It’s no secret that Singaporeans are absolutely batshit crazy over Korean food. So naturally, there is an abundance of Korean restaurants islandwide. You can find everything from BBQ meat to fried chicken and Bingsoo, but where exactly can one go to find the very best versions of Korean Army Stew?
With canned beans, spam, sausages, tofu and kimchi all cooked together in one deliciously spicy broth, there truly is nothing more comforting than sharing a pot of Budae Jjigae with good company on a rainy day.
Here are 9 of the most epic Korean army stews Singapore has to offer:
9. Seoul Jjimdak
As you can guess from its namesake, Seoul Jjimdak is most popular for its Jjimdak (braised chicken) offerings. But that’s not all this casual Korean restaurant specializes in, because they also happen to serve a signature Korean Army Stew with an absolutely addictive spicy kimchi stew as the soup base.
Best shared among a few friends, the Army Stew ($36.90) comes with a slew of fresh ingredients, including assorted vegetables, baked beans, luncheon meat, pork belly and tofu. Left to simmer in a homemade kimchi broth, the soup itself strikes a great balance between sour and spicy, making it so enticing to slurp up every last drop.
While the serving portion is generous, you can always opt to top up additional Ramyeon ($2.90) for a more satisfying fix.
Seoul Jjimdak: #05-04 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208539 | Opening Hours: 11.30am -10pm daily | Tel: 6634 2668 | Facebook
8. 토담골 Todamgol
Located at Tanjong Pagar Road, it’s hard to miss Todamgol with it’s rustic looking exterior and inviting storefront that certainly resembles a traditional Korean village.
In terms of food, it serves a good mix of barbecued meats alongside authentic Korean staples, and that includes the ever sought after Buddae Jjigae.
Filled to the brim with ingredients, the Buddae Jjigae ($38) is one of the must-try items at this restaurant. This version of the army stew is adequately spicy and comes with a good kick, without taking away from the natural flavors of the broth.
Paired with everything from luncheon meat and sausages, to ramyeon and rice cakes, this is one hot pot that will definitely leave you feeling contented.
Todamgol: 31 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-01, Singapore 088454 | Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 3am), Saturday & Sunday (6pm – 3am) | Tel: 6224 7077 | Facebook
7. Seoul Yummy
Immerse yourself in an authentic Korean dining experience with Seoul Yummy, an establishment that is known for importing ingredients and spices directly from Korea.
Coupled with impeccable service from the friendly staff, diners can enjoy a plethora of piping hot stews with bold flavours, among many other dishes.
Go for the Army’s Stew With Spicy Octopus & Assorted Seafood ($39.90) if you want to jazz up your army stew with premium seafood ingredients, rather than just the usual condiments.
And, that’s not to say that you can’t still have the typical spam, sausages, ramyeon and tofu because those will be thrown in, as well. The hint of sweetness from the shellfish will make this all the more enjoyable.
Seoul Yummy: Various Outlets | Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (11.30am – 10pm), Friday & Saturday (11.30am – 10.30pm) | Tel: Varies Depending On The Outlets | Website
6. Wang Dae Bak Pocha Korean Street Bar
As one of the more renown Korean restaurants in Singapore, Wang Dae Bak Pocha is often flooded with diners day in and out. Very rarely will you ever find them vacant during dinnertime and that’s just testimony to how good their food is.
Not only do they have high quality BBQ dishes on the menu, but they also provide broths that go so well with these char-grilled meats.
Wang Dae Bak’s Army Stew ($38) features a super savoury soup base that has just the right consistency. Paired together with the usual suspects in an army stew, you’ll find all the substantial ingredients, including ham, sausages, luncheon meat and ramyeon.
If you’re sharing this in a group, you might want to consider adding more noodles for $3 to ensure everyone gets their fill. The best part is, the free-flow Banchan that is served to you so long as you request for it.
Wang Dae Bak: 98 Amoy Street, Singapore 069918 | Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday (11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm) | Tel: 6226 0450 | Website
5. Supulae
While Supulae is predominantly a BBQ house, it serves up some pretty decent hot pots too. If you don’t want to leave the place spelling like barbecued meat but still want to have some hearty Korean fare, then you should definitely head on over to have the army stew — this is perfect for when the weather is chilly and you need something to warm you up.
The Budae Jjigae ($35) boasts a soup base that is seemingly one of the more authentic-tasting ones out there. Cooked in the spicy warm broth are ingredients consisting of sausages, instant noodles, baked beans, enoki mushroom and many more.
Since their portion might be slightly smaller, you can also consider ordering other items on the menu such as the Seafood and Onion Pancake ($20) or perhaps, the Cold Soba Noodles ($12).
Supulae: 80 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088501 | Opening Hours: Sunday – Thursday (5pm – 1am) , Friday & Saturday (5pm – 2am) |Tel: 6225 2248 | Facebook
4. 8 Korean BBQ
Featuring a sleek, industrial-looking interior, 8 Korean BBQ is certainly one of the swankier restaurants where you can grill your own meats. Located at Shaw Centre, this joint has everything from premium cuts of meat to insanely nourishing broths and slurp-worthy stews.
If soups and succulent marbled meats are your idea of the perfect meal, this should be your go-to destination.
Addictively spicy, the Army Stew ($24) at 8 Korean BBQ will have you slurping down all the contents of the soup before you can even finish the ingredients.
There is truly nothing more comforting than wolfing down a hearty kimchi broth with a mixture of ham, sausages and ramyeon lumped in together. Make sure you have it while it’s still bubbling over for maximum enjoyment!
8 Korean BBQ: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #02-79/90, The Central, Singapore 059817 | Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (11.30am – 2.30pm) , Saturday & Sunday (11.30am – 10.30pm) |Tel: 8692 1188 | Facebook
3. Kimchi Korean Restaurant
Owned by Haden Hee, Kimchi is home to authentic Korean dishes that are priced affordably and prepared by a team of Korean chefs. While most may choose to dine in for their everyday Korean fare or barbecued meats on the built-in table grills, one simply cannot leave without first sampling their unique seafood rendition of the army stew.
Technically, the Seafood Dduk Bokgi ($49.50++) is more of a cross between the Budae Jjigae and Dduk Bokgi Nakji, but this is definitely a strong contender where Korean stews are concerned.
Not only is broth spicy and robust in flavour, but it also contains all the usual army stew ingredients with fresh seafood added in. Boiled over the table, you can almost guarantee that the stew will be kept warm throughout your meal.
Kimchi Korean Restaurant: 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City Mall #02-387, Singapore 038987 | Opening Hours: Monday – Friday (11am – 3pm, 5pm – 10.30pm), Saturday & Sunday (11am – 10.30pm) | Tel: 6337 7811 | Facebook
2. Mukishidonna
Famous in Seoul for their signature tteokbokki, Mukishidonna has quickly become a popular favourite among locals too. And, that’s only expected with their insanely addictive sweet and spicy stew. While they may be dubbed as a toppoki restaurant, you can technically have Budae Jjigae as well, since there’s a “Budae” soup base option, together with the usual army stew ingredients.
What’s special about their Tteokbokki (price varies depending on ingredients chosen), is that it is entirely customizable with ingredients, including dumplings, mussels and even mozzarella cheese over it. The broth itself also has a distinctive taste of Gochujang that adds a hint of sweetness to it, complementing the savoury taste of the gooey cheese.
When you’ve polished the army stew, end your meal with the signature Seaweed Fried Rice ($25) that will be cooked together with the remaining sauces.
Mukishidonna Singapore: Market Square @ Downtown East 1 Pasir Ris Close, E! Avenue, #02-324, Singapore 519599 | Opening Hours: 11.30am – 10pm daily | Tel: 63868562 | Facebook
1. Daejon House
Situated at Havelock II Mall, DaeJon House is a casual Korean restaurant that is said to be the first to sell Jjampong noodles with a beef bone based broth. Designed to resemble a traditional Korean house, you will find that this diner also serves other delightful staples dishes that will have you returning for more.
With two sizes to choose from, the Army Stew ($24.90 for medium, $34.90 for large) at DaeJon is unique because it utilises the same beef bone broth as the Jjampong noodles. I would recommend going for the large portion as it makes for a better sharing portion when you’re dining in a group.
Each serving portion comes with a kettle filled with the hot soup base that you pour over the condiments when you’re ready to eat, so every order will be served piping hot. You really can’t go wrong with this warm and filling rendition of the army stew!
DaeJon House: Havelock II, 2 Havelock Road, #01-03, Singapore 059763 | Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm daily | Tel: 8499 0739 | Facebook
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