Late lunch army stew and pork cutlet in Seongsu: Songtan Jindaegwang

I visited Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, a great army stew spot for group meals right in front of Seongsu Station. After going to a perfume-making workshop, I stopped by at 2:30pm on a weekday and had a hearty meal — rice, ramen noodles, and pork cutlet all included.

Where is Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, and when is it open?

📍 97 Achasan-ro, Unit 201, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea 🚶🏻‍♀️ 31m from Seongsu Station Exit 1 🕖 Monday, Tuesday–Friday 11:00–21:30 / Saturday–Sunday 11:30–21:00

It's on the 2nd floor, but there's a banner set up on the 1st floor so it was easy to find! And a 20% takeout discount, no less 👍🏻

There's a sign at the entrance that says even if the restaurant goes under, they'll never skimp on the sausage — that made me trust them right away 👍🏻

Personally, I think keeping the taste consistent is a huge part of running a restaurant. It's really disappointing when you find a favorite spot and then the taste changes.

A retro, wide-open dining hall built for group dinners

Inside Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, there's a Korean flag and old-school knick-knacks hanging around, giving it a retro vibe. It felt like the kind of place foreign visitors would love too. The space isn't just spacious, it's massive, so it can easily handle a big group dinner. No need to worry about not finding seats!

And rice is unlimited too!! I'm now super curious whether the owner's actual name is Jindaegwang, or what Jindaegwang even means.

Tablet ordering, and one dish on the menu: budae jjigae

We ordered from the tablet right at our table! If you participate in the review event, they give you a choice of ramen noodles, alcohol, or a drink. We ordered the Jindaegwang budae jjigae for two!

What really made me trust that Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch is a genuine army stew place in Seongsu: there's no other menu item! No need to agonize over choices — you just order the budae jjigae. We heard the ham portion is generous, so we skipped adding extra and just ordered the stew and a pork cutlet.

The side dishes were stir-fried fish cake, pickled onions, and green onion kimchi — none too salty, and all clean-tasting.

Unlimited rice refills and the free Jin Ramen noodles

With unlimited rice refills, it was great for mixing into the budae jjigae broth, and we got free Jin Ramen noodles too from joining the review event!

They set a timer and let you know exactly when to eat — I really liked that touch!

The budae jjigae was loaded generously with sausage and ham, so that sign at the entrance wasn't just for show. Seriously, the amount of ham is no joke 🙊

It brought back memories of the imported ham I used to eat as a kid, thanks to my great-aunt who lived near a US military base. So many different kinds of ham packed in — I loved it, and it felt like I was eating a truly authentic budae jjigae for the first time in a while.

How was the pork cutlet, plus a yogurt drink to finish

The pork cutlet came out hot and freshly fried, and eating it with white rice, then a bite of budae jjigae, was so good haha.

To wrap up the meal, they gave us a yogurt drink too 👍🏻 I love yogurt drinks!!

Is Seongsu budae jjigae worth it for lunch or a work dinner?

If you're looking for a great army stew restaurant in Seongsu, I recommend Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch for lunch or a group dinner. I left really full and really satisfied 👍🏻