Namju Cho is a freelance producer.
Budae jjigae is a Korean stew made with spam. It literally translates to "military stew" as it is a legacy of the American military presence during the Korean War. The Korean Civil War left the country in shambles and many people were without meat. Some Koreans were able to obtain Spam, Vienna sausage and other canned meats from US military bases (PX stores). They combined it with kimchi for a stew. In the U.S., many Korean Americans still eat budae jjigae and for some, it's considered comfort food.
You can get military stew at the following places in Los Angeles:
Chun Ju Han Il Kwan
3450 W. 6th St. #106
Los Angeles, CA 90020
Book Sea Tong
755 S. Vermont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Gon Ji Am
4653 1/2 Beverly Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
Mom's House
3126 W. 8th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
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