Daegu shabu-shabu lunch with salmon salad and affogato: Shabu20

A go-to spot near Kyungpook National University's north gate: Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch

As summer winds down, a slightly cool breeze brushes past my ears. With mornings and evenings turning chilly, it's the season for craving something hot and soupy. Today I wanted warm shabu-shabu with a coworker, so we headed to Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch in Bokhyeon-dong, near the north gate of Kyungpook National University.

Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch sits along the main road heading from Bokhyeon-ogeori intersection toward Gonghang Bridge, so it's easy to find. Beef, all kinds of vegetables, and a whole range of dishes and desserts are all unlimited, making it a great fit for anyone after a satisfying, affordable meal. If you're looking for a restaurant near Daegu Airport or near Kyungpook National University's north gate, Shabu20 is worth keeping in mind for a hearty meal.

Where is Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch, and where do you park?

Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch sits along the route from Bokhyeon-ogeori intersection to Gonghang Bridge, so it's easy to reach by car. Being right on the main road meant I had no trouble finding it even on my first visit.

• 📍 Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch · 79 Gonghang-ro, 1F, Buk-gu, Daegu, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: daily from 11:00, last order at 22:00
• 🚗 Parking: spaces in front, behind and beside the restaurant, plus a public lot under nearby Gonghang Bridge
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Amenities: group-friendly · kids' chairs · reservations available

With a spacious dining room and plenty of parking, it's a solid choice for a family dinner, a get-together with friends, or a group meal. Parking is available in front, behind, and beside the restaurant, so guests arriving by car have no trouble. The lot holds more than 30 cars, and there's also a public parking area under nearby Gonghang Bridge worth keeping in mind.

How much is all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu at Shabu20?

At Shabu20, beef, pork, Vietnamese rice rolls, vegetables, drinks, desserts and even draft beer are all unlimited. The weekday lunch course is 80 minutes for ₩22,900, and the 100-minute dinner course is ₩26,900.

The weekday lunch course is 80 minutes for ₩22,900, and the 100-minute dinner course is ₩26,900, with about ₩1,000 extra depending on the broth you choose.

Inside Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch: dining room and 190 seats

Walking in, the space felt more spacious and comfortable than I expected. With room for up to 190 people, it looked like a great venue for family gatherings, meals with coworkers, or larger group get-togethers.

We visited around noon, right in the lunch rush, and there were already quite a few diners. But the tables were spaced generously across the large room, so it still felt relaxed even during the busy hour.

Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch, neatly kept

I also liked that you could pick and mix your own sauce ingredients to suit your taste. Whether you wanted something sweet and tangy or a spicier kick, putting together your own combination was part of the fun.

There were also rice cakes and a good variety of noodles.

What's on the self-bar, from salmon salad to dakgangjeong (sweet fried chicken)

Shabu20 specializes in shabu-shabu, sukiyaki and hot pot, all unlimited. Along one side of the restaurant was a spread reminiscent of a hotel buffet. What stood out was how much variety there was to choose from — fresh vegetables and beef, ingredients for Vietnamese rice rolls, fried chicken, fruit, coffee and desserts. Rather than just shabu-shabu, being able to enjoy so many different dishes together made the meal feel much richer.

There was also seasoned sashimi salad and acorn jelly, plus salmon salad — and of the three, the salmon salad was the tastiest.

For the finishing course, there were plenty of noodles and fruit ready to go.

There was even porridge pre-packed for anyone who wanted to make some during the meal, easy to just grab. Adding an egg would make it even richer...

The beef was sliced thin, just right for shabu-shabu, and thin enough to cook quickly. The marbling looked just right too, so it seemed like it would taste great.

The pork belly was also sliced thin, perfect for cooking shabu-shabu style.

The vegetable corner was packed with fresh produce, so you could eat plenty of vegetables you don't normally get around to eating. The Vietnamese rice roll vegetable station was also well stocked, so I could enjoy making rolls too.

There was a drinks fountain and a dessert corner. Every drink is unlimited, and they said takeout is possible too.

Five broths and unlimited beef shabu-shabu at Shabu20

Shabu20 offers five different broths to choose from depending on your taste. Once we sat down and got our warm shabu-shabu going, it felt like the perfect meal for the cooler weather. We put fresh vegetables into the broth, let it simmer, then cooked slices of beef one by one. Considering it's unlimited, the beef quality was pretty decent, and eaten with the vegetables it felt light yet satisfying.

While eating shabu-shabu, we also added Vietnamese rice roll ingredients and tried the various dishes on offer. With meat, vegetables, fried chicken and fruit all available at once, it was fun picking and choosing with my coworker according to our own tastes.

Since I love Vietnamese rice rolls, I made some myself. You could really taste the natural flavor of the ingredients — a very wholesome taste.

We ran out of meat and went back for more. The beef here is sliced so thin it's never a heavy bite, and it's never tough.

Refilled the vegetables again too... they're incredibly fresh.

Finishing with kalguksu noodles and a homemade affogato

In the broth infused with vegetables and beef, the kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) cooked up perfectly and tasted amazing. My coworker, a big noodle lover, was thrilled haha.

Best of all, after the meal we made our own affogato for dessert — and wow, it was genuinely delicious. The rich coffee and sweet ice cream came together beautifully, making for a very satisfying way to end the meal.

From shabu-shabu to a wide buffet spread to dessert, Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch lets you enjoy it all in one visit. With ample parking, a spacious dining room, and unlimited refills, it struck me as a solid choice for a family meal or a coworker gathering. If you're looking for a restaurant near Daegu Airport, near Kyungpook National University's north gate, or near Daegu Isiapolis, I'd recommend Shabu20 Daegu Bokhyeon branch for warm shabu-shabu and a wide spread of food without breaking the bank.