Yangju Ojeong army stew with baby chairs and parking: Choi Budae

A must-visit in Yangju Ojeong, Choi Budae Jjigae! Spicy army stew with rolled egg on the side

If you're Korean, you need to refuel on budae-jjigae (army stew) regularly. This time, while looking for a hearty meal with friends around Yangju Ojeong, we went to Choi Budae Jjigae. Alongside their signature budae-jjigae and budae-bokkeum (stir-fried army stew), they also had kimchi jjigae, naengmyeon (cold noodles), rolled egg, and more on the menu. We finished off the budae-jjigae and rolled egg completely satisfied.

Where is Choi Budae Jjigae in Ojeong, and where do you park?

Choi Budae Jjigae is located on the 1st floor at 51 Ojeong-ro 10-gil, Yangju-si, Gyeonggi-do. The store wasn't hard to find from the main road, and parking was convenient thanks to the space behind the store (there are also plenty of spots in the back alley).

Opening hours and the Saturday closing day

• Mon–Fri 10:30–21:00 / break time 14:30–17:00 / last order 20:30
• Sunday 11:00–14:30 / last order 14:00
• Closed every Saturday
• We recommend calling ahead before your visit.

※ Hours may change, so please check before visiting.

Inside the restaurant: solo diners and dining with a baby

Walking into Choi Budae Jjigae, the space was bigger and cleaner than I expected. The seating was fairly spaced out, making it comfortable for a meal, and it looked good for anything from solo dining to family meals to group gatherings. There's also a baby chair and separate men's and women's restrooms. There's a self-service corner too — and if you order one menu per person, rice refills are unlimited, which is a huge selling point for rice lovers!!

Menu prices and what's on the self-bar

Budae-jjigae at Choi Budae Jjigae is ₩11,000 per serving, budae-bokkeum is ₩12,000, the L-size rolled egg is ₩8,000, and the ramyeon noodle add-on is ₩1,000. We ordered three servings of budae-jjigae plus two noodle add-ons and a rolled egg. The budae-bokkeum, which looks great for mixing rice into a thicker sauce, is what I'm saving for my next visit.

The self-bar had basic side dishes and a rice cooker full of Shindongjin white rice you could eat as much as you wanted. Budae-jjigae needs rice, and when the rice policy is this generous, we budae-jjigae people are basically halfway to being full already 👍 (⚠️my friend had three bowls of rice that day, got hit with a sugar crash, and had to go nap it off at a café)

What goes into the army stew, and how the broth tastes

The budae-jjigae came out with the pot packed full of ingredients. There were several types of ham and sausage, plus kimchi, tofu, meat, and vegetables all in the mix — the ingredients were quite generous. At first, the broth looked relatively clear, but as it simmered and the flavors of the ingredients blended, the color deepened and the aroma really came through.

Once it had simmered enough, I tried the broth first — it was spicy with a nice savory saltiness from the ham and sausage. Rather than just being aggressively spicy, it was the kind of flavor that goes well with rice.

Adding ramyeon noodles and topping up the broth

Skipping the ramyeon noodle add-on in budae-jjigae feels like leaving out a whole chapter, so we added two. Once we put them in after the broth had simmered a while, the noodles soaked up the broth well and the salty, spicy flavor came through strongly. That said, adding a lot of noodles makes the broth disappear fast, so it's best to top up the stock as you go. Since budae-jjigae gets saltier the longer it simmers, adding stock little by little kept the flavor consistent to the end. The signature secret stock did its job well as the flavor booster. They brought us a whole container of stock from the start, so we didn't have to go back and forth for refills — that made eating so much easier!

Why the rolled egg works with budae-jjigae

We ordered the rolled egg to eat alongside the budae-jjigae. Between bites of the spicy, salty stew, the soft, mild rolled egg felt like a palate reset. It was thick enough for three of us to share comfortably, and it looked like a good side to order if you're with family members who can't handle spicy food well. Rather than eating just budae-jjigae the whole time, having the rolled egg alongside kept things from getting boring.

How much three people get, and finishing the meal

Between three servings of budae-jjigae, the rolled egg, and two ramyeon noodle add-ons, it was more than enough food for three people. Being able to add extra rice meant we could finish off with a satisfying rice mix-in too. The menu lineup worked well whether for lunch or a light drink with dinner. In particular, since most main dishes work for a single serving, we saw quite a few solo diners. My friend said she comes here often for lunch alone too. With the prices this reasonable and rice unlimited, it's a place you can come for a filling meal without worrying about the cost.

Dessert plum tea and coffee to round out a whole meal of budae-jjigae — am I really allowed to enjoy this much?

Is Choi Budae Jjigae in Yangju worth a visit?

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Yangju Ojeong, Choi Budae Jjigae is a great place for a hearty meal. The spicy budae-jjigae loaded with various hams and sausages plus ramyeon noodles was filling, and pairing it with the rolled egg balanced out the spiciness nicely. It should suit anyone looking for a spot for family meals, group gatherings, or dinner. Next time, I'll have to try the budae-bokkeum I missed this time.