Korean Army Stew (Budae Jjigae) in Myeongdong — Free Unlimited Refills

Neighborhood Eats · Myeongdong

Korean army stew in Myeongdong — with free, unlimited noodle and rice refills.

By a hotel facilities engineer Verified June 2026 Myeongdong

Free unlimited refills Great for groups Cards accepted Korean menu only — translated below

Budae jjigae army stew loaded with bean sprouts, ham and sausage in a red broth at Songtan Budae Jjigae, Myeongdong Seoul — **Budae jjigae** (Korean “army stew”) — a bubbling red pot loaded with ham, sausage and a mountain of bean sprouts. The sprouts keep the broth bright and clean, not salty. Order it, and the noodles, rice and tofu refill free.

I work on a hotel facilities team in this neighborhood, and we don’t do tourist traps. This Myeongdong spot does Songtan-style army stew — packed with ham and sausage, brightened with loads of bean sprouts so the broth stays refreshing. Best part: order the stew and the ramen, jjolmyeon, udon, rice and soft tofu are unlimited and free.

At a Glance

Songtan Budae Jjigae 송탄부대찌개 명동점

Address	3F, Starbachi Bldg, 35-20 Myeongdong 10-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul (서울 중구 명동10길 35-20 스타바치빌딩 3층) Open in Naver Map Use Naver — Google Maps walking directions don’t work in Korea. It’s on the 3rd floor.
Subway	Myeongdong Stn (Line 4) — about a 5-minute walk · Euljiro 1-ga (Line 2) also close
Nearby hotels	UH Suite Myeongdong is closest · you’re in central Myeongdong, so most Myeongdong hotels are a short walk
Budget	₩12,000–14,000 per person · portions are generous
Solo dining	It’s a shared pot — best with 2 or more
Refills	Free & unlimited with your stew: ramen, jjolmyeon, udon, rice & soft tofu
Payment	Cards accepted · no tipping
Verified	June 2026 — I eat here on workdays

What to Order

One thing to order: the budae jjigae (one portion per person). Everything else is a free refill or a cheap add-on. Here’s the board, translated.

Songtan Budae Jjigae · Myeongdong

The Menu

Army stew + free refills · Korean board, translated

Two or three of you?

Order one budae jjigae per person (₩12,000 each), then keep the free ramen, rice and tofu coming. We were three and went through six ramen refills.

Want it richer?

Ask for extra seasoning and kimchi up front (see the tip below) — it deepens the broth as it cooks down.

Why It Works

Bean Sprouts & Free Refills

Close-up of budae jjigae piled with bean sprouts, ham and rice cakes at Songtan Budae Jjigae Myeongdong — That pile of **bean sprouts** is the secret — it keeps the broth light and refreshing instead of heavy and salty.

Lifting ramen noodles from budae jjigae broth — free refill at Songtan Budae Jjigae Myeongdong — Ramen refills are **free and unlimited** — add a packet whenever the pot runs low.

Budae jjigae with soft tofu, ham and sausage in red broth at Songtan Budae Jjigae Myeongdong — Soft tofu, ham and sausage — it’s generous, and the tofu refills free too.

The Room

Inside: a Busy Local Diner

Casual dining room with wooden tables at Songtan Budae Jjigae, Myeongdong Seoul — Plain, busy, well-loved — wooden tables, tabletop burners, refill posters on the wall.

Wall poster listing free unlimited refills of ramen, jjolmyeon, udon, rice and tofu at Songtan Budae Jjigae Myeongdong — The wall says it all: ramen, jjolmyeon, udon, rice and soft tofu — **unlimited refills** (in Korean, Chinese and Japanese).

Directions

Finding It

Songtan Budae Jjigae sign with the army stew photo and refill banner, Myeongdong Seoul — Look for the red-and-yellow **송탄 (Songtan)** sign. The restaurant is on the **3rd floor** of the Starbachi building — take the elevator up. Follow the Naver pin.

First-timer Guide

How to Order

Order one budae jjigae per person (it’s a shared pot, minimum two). Ask for extra seasoning and kimchi right away — that’s the local move.
Let it boil at the table, then dig in once the broth is bubbling.
Refill for free — ramen, jjolmyeon, udon, rice and soft tofu, as many times as you like. Just ask the staff.
Pay at the counter on your way out. Cards are fine. No tipping — ever, anywhere in Korea.

Good to know Refills are free, but the sign says it plainly: don’t waste food. Refill in small rounds and finish what you take.

Recommended & personally verified

I keep hotels in this neighborhood running for a living, and this is where I actually eat. Staying at UH Suite Myeongdong or anywhere in Myeongdong? Bring a friend or two — it’s a short walk for a bottomless pot of army stew.