Late lunch shabu-shabu set, katsuo and mala broth: Pyeonbaek Hoegwan

2 p.m., a late lunch shabu-shabu in Yeongjong

I was looking for a good shabu-shabu spot in Yeongjong and ended up at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan around 2 p.m. It was a bit past the usual lunch hour, but that actually left plenty of room to eat the warm broth and meat slowly.

I ordered the ₩18,900 lunch set and chose to have both the basic katsuo broth and the beef bone mala broth together. Getting to switch between a light flavor and a rich one in the same meal made for a great start.

Parking made easy too

When you drive to Yeongjong, parking is always a concern, but Pyeonbaek Hoegwan offers 2 hours of free parking.

Shabu-shabu is a dish that takes a while since you cook the vegetables and meat one at a time, and 2 hours was plenty to eat without rushing. It was convenient not having to hunt for a separate parking lot and just park right there.

Today's order: the lunch set

The lunch set I ordered that day was ₩18,900. I chose the basic katsuo broth along with the beef bone mala broth, enjoying one side light and the other rich.

The same meat and vegetables tasted different depending on which broth I dipped them in, so even one meal had variety. Switching between the two broths instead of sticking to just one was more fun.

There's also a kids' playroom, which makes this a really good spot for a family meal.

A clean bite of katsuo

I started with the basic katsuo broth first. It began clean and light, and as I added vegetables and meat one by one, the broth's flavor deepened a little at a time.

It was great when I wanted a mild broth rather than something intense, and I could taste each ingredient fairly clearly. Switching back and forth with the mala broth made the katsuo's signature cleanness stand out even more.

A mood switch with beef bone mala

On the other side, I chose the beef bone mala broth. It was a clearly different, rich style from the katsuo, so it felt like eating two kinds of shabu-shabu at one table.

The beef bone base with the mala flavor added kept the rich taste going even after the meat and vegetables went in. Moving from the light katsuo over to the mala broth completely changed the flavor, and I was glad I'd chosen to get both.

The difference between the two broths

Katsuo brings out the natural, light flavor of the ingredients themselves, while beef bone mala centers on the broth's own rich flavor.

I started out eating meat and vegetables cleanly in the katsuo, then switched over to the mala broth partway through, and the flavor never felt monotonous. Even with the same ingredients, changing the broth completely changed the feel, which made comparing the two flavors fun.

Meat and vegetables, taken slowly

I added vegetables first to flavor the broth, then cooked the meat one slice at a time.

Getting freshly cooked meat together with warm vegetables made for a filling late lunch. The katsuo let the light flavor of the meat and vegetables come through, while the mala broth added its rich flavor, so the same ingredients tasted totally different.

Filling even at 2 p.m.

Visiting at 2 p.m. for a late lunch, the lunch set alone was plenty filling. Getting warm broth, meat, and vegetables all in one meal made it a great lunch option, and switching between the two broths kept it from getting boring all the way through.

It's a good option to remember for a late lunch in Yeongjong or any day you're craving warm broth.

₩18,900 lunch set breakdown

The lunch set I ordered that day cost ₩18,900.

With the basic katsuo broth paired with the beef bone mala broth, I could enjoy both light and rich flavors at once, and I kept switching the meat and vegetables between the two broths as I ate.

Being able to experience the price, the portion, and the difference between the two broths all at once was the most memorable part of this lunch set. Maybe because of the good value, I saw several groups of families and coworkers dining together.

Restaurant info

• Name: Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Yeongjong Haneul Sindosi Branch
• Address: 8-11 Haneulbyeolbit-ro 65beon-gil, Jung-gu, Incheon, 2nd floor, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–22:00
• Last order: 21:00
• Break time: None
• Parking: 2 hours free parking

A table filled with katsuo and mala

Looking for a good shabu-shabu spot in Yeongjong led me to Pyeonbaek Hoegwan, and the difference between the katsuo and beef bone mala broths was what stuck with me most. Starting light and moving into the rich mala flavor made the same meat and vegetables feel completely different.

It was filling even for a 2 p.m. late lunch. The 2-hour free parking made it convenient on a day I drove to Yeongjong. The staff were all kind, and what I liked most was that the beef, vegetables, and shabu were unlimited — that made the meal even more enjoyable. ^^