Seoul Station shabu-shabu for two in spicy mushroom broth: Yunseul

Where is Yunseul near Seoul Station, and what is it like?

Yunseul (윤슬) is a shabu-shabu place on the first floor of Grand Central by Seoul Station, and I stopped by with a friend for a quick dinner. "Yunseul" means the little ripples that sparkle on water in sunlight or moonlight. I had booked for 5pm, but the early birds were already seated. A group was coming in, so the place was about to get busy.

See the guests at the very back? Reservations are starting to arrive. They say Yunseul is on the first floor, but from the main entrance it looks like the second floor. If you come in through the back entrance, it really is the first floor.

Yunseul location, opening hours and parking

• Address: Grand Central 1F, 14 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul
• 167m from Seoul Station Exit 4; use Kakao Map or Naver Map for directions
• Hours: daily 11:00-21:00
• Break time: 15:00-17:00
• Last order: 13:45, 19:45
• Closed for Seollal and Chuseok holidays; call about public holidays
• Parking: free parking available
• Seating: chairs (not floor seating)
• Facilities: reservations, Wi-Fi, separate men's and women's restrooms, group seating, Naver booking

Yunseul menu and prices

The Yunseul menu is split into sets, shabu-shabu and side dishes. The set for two (with a jeon of your choice) is ₩59,000, shabu-shabu for two is ₩48,000, and you have to order shabu-shabu or a set to match the number of people.

• Sets: for 2 with a jeon of your choice ₩59,000 / for 3 with Korean beef yukhoe ₩89,000 / for 4 with beef yukjeon ₩119,000
• Shabu-shabu: 2 people ₩48,000 / 3 people ₩72,000 / 4 people ₩96,000
• Side dishes: beef yukjeon ₩25,000, crispy radish jangjorim jeon ₩13,000, minari roe pancake ₩13,000, cockle and minari salad ₩8,000, Korean beef yukhoe ₩19,000, spicy beef tendon salad ₩8,000

You can pick the shabu-shabu broth: clear anchovy, house-made doenjang (soybean paste), or spicy mushroom.

Yunseul set for two with spicy mushroom broth

This time at Yunseul I ordered the set for two with the spicy mushroom broth. It comes with shabu-shabu for two plus the minari roe pancake, and along with the pancake they kindly threw in a spicy beef tendon salad as a freebie.

They pour in the special-recipe spicy mushroom broth.

The beef for the shabu-shabu arrives too.

The kimchi looks tasty.

They also bring a whole basket of vegetables for the pot.

Yunseul's 3 sauces: which one suits the beef best?

Yunseul's shabu-shabu comes with a set of 3 sauces. I think the beef goes best with the one in the middle.

Now we just need the broth to boil.

They were generous with the vegetables: wood ear mushrooms, shiitake, minari (water dropwort), napa cabbage hearts and more.

This is the minari roe pancake. I thought, "Surely not that roe?" And yes, it was that roe (gonie, fish milt/roe).

I think everything's out. As soon as the broth starts boiling, we dive in.

Vegetables go in first.

Then the beef, all of it, straight in. Lightning speed, because a plan suddenly came up and I have to get to Dangsan-dong.

Looks like I start with meat and end with meat again today. Friends are waiting at a barbecue place in Dangsan-dong, eating pork.

Is Yunseul's minari roe pancake worth ordering?

Yunseul's minari roe pancake beat my expectations, so if you visit, I really recommend ordering it. The spicy beef tendon salad that came with it was a freebie from the staff.

And the minari roe pancake, WOW, better than I expected. If you visit Yunseul, order it. Of course roe divides people, but pan-fried as a pancake it tastes amazing.

Finishing shabu-shabu with kalguksu noodles and porridge

At Yunseul I fished out the beef and vegetables, then carried on with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and then porridge. After all that, I was too full for a second round at a barbecue place.

The beef is cooked through, so let's go.

Keep fishing out the beef and vegetables. Stopping here would be a shame, right? Add the kalguksu, please. You think it ends here? It's not over till it's over.

Of course we have to have the porridge too.

After the porridge, it's truly over. Having eaten this much, I'll have to give up on the meat in Dangsan-dong.

Is Yunseul a good group dinner spot near Seoul Station and Namdaemun?

If you're looking for a spot for a date, a company dinner or a group gathering near Seoul Station or Namdaemun Market, how about Yunseul? It's also fine if you just want a quick drink. The shabu-shabu is good, but the minari roe pancake is seriously delicious. You probably won't find it at most restaurants. But Yunseul has it.

※ Please bear with us, as the restaurant may get crowded after this post.