Bally Budaejjigae — Restaurant in Suwanee

I'm embarrassed to admit that as a Korean American in Atlanta, one, I didn't know that this beautiful dish even existed until a few years ago, and two, I didn't know restaurants like this existed. Budaejjigae found its provenance in war-torn Korea, when citizens used what little they had - along with US rations such as luncheon meat, processed cheese, and hot dogs - to create a spicy and deeply satisfying hot pot meal that has now taken Korean street stalls and restaurants by storm. It's not hard to make, but it's difficult to find it outside someone's home...until now.

Bally Budaejjigae is tucked away in the corner of an overwhelming complex of restaurants and shops (with Assi Plaza, a Korean supermarket, as its retail anchor), but it's well worth the short and confused search around the labyrinthine square. The folks who work there, particularly the woman who served us, greeted us warmly and didn't blink an eye at our request for an English menu even though we clearly spoke Korean. There's a convenient doorbell-like button at the side of the table that calls over a waitress without you needing to use your voice, and a gas grill waits patiently at your table for the yummies to come.

And boy, was it yummy. The kimchi-based broth is spicy, savory, and made me expel a happy "ahhhhh" before I even realize I said something. Orders are per serving size, and the 'Medium 2-3 serving' pot came with rice cakes, tons of sausage slices, spam, and bean spouts (it typically also has ground beef, but they amicably left it out for me when they heard I avoid meat). There are also add-ons, and the tofu and American cheese we chose added the most sumptuous touch. My spendthrift husband balked a little when he discovered we'd essentially be paying a whole dollar per slice of American cheese, but he clammed up once he tasted what that melted loveliness did to the taste of our broth.

The accompanying rice comes in a hot metal bowl, which is thoughtfully placed in a wooden base so that clumsy dummies like me don't burn themselves on the servingware. The kettle they bring you is so that you can scoop out the rice and pour water in to cover the rice line. By the end of your meal, all the tasty burnt bits (like the coveted socarrat, or caramelized paella bits, at the bottom of a pan) can create a nice, warm rice porridge for you to end your meal with. I also suspect this makes cleaning far easier on the workers at the end of the meal. Win-win.

We had to drive nearly forty minutes out of our way to get here, but by the time we tumbled out of the restaurant with distinctly rounder bellies, we weren't...

I had a wonderful dinner experience at Bally Budaejjigae (발리 부대찌개) in Suwanee. It was a gathering of five friends after a meeting, and we decided to try their specialties, Bally Budaejjigae (발리 부대찌게) and Bally Budae Steak (발리 부대 스테이크). The Bally Budae Steak paired perfectly with Soju, as the rich flavors of rib-eye steak, sausage, bacon, and onions with marinated sauce melted in our mouths. We raised our glasses to health and happiness, thoroughly enjoying the delightful combination.

As we savored the Budae Steak, the Budaejjigae was prepared and ready to be enjoyed. This flavorful dish paired perfectly with freshly cooked white rice, making every bite a true delight. The service provided by the young waitress and even the owner was exceptional. The middle-aged owner attended to us with patience and willingness, treating us like family. When I complimented her on the service, she mentioned that her employees also embraced an owner's mindset when it comes to serving customers. It was evident that the owner's confident comment was reflected in our personal experience.

The menu proudly stated, "This is a place where there are delicious foods carefully made with handmade broth that is boiled every day." I was deeply inspired and touched by this commitment to quality. It felt like the owner truly walked the talk, and the taste of the food and the service provided created the perfect atmosphere, evoking memories of old-day Korea. My best wishes go out to the owner and the employees for creating such a memorable experience.

May they continue their great work and service with humility and humanity. It's establishments like Bally Budaejjigae that bring forth beautiful memories and blessings to all...

Came here with family after receiving a raving recommendation from our hair salon which we were at prior to coming here right across the street. What a fantastic meal! We ordered Budae Steak for 3 and Korean pancakes. We were under the impression that the Budae Steak came with a bowl of the Budaejigae (Korean Army Stew) but we were sadly mistaken. After finishing the majority of the meat and Korean pancakes we asked our waiter when the Budaejigae was coming out as we would have enjoyed it with the meal, but were told that it was simply called Budae Steak and did not come with Budaejigae. Bummer, so we ordered a single serving of Budaejigae. The owner came out later and apologized for the confusion and comped us a bowl of Budaejigae which was a very kind gesture. The stew was excellent as well though it was very spicy which was nice but we noticed there is an option for a milder version which we may order next time.

Sides were fresh and delicious which adds to the ambiance of the restaurant as well which felt like a home cooked Korean meal.

Service was very friendly and excellent ad well. They have a call button which we used a few times and the server came and gave us great service.

Parking was easy as the restaurant is shared with the Assi Plaza and neighboring restaurants. I can see myself returning here in the future and recommend them highly.

5 solid Stars and two thumbs up! Thank you for a...