Army stew restaurant at Seongsu Station with no break time: Songtan

A filling meal in Seongsu: Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch

I was looking for a generous, not-too-pricey meal in Seongsu, so I headed to Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch (송탄진대광부대찌개 성수점) near Seongsu Station. Every time lunch gets close, I have the same worry: what should I eat today? Seongsu has so many pretty restaurants, but when you actually go, the portions can be disappointing or the prices a stretch. On days when I want to be properly full, the worry gets even deeper.

So the question comes up: is there really no restaurant in Seongsu where you can eat until you're full? Why is a hearty meal so hard to find here? Honestly, I had half given up, but while searching for a good budae jjigae (army stew) place in Seongsu, I tried this one.

Does Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch have a break time?

There's no break time at Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, any day. This was the part I liked most, because now I have somewhere to go when I get hungry at an awkward hour. Still, be sure to check the opening hours on Naver Map before you visit.

A retro dining room with mint walls and a checkered floor

Step inside and the mood changes again. The lower half of the walls is mint green and the floor is black-and-white checkered, with a Taegukgi (Korean flag) on the wall, bamboo blinds and old posters. It feels like an old-school snack bar or a military canteen, and since the name is budae jjigae (literally "army base stew"), the concept fits well.

Tablet ordering at the table, group seating and private hire

Each table has a built-in gas burner, and there's an ordering tablet too, so you can order yourself without calling staff. The Naver listing says there are solo seats and group seats, with group seating for a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 8 people. Private rental is also possible, so keep it in mind if you're hunting for a group dinner spot.

Self-serve drink corner with free slushie and coffee

There's also a drink corner. The slushie is marked as free, and the coffee is written as "free" (꽁짜, a casual word for "for nothing") in big letters. A sign says to take one yogurt drink each, so it seemed like a nice spot to finish your meal and freshen your mouth before leaving.

How do you join the Naver review event?

There was also a Naver review event sign on the table. The way to join was written in four steps.

• Call a staff member and press "review event"
• Search Naver for "Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch"
• Write a review with photos, and also turn on notifications and save the place
• Show the staff the review you wrote

After the review you can pick one of ramen noodles, alcohol or a drink, and you can join as many times as there are people at the table, so two people get two items. Important: the sign says entering a keyword is required, and the event terms may change, so check with staff before your visit or when ordering.

Jindaegwang budae jjigae for two: price and three add-ons

We ordered the Jindaegwang budae jjigae for 2. The base price is ₩26,000. We added three options: ramen noodles for ₩2,000, premium sausage for ₩4,500 and assorted sausage for ₩9,900.

Is the ₩9,900 assorted sausage add-on worth it?

Honestly, ₩9,900 for the assorted sausage felt a little pricey at first. But when the pot arrived, I changed my mind. Thickly sliced sausage was piled up to the brim, with plenty of green onion and onion too.

Spicy broth and thick sausage in the army stew

The Jindaegwang budae jjigae broth bubbled away in a reddish orange, and the restaurant's notice says it uses premium-grade sausage. It also described a deep, rich broth, and when I tried it, the sausage was thick and satisfying to chew. The broth was on the spicy side, which went well with rice.

Best combo: two pieces of sausage on millet rice

I had one favorite combination: two pieces of sausage on top of millet rice (차조밥). Sausage lightly soaked in broth with nutty rice was so satisfying. I can't even tell you how many times I ate just this combo, haha

When should you add the ramen noodles to army stew?

I recommend adding the ramen noodles once the broth has come to a boil and there's plenty of it. The moments while the noodles soak up the broth and cook are the most exciting, I think. The broth stayed rich to the end, so the finish was great. One tip: if you add the noodles too early, they swell and the broth shrinks, so put them in while there's enough broth. There's a timer on the table, so timing it is easy.

Tips for visiting Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch

• Takeout is 20% off.
• The parking lot in front of the building is free, but unavailable when full.
• There's Wi-Fi, and men's and women's restrooms are separate.
• Zero Pay, local currency and simple-pay are listed as accepted.
• Group seats hold 6–8 people; call to ask about private rental.

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch also looks fine for a casual lunch with coworkers. For company dinners or gatherings, the group seats and the unlimited refill setup are appealing. If you want good value and a filling meal in Seongsu, it's worth putting on your list.