Shabu buffet near Daegu Costco: window seat & chili paste, Shabu20

Shabu20 Bokhyeon branch near Costco in Daegu: is parking easy?

Shabu20 Bokhyeon branch is a shabu-shabu buffet near Daegu Costco, and it has a big, comfortable parking lot. It's always packed with customers whenever I go, so it's clearly popular. I wondered where to have a good lunch today, and my feet took me straight to Shabu20, my go-to spot near Daegu Costco that I can always visit with an easy mind.

Shabu20 Bokhyeon lunch and dinner prices and time limits

The weekday lunch course at Shabu20 Bokhyeon is ₩22,900 for 80 minutes, and dinner is ₩26,900 for 100 minutes. Lunch is efficient, dinner is more leisurely, so either time works well.

I arrived a little before 12:00 for lunch, and I was surprised that the restaurant was already full of customers. Everyone knows this place, I guess! The moment I walked in, I thought, yes, this really lives up to its title as a top spot near Daegu Costco.

I booked lunch and got a window seat

I had reserved ahead, so there was no waiting and I was shown straight to my table. The place setting was already neatly laid out, which put me in a good mood from the start. I was lucky enough to get a bright window seat, and the space was so clean and pleasant it could rival a nice café. I was happy the whole time I sat there.

What broths does Shabu20 have?

At Shabu20 Bokhyeon, the special broths are sukiyaki and huoguo (Chinese hot pot), and the original broths are bonito, soybean and spicy. We both went with the clean bonito broth, which anyone of any age can enjoy with its deep flavor and no polarizing taste.

Salad bar, meat station and draft beer: the self-serve corners

Shabu20 Bokhyeon has a salad bar, an all-you-can-take meat station called the "gogitgan" (meat shop), a fresh vegetable corner, a meals section and a dessert corner. Sitting at the table and looking around, I was impressed by how well the layout and upkeep were managed.

One of Shabu20's huge perks is that you can have unlimited draft beer and even make your own affogato (ice cream with a shot of coffee) after the meal. Since I came at midday, though, I had to hold back the beer with tears in my eyes.

The sauce corner, which helps you enjoy shabu-shabu in lots of different ways, was tidy too, and the self-refill station for broth was nicely set up so you can top up whenever you like without feeling awkward about it.

The vegetables for the pot were all really fresh, as if picked straight from a garden, and I couldn't stop smiling as I filled my tray.

The salad bar side was well stocked with fresh fruit, a variety of tteok (rice cakes) and desserts, so picking things before and after the meal was a lot of fun.

Hot food corner: pepper japchae, takoyaki, pad thai, mala tteokbokki and chicken gangjeong

The hot food corner at Shabu20 Bokhyeon had pepper japchae (stir-fried glass noodles with peppers), takoyaki, pad thai, mala tteokbokki (numbingly spicy rice cakes) and chicken gangjeong (sweet crispy fried chicken). It was served hot and crispy, and honestly it goes without saying how good it was: sweet-and-spicy japchae, crunchy takoyaki, savory pad thai, addictive mala tteokbokki and freshly fried chicken gangjeong. A perfect lineup!

The porridge corner, for the grand finale of a shabu-shabu meal, thoughtfully has fresh raw eggs for extra richness, so I could complete the course right to the end.

Kids' corner for families with children

On one side of the restaurant, there were kids' tableware and baby chairs, all clean and hygienic, for families with young children.

3 plates of beef and the chili-garlic sauce combo

After a short wait, the broth, ready to bubble, finally arrived at the table. Before the main meal, I fetched a bowl each of the mild soup and sweet pumpkin porridge from the salad bar to settle the stomach.

Then I loaded up on fresh vegetables from the garden corner, grabbed 3 plates of tempting beef from the meat station, and set up my sauces at the sauce corner. I was especially happy that Shabu20 Bokhyeon has gochu-dadaegi (spicy chili paste), which I absolutely love. Together with minced garlic and minced onion, it wiped out any greasiness or gamey smell in the meat. Add the sweet-and-sour chili sauce that no shabu-shabu can do without, and it was a truly perfect spread.

Okay, shall we dig in? I put in plenty of fresh vegetables first and let them boil, then dipped the good-quality beef briefly and pulled it out. It melted in my mouth, and I ate while praising it: there's a reason this is a famous restaurant in Bokhyeon-dong, and this Shabu20 branch really is the best!

I kept dipping meat and vegetables into the different sauces, and my chopsticks never stopped because I never got tired of it. The thinly sliced, tender meat and crunchy vegetables together, with rich juice and savory flavor filling my mouth with every bite, were outstanding.

Finishing porridge, a palate cleanser and the verdict on Shabu20 Bokhyeon

The meal at Shabu20 Bokhyeon ended with porridge cooked in the rich, savory broth. I was full but couldn't resist, so I filled my stomach with the finishing porridge course.

After the meal, I cleansed my palate with refreshing cherry tomatoes and cold juice, and every time I come here I feel a happy energy filling my whole body. On this visit I felt the charm of this famous Shabu20 Bokhyeon branch all over again. It never disappoints in food or service, so I sincerely and confidently recommend it to anyone who wants a satisfying meal.

If you're looking for a spot near Daegu Costco that's easy to fit in with grocery shopping or other errands nearby, please visit this weekend. Shabu20 is a solid place I can confidently recommend to the people around me!

• Hours 11:00-22:00
• Last order 20:50
• Parking lot available