Free makgeolli with pajeon near Sejong Children's Museum: Italy Shabu

On a weekend trip to the National Children's Museum in Sejong with my sister, brother-in-law, and niece, we stopped by a Sejong Lake Park favorite — "Italy Shabu Kalguksu"! Let me introduce it.

Where is Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch, and when is it open?

Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch is located at 3rd floor, Unit 302, Taehan Press Center, 172 Jeoljae-ro, Sejong, South Korea. It's open daily from 10:30 to 21:00, with last order at 20:30, and has a break time on weekdays from 15:00 to 17:00 (none on weekends). Parking is in the building's basement lot, and no registration is needed.

Italy Shabu Kalguksu is apparently designated a "good price" restaurant by Sejong city. Also, "Italy" isn't referring to the country — it's actually the owner's child's name! Such a pretty name 😊

The interior is really clean and there are quite a lot of tables. There were more tables on the right side too, but everyone was eating so I couldn't get a photo of that area…!

What three adults and one child ordered

Here's the menu at this Sejong Lake Park favorite "Italy Shabu Kalguksu" :) We visited with three adults and one child, and ordered Italy's six-ingredient shabu kalguksu (beef brisket, handmade dumplings, potato dumplings, assorted vegetables and mushrooms, kalguksu noodles, and porridge) in clear broth for three, plus a pajeon. Broth options are clear, spicy, or perilla seed — you choose when ordering.

You order via a table tablet. There were some notes listed as reference — worth a read!

• Guests ages 8 and up must each order one shabu.
• Basic side dishes come with your meal order.
• Extra sides/small plates/scissors/tongs/baby dishes/bibs/water are self-serve.
• Kalguksu noodle refills and ramyeon noodle refills at the self-serve bar are free.
• Order pajeon and get free makgeolli (pajeon is excluded from the single-person menu — for a party of 3 shabu orders, you order 1 pajeon).
• Free parking / restroom is next to the elevator.

What's at the self-serve bar, including free noodle refills

The self-serve bar at Italy Shabu Kalguksu has fresh geotjeori kimchi that goes great with the noodles, macaroni and salad for a starter, plus all-you-can-eat ramyeon noodle refills and kalguksu noodle refills.

Up top there's wasabi, ketchup, kiwi sauce, and even extra broth 👏🏻

The water came in a glass that looked like it should be holding orange juice from my childhood, filled instead with roasted barley tea. Everything you'd need on the table — wet wipes, spoons and chopsticks, napkins, tongs, ladle — was set up conveniently.

Is Italy Shabu Kalguksu good with a toddler? Kids' dishes and high chairs

My favorite part! We visited with my niece and asked for a kid's dish set, and they gave us the cutest little dishes plus rice and gim (dried seaweed) all together on a small tray..❤️ So touched..! They even had a baby chair ready, making this a great spot to visit with kids 👍🏻👍🏻

Order the pajeon and the makgeolli is free, with unlimited refills

The pajeon came out first. Packed with squid, crispy and delicious.

Also, if you order pajeon, the makgeolli refills are unlimited ~! So we each had a light glass, and it was a sweet makgeolli with no tang. Exactly the kind of taste women tend to love?

What comes in the six-ingredient shabu kalguksu

While we snacked on pajeon and makgeolli as an appetizer, the shabu kalguksu came out right away. They piled it up in a huge portion. The meat looked really fresh too.

Just as listed on the menu: potato dumplings, handmade dumplings, two kinds of mushrooms, assorted vegetables, and plenty of meat ~

How to eat the shabu kalguksu, course by course

• Dip the vegetables and meat into the secret soy sauce.
• If you want more, add extra vegetable or meat refills.
• Join the review event to enjoy some extra perks.
• After eating, boil the kalguksu noodles for 5 minutes. (free noodle refills, extra broth from the self-serve bar)
• Finish it off by frying your own egg fried rice.

They also gave us house-made kalguksu noodles and ingredients for egg porridge~

Once you've eaten everything else, drop the house-made kalguksu noodles into the rich, boiled-down broth and simmer for 5 minutes — really delicious kalguksu, done.

After the kalguksu comes the egg porridge too. The portions are massive, so by this point you'll be stuffed to bursting.. 😋

Why Italy Shabu Kalguksu works for family gatherings

They finish you off with ice cream and puffed rice snacks, so after that you're pretty much collapsing into a food coma… 😂 A really satisfying, filling meal. It's pet-friendly and perfect for bringing along grandparents or kids, or hosting a family gathering — definitely visit this Sejong Lake Park favorite "Italy Shabu Kalguksu" :) Thanks for a great meal today!