Clam shabu spot in Millak, Busan: rainy-day Lunch Special A, Jogaeok

This is my visit to Jogaeok Kalguksu Suyeong Direct Store (조개옥칼국수 수영직영점), a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) place in Suyeong, Busan where I had a really satisfying meal!

It was a rainy day, so I kept craving something hot and brothy, and went for kalguksu. I already love shabu kalguksu and refreshing clam noodle soups, and I'd heard a lot of good things about the broth at Jogaeok, so I went in with high hopes haha

Jogaeok Kalguksu Suyeong Direct Store: location, hours and parking

Jogaeok Kalguksu Suyeong Direct Store is at 142 Muhak-ro 63beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan, and it's open from 11:00 to 24:00. It's a quick walk from Exit 3 of Millak Station, so the location was pretty convenient too.

• Address: 142 Muhak-ro 63beon-gil, Suyeong-gu, Busan (Building 401, Unit 105)
• Hours: 11:00 - 24:00
• Break time: 15:00 - 16:00
• Closed: every Wednesday
• Parking available
• Takeout / delivery available

Is there a wait at lunchtime?

Even when I went for an early lunch, the place filled up fast, and a little later a waiting line formed. I arrived early, and it got quite crowded in no time. Watching the seats fill up, I thought, okay, this place is really popular. It felt like lots of locals come here too!

Menu, lunch specials and how to order

Jogaeok has a variety of lunch specials and a standing review event, so keep that in mind!! The event rewards are generous, so you'll want to grab them, right? haha

You order through the kiosk at each table!! This time we ordered Lunch Special A shabu kalguksu for two. It comes with kalguksu plus your choice of bossam (boiled pork wraps) or pajeon (scallion pancake), and we picked bossam. We also added shabu porridge and extra clams to make it even more filling.

When the food arrived and the whole table was laid out, the portions were really generous. For this price, that spread is such a bargain 😭

How does the shabu kalguksu broth taste?

The shabu kalguksu here had a deep, refreshing broth drawn from the clams. I started with the shabu kalguksu.

The clam broth came through deep and the cool, clean flavor hit right away. The more I sipped, the more I wanted, and with the vegetables and meat in the pot, the broth got richer as we ate. Eating it piping hot really loosened me up haha

The noodles didn't go mushy either, cooked up nicely chewy, so the texture was great. The broth was rich but not heavy, the kind of taste you keep eating!

Shabu kalguksu with silbi kimchi

I also tried it with Jogaeok's silbi kimchi (spicy kimchi), and it really went well together. The spicy, zesty kick came alive, and eating it with the broth kept my chopsticks going.

Lunch Special bossam: taste and portion

The bossam we picked with Lunch Special A came thickly sliced and wonderfully tender. It looked satisfying from the start, and the thick cuts looked hearty just to see.

One bite and the tenderness was obvious. The ratio of lean meat to fat was just right, so it stayed soft without any dryness. It was great wrapped in a leaf, and eating it with the mu-malaengi (seasoned dried radish) and sauce that came alongside made it even better. It's good with rice, and good on its own, I just kept eating it.

Is the shabu porridge finish worth adding?

After finishing the shabu kalguksu, we added shabu porridge, cooked in the leftover broth. It was nutty and deep, a perfect way to finish. This was a real treat.

Overall the portions were truly generous and we ate until we were full. Even with three of us sharing, it felt plenty filling haha And the owner was so kind!! The service was comfortable and they looked after anything we needed, so I felt good the whole meal.

Would I go back to Jogaeok Kalguksu Suyeong Direct Store?

When you're craving kalguksu or bossam in Suyeong, Jogaeok Kalguksu Suyeong Direct Store is an easy place to recommend. The portions are generous for the price and the broth is good, so I left very satisfied. You can feel why it's so busy.