Yongsan shabu-shabu: eye of round vs top blade at Shabu in Seoul

With the weather getting pretty chilly these days, today I'm bringing you a review of my visit to Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch near Samgakji Station!

Where is Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch, and is there parking?

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch is at 61 Hangang-daero 62-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, 1F, about a 5-minute walk from Samgakji Station Exit 3!! Hours are Mon–Thu and Sunday 11:00–22:00, Fri–Sat 11:00–23:00, with a weekday break time of 15:00–17:00.

However, due to complaints from nearby residents, parking in front of the restaurant is currently not allowed ㅠㅠ If you're driving, it's best to use the nearby Samgakji temporary public parking lot!! But when we went, there was even a line of cars at the public lot, so honestly walking there might be the best option haha.

How to book a private room at Shabu in Seoul

You can book ahead at Shabu in Seoul through Naver and CatchTable. It can get busy on weekends or during meal times, so I'd recommend reserving before you visit if possible!

And a very important note for anyone who wants a room!!! Naver doesn't take room reservations, so you'll need to use CatchTable or call the restaurant directly.

Inside Shabu in Seoul: interior and table setting

The interior of Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch was so upscale I could hardly believe it was a shabu-shabu place! The tables weren't cramped together either, so it seemed great not just for dates but also family meals or gatherings :)

This is the seat we were shown to! Since we'd reserved ahead, everything was already set up when we arrived — so nice!!

There were three kinds of sauce (sesame, chili, soy) along with cheongyang chili peppers and garlic to go with them! You can enjoy them however suits your taste :)

They were also running a review event where you get a soy milk skin dish as a gift, so if you're interested, it's worth applying!!

What we ordered at Shabu in Seoul and what it cost

Here's what we ordered that day!

• Prime Angus almoksim shabu set — ₩25,000 per person
• Prime Angus salchisal shabu set — ₩30,000 per person
• 1 order of kalguksu noodles

Since we wanted to compare the two cuts, we ordered one portion each of almoksim and salchisal!

Only one broth per table: how the choice works

At Shabu in Seoul, you can choose your preferred broth when ordering. There were 5 kinds in total. We went with the clear mushroom broth.

Here's something you really need to know!! Even if you order different shabu sets per person, each table can only pick one broth. I thought we could each choose our own, but since there's only one pot, you have to go with a single broth haha.

On top of that, the broth you choose determines the type of final meal you get. I'd recommend checking the finishing course, not just the broth itself, before deciding!

Once you order, the ingredients come out pretty quickly!

The vegetable platter

There was such a huge variety of vegetables!!

Prime Angus almoksim (eye of round) shabu set, 25,000 won

Almoksim is a lean cut, so it was the perfect way to start haha.

Prime Angus salchisal (top blade) shabu set, 30,000 won

You can really see the marbling on salchisal is much more pronounced than on almoksim, right? haha

Simmering the vegetables first: how generous the base spread is

At first we added vegetables to build up the broth! The base ingredients that come with shabu-shabu here are seriously insane... let me walk you through it!!

Enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, napa cabbage

Glass noodles, king oyster mushrooms, sweet pumpkin

Green onion, bok choy, oyster mushrooms

Water dropwort, bean sprouts

Broccoli, and something with the texture of glass noodles that looked like a panda...? With so many kinds of vegetables going in, the broth's flavor got incredibly rich!!

With the vegetable-infused broth, the best way to eat the meat was to dip it briefly rather than leave it in too long!

Can you see how tender the meat is!!!

Unlike most shabu-shabu places, this one uses raw meat, so the quality and tenderness really felt on another level!!

Rice paper wraps with shabu-shabu beef

Another unique thing about Shabu in Seoul is that they give you rice paper too — dipping it briefly in the broth and wrapping it around meat and vegetables was unbelievably good!! Having devoured all the vegetables and meat, we...

Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) in the broth

...couldn't not order the kalguksu. How do you resist noodles in this rich broth made from the collaboration of meat and vegetables? I sure couldn't ㅠ The noodles here aren't store-bought either, so they were way chewier and tastier!! After slurping down the noodles, we were pretty full, but the final egg porridge was still waiting!

Finishing the clear mushroom broth with egg porridge 🥚

If you choose the clear mushroom broth, they make egg porridge as the final meal!!! Just ask the staff, and they'll make it right at your table with the leftover broth.

With the broth deeply infused with meat and vegetable flavor plus egg, it was savory and smooth. Don't skip it just because you're full — make sure to try at least a little bit haha.

Is Shabu in Seoul Yongsan worth a visit?

Not your typical shabu-shabu place — from the raw ingredients on up, everything at Shabu in Seoul was upscale and on point!!!! It was so delicious, filling, and even felt like a healthy meal haha.

With the weather this chilly and the temperature swings getting bigger, this is exactly the kind of place to visit, so I definitely recommend you all check it out!! I'm already promising myself I'll try the spicy mushroom broth next time, and I'll be back with another tasty review soon ❤️