Hapjeong shabu-shabu with sujebi dumpling noodles: Shabu in Seoul

Went to my friend's favorite shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong. She'd been here on a date recently and said it was so good haha, and insisted we go eat again. It was my first visit, and it turned out cleaner and tastier than I expected, so I saved it with a heart on Naver Maps. Let me introduce it.

Where is Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, and what are its hours?

This is Shabu in Seoul, a shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong.

• Hours: Mon-Sun 11:00-22:00
• Break time: Mon-Fri 15:00-17:00
• Amenities and services: group-friendly, private rooms available, reservations possible, parking available

It's on the basement level of Hapjeong Prugio, right across from Kyobo Book Centre, so it's easy to find and parking was great too. During peak hours there's a wait, but they even offer tea to waiting guests — such a thoughtful shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong haha.

Inside Shabu in Seoul: private rooms and wall-side group seats

The inside of Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is seriously clean and nice!! Each table has partitions so it feels private, and the seats are spacious with a clean wood-and-white look.

There are a few reservable private rooms too, so I took some photos haha. Looks perfect for group gatherings.

There's also group seating along the wall like this, so if you have a bigger group, make a reservation! Should be comfortable to use.

Menu and prices: the Prime Angus chuck flat shabu course

For the two of us, we ordered

• Prime Angus Chuck Flat Shabu Course ₩25,000 x2
• Dumpling soup noodles ₩4,000

That's what we ate. The meat options ranged from 1++ hanwoo (Korean beef) to black pork, so many choices you could pick based on your taste.

The broth options were really varied too. I was so curious about the tomato one haha, but since it was my first visit I ordered the best-seller, clear mushroom. Next time I want to try blue crab miso or tomato.

Banchan side dishes and the three-sauce set

You get a set of 3 sauces plus grated garlic and chili peppers. From left, it's soy sauce, chili, and sesame sauce. The bottles were so nice-looking too... though I thought, these must be a pain to wash haha, ㅠ.

For basic banchan (side dishes), you get a tangy, soy-based pickle with just the right saltiness. Goes really well and tastes great haha.

What the Prime Angus chuck flat course for two looks like

Ohh, it really comes out neat and clean. This is probably why after 7pm the place gets packed... I could see a lot of couples on dates too.

This is the Prime Angus Chuck Flat, and at Shabu in Seoul they serve each meat considering the optimal thickness and aging state. Maybe that's why it was so tasty. The meat was also super fresh.

From the thickness that considers texture, to serving it at just the right temperature for shabu-shabu — such a thoughtful service.

The vegetables looked really good too, right? So many varieties and fresh, which made the meal even tastier.

The 3-sauce set is ready!! My favorite is the sesame one. So nutty, the best.

A pot with the broth already poured comes out — set it to level 8 to bring it to a boil, then drop in the vegetables!! Cook them a bit, then lower it to level 4 and eat, they said.

The great thing about shabu-shabu... it cooks fast hahahahaha.

How did the clear mushroom broth and the beef taste?

Whether it was the careful slicing or the quality meat, it was really delicious. Tender yet with just the right chew — this Angus chuck flat of ours.

The sesame sauce was so smooth and nutty, really tasty haha. Even dipping generously, it wasn't salty and the combo was great.

The broth was the real boss. Honestly, mushroom broth tends to taste similar everywhere, but true to its fame as a well-known Hapjeong shabu-shabu spot, the depth of the broth was... whoa... legendary umami.

I thought it might be rice cake, but it turned out to be bunmoja (sweet potato starch noodles). Chewy and tasty.

Sujebi dumpling noodles for 4,000 won and the porridge finish

You can request porridge for the meal, but before that, I thought, should we try dumpling soup noodles (sujebi) as an add-on? So I ordered it. Then this curious serving robot comes over. Thanks~~~ I said, taking it from the robot.

Ohh, it looks so chewy... mouth-watering.

The dumplings didn't taste floury at all, and were incredibly tender and chewy, so tasty. I was torn between this and kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) — first time trying sujebi at a shabu place — but I'm glad I ordered it! Ate it and felt full and satisfied.

If you request the meal via the kiosk at each table, staff come and make the porridge for you. They drizzle sesame oil, and whir~~~ grind some pepper on top too.

The sesame oil smell wafts up~~~ the rice grains are soft and nutty, really good. I love porridge after eating shabu-shabu hahahaha.

To finish the meal, there was even tangy, tasty omija tea (five-flavor berry tea)... a clean and satisfying shabu course meal overall. This little pretty cup even had ice slush floating in it, so I drank it in one go, refreshingly cold.

Is Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong good for a date or a group dinner?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch has a clean wood-and-white interior, plus private rooms and group seating, making it a great shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong for visiting with several people. With meat ranging from hanwoo to black pork and various broth choices, it's great for picking according to your taste!

Maybe because the meat comes carefully sliced considering aging and texture, I could enjoy it deliciously from start to finish haha. A shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong worth visiting for those on a date or looking for a gathering spot!!