Seongsu army stew date-night dinner with a broth kettle: Songtan

Red-toned mood A Seongsu budae jjigae spot known for its sausage

A while back my husband and I went on a date around Seongsu-dong. We wandered the nearby alleys, killed some time looking around, and then headed off to find a good dinner spot.

The weather was cool and breezy, so I told him I was craving budae jjigae (army stew), and he mentioned a good place nearby that he'd been to with coworkers.

It's the kind of Seongsu spot that works well for a group dinner with colleagues in the evening — and you know how the places office workers keep going back to for team dinners or lunch are always a safe bet.

Where is Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, and what is it like inside?

This Seongsu budae jjigae favorite, Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, is easy to find — just walk a short way from Exit 1 of Seongsu Station toward Seongsu Shopping Center.

We arrived a bit past the lunch/dinner peak, so the place was nice and relaxed inside. The interior had a cozy, slightly retro feel overall — the kind of spot where you can eat without any pressure.

The space was also spacious with plenty of tables, which made me think it'd be perfect for an after-work gathering or team dinner.

Menu and prices at Songtan Jindaegwang

We grabbed a seat, looked over the menu, and ordered right away. Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae only serves one thing — budae jjigae! — and you can choose the 2-person, 3-person, or 4-person portion.

Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae is 13,000 won per person, the ramen sari (noodle add-on) is 2,000 won, and the assorted sausage is 9,900 won. Given Seongsu-dong prices these days, it felt reasonably priced.

Unlimited rice self-service corner and the side dishes

One of the best things about this place is the self-service corner where you can grab unlimited rice refills. Budae jjigae is such a rice thief that once you start mixing it into the broth, a whole bowl disappears in no time!

The self-service bar is set up so you can grab as much rice as you want without feeling self-conscious about it — I could see big eaters and office workers coming back here often.

The basic side dishes were pa-kimchi (green onion kimchi), stir-fried fish cake, and pickled onions — all unlimited refill from the self-service corner. The side dishes were tidy and paired well with the budae jjigae.

The 2-person budae jjigae: how were the ham and the broth?

The broth is based on beef bone stock, which gives it that deep, rich flavor with a spicy kick.

I always think a budae jjigae lives or dies by its ham and broth, and here it wasn't an artificial or overly MSG-heavy flavor — the umami ran deep and genuine.

As a Seongsu budae jjigae favorite, what satisfied me most was the amount and quality of the ham. It's loaded with premium ham that has a subtle smoky aroma, plus plenty of sausage.

None of that heavy, off-putting taste or smell you get from cheap ham — it stayed springy and savory with every bite!

The savory, salty flavor from the ham and sausage seeped into the broth, so the longer it simmered, the deeper the broth tasted.

Whenever the broth reduced down or ran low while we ate, we could freely pour more from the kettle placed on the table — such a nice touch!

Jin Ramen noodles instead of plain sari, 2,000 won

Now, about the ramen sari. At most other budae jjigae places, you usually get generic plain sari noodles for the add-on, right? Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch instead serves actual Jin Ramen noodles as the sari. It's 2,000 won.

If you're a fan of ramen sari, I really recommend paying the extra 2,000 won for the Jin Ramen version!

Receipt review event: a free drink or noodle sari

The restaurant also runs a Naver receipt review event. If you write a Naver MyPlace receipt review, you get a free drink or noodle sari. If you're visiting, definitely take advantage of this review event too.

If you're on a date in Seongsu-dong and looking for a spicy, filling meal, or searching for a reliable spot nearby for a Seongsu team dinner, this Seongsu budae jjigae favorite, Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, is well worth a visit.

With generous ham, rich broth, unlimited rice, the Jin Ramen sari combo, and the perks from the review event, I'm already planning to come back here with my husband next time I'm craving budae jjigae!