Brisket doenjang stew at Bapjangin, a Seocho Korean stew restaurant

Where is Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch, and what are the hours?

Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch is located at Basement 1, Unit 20, Seoul Express Bus Terminal, 194 Sinbanpo-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul. It's open daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with last order at 21:10.

Today I visited Bapjangin, a Korean stew restaurant you can eat at right inside the Express Bus Terminal.

This place specializes in a variety of stews like kimchi jjigae, doenjang jjigae, and jjaglee, along with dishes like bulgogi and stir-fried squid — but it's also unusually known for serving genuine CJ Spam rather than a cheaper ham like Richam. Seeing the standee for the Spam made me picture a thick slice laid over freshly cooked, steaming rice, which got me even more excited for the meal here.

Solo seats and power outlets: is Bapjangin good for eating alone?

The Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch is split into solo seats and 4-person tables. I liked that the tables were clean and spaced widely enough that you didn't feel self-conscious eating alone. There were also outlets under the tables to charge phones and other devices, so if your battery's running low, your phone can get fed along with you while you eat, haha.

Bapjangin's menu and the solo Spam set we ordered

They sell stews like jjaglee, kimchi jjigae, soft tofu stew, brisket doenjang jjigae, and brisket gochujang jjigae, stir-fried dishes like bulgogi, stir-fried squid, spicy grilled pork bulgogi, and tofu kimchi, plus a solo table setting, a solo Spam set, solo steamed egg, and group set menus depending on party size. After some thought, I went with the solo Spam set and added the brisket doenjang stew (Shin Ramyun spice level) with potato dumpling noodles. If you feel like something's missing, you can add extra Spam, bulgogi, or steamed egg — I'd recommend ordering extras for a fully satisfying meal.

A meal isn't something you just get through — it's something you actually eat.

Reading that phrase on the wall while hungry, I could feel Bapjangin's philosophy of wanting to feed guests well, and it made my mouth water.

Self-serve side dishes and what comes with the set

Bapjangin Express Bus Terminal Branch runs a self-serve banchan (side dish) bar. While waiting, I checked it out and found radish salad, kimchi, bean sprouts, and other side dishes ready to go. It was convenient that once you finish the basic banchan, you can just help yourself to more without any fuss.

After I ordered, a staff member set the table with the basic banchan — kimchi, radish salad, bean sprouts — plus seasoned laver flakes for mixing into rice, and a bottle shaped like a water jug.

How does the brisket doenjang stew at Shin Ramyun heat taste with potato sujebi?

After a few bites of the side dishes while waiting, the brisket doenjang stew with potato dumplings arrived, along with a slice of Spam.

The smell of the brisket doenjang stew stirred my appetite, so I dug in right away. The rich flavor from the brisket's fat mingling with the savory soybean paste, the slight kick from the Shin Ramyun spice level, and the sweetness drawn out from the onion and zucchini all came together beautifully. And in between, the mild tofu and the chewy potato dumplings only added to the enjoyment of the meal.

Spam and rice with seasoned laver flakes

The Spam that came out next was delicious over rice too. I got so caught up in eating that I ended up with just a lone photo of the Spam, no rice in sight.

The rice mixed with seasoned laver flakes is also one of Bapjangin's specialties, so don't forget to try it. If you're ever passing through the Express Bus Terminal craving a hot Korean stew, I recommend stopping by here — it's an easy, no-fuss choice.