Budae jjigae dinner with Jin Ramen sarì in Seongsu: Songtan

📍Address 97 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea Hours Daily 11:00–21:30 (last order 20:30) Parking available — use the lot in front of the building

After work, my husband and I wanted to blow off some stress and fill up on something hearty, so we headed to Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch for a weekday dinner. It was so good, so let me tell you all about it.

How to get to Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch from Seongsu Station

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, a budae jjigae (army stew) spot in Seongsu, is right by Seongsu Station Exit 1, so it's super accessible.

Walk up to the 2nd floor and you're greeted by a retro-style sign that fits right in with Seongsu-dong's hip vibe.

Fun fact — takeout gets you 20% off, so office workers nearby could totally grab it on the way home and enjoy it comfortably at home.

What's it like inside

Even though we came on a weekday evening, there were tons of office workers there for a meal with a drink after work.

The interior is very spacious and open, with no cramped feeling at all. The tables are generously spaced too, so it seems perfect for a company dinner or a big group lunch in Seongsu.

Unlimited rice and side dish self-bar, plus dessert

One of the things I liked most was that both rice and side dishes are unlimited! There's a tidy self-bar set up in one corner of the restaurant, and you can just help yourself to as much as you want, no need to feel shy about it.

On the way out after finishing our meal, there was even slushie, coffee, and yogurt thoughtfully set out. You could really feel the owner's touch in this space.

Menu and prices

• Budae jjigae ₩13,000 per person
• Sausage sarì ₩4,500

For a spot near pricey Seongsu Station, this is a pretty great value restaurant given those prices.

There's a tablet at every table for easy prepayment, and we ordered the 2-person set plus ramen noodle sarì and assorted sausages!

The side dish spread

We got rice along with fish cake side dish, scallion kimchi, and pickled onions.

All the side dishes were perfect matches for budae jjigae, and the self-bar was kept very clean, so we could refill happily without any hesitation.

How the budae jjigae and Jin Ramen sarì tasted

The visuals are insane... Of all the budae jjigae I've eaten in my life, this had the most ham piled on top. Genuinely overwhelming to look at.

Here's another thing that sets Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch apart from other famous budae jjigae places: instead of regular instant noodle sarì, they give you a whole block of Jin Ramen. You set the 5-minute timer on the table, and when it goes off, the staff kindly walks you through the next step.

I read the 'how to enjoy Jindaegwang budae jjigae' guide while waiting. The staff takes care of it, so you just sit tight!

After the 5 minutes were up, I took my first bite with a bit of excitement — and it was so good.

Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch skips the baked beans and tofu usually found in budae jjigae, so the broth doesn't turn murky. Instead, plenty of green onions, vegetables, and premium sausages come together for a flavor that's clean and clear with zero heaviness.

The longer it boiled, the deeper the vegetable-based broth got. It wasn't overly sharp or spicy, but it had that refreshing, spicy kick that really hits the spot! It reminded me of the famous Paju-style budae jjigae — really appealing.

How was the assorted sausage plate?

The pot was packed with four kinds of sausages, and every bite burst with meaty flavor — genuinely 'American sausage' approved. It wasn't cheap ham but good-quality ham, which made it taste way better to me than at other famous budae jjigae places.

We ate through about half the sausages, then added more broth and put in the noodle sarì.

The Jin Ramen sarì tasted better than regular instant noodle sarì — totally gave me home-cooked vibes. Even after adding more broth, it wasn't watered down at all, so we didn't need the seasoning packet. We finished all the rice and the whole pot of budae jjigae. Haven't overeaten like that in a while, and it blew off all my work stress. If you're looking for a hearty, delicious meal near Seongsu Station, go check out Songtan Jindaegwang Budae Jjigae Seongsu Branch, where the portions and the flavor both go all out!