Jang-an-dong date-night shabu-shabu with dumpling add-on: Shabu Torang

A Dongdaemun shabu-shabu spot great for solo dining on a budget, plus an after-course pasta at Shabu Torang

Hi, this is Sudaeng :) Maybe it's the cooler breeze, or maybe it's the early dark evenings, but I was craving something warm and soupy, so I went with my boyfriend after work to Shabu Torang, known as a Dongdaemun shabu-shabu spot. I'd been here solo before, but this time I wanted to enjoy it even more as a couple!

Where is Shabu Torang Jang-an Branch, and is there parking?

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is on the 1st floor at 146 Janghan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. The parking lot is small, with space for about 1–2 cars.

Inside Shabu Torang: solo seats and tables for dates

Shabu Torang, a Dongdaemun shabu-shabu spot, gives each guest their own pot, so solo dining is totally doable. On the way home from work, when plans fall through, or on a quiet weekend when you just want to eat alone, it's nice not to have to worry about eating by yourself.

I was glad to see several solo seats set up for people like that.

So is Shabu Torang only for solo dining? Not at all — there are solo, 2-person, and 4-person seats, so it works for a family visit or as a date course too.

Shabu Torang broth prices and how to order

At Shabu Torang Jang-an, you can order right from your table, and prices run from basic shabu-shabu at ₩7,900 up to mala shabu-shabu at ₩8,900 — great value across 5 broth types you can pick to match your taste.

You can add vegetables, meat, and toppings to build your own shabu-shabu combo — it felt unique and fun just placing the order.

There are 3 sauces to go with the shabu-shabu, plus a water pitcher, cups, wet wipes, and napkins — pretty much everything you need is already set out.

They're also running an event where you get a free soda for writing a receipt review, so enjoy that along with your shabu-shabu :)

What the couple ordered at Shabu Torang

• Basic shabu-shabu + cream pasta + added dumplings
• Spicy shabu-shabu + cream Buldak pasta + zero-sugar cola

I ordered the basic shabu-shabu with added dumplings. Once the little sauce dish comes out you fill it with whatever sauce you like, and the pot arrives already filled with broth.

And here's the best part of Shabu Torang — the after-course pasta or risotto you cook yourself at the end. I'll explain that once I've gone through the shabu-shabu menu ?

The dumplings come out cold at first, but they're really tasty when you drop them into the pot along with the shabu-shabu.

My boyfriend likes spicy food, so he ordered the spicy shabu-shabu with zero-sugar cola and cream Buldak pasta.

How good are the beef belly, vegetables and meat?

I worried that such an affordable price might mean cut corners on quality, but the beef belly wasn't thin or skimpy at all.

Once the broth in the individual induction pot starts boiling, you dump in the whole pile of vegetables (bean sprouts, napa cabbage, mushrooms, bok choy, enoki mushrooms, etc.). The tofu skin stamped with the Shabu Torang name always strikes me as neat, haha.

Being impatient and hungry, I dropped in all the beef belly at once... and ate it the moment it barely lost its pink color.

Dip it in the sauce, enjoy it with the vegetables in the pot, and before you know it the bottom of the pot is showing. I get why this place is known as a Dongdaemun favorite — I already want to come back..

Since my boyfriend had the spicy shabu-shabu, he mixed in all the seasoning that came with it. You can really see the difference in the broth's color compared to the basic version, right? Just looking at it screams spicy and refreshing.

How to cook the after-course pasta at your table

The pasta or risotto at Shabu Torang isn't made in the kitchen — it's a system where you cook it yourself at the table.

• Leave only about half a ladle of broth in the pot
• Add the pasta or risotto and set the heat to level 3
• Keep stirring to adjust the consistency

Just knowing these three steps means anyone can easily make their own after-course pasta.

It tastes similar to a cream pasta you'd order at a regular restaurant, but with the added savoriness of the meat broth, making for an even richer dessert-style pasta. I prefer soft noodles over a firmer bite, so I let it cook a few extra minutes and it came out just right.

What I liked about this Dongdaemun shabu-shabu spot is that it's not just about the shabu-shabu itself — you also get to cook your own after-course dishes like tteokbokki, risotto, or pasta. With its clean, pleasant space and friendly service, Shabu Torang is worth a visit :)