Anyang shabu-shabu by a forest-view window: duck lunch at Shabu Siktak

Shabu Siktak (샤브식탁) is my go-to shabu-shabu (hot pot where you swish thin slices of meat and veggies in broth) spot whenever I want Korean food in Dongpyeon-maeul, Indeogwon! Shabu-shabu is healthy, so everyone from kids to grandparents can enjoy it without feeling weighed down, and even the sides are all handmade, so I leave happy every single time. Okay, let's start my honest review~

Where is Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch? Hours and parking

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch is at 7 Dongpyeon-ro 49beon-gil, Dongan-gu, Anyang, and it's open every day from 11:30 to 21:00. Break time is 15:00 to 17:00.

It's in Dongpyeon-maeul, close to the road coming over from Gwacheon, so it's only about a 10-minute walk from Indeogwon Station, a great Indeogwon find! The cute signboard and exterior stand out from far away. For parking, use the roadside nearby or a public car park, but please be careful with spots near crosswalks or fire hydrants!

Is there a wait at Shabu Siktak for weekday lunch?

I arrived before 12 on a weekday and there was already a wait! That tells you how well-known it is in Dongpyeon-maeul~ Joining the queue remotely in advance through the Tabling app is probably a good idea!

Shabu Siktak menu: A-table, B-table and handmade sides

Shabu Siktak's shabu-shabu is split into A-table and B-table depending on the number and amount of toppings, and you can pick beef or duck as your meat. You can see the menu from outside without going in, which was so convenient, and I looked through it while waiting.

The sides here are honestly the star: ssamjang rice wrap, fried shrimp, fried shiitake and octopus karaage (Japanese-style fried octopus). All four are so good, and since they're all handmade, you can really taste the care.

Shabu Siktak interior: forest view through big windows and a private room

At Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch, all the seats are separated by an aisle, so you can eat with a private feel. The restaurant was already packed, but the green forest seen through the big windows looked like a framed picture. I only came for a meal, yet just being there felt so atmospheric~

There's also a room at the back with 2 tables! If you want a group booking or a private family gathering, it's probably best to reserve ahead~

There are separate men's and women's restrooms inside the restaurant too, which was very handy haha

How was Shabu Siktak's duck shabu-shabu B-table for 2?

Shabu Siktak serves 4 kinds of side dishes and a soy-sauce egg sauce. Add the handmade perilla seed sauce and handmade chili sauce, and you're ready to eat! Here's what I ordered this day.

• B-table for 2
• Shiitake hasamiage
• Handmade nut ssamjang rice wrap

The B-table came loaded with so many ingredients I can't even list them all: kabocha squash, mushrooms, shrimp, fish cake, sweet potato rice cake, assorted vegetables, dumplings and more! You just toss everything into the bubbling broth, but there's so much that you have to add it in 2 to 3 rounds! We chose duck, and it had no gamey smell. It came as thin, shaved slices, so it was easy and light to enjoy.

Dip the veggies into the sauces served alongside and you get the natural flavor of the ingredients together with the savory depth of the sauce, so it's really fresh and delicious shabu-shabu. There's a reason Shabu Siktak is an Indeogwon favorite: honestly, I think this is the only shabu-shabu place that puts shrimp and fish cake in the toppings at this price~ haha

Best sides at Shabu Siktak: shiitake hasamiage and nut ssamjang rice wrap

The fried shiitake (shiitake hasamiage) is what I order every single time I come! It's not just a plain mushroom fritter: it's stuffed full of minced shrimp, and the popping texture of the shrimp is so good, with the subtle flavor of the mushroom filling your mouth~~ it's seriously so delicious.

The handmade nut ssamjang rice wrap is a side that costs only ₩4,000, and I ordered it because I wanted a little something more! It comes with fresh lettuce, house-made nutty ssamjang (seasoned soybean paste) and myeong-i namul (pickled wild garlic leaves). Wrap it up with rice and take a big bite, and you get a healthy taste haha Shabu-shabu is already a healthy meal and even the sides are healthy, so I felt like I could eat my fill and not gain weight haha

Shabu-shabu on a hot day at Shabu Siktak: the verdict

At Shabu Siktak, the Indeogwon shabu-shabu favorite, I had a proper lunch with 2 sides and duck shabu-shabu. Even though it was hot out, eating steaming shabu-shabu in the spirit of fighting heat with heat (iyeol chiyeol) actually made me feel better, if that makes sense haha It's a Dongpyeon-maeul favorite where every visit is a satisfying meal!