Osan Korean restaurant for mushroom shabu kalguksu: Dongchundang

Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu in Osan’s Dugok-dong

Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch (동춘당 샤브샤브칼국수 오산두곡점) is on the first floor at 33-18 Seobu-ro, Osan-si, Gyeonggi-do. On Mondays, it is open from 10:00 to 15:00, with last orders at 14:20; from Tuesday through Sunday, it is open from 10:00 to 21:00, with last orders at 20:20.

It is a great place for a wholesome meal with a shabu-shabu kalguksu set, and the recommended menu item is the cordyceps longevity mushroom shabu kalguksu.

Parking and the spacious interior

With a large dedicated parking lot in front, this is an easy restaurant for parking in Osan. The spaces are roomy enough that even new drivers can visit without worrying about parking.

The interior is spacious and pleasant, with plenty of tables. I also recommend it for group gatherings such as family meals out, meals with parents, and company dinners 🍜

With your back to the entrance, the restroom and a photo zone are close by on the left. On the right are window seats, tables for four and six, and a self-service bar.

The central self-service bar has shabu-shabu broth, sauces, kimchi, and more. Just inside beside it, there is unlimited makgeolli (Korean rice wine), cordyceps tea, black sesame soy milk, coffee, and popcorn. After the meal, everyone even gets one Excellent ice cream bar—it is amazing.

It is a good place to visit with parents for a gentle, easy-on-the-stomach meal for older diners.

Tablet ordering and the shabu kalguksu set

Each table has a tablet PC, so you can order comfortably from your seat. The menu includes mushroom spicy-soup kalguksu shabu-shabu, Chodang sundubu (soft tofu) shabu kalguksu, and cordyceps longevity mushroom shabu kalguksu; mushrooms, vegetables, and mugwort kalguksu are included as standard.

The best order for eating shabu kalguksu

• Blanch the meat, mushrooms, and minari (water parsley) in the broth, then dip them generously in the soy sauce.
• Add more broth, then add the mugwort kalguksu noodles and cook for 5 minutes.
• Ask for the complimentary millstone sesame fried rice. Be sure to eat it in this order.

How to cook the mugwort kalguksu and fried rice

Set the induction burner to level 5 for the mugwort kalguksu. Once the broth boils, add the noodles and cook for 5 minutes. Then reduce the burner to level 1–2 or turn it off before eating. Stir well so the noodles do not stick to the bottom.

For the millstone sesame fried rice, ask a staff member for the complimentary serving, then stir-fry it thoroughly on induction level 4. They use 100% Korean sesame oil, and say it tastes better the more you stir-fry it. After 3 minutes, reduce the burner to level 1–2 or turn it off before eating.

Cordyceps longevity mushroom shabu kalguksu for two

The cordyceps longevity mushroom shabu kalguksu costs ₩38,000 for two people. It comes with shabu kalguksu, assorted mushrooms, one serving of beef, and one clear broth.

Bibimbap also comes with it, making it nice to eat while the shabu is cooking.

There is lots of minari. Pour the soy sauce found at every table into a small dish and give it a quick dip—the minari fragrance is lovely, and it makes for a healthy meal 👍

Add the meat and let it cook a little longer for a richer-tasting broth. You can also dip it in the chili sauce from the self-service bar, depending on your preference.

The cordyceps longevity mushroom shabu kalguksu features nine premium mushroom varieties, including cordyceps, lion’s mane, shiitake, and wood ear mushrooms. A slight acidity in the broth makes it cleaner and more refined 🍄

After properly enjoying the flavorful, great-textured mushrooms and finishing with the mugwort kalguksu, it is a generous amount of food. I was incredibly full, yet it felt clean without any heaviness.

Takeout price guide

• Shabu kalguksu ₩11,000 per serving (minimum order of 2 servings)
• Grilled webfoot octopus ₩19,000 / organic cordyceps assorted mushrooms ₩17,000 / Chodang soft tofu ₩5,000
• King dumplings: 2 pieces ₩3,500 / 4 pieces ₩6,000
• Broth only: 900 ml ₩5,000 / 1.8 L ₩9,000
• Mushrooms and vegetables ₩5,000 / tofu pouches, 4 pieces ₩5,000 / mugwort kalguksu noodles ₩3,000
• Fish balls, 8 pieces ₩4,000 / ong-simi dumplings, 8 pieces ₩2,000 / shabu shrimp dumplings, 6 pieces ₩6,000
• Fresh cordyceps ₩8,000 / lion’s mane mushrooms ₩8,000