Clear-broth shabu set for two near Seoul Botanic Park: Yangcheon Shabu

Why families near Seoul Botanic Park keep returning to Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu

There's one place I go to often when I'm looking for somewhere to eat near Seoul Botanic Park!! It's Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu, Magok Main Branch.

It's not somewhere I visited once or twice and stopped going — I've taken my husband and kid here for family meals, and brought my parents here too. Shabu-shabu doesn't clash much with anyone's taste, and finishing with kalguksu and fried rice makes it a pretty filling meal, right!? That's why my family eats shabu-shabu often!!!

It's one of the places that naturally comes to mind when I think of good restaurants near Seoul Botanic Park. :)

Where is Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu, Magok Main Branch, and when is it open?

📍 Address 46 Magok-dong-ro 10-gil, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, 1st floor of Magok Botanic Park Plaza (251m from Yangcheon Hyanggyo Station Exit 7)

⏰ Hours Daily 11:00–21:00 (no break time)

🚗 Parking available

What is the restaurant like inside?

The inside is clean overall and the tables aren't cramped, so it's good for a family meal. When you go with a kid, picking just one dish can be a struggle, but shabu-shabu is the kind of food you keep coming back to since everyone can cook their own vegetables and meat to their taste.

What we ordered: special basic set for two in clear broth, plus 200g of meat

Looking over the menu, I ordered what I always order — the special basic set for two with clear broth, and added 200g of meat. I really recommend adding the extra meat. We also got the seafood minari pancake and a cola on the side.

When the pot came out, it was topped generously with minari (water dropwort). With the clear broth, minari, and other ingredients bubbling away on the table, just watching it made me hungry.

The broth is clear so it's light and clean to eat. There seemed to be some herbal medicine ingredients in there too!

Once you cook the meat in it, the broth's flavor shifts little by little — starting off light, then getting deeper as more meat and vegetables go in. That's the fun of shabu-shabu.

Choosing the finish: perilla oil five-color fried rice and black garlic kalguksu

And one of my favorite things about this place is the perilla oil five-color fried rice!! Isn't it so pretty!? They say pretty food tastes better too, haha.

And another dish right up my alley — black garlic kalguksu. Even the color is different from regular kalguksu, so my kid finds it fascinating too.

If you're looking for a good family restaurant near Seoul Botanic Park, it's worth checking out these finishing dishes too.

The broth bubbles away, the meat cooks up nicely! Wrap the cooked meat with minari and mushrooms and dip it in wasabi soy sauce — so, so, so good!!!!

Why the seafood minari pancake is worth adding

The seafood minari pancake we always order together!!! It's packed with minari and seafood, so it's great to pick at between bites of shabu-shabu.

Pancake really is best eaten hot, so as soon as it came out, our chopsticks got very busy. Hahaha.

When to drop the kalguksu noodles in, and how the fried rice ends the meal

Once you've eaten your fill of shabu-shabu, it's time to drop in the black garlic kalguksu!!! Set the hourglass timer and wait about 5 minutes for the noodles to cook just right.

Ahh — black garlic kalguksu dropped into broth that's been infused with vegetables and meat. Really delicious, and so chewy.

After eating some of the kalguksu, it's time for the perilla oil five-color fried rice. It's stir-fried in the remaining broth, and the nutty aroma really hits you! You say you're full, but the smell of fried rice makes you pick your spoon back up — I'm not the only one, right?! Haha.

Small extras waiting at the counter

After finishing the meal, I glanced at the counter and saw they had floss, mouthwash, hair ties, and candy, plus even Febreze and a glasses cloth ready. You don't need these things to have a meal, but there's something that just makes you feel good when they're there right when you need them. A hair tie, in particular, is a real relief when you suddenly need one.

If you're searching for good restaurants near Seoul Botanic Park and trying to decide on a spot for a family meal, I'd happily recommend Yangcheon Shabu Son Kalguksu, Magok Main Branch. It works well whether it's a meal for three with a kid or a meal with your parents, and I liked that you can go from shabu-shabu to kalguksu to fried rice all in one sitting and leave really full.

If you've been searching for good restaurants near Seoul Botanic Park and can't decide where to go, skip anything too elaborate and drop by on a day you're craving a warm pot of broth. You might end up becoming a regular, just like me. ^^*