Paju army stew restaurant with certified Paju rice: Mom's Uijeongbu

When you go on an outing to Paju, you usually end up looking for pretty cafés or Western food like pasta, but sometimes you just crave a hot soup that clears your head. Koreans, red jjigae is the fundamentals, right?!

Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae, a Heyri Village favorite, was exactly the local-feeling spot to solve that craving!

True to a budae jjigae specialist in Heyri Village, the cheerful yellow accent at the entrance stood out right away, making it easy to find.

Inside Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae: full-window seats with a plant view

Walking into Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae, the place was bigger and cleaner than I expected. The tables were well spaced, so it seemed comfortable even for a family visit. We went a bit past mealtime, so we got to eat in an even more peaceful atmosphere!

What I liked most was the wall of windows that let the outside scenery in all at once!

Eating while looking out at all that greenery is really appealing.

Sitting there looking out the window, the openness makes you momentarily forget whether you're at a budae jjigae place or a café. Note: this place requires one dish per person, so ordering by headcount is a must!😋

Menu and prices: basic budae jjigae 11,000 won, assorted sari 9,000 won

Looking at the Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae menu, there was a pretty wide range, from basic to beef brisket versions.

You could pick from the most basic budae jjigae at ₩11,000 up to versions with aged kimchi or brisket, depending on your taste. I was debating the spicy version, but since I've had a lot of spicy food lately, haha, I obediently went with the basic one!

We decided to stick to the basics and just added a ramen noodle sari, and the pot came out so full it already made my mouth water, haha.

The basic side dishes were seasoned bean sprouts, stir-fried fish cake, and kimchi, all neatly arranged, which gave it a real home-cooked feel. If you want more sari, you can add plenty with the ₩9,000 assorted sari, so keep that in mind!

How does the basic budae jjigae broth taste?

Once the burner's on and the budae jjigae — a Heyri Village favorite — starts bubbling, that distinctive rich broth aroma rises up. Maybe because of the generous bean sprouts, the broth wasn't heavy but felt clean and refreshing.

There was plenty of ham and sausage, and best of all, the seasoning wasn't too strong, which had this magical quality of making you keep spooning it up!😋

If you prefer a deep, clean, authentic style over an intense one, this is it. But you know how it goes! Once you add the ramen noodles and let it simmer, it evolves into an absolutely delicious budae jjigae with that rich, thick feeling!

After scooping out some of the solid ingredients, adding the ramen noodle sari is basically the unwritten rule, haha! Then comes the waiting game until the broth soaks fully into the noodles.

One bite of the chewy, just-right ramen noodles and a sip of the rich broth wash away all the fatigue from driving! Finishing off a whole bowl of rice on top of that is no problem at all.🤩 Honestly, at first I thought the portion wasn't much, but once we added the ramen sari, it was more than enough — the two of us were stuffed, haha.

Certified Paju rice, takeout, and tips on waiting times

Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae is especially known for using certified Hansuwi Paju rice, so the rice is really good. I mixed the glossy rice into the stew and finished the whole bowl neatly. On the way out, I noticed all menu items are available for takeout, so it would be great for anyone heading out camping.

That said, there may be a wait during weekend peak hours, so it's better to arrive a bit early! That was my review of a satisfying meal at Mom's Uijeongbu Budaejjigae, a Heyri Village favorite in Paju — hope everyone has a wonderful trip to Paju!😋