“Seoul Gwanghwamun Nolboo Budae Jjigae”

January 16, 2024 351 Views

Nolboo Budae Jjigae is a prominent franchise restaurant specializing in budae jjigae (army stew). While there are places that serve budae jjigae, it’s rare to find a restaurant that exclusively focuses on it as a franchise, making Nolboo stand out in the field.

Founded by Kim Sun-jin, Nolboo initially started with Nolboo NGB, later expanding its brand to Nolboo Bossam Jokbal. In 1992, they launched “Nolboo Budae Jjigae,” gaining high recognition for selling budae jjigae and iron plate grills.

“Gwanghwamun, Nolboo Budae Jjigae”

You can find Nolboo Budae Jjigae in Gwanghwamun, close to Gwanghwamun Square. Exit from Gwanghwamun Station Exit 8, head south down the alley, and you’ll locate the restaurant. It’s on the first floor, and despite the spacious interior compared to the entrance, there are plenty of seats once inside.

“Experience the Budae Jjigae menu at Nolboo Budae Jjigae”

True to its name, Nolboo Budae Jjigae specializes in budae jjigae. As a franchise, you can expect a similar taste experience at any branch, not necessarily limited to the Gwanghwamun location.

Beyond the basic budae jjigae, they offer various unique menus by adding different ingredients.

“On this day, ordering the basic Budae Jjigae”

On this day, I visited with a foreign friend who was trying budae jjigae for the first time. We opted for the most basic menu. While enjoying the meal with my foreign (American) friend, another group of foreigners came in to dine.

Presumably tourists from China or Southeast Asia, they seemed to have come to experience Korean cuisine for their evening meal.

Although it was a meal shared with a foreigner trying budae jjigae for the first time, my friend, who loves Korean food, made it a pleasant experience. (The friend enjoys Korean food enough to visit a Korean restaurant only on their birthday when in the U.S.)

One good aspect of visiting a franchise restaurant is that, even if the food might not be exceptional, it’s at least above a certain standard. If you want to safely enjoy a decent budae jjigae in the Gwanghwamun area, it’s a good place to visit.

“Seoul Gwanghwamun Nolboo Budae Jjigae Gwanghwamun Station Branch”