Retro-hall army stew with odeng and pickled onion in Seongsu: Songtan

I wanted a hearty meal in Seongsu, so I went to Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae!

Inside Songtan Jindaegwang in Seongsu: a wide, retro dining hall

The moment I stepped into the Seongsu branch of Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae, I was pleasantly surprised by how spacious it was. The tables were set with plenty of room between them, so it looked like a good place to visit with a group too.

Overall, instead of the clean, sleek vibe of a lot of restaurants these days, this place had an old-school, retro feel. There were vintage-style props and posters here and there on the walls, so it was fun to just look around haha

From the lighting to the tables to the floor, the whole atmosphere felt retro — and it actually suited budae jjigae really well! It was kind of fun that a restaurant with this vibe exists in Seongsu.

A generous pot of budae jjigae simmered at the table

We ordered budae jjigae, which is simmered right at the table, so it looked appetizing the moment it arrived. The pot was loaded with ham and sausage, along with green onion and various vegetables, and the broth seemed to get tastier and tastier as it bubbled away.

Budae jjigae really does taste best when you boil it right at the table like this haha. From the start, the color of the broth looked spicy and rich, and I could tell it would go perfectly with rice.

Overall, the spacious restaurant and unique vibe made it a great place to visit when craving budae jjigae in Seongsu. It's also a comfortable spot to eat with friends, and if you like restaurants with a retro atmosphere, you'll enjoy it even more!

How does the army stew taste? Peppery, salty and savory

The broth at Songtan Jindaegwang has a spicy, savory-salty style that went well with rice, and it wasn't overwhelmingly spicy. As it started bubbling, the flavor from the ham and sausage came through and the broth got richer and richer.

There were several types of ham and sausage in the pot, so the texture was a little different with each bite. The plump sausages were salty with every chew, while the thinly sliced ham soaked up the broth and went down smoothly! The savory, salty flavor from the ham added to the broth and really brought out that signature rich budae jjigae taste.

There was also plenty of green onion and vegetables, so it wasn't just ham after ham — nice to mix things up in between, and as the broth kept boiling, a slight sweetness from the vegetables started to come through too.

Best of all, a spoonful of rice topped with ham and sausage plus a little broth was just the perfect bite haha. If you love a bold, punchy stew, this is the kind of flavor that'll make the rice disappear!

Sides and dessert: fried odeng, pickled onion and yogurt

The side dishes that came with the budae jjigae were surprisingly good too! The fried odeng (fish cake) in particular was salty with a bit of sweetness, so it went great with rice, and it was cooked so tenderly that I kept reaching for more haha

The pickled onion was tangy and crunchy, which made it great to pair with the rich, spicy budae jjigae in between bites. It cleaned up the heavy or salty flavors nicely, so it paired really well with the stew!

And once you finish the meal, they give you a yogurt drink each as dessert 🥰 Finishing with something sweet and cold at the end made the meal feel that much more satisfying haha

Final verdict on budae jjigae in Seongsu

Songtan Jindaegwang was a great place to stop by when you want a hearty bowl of budae jjigae in Seongsu! The restaurant was bigger than expected and the tables were spaced generously, so I could eat comfortably, and the retro atmosphere gave it a charm that's different from the sleek, trendy restaurants popping up in Seongsu these days haha.

The budae jjigae was loaded with ham and sausage, and the broth had a spicy, salty savoriness that went well with rice. The fried odeng and pickled onion side dishes were tasty too, pairing nicely with the stew. And after the meal, they gave us a yogurt each, so we got to finish things off on a sweet note!

Overall, with hearty budae jjigae, a retro atmosphere, and a spacious dining room, this is a comfortable place to eat, so I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a good budae jjigae spot in Seongsu 😊