Buk Daegu shabu-shabu lunch buffet: Shabu20 Bokhyeon

I visited Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon Branch (샤브20 대구복현점) with my boyfriend for lunch. The meat, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, and salad bar were all unlimited, so it was easy to try several things together.

Where is the restaurant, and how was the parking?

The restaurant is at 79 Gonghang-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu, on the first floor. It was fairly close to Kyungpook National University’s north gate, and it was easy to find because it was visible from the main road. There was parking space in front, so we drove there comfortably.

Was there a weekday lunch wait, and what was the restaurant like?

When we arrived around 1 p.m. on a weekday, we were seated right away without waiting. The restaurant looked large from outside, but it felt even more spacious inside. The tables were roomy, making it comfortable to eat, and the staff were friendly.

The staff quickly refilled empty dishes at the self-service bar and kept everything tidy, so it was clean and easy to use. Baby tableware and chairs, as well as tablet stands, were also available, which I thought would be helpful when dining with children.

How much was the weekday lunch, and how long could we eat?

The weekday lunch we had was an 80-minute course. At the time of our visit, it cost ₩22,900 per person, or ₩45,800 for the two of us.

Which broths did we choose, and how was the meat?

The broth options were bonito, spicy, bean, sukiyaki, and hot pot. We chose the spicy and bonito broths. They first brought them in a divided pot, with the two broths side by side. After that, we could get more broth ourselves from the self-service bar.

The spicy broth had a moderate kick, while the bonito broth tasted clean, so they were good to alternate between. Beef and pork were available, and we could take as much as we wanted. The meat was in decent condition, and because it was thin and cooked quickly in the broth, it was easy to keep adding it with vegetables.

What was available at the rice paper roll and self-service bars?

The Vietnamese rice paper roll section had a variety of ingredients, including onions, carrots, red cabbage, and pineapple.

I like wrapping several ingredients together at once, so I made sure to have some rice paper rolls too.

There were also vegetables, mushrooms, and dumplings for the shabu-shabu. The side dishes included tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), pasta, and dakgangjeong (sweet crispy chicken), among others. Dakgangjeong was my favorite, so I went back for another serving.

There were coffee, soft drinks, and ice cream, as well as unlimited draft beer. I had ice cream at the end of the meal.

What did we like most about our lunch for two?

The broth and meat were both decent, but what I liked most was the variety at the self-service bar. After eating shabu-shabu and rice paper rolls, we could choose side dishes and dessert too, so we left feeling full. The food was refilled quickly and the staff were friendly, so nothing was inconvenient during the meal.

Considering everything available to eat, the price did not feel too burdensome to us. We were both satisfied with lunch, and it also seemed suitable for a family meal because everyone could choose from several menus together.