Budae-jjigae, the Most Successful Fusion Food in South Korea with the Tragic History

 

October 5th, 2022

  The last Sunday, October 2nd, we traveled to Pyeongtaek International Central Market. And while we were there, we stopped by Kimnejip in the market, one of the best budae-jjigae restaurants in South Korea to buy a takeout pack. The restaurant is so so popular and even though we arrived there around 11:00 a.m., we were the last customer to get a pack before sold out. It took an hour and half to get the market from my city Paju, and about two hours back home. When we cooked and ate the budae-jjigae for dinner, we thought it was like a reward for a long drive. So delicious.

  Budae-jjigae’s origin goes back to the Korean War. Budae(부대) means ‘army’ and jjigae(찌개) means Korean style stew. You may guess somehow this food is relating to the war. The story about the origin is sad. During the Korean War, and after the war, a famine hit the peninsula and Koreans struggled with starvation. Sometimes they had to rely on MREs taken out of US army camps such as canned hams, sausages, meat and baked beans. At some point some Koreans put those MRE things into jjigae such like kimchi-jjigae for bigger portions and they found out it tasted not bad. It is said it is the origin of budae-jjigae.

  Since then in each place nearby an US army camp people have invented their own unique recipe and budae-jjigae has been evolved. While part of US army was withdrawn from South Korea, some camps were closed and now ten of camps remained. But still the regions where used to be US army camp sites have kept the reputation for a shrine of budae-jjigae. Of course the current US army camp regions are hot places for budae-jjigae either.

  Pyeongtaek International Central Market is very next to Osan Air Base, the US air base, where US presidents land when they visit our country, and Camp Humphreys the biggest US army camp in South Korea is nearby the market. No wonder one of the best budae-jjigae restaurants is there.

  Of course Koreans don’t use those low quality MREs like things from army camps of the war era to make budae-jjigae any more. Don’t worry about that. We use high quality and nutritious products produced in our country. It looks like just mixing everything, but it is not like that. It has basic necessary ingredients and the way to eat for enjoying its taste. Its basic ingredients are kimchi, various vegetables(onion, green onion, garlic stuff like that), hams and sausages, cheese, baked beans and broth. And noodles. Any kind of noodle is okay, but ramen is the most common thing.

    

  I’d like to say that you eat budae-jjiage at a restaurant, or buy a take-out pack or a meal kit and cook it at home. I don’t recommend to make budae-jjigae from scratch at home. Maybe it is just my own opinion, but I have seen many times home-made budae-jjigae failed. HMR products are also good. A key point is to keep boiling it on a small burner, while eating, not till boiled down too much. This is why the best way to eat budae-jjigae is to eat at a restaurant.

  That day Alex and Min went out to play billiards after dinner. I enjoyed my late dinner alone with a small pot of budae-jjigae added remen, and a can of beer. Currently my favorite Korean beer is Hanmac.

  Information about Kimnejip is in my previous post about Pyeongtaek International Central Market.

Other than Kimnejip, some top budae-jjigae restaurants are as below:

- Odeng Sikdang 오뎅식당 https://maps.app.goo.gl/VkFjpdp6EWw3v4KU8?g_st=ic

  It is in the Budae-jjigae Street, Uijeongbusi, Gyeonggido. Uijeongbu is the region where Camp Red Cloud is. It is said this restaurant is the oldest one in the street.

- Hosu Sikdang 호수식당 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hr9BmT1tGW5vwYwb7?g_st=ic

  This restaurant was aired on TV as one of three-top budae-jjigae in South Korea. It is in Donducheonsi, Gyeonggido, where Camp Casey. 

- Jeongmi Sikdang 정미식당 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Yw7datc46VemwUZC6?g_st=ic

 This restaurant was aired on TV too. It is a 30-year old restaurant and located Pajusi, Gyeonggido. There used to be an US army camp in Paju, but not any more now.