Are you looking for the best kimchi jjigae 김치찌개 restaurants in the Pyeongtaek area? Then, here are ten spots where you can find this delicious kimchi stew. If you already know where Pyeongtaek is, and about kimchi jjigae, jump straight to the Kimichijjigae restaurant list. Where is Pyeongtaek? Feel free to skip the next section if you live in Pyeongtaek or know about the area. Pyeongtaek-si is located in the southern portion of the Gyeonggi-do province. This large city includes both US military installations, Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. The kimchi jjigae restaurant recommendations provided exist within the city of Pyeongtaek. Therefore, In this blog post, South of Seoul provides addresses and phone numbers. However, we recommend using this information in either Naver Maps or Kakao Maps for the best results. As a result, such apps help you figure out how far each restaurant might be from you. What is Kimchi Jjigae 김치찌개? Kimchi jjigae 김치찌개 is a fabulous spicy, tangy, flavorful stew whose main ingredient is kimchi. Hence, it is no surprise that this dish is one of the popular stews in Korean cuisine. The flavors developed in this stew depend on the kimchi and gochujang used. When using old or aged kimchi, the flavor profile of this dish becomes more tangy and enriched. If you are looking for aged kimchi, you can always check your local market and ask for mukeunji 묵은지, meaning old kimchi. If you are unable to find aged kimchi or want to make it sooner, you may also add a little bit of vinegar to it to make it slightly sourer. Also, if your kimchi is too sour, try adding a little bit of sugar to remove some acidity. Gochujang 고추장 is a fermented chili pepper paste that gives dishes that spicy kick. Since kimchi jjigae is a spicy dish, it often has a good deal of gochujang added to it when eating out at a restaurant. When cooking at home, you can adjust gochujang levels to keep the spice at a tolerable level for you and your family. In addition, there are a few different types of meat that can be used in kimchi jjigae that may alter the flavor a bit. The most common meats used in kimchi jjigae are pork, beef, or tuna. Kimchi Jjigae Restaurants in Pyeongtaek KimchiRednecks Kimchi Jjigae Videos Kimchi jjigae is the first Korean dish I made at home. The flavors of sour kimchi and spicy gochujang make this a Korean comfort food. So, if you are craving a dish to help warm you up and fill your belly, this is the dish! Because we make this most often at home, we currently do not have any restaurant reviews of the above restaurants. Hence, we need to get out and check out some of the amazing locations. However, if you check out our YouTube channel, you can find other restaurant reviews, cooking videos, and much more. Also, we update content regularly and enjoy sharing our love of Korea and its culture. How to Source Additional Information About These Locations Whenever you have questions about things like business hours, you can use the free foreigner support app/phone number 1330. In addition, this is really helpful especially around holidays to make sure if a business will be open when you want to visit. With this app, you can prevent a wasted trip to a location when they are enjoying their regular day off or a holiday. A Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. Time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. Be sure to follow the series so you can add some delicious Korean dishes to your weekly meal plans! Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. While this list of kimchi jjigae restaurants in Pyeongtaek is not comprehensive of the entire area, we may have missed your favorite spot. Therefore, make sure to share with the community and share your favorite spots with us! Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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Today let’s learn about cooking kimchi jjigae (김치찌개) at home! Kimchi jjigae is a delicious, flavorful stew in Korea that is just plain comfort food. You can find it in many restaurants and homes all across Korea. About the South of Seoul ‘A Year to Learn Korean Cooking’ Series Many of us live in South Korea for only a year. Time flies past faster than we can imagine. At South of Seoul, we decided to create a simple series that will offer 2-4 dishes to learn each month so that when you leave South Korea you have a slew of new dishes you feel comfortable making anywhere. In this post you will learn about cooking Kimchijjigae, a popular winter dish in South Korea. This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. About Kimchi jjigae Kimchi jjigae could be considered a love language in South Korea. This spicy, warm, and tangy dish exists as one of the quintessential Korean comfort foods. When the weather is a bit off or your heart is a little sad, kimchi jjigae can make it all seem a little better. The flavor profile of this dish will vary based on the quality and style of two key ingredients: kimchi and gochujang. If your kimchi is well-aged the flavor profile will be deeper and tangier. If you use less gochujang you will get a less ‘muddy’ taste. Each restaurant and person will have a slightly different style so you may have to adjust the recipe to find your perfect version. Biggest Hurdle When Making Kimchi jjigae Access to aged kimchi can be a hurdle for those new to Korea. Cooking kimchijjigae usually requires VERY old kimchi to get the best flavor and you may only have access to ‘fresh’ kimchi. Do not let this keep you from making your first kimchijjigae. The dish can still come out light and nice. Don’t get disappointed when your kimchijjigae doesn’t taste as deep and rich as those with 1-year-old kimchi available. Just put some kimchi aside for your jjigae next winter. Three Recommended Videos to watch on Kimchi jjigae The truth is, it’s hard to get kimchi jjigae wrong since you can simply keep adding a little of this and a little of that until you like it. We don’t usually use actual recipes or measurements. We just ‘feel’ it. However, before you can ‘feel it’ it’s nice to use a few recipes as a guide. We have chosen a few different cultural views of this traditional Korean dish. Watch these three versions of kimchi jjigae and then attempt one of your own! Korean American Kimchi jjigae Korean Kimchi jjigae American In Korea Kimchi jjigae Let Us Know How It Turns Out When you try cooking Kimchi jjigae for the first time, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it went! If you live in Pyeongtaek you can even share your success (or failure) with us in the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook group. Learn more recipes in our Year to learn Korean Cooking series Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group You are also welcome to join our Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. The South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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Are you looking for the best spicy Korean stews/soups to keep you warm all winter long? Whether you want to eat out or make it at home, we have you covered. Spicy Korean Stews/Soups for Winter Winter is coming and when it does you are going to be thanking us for this post. When the temperature drops and your butt freezes, there are five Korean stews/soups we recommend to chase the blues away. They are spicy, ass kicking soups that make you feel like you are being hugged by an angry grandmother from the inside out. These are the dishes we crave and eat in mass all winter long. At this point we don’t know how we ever lived without them. And if spicy stews/soups are not your thing, make sure to check out 5 NOT Spicy Korean Soups for Winter. Kimchi jjigae 김치찌개 This is not for the timid, but it is the ruler of them all. When we first arrived in Korea we thought this stew was too much, but now it’s what we crave more than anything when the weather gets cold. There is just no way of replacing this unusually, delicious stew. It’s spicy, tangy, sweet, and rich. This soup is often eaten for breakfast because it sets you up to have a good day. Where We Like to Eat It: If you are in the Pyeongtaek area, make sure to check out our blog with ten locations for you to enjoy the deliciousness of kimchi jjigae. KimchiRednecks show you how to make Kimchi Jjigae at home Budae Jjigae 부대찌개 Now, if meat is what you are all about, then you want to go for some good old fashioned soldier stew. This dish doesn’t try to be fancy. It originated during the Korean War when they were making food out of scraps left by soldiers. It’s pure brilliance. If you are a food snob, don’t even bother. This is all about cheap hotdogs, sausages, and ramen noodles. OMG we want some just talking about it.  Songtan is also known for having the best budae jjigae in the country so it’s the perfect place to try it. Where We Like to Eat It: If you are in the Pyeongtaek area, make sure to check out our blog with eleven locations for you to enjoy the hearty budae jjigae. KimchiRednecks show you how to make Budae Jjigae at home Sundubu Jjigae 순두부찌개 We call this “Angry Care Bear clouds” in soup. It’s often super spicy but the soft tofu feels so comforting you’re not sure if you are in love or angry. Unbelievably awesome to eat in January and there is an especially fabulous version in Pyeongtaek not far from AK Plaza. If you are in a hurry though, this is a great dish to grab at any Korean lunch counter. Where We Like to Eat It: KimchiRednecks show you how to make Sundubu Jjigae at home Dakdoritang 닭도리탕/Dakbokkeumtang 닭볶음탕 Not exactly a soup or stew by Korean standards, but it is by ours so it makes the list. This dish can be hard to come by as it often has to be ordered ahead and is made for 3-4 people (also making it expensive on the menu). The chicken will simply melt in your mouth and the heat from this dish will keep you warm all day long. We love to go to a restaurant and order this on a weekend with friends. Especially if we have been playing outside in the cold. Where We Like to Eat It: Maangchi shows you how to make Dakbokkeumtang at home Yukgaejang 육개장 This winter classic is filled with stewed beef and unique Korean vegetables. Known for being VERY spicy and hearty. The mountain ferns give the dish and unique earthy flavor that you will either love or hate. Once again, this is for those who love Korean food and unique flavors. Where We Like to Eat It: KimchiRednecks show you how to make Yukgaejang at home Read more in our Year to Learn Korean Cooking Series This series is a collaboration with Kimchi Rednecks. In 2020 they created the first blog in this series Online Resources for Learning to Cook Korean Food. These two love to have adventures in the kitchen and share the results with their community. Be sure to follow Kimchi Rednecks on YouTube for other great videos about living life in South Korea. Join the Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group Share your adventures with the best spicy Korean stews/soups with our community at Pyeongtaek Food & Fun Facebook Group. Join the South of Seoul moderated community of active and friendly Pyeongtaek international residents makes moving to Pyeongtaek easier. With so many different voices and opinions, it is always refreshing to see everyone’s adventures in our local community. In addition, all of the posts shared introduce our community to new places and old places that can feel new all over again. Volunteer with South of Seoul Interested in working with a fun team of talented volunteers? The South of Seoul volunteer team is always looking for other like-minded folks to research information, compile blogs, and edit content.

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