Siheung hot pot and spring roll buffet in Janggok-dong: Pyeonbaek

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Siheung Janggok Branch: an all-you-can-eat catch-up in Janggok-dong

This week I finally matched schedules with a friend and headed to Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Siheung Janggok Branch, famous around Janggok-dong for its shabu-shabu. I arrived excited to catch up over good food with a friend I hadn't seen in a while!

A poster in the elevator announcing the renewal opening caught my eye! It was hung alongside photos of various dishes, so I was already excited to see what I'd get to try before even walking in. True to a Janggok-dong all-you-can-eat spot, the entrance had an energetic vibe.

Where to park for Janggok Edu Tower's 3rd floor

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Siheung Janggok Branch is on the 3rd floor of Janggok Edu Tower. I checked the building's floor directory to confirm the location. The building is big and clean, so it was easy to visit! I felt anyone looking for Janggok-dong shabu-shabu could find this place easily.

The main building has underground parking down to B3, but the entrance ramp going up and down is quite narrow, which can be risky for new drivers, so I used the Siheung Janghyeon Yuseong Hannaedeul complex parking lot instead — it's spacious and comfortable, and my friend parked safely there too (you must enter through Gate 1 of the complex parking lot).

What the restaurant looks like on renewal opening day

The moment I stepped inside, the clean interior caught my eye first! It was renewal opening day so things were still being tidied up, but the space already felt clean and spacious.

Tables and chairs were neatly arranged, and soft lighting made the space feel cozy for a meal. Sitting by the window and looking around, I noticed the partitions kept things private, so we could eat comfortably without mixing with other tables!

On the wall there were autographs from celebrities — even a big-eating mukbang YouTuber had apparently enjoyed Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Siheung Janggok Branch, which got me even more excited before eating.

Menu board and what's on the salad bar

The menu board listed all the different things you could enjoy all-you-can-eat! There was even samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) for a nourishing option, which meant you could eat your fill at a reasonable price — a big draw of this place.

The salad bar was kept spotless! Tongs and ladles sat clean in every container, making it easy to scoop out as much as you wanted. Bright lighting let you see everything on offer at a glance!

What I reached for most was the fresh vegetables! Ingredients like bean sprouts and mushrooms were so fresh that they had great texture in the shabu-shabu. Being able to load up on healthy ingredients as much as I wanted made me pretty happy.

There was refreshing mukbap (cold jelly noodle soup) too

Since Janggok-dong's shabu-shabu is all-you-can-eat, the freezer was packed full of beef! We could take as much meat as we wanted, so my friend and I refilled it several times. The meat looked good quality too, which was reassuring.

Drinks and the misugaru slushie

There were plenty of drink options to sip between bites — coffee, peach black tea, plum tea and more — and filling up my cup with whatever I liked was refreshing.

There was also a misugaru (roasted grain) slushie, which I tried a bit of — sweet and cool, and pretty impressive!

The takoyaki on the salad bar was also a nice find! It came loaded with bonito flakes, so it had great chewy texture. Getting to enjoy such a varied salad bar on top of shabu-shabu and spring rolls was a total plus for me!

Starting the course with pyeonbaekjjim

When I lifted the lid off the wooden steamer, the aroma that rose up was wonderful! Inside was a generous mix of bean sprouts, meat, shrimp, dumplings and rice cakes. Everything was cooked just right, so it was fun fishing pieces out one by one. Thanks to the generous portion, my friend and I both got nice and full!

Picking up meat and bean sprouts with chopsticks and popping them in my mouth, the savory flavor filled every bite! With all the fresh ingredients coming together, I kept laughing while eating.

Dipping meat and enoki mushrooms generously into the sauce gave a wonderful range of textures! My friend and I kept chatting away as we slowly worked through the meal!

The best sauce combination: peanut plus chili

The combination I enjoyed most was peanut sauce mixed with chili sauce! Dipping meat and vegetables into that mix brought out an explosion of umami — it was so good. If you're not sure which sauce combo to try, I'd highly recommend this one!

Moving on to half-and-half broth shabu-shabu

There was hardly any wait between finishing the pyeonbaekjjim and moving on to shabu-shabu! Since it was ready right away, the flow of the meal never broke. Watching the half-and-half broth bubbling away in the pot brought my appetite right back! The broth had such deep flavor that anything cooked in it tasted great.

Shabu-shabu for my friend, spring rolls for me

There was a wide variety of spring roll ingredients prepared, so I piled my plate high with vegetables and mushrooms. Wrapping them with meat gave that healthy taste that kept my hand reaching back for more!

Loading vegetables onto the rice paper and wrapping them neatly doubled the fun of eating! Spring rolls piled with sauce are a flavor I never get tired of.

My friend and I even fed each other spring rolls we'd wrapped, having a great time together! Packed with meat and vegetables, they were a satisfying, filling bite.

Just as I'd heard, Janggok-dong's shabu-shabu was so delicious that we scraped up even the vegetables left in the pot. My friend and I both ended up with satisfied smiles.

Restroom and kids' play room at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan

The restroom is inside the store, so it's easy for anyone, young or old, to use. There's also a play room, so parents visiting with kids can eat in peace too — I'm planning to come back with my two little ones next time.

The course that goes from Janggok-dong's famous shabu-shabu straight into spring rolls was truly the real deal. We ate so, so well.