Shabu-shabu date night in Anyang with vegetable porridge: Shabu Siktak

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch (샤브식탁 동편마을직영점) is a gem in Dongpyeon-maeul: a carefully made broth, fresh vegetables, and a clean, tidy atmosphere that made it perfect.

I came here for dinner on a date with my husband 𖤐 It's known for healthy, clean flavors, so my expectations were high before we even arrived.

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch: hours, location and parking

Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch is open daily from 11:30 to 21:00, with a break from 15:00 to 17:00. It's at 1715-1 Gwanyang-dong, Anyang, about a 10-minute walk from Exit 8 of Indeogwon Station.

• Daily 11:30 - 21:00 (break 15:00 - 17:00 / last order 14:00, 20:00)
• 1715-1 Gwanyang-dong (10-minute walk from Indeogwon Station Exit 8)
• Parking available behind the shop (if full, use the public lot behind the shop, free on weekends and holidays)
• Naver reservations available (only for parties of 5 or more)
• Pets allowed (small dogs in a bag or carrier)

Where to park at Shabu Siktak: behind the building, not out front

The area in front of Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul Branch is subject to fines, so you need to park behind the building or in the public lot. I pulled up in front and was about to park, but saw the notice on the wall and moved the car around back right away.

The notice said the front is subject to fines, so you must park behind the building or in the public lot. I once got caught for illegal parking while eating out in another area and paid a fine worth double the meal... 𖤐 So I was really grateful that parking warnings were posted so kindly all around.

What is the atmosphere like inside Shabu Siktak Dongpyeon-maeul?

The interior felt clean and tidy throughout. There's a Tabling waiting system by the entrance, and I figured the wait on weekends or at peak times could get pretty long. Note that strollers aren't allowed in because the aisles are narrow, but small dogs can come in if you bring a bag or carrier.

Shabu Siktak menu and prices

The main menu has just two options: A-table at ₩12,000 and B-table at ₩14,000. See the photos above for the menu. Like a proper local favorite, it keeps things simple with two choices.

• A-table ₩12,000
• B-table ₩14,000
• Handmade shiitake hasamiage (deep-fried stuffed shiitake) ₩9,000
• Extra meat ₩7,000
• Vegetable porridge ₩2,500

Considering prices these days, it felt really reasonable.

What comes with the B-table set for two?

The B-table is ₩14,000 per person. We ordered B-table for two, added extra meat, and also got the handmade shiitake hasamiage, which is limited to 20 a day. The ingredients were set out soon after we ordered, with a wooden basket packed full of vegetables, mushrooms, shrimp skewers, fish cake skewers, and sweet potato rice cakes.

They said they shop at the market the same day, and the vegetables really were on another level of freshness. Not a wilted corner anywhere, all plump, so I dropped them carefully into the pot. I tried the broth first too, which they say is boiled in-house every day, and even the plain broth was deep and clean, so I was looking forward to it from the start 💗

Homemade egg yolk tare sauce and Vietnamese chili powder: how to use them

Shabu Siktak serves a handmade tare sauce with egg yolk. It's like a sukiyaki sauce, and when I stirred the yolk in well and dipped, a rich flavor spread through my mouth instead of saltiness 𖤐

The tips for eating well said to put Vietnamese chili powder in the broth, but my husband didn't want spicy broth, so I mixed a little into my own tare sauce instead. The added kick meant I never got tired of it and enjoyed it to the very end.

It was so good that I could keep eating endlessly 😓

How does the handmade shiitake hasamiage, limited to 20 a day, taste?

The handmade shiitake hasamiage at Shabu Siktak is ₩9,000 and sold in a limited quantity of 20 a day. Since it's limited, I asked just in case, and they said I could order it, so a happy "yay!" slipped out 𖤐

It's shiitake mushrooms filled with shrimp paste and fried, and the staff explained it tastes best eaten hot, so I dug in right away. The deep aroma of shiitake and springy shrimp burst out from inside the crispy coating, and I couldn't help exclaiming. Usually my husband tells me to try things first, but this was so good that it was almost gone in the blink of an eye. 😅

Finishing shabu-shabu with 2,500 won vegetable porridge

The vegetable porridge at Shabu Siktak is ₩2,500, and a staff member makes it for you with the leftover broth. The shabu-shabu alone had filled us up, but leaving without porridge felt like a shame, so I added it. The staff ladled off some of the leftover broth and made it for us with care.

With the richly infused broth, nutty egg and vegetables all coming together, it was the kind of porridge you scrape clean even when you're already full.

Thoughtful service at Shabu Siktak all the way out the door

On our way out after paying, the staff kindly handed us 2 yogurt drinks as a freebie. There's even a small trash can outside where you can throw away the empty yogurt bottles right away, and the owner's thoughtfulness put me in a good mood until the very end ✧