Sinbong-dong shabu-shabu with ₩5,000 beef tofu sandwich: Dongchundang

When you pick a place for a family meal, parking and space matter as much as the menu, right? Dongchundang (동춘당) in Sinbong Oesik Town stands out for a course that starts with summer radish barley rice and runs through shabu-shabu, kalguksu and fried rice.

Parking and opening hours at Dongchundang Sinbong

Dongchundang's Sinbong Oesik Town branch has a large parking area in front and is open from 10:00 to 21:00. Note that on Mondays it only stays open until 15:00.

I went back to Dongchundang, the Sinbong Oesik Town favorite I visited last time. And again, I left very satisfied.

The big parking area in front of the restaurant was really convenient.

Hours are 10:00 to 21:00, but on Mondays they close at 15:00, so plan your visit accordingly!

Inside Dongchundang in Sinbong-dong and the waiting area

Inside Dongchundang's Sinbong Oesik Town branch there were waiting seats, a blood sugar monitor, and drinks and snacks. I went at lunchtime and it was packed with customers.

There are waiting seats inside, which should be nice in hot summers or cold winters.

Maybe because so many older people come here, there was even a blood sugar monitor, which I found unusual.

There were also drinks and snacks to enjoy while waiting or on your way out. The black sesame soy milk was seriously rich..!

It was lunchtime and there were tons of people.

Dongchundang shabu-kalguksu menu and extra toppings

At Dongchundang you start from the basic shabu-kalguksu and add toppings such as octopus, abalone, neungi mushrooms, chodang soft tofu and tofu sandwich. Sides include Eonyang bulgogi and steamed dumplings.

The menu is a basic shabu-kalguksu to which you can add all kinds of toppings, from octopus to abalone, neungi mushrooms and the tofu sandwich.

The chodang soft tofu topping sounds nice and silky too. There were also Eonyang bulgogi and steamed dumplings as sides.

All the extra menu items.

They seemed to be pushing the tofu sandwich, so I ordered it. It doesn't come on its own; it's a topping that goes into the shabu-shabu.

Takeout seems to be a bit cheaper, so if you live nearby it would be handy when you invite people over.

I read the various info sheets while waiting. I was looking forward to the mugwort kalguksu and the sesame fried rice too. I like how complete the shabu-shabu set is.

Makgeolli (Korean rice wine) is unlimited too, so this Sinbong-dong restaurant is one older folks will probably like even more.

Dongchundang shabu-shabu kalguksu for two: how was the spicy broth?

The set for two comes with a pot full of vegetables, meat, and the ingredients for fried rice and mugwort kalguksu, with summer radish barley rice served first. I chose the spicy broth and loved the kick; the beef portion isn't big, but it was fresh.

The shabu-shabu kalguksu set for two arrived: a pot packed with vegetables, with the meat, fried rice and mugwort kalguksu ingredients arranged around it.

Uniquely, Dongchundang's shabu-kalguksu starts with summer radish barley rice. It was nice as a light bite before the broth first comes to a boil!

The barley rice had a nice popping texture.

The kimchi was nicely fermented, too.

The beef isn't a lot, but it was fresh! There were plenty of other items in the set, so I still ate happily.

Dropping meat into the bubbling broth and yum yum yum.

I picked the spicy broth and loved the kick.

A few toppings come included by default, so Dongchundang's shabu-shabu felt generous.

What is Dongchundang's tofu sandwich topping? (2 pcs, ₩5,000)

Dongchundang's tofu sandwich is a topping of beef sandwiched between tofu slices, 2 pcs for ₩5,000. You drop it straight into the shabu-shabu pot to cook.

This time I tried the tofu sandwich topping. I'd never seen anything like it: beef tucked between tofu slices, which you put straight into the pot as a topping.

Both soaked up lots of broth, which made them even tastier.

Dongchundang mugwort kalguksu: when to add the noodles

Dongchundang's mugwort kalguksu noodles take a few minutes to cook, so it's best to start boiling them early. They were also good eaten with the mushrooms I'd set aside earlier.

Now it's mugwort kalguksu time! The noodles take a few minutes to cook, so it's good to get them boiling ahead of time.

The mushrooms I'd set aside earlier with the chewy noodles together were delicious :)

How to finish with Dongchundang's fried rice

For Dongchundang's fried rice, scoop out almost all the broth, add the ingredients, then stir in a little broth at a time to get the thickness you like.

Time to make the fried rice, the Korean dessert! Scoop out almost all the broth and throw in the ingredients. Then add broth bit by bit to suit your taste.

There's also a discount for seniors aged 70 and over, and the place is pleasant, so I liked it in many ways.

Dongchundang Sinbong Oesik Town summary

• Parking out front and a spacious interior make it great for family meals
• A full course from summer radish barley rice to shabu-shabu, mugwort kalguksu and fried rice
• The tofu sandwich is a special treat