Gimpo Korean restaurant shabu-shabu full course: Homilwon

Mrs. Po went to Gimpo to meet a close older friend. These days, when I make plans with friends, I try to choose something healthy and easy on the stomach. There was a time when I thought I could live on spaghetti three meals a day, but now my stomach and taste buds have gotten old, hahaha... But this old-lady-haha has picky taste, so I’m always hunting down places that are healthy and delicious.

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu, found in Gimpo

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu 🌿

This popular spot was even featured on KBS VJ Special Force for its sanghwang mushroom broth, rye kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), and warm boiled pork by a master of the dish. Excitedly, we put it in the navigation and arrived at the parking lot.

It is a large standalone building, so you will spot it right away if you are nearby. It has a huge private parking lot, so no parking worries. This was how relaxed it was at 5 p.m. on a weekday. It seems like an easy meeting point for group gatherings where everyone drives separately.

• Monday–Sunday 11:00–21:00
• Last order at 20:10

What is the spacious, pleasant interior like?

Inside Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu Gimpo Main Branch

The moment we opened the door and stepped in, a pretty pond greeted us 🌸 It felt like arriving at an upscale Korean set-menu restaurant.

The dining room is incredibly spacious and pleasant. The high ceiling makes it feel even roomier.

The tables are well spaced and the whole restaurant is neat, so even a large group could chat comfortably without it feeling crowded or noisy. Let’s look over the menu and order!

Ordering the Full Table Special Shabu Kalguksu

We ordered the best-selling Full Table Special Shabu Kalguksu. Wow, so many different events! I should have scanned the QR code and tried this too!

They even give you popcorn for writing a review. Mrs. Po has a small stomach, so I skipped it to focus on the main meal, but I highly recommend it if you come for a family meal with children.

There is also free misutgaru (multigrain powder drink) and pressed juice for sale.

All-you-can-refill beef mushroom radish rice, fresh kimchi, and young-radish kimchi.

Fresh kimchi is indispensable with kalguksu. This precious kimchi is made in-house at least twice daily with Korean cabbage brined in drained solar salt. The healthy sanghwang mushroom broth and precious sesame oil pressed at a mill are unlimited too!

A shabu-shabu spread simmered in sanghwang mushroom broth

Wow, the shabu-kalguksu set came out right away, arranged exactly like it was on TV.

We turned on the heat and let it bubble away.

Homilwon’s special sanghwang mushroom broth

The owner’s philosophy is so wonderful 👍👍👍

They say the fresh rye noodles, available only at Homilwon, are easy on the stomach and digest well while still having a pleasantly chewy texture. For the shabu-shabu beef, they use Australian N7 beef—called a premium cut for shabu-shabu, with just the right fat level and excellent quality—sliced directly in the restaurant to 0.8–1 mm, the ideal thickness for shabu-shabu.

And there was smoky stir-fried webfoot octopus and boiled pork that melted in the mouth.

The basic garlic sauce was so good.

First, I took a bite of the smoky webfoot octopus with sesame oil.

Wow, the boiled pork was unbelievably tender and practically melted away. There was not even a hint of smell, and it was delicious.

Just as the owner said, the shabu beef was not tough at all—so tender that after only a few chews, it went down softly.

Then in went the rye kalguksu for round one. We finished with juk (rice porridge), whose broth had deepened with vegetable stock; the fresh scent of minari (water celery) spread through it and cut the richness.

It did not taste of harsh seasonings, so my stomach still felt comfortable after I finished. I loved that Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu offered not only vegetable shabu-shabu but also boiled pork and stir-fried webfoot octopus in this varied five-course meal. Enjoy this Gimpo favorite with someone special—for a company dinner, group gathering, meal with parents, or family outing! ❣️ Highly recommended for a satisfying meal.