepogu...

need to go back to Seoul to meet my friend.

Upss... trot songs stopped me to go in to subway station...

Everybody~! Let's sing and dance!!!

1 Nonhyeon 1(il)-dong Namdong-gu Incheon

Direction by subway (32 stations): 

Seoul Station -> Oidobound (Line 4) -> Oido Songdobound (Suin Line) -> Soraepogu station

(about 1 hour 30 minutes)

Related Posts:
~ [Gangneung] - Jumunjin Fish Market

~ Namdaemun Market - Cutlass Fish (갈치조림) Alley