Bada Shikdang

Don’t let the unassuming storefront fool you. Bada Shikdang is known as the home of “Johnson tang” and Koreans young and old flock to the restaurant to get their fill of the spicy, savory concoction (yes, there is valet parking). During the Korean War food was scarce—“budae jjigae,” or military stews, made use of U.S. military handouts. The story of Itaewon’s very own Johnson tang starts in 1966, while U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson was visiting Korea: An enterprising woman combined sausages and cheese with Korean red pepper paste and beef bone broth, leaving out the kimchi, in a hearty stew (or “tang” in Korean). Thus was Johnson tang born, and let us all be thankful. We suggest the turkey sausage for your stew, but you can always order the beef sausage to add in later if you’re having second thoughts. Don’t mind the gruff service—it’s all part of the experience.