Ulsan shabu buffet near Gongeoptap, Saturday lunch wait: Shabre Garden

These days I'm having fun hunting down good eats in Ulsan every weekend! I heard that a newly opened place called Shabre Garden The Black (샤브르정원 더블랙) had popped up near Gongeoptap in Ulsan, so I went to check it out!

Maybe because it only just opened, word has already spread! I visited at weekend lunchtime and far more people showed up than I expected, so there was a wait! Still, in the end the wait was totally worth it, so here's my honest review!

Where is Shabre Garden The Black, and how's the parking?

Shabre Garden The Black is at 14 Suam-ro 128beon-gil, Nam-gu, Ulsan, Building 4, 2nd floor. For now you use the parking lot of the raw fish restaurant behind the building, and when I asked a staff member, they said a big parking lot is going to be built behind the restaurant around August! Once there's more parking, visiting will be much easier, right?

The weekend wait: how long, and how I passed the time

I went on a Saturday lunch and the wait was quite long! But there was a reason the wait wasn't as boring as I expected!

There's a huge warehouse-style pharmacy on the ground floor of the building, and between browsing and shopping for this and that, time really flew by! It was packed on the weekend, and looking around, lots of people were killing time there just like me while waiting for Shabre Garden! It was much more comfortable than standing in line the whole time, so keep that in mind!

Why I chose Shabre Garden The Black

I really love shabu-shabu (hot pot with thinly sliced meat and vegetables), so I saved this place the moment I heard it was opening! I also liked that it's not just shabu-shabu but a buffet where you can enjoy sushi, fried food and desserts too! It looked good for a family meal or a get-together with friends, so my expectations were high! The restaurant is spacious and clean, so I was happy from the first impression~

What's in the shabu corner: vegetables and meat?

The first place I checked out was the shabu corner! There was a wide variety of fresh vegetables and mushrooms, plus plenty of wrap ingredients, so I could pick whatever I liked~

The meat was kept well stocked too, so it was easy to use, and I liked that there was a sign asking people to take only what they need to cut down on food waste! And unlimited draft beer is another satisfying point!

Shabu buffet sushi: was Shabre Garden The Black different?

The most memorable item of this visit was definitely the sushi! Honestly, I don't expect much from sushi at a shabu buffet! Usually there's too much rice or the fish is thin, so I'd eat just one or two pieces and be done, you know? But Shabre Garden The Black was different!

The salmon and other fish were much thicker than I expected and the amount of rice was just right, so it was easy to eat without feeling heavy~ I meant to have just one plate but ended up going back several times! Personally, the sushi stuck in my memory even more than the shabu-shabu, I was that happy with it!

Side dishes: chicken, cheese balls, fried food and pasta

The side dishes were better than expected too! There was chicken, cheese balls and all kinds of fried food, and even pasta. I ate the pasta without expecting much, but it was surprisingly good, so I went back for more!

Overall the food was seasoned in a fairly savory, umami-rich way, and personally it suited my taste, so I kept reaching for more!

Desserts that work for kids too: waffles, choco fondue and fruit

Here's why I felt it would be good to visit with kids!

There's a make-your-own waffle machine~ you can enjoy choco fondue too, and the drinks come in many varieties, so picking one is part of the fun! The after-meal treats were satisfying too!

The fruit was fresh, and the pineapple in particular was cut so plump that it looked delicious just to look at~ I love stuffing pineapple into rice paper along with meat, and I could take as much as I wanted, which was great!

The fruit was in good shape, so I could finish the meal on a happy note with dessert!

Atmosphere and the downsides

Shabre Garden The Black is spacious overall with lots of tables, so it's great for group gatherings or family meals! It was a weekend with lots of customers, so the inside felt a little warm, but not so much that it bothered my meal!

Shabre Garden The Black at a glance

• Wide variety of shabu-shabu ingredients
• Thick-cut fish on the sushi, so very satisfying
• Good quality sides, pasta included
• Wide variety of draft beer and drinks!
• Waffles, choco fondue and fruit round it out
• Recommended for family meals or group gatherings

There's a wait on weekends, but I could spend the time shopping in the warehouse-style pharmacy on the ground floor, so the wait didn't feel as long as I expected! I'm looking forward to how much easier it'll be once the big parking lot is finished

The newly opened Shabre Garden The Black was a very satisfying place where you can enjoy sushi and a wide range of sides together! The sushi quality, which I didn't expect from a shabu buffet, was especially impressive, and with pasta and desserts too, it's a lineup that anyone of any age would enjoy><

There's a wait on weekends, but having visited myself, I understand why so many people come! If you want shabu-shabu and a buffet together near Gongeoptap in Ulsan, I recommend giving it a try~