Budae-jjigae is my favorite dish. This hearty stew was a creation of US Army rations post World War II – sliced hot dogs, vegetable dumplings, Spam, kimchi, tofu, ground pork, baked beans, green onions, ramen, sliced rice cake, bean sprouts, a slice of cheese, and red pepper paste. Today, it’s an inexpensive and filling meal that makes a great lunch or dinner.

Other ingredients are available a la carte. A few shops offer unlimited ramen, and all serve side dishes such as bean sprouts and kimchi. There’s a popular local chain called Nolboo that serves variations of the dish, though I find mom-and-pop shops to be better. Supermarkets offer pre-made types in the refrigerated section as well as stock to make the broth. It’s not difficult to prepare and it’s an easy meal to customize to your tastes.

In Seoul, it’s easy to find 24-hour budae-jjigae restaurants, some of which deliver. And as with most Korean stews, a minimum of two people is required. Cost: About 5,000-8,000Won per person

김치 (gimchi) – kimchi
갈은 돼지 고기 (gareun dwaeji gogi) ground pork
떡 (tteok) – rice cake, moist Asian type
만두 (mandu) – dumplings
라면 (ramyeon) – ramen, instant noodles
두부 (dubu) – tofu
스팸 (seupaem) – Spam
치즈 (chijeu) – cheese
고추장 (gochu-jang) – red pepper paste