Gimpo shabu kalguksu lunch with mom and onsuyuk set: Homilwon

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu — a recommended spot for a meal with parents A Gimpo shabu-shabu restaurant with a master boiled-pork chef

I can't believe I never noticed a place like this so close to home! Yesterday I took my mom out for lunch, and she gave me the kind of praise that sounds like a scolding — "why didn't we come here sooner?" 😂 The portions were way too much for two women, but everything tasted so good we kept eating until we were stuffed, and ended up skipping dinner haha.

If you're looking for a restaurant to take your parents to, this one will probably please just about everyone — read this post and order the recommended menu!

Where is Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu Gimpo Main Branch, and is there parking?

📌 Quick summary The parking lot is huge, so it was very convenient — and even if you take the bus, the stop isn't far away.

It's a standalone building, so there's no confusion about finding it, and it makes for a pleasant, uncrowded meal — definitely a good restaurant to bring your parents to!

What the dining room at Homilwon feels like

I'd heard it was featured on the TV show VJ Teukgongdae, but seeing the 2025 National Best Restaurant award and even a World Food Master certification for its boiled pork made me secretly relieved — I'd really found a proper Gimpo shabu-shabu place haha.

There's a small traditional-style pond by the entrance that gives it an elegant touch, and the whole place has a distinctly Korean aesthetic. Two sides are floor-to-ceiling glass, so it feels open, and it's clean and tidy throughout.

There were a lot of other families with their parents in tow, just like me!

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu menu and prices

You order via the tablet PC installed at the table, and pay at the entrance on your way out. The menu looks big and complicated, but there's really only one decision to make.

• [Basic] Homilwon Agaricus Shabu Kalguksu ₩12,900
• [Nourishing] King Galbi Shabu Kalguksu ₩22,900
• Choice menu: cold or warm boiled pork, or stir-fried jjukkumi

The shabu kalguksu is a full set course including vegetables, beef, kalguksu noodles, and fried rice — personally I highly recommend going with the warm boiled pork (onsuyuk) set 👍 Besides that, you can add extra shabu beef, and there's a separate baby rice menu too, worth noting. Since the shabu-shabu already comes with kalguksu and fried rice, there's no chance of running out of food —

and the self-serve corner has free beef mushroom radish rice too, so even big hungry guys won't go hungry haha.

The full spread special shabu kalguksu: too much food for two

I wanted to try everything on the menu, so I ordered the han-sang-gadeuk (full spread) set — and wow, we ended up leaving food behind. It was just way too much for two women haha. If two big-eating guys came, they'd probably burst.

The agaricus shabu kalguksu grabs your attention visually first — the wood ear mushrooms in such a pretty color draw the eye, but above all, the depth of flavor in the agaricus mushroom broth is impressive!

Honestly, whenever I go out for shabu-shabu, the broth is usually bland at first and you need to load it with meat before it tastes like anything — but Homilwon is different. The broth itself has real umami.

Before the broth even started boiling, I grabbed the beef mushroom radish rice from the self-serve corner — and why is this so good too?! The secret gochujang and sesame oil are genuinely delicious 👍

Next came the warm boiled pork and stir-fried jjukkumi, and with every bite I kept thinking, 'wait, why is everything good here?'

Onsuyuk from the boiled pork master, and mom's reaction

My mom especially couldn't stop praising how tender the boiled pork was — clearly the boiled-pork master's skill makes for a real difference in quality. The garlic sauce is delicious too, and the dried radish strips are a nice kick. I almost wanted to order more boiled pork on its own.

The stir-fried jjukkumi is a little spicy, but mild enough to eat with rice even if you can't handle spice well, so no worries there! Back to the shabu kalguksu — there's separate shabu soy sauce on the table, so mix in some wasabi.

Dip the minari (water dropwort), mushrooms, beef, and bok choy that have been thoroughly cooked in the agaricus mushroom broth into the sauce — it's uncannily well-seasoned. Not too salty, not too bland.

Finishing the course with kalguksu noodles and fried rice

When adding the fresh rye kalguksu noodles, grab more agaricus broth from the self-serve corner. There's even an hourglass timer — boil it for exactly 5 minutes and you're done! The noodles are soft and fully soaked up the broth, so they're great without any extra seasoning. Honestly I was already too full by this point, but as a Korean, finishing with fried rice is non-negotiable!

Whole roasted sesame and perilla oil give it a fantastic nuttiness, and the finely chopped minari especially leaves your mouth feeling refreshed at the very end. So make sure to eat the fried rice properly too, haha.

Thanks to a review event we also got to try caramel popcorn, and dessert options include misugaru, coffee, and agaricus mushroom tea — plenty on offer, though sadly there was no room left in my stomach 🥲

Would I go back to Homilwon, and what fell short

I'm definitely coming back here! Next time I'm bringing my dad along too.

If you're looking for a Gimpo shabu-shabu restaurant, save this one first! I highly recommend the Hanwoo warm boiled pork set with shabu kalguksu 👍 The only downside was that Gimpo Pay wasn't accepted — it'd be great if they added that option too, haha.