Sundubu Jjigae (순두부찌개)

Bubbling soft-tofu stew, served with a raw egg to crack in.

Korean name: 순두부찌개
Spice level: Spicy
Flavor: spicy · savory
Typically contains: tofu
Vegetarian / vegan: Sometimes — vegetable-forward, but anchovy broth, fish sauce or meat garnish is common. Ask first
Typical price: ₩8,000–₩11,000 per person checked 2026-07 — varies by area
Good to know: Beginner-friendly ●●●●○ Solo dining ●●●●○ Kid-friendly ●●○○○
Also written as: soondubu, sundubu, soft tofu stew, soon tofu

Spice and flavor are editorial assessments of the standard version — individual restaurants and recipes vary. Ingredient notes are typical, not guaranteed: always check with the restaurant for allergies or dietary needs. Eating and cooking notes describe common practice in Korea; our first-hand deep-dives live in the Eat Like a Local guides.

What is Sundubu Jjigae?

Sundubu-jjigae (순두부찌개) is soft tofu stew — silken, uncurdled tofu in a fiery (or optionally mild) broth with seafood or pork, served violently bubbling in a stone pot with a raw egg cracked in at the table. The custard-soft tofu against the scalding red broth is the point. It is a lunchtime staple in Korea and one of the most successful Korean dishes abroad, with entire restaurant chains built on it.

How to eat it

Crack the raw egg into the bubbling stew the moment it arrives — the residual heat cooks it.
Scoop the silken tofu gently; it's meant to slide, not hold shape.
Eat with rice; a purple-rice bowl (heukmi-bap) is the classic pairing at sundubu chains.

Cooking it at home

Make a quick chili oil (gochugaru + oil + garlic), add kimchi or clams/pork, then stock.
Slide in a tube of sundubu (extra-soft tofu) in big spoonfuls; simmer gently.
Crack an egg in at the end, off the heat.

Good to know

Silken tofu holds heat like lava — small first spoonfuls.
Seafood versions commonly include shellfish — flag allergies when ordering.

Chodang village in Gangneung is the sundubu mecca, famous for seawater-coagulated tofu.

Seen on Screen

This food appears in popular Korean dramas and movies — every connection verified and sourced.

Itaewon Class (이태원 클라쓰, 2020) — The Danbam pub's soft tofu stew — the dish at the center of the show's rivalry.

✓ Verified — official source · Explore the scene →

Nutrition

Calories	35 kcal
Carbohydrate	2.17 g
Protein	2.98 g
Fat	1.59 g
Sodium	151 mg

Per serving (~200g): ≈70 kcal · sodium ≈302 mg (15% of the WHO daily guideline, 2,000 mg)

Per 100g · total serving 200g · Official data: National Integrated Food Nutritional Information Standard Data (Korea MFDS) (DB item: 순두부찌개_김치, synced 2026-07-17). Values vary by recipe and portion.