Tasty Tuesdays - 청춘 부대찌개 - Budae Jjigae Done Right!

Not all budae jjigae is created equal!

Restaurant: 청춘 부대찌개
Type: Budae Jjigae and Gorgonzola Pizza
Location: Downtown Walking Street (North of the big intersection, near Kebab Sarayi)
Price: 9,000 won

Unless you've been living under a Korean culinary rock, you've surely had the privilage of trying budae jjigae at some point. For the uninitiated, budae jjigae is a thick spicy Korean stew which includes an excess of ingredients. The dish often incorporates ramen noodles and sliced American cheese, as well as ground beef, sliced sausages, Spam, baked beans, onions, green onions, tteok, tofu, chili peppers, macaroni, garlic, mushrooms, and other vegetables in season.
It's a great dish to keep you warm and energized during the long and dreary Korean winter.

Many of you are familiar with the Nolboo Budae Jjigae chain restaurants, but "청춘 부대찌개" is a great alternative to the standard budae jjigae fair. Located on the downtown walking street, across from the Kebab Sarayi, "청춘 부대찌개" offers a better quality and selection of ingredients at a very reasonable price.

The budae jjigae is 9,000 won per serving. One order should be enough to satisfy the hungriest of people. The vegetables are plentiful and fresh, and the processed meats are as good as processed meats can get. Diners are also treated to a shared gorganzola pizza included in the price. While it may seem strange to pair a spicy Korean meat stew with a thin crust sweet and cheesy pizza, don't judge this pairing too harshly. The sweet cheesiness of the pizza actually goes very well with the spicy soup.

An added bonus is the unlimited ramen noodles and a refill of rice. There are packages of ramen sitting on your table just waiting for you to open them up and throw them in your soup. If you want a refill of rice, just ask your waiter or waitress. Most people probably finish their meals, stand up, and then mutter to themselves, "I can't believe I ate the whole thing."

The interior of the restaurant is clean and decorated simply. The restrooms are inside the restaurant and separated into men's and women's. Just remember that this is not the kind of place that people come to enjoy the atmosphere. This is the kind of restaurant which should be enjoyed by people who want to eat a lot of delicious spicy soup at low prices.

- Jenna Sparks