Spicy broth shabu kalguksu with photo booth in Osan: Dongchundang

I'm the type who has to check out any new restaurant near my house, so when I heard a clean-looking shabu shabu kalguksu (noodle) place had opened in Dugok-dong, I was curious enough to go straight away. Shabu shabu is a great pick for family meals since you get both vegetables and meat, and this trip was to a restaurant that's genuinely good for taking your parents out: Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch.

Where is Dongchundang Osan Dugok, and what are its hours?

Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch is at 1F, 33-18 Seobu-ro, Osan, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, open daily from 10:00 to 21:00. Last order is at 20:20, and there's a parking lot right in front of the restaurant.

There isn't a huge amount going on in Osan's Dugok-dong, but there are enough good restaurants that people actually drive in for them. Dongchundang's parking lot is nicely spacious too. If you're looking for a restaurant that's easy to park at, or wondering where to take your parents, Dongchundang seems like a solid option.

It's especially got the vibe for family visits, so it's worth keeping in mind as a spot in the Osan Sekyo area. When I visited there was a notice up about Chuseok holiday hours, so if you're planning to go during the holidays, check ahead!

Waiting area, photo booth and restrooms at Dongchundang

Dongchundang Osan Dugok has a waiting area for when there's a line. What was surprisingly fun is that there's even a photo booth for keeping memories! It's a nice spot for families to grab a photo after coming for a meal, haha.

I took a photo after I finished eating too, haha. It's good for passing time while you wait, or for making a memory with your family after the meal.

The restroom is right down the hallway and was kept really clean. It's not a shared restroom used by multiple shops but one used only by Dongchundang, so it stayed spotless. Amenities like restrooms and parking matter when you're choosing a place to take your parents, and this restaurant scored well there too.

How far apart are the tables in the 140-pyeong dining room?

The Dongchundang Dugok branch is a whopping 140 pyeong. Walking in, it really did feel spacious, and the floor-to-ceiling windows gave it an open feel. What I liked most was how much space there was between tables!

When tables are packed close together you sometimes end up minding your neighbors, but at Dongchundang the tables were spaced generously so it really felt like we could relax on our own. That made me think it'd work well as a spot for a parents' meal.

Self-bar and unlimited makgeolli refills

The self-bar had shabu shabu broth, spicy dip, chili sauce, and other essentials to help yourself to, plus cordyceps tea and popcorn free of charge.

But here's what I liked best: unlimited makgeolli (Korean rice wine) refills with no extra charge. I walked here from home, so I couldn't not take advantage of the free-flowing makgeolli, right? Telling myself the walk was worth it, I dove straight into Dongchundang's makgeolli, haha.

A small plate is already set at your table when you sit down.

Dongchundang menu prices and what we ordered

Looking over the menu, there was more variety than I expected. From neungi mushroom samgye hot pot that looked great for nourishing your parents, to cordyceps and jangsu mushroom kalguksu, there were quite a few options. I thought it was just shabu shabu, but there's a good range of nourishing Korean dishes too, which made it feel well suited for a parents' meal.

The side menu had a good range too. While deciding what to eat, the Eonyang-style crispy bulgogi, limited to 30 servings a day, caught my eye. Hearing it was limited to just 30 a day made me feel like I'd regret skipping it, so I ordered it.

• Shabu kalguksu for two (meat + noodles + fried rice) ₩26,000
• Eonyang-style crispy bulgogi ₩9,900
• Unlimited makgeolli refills, free

From the pre-meal barley rice to the full table setting

As soon as we ordered, the pre-meal barley rice came out first. I mixed it all up and gave it a try — it had a tangy taste that really woke up my appetite, a nice light bite before the shabu shabu.

Order the Dongchundang shabu kalguksu and it comes out as a generously full spread. In particular the shabu shabu arrives piled high with minari (water dropwort), and the look of it was outstanding!! Seeing that mound of green minari made me feel healthier just looking at it. This kind of dish really needs plenty of vegetables to taste right.

And here's one more thing I loved about Dongchundang! The spoons and chopsticks come sitting in hot water. It's already convenient to have utensils set at the table, but serving them soaking in hot water gave the sense that they really care about hygiene. I marveled at the utensils in hot water, took a bowl of Dongchundang's unlimited makgeolli, and properly got the meal started, haha.

Eonyang-style crispy bulgogi for 9,900 won

I started with the Eonyang-style crispy bulgogi. The sweet bulgogi flavor was really good. The bulgogi itself was delicious, and it came topped with sliced fried garlic, which made it perfect for anyone who loves garlic. I'm a total garlic person, so I made sure to eat every bit of it, haha.

Spicy broth shabu shabu: how hot is it really?

I tried the shabu shabu once it had bubbled away nicely. You can choose between clear broth or spicy broth, and I went with Dongchundang's default spicy broth. Despite the name, it wasn't as spicy as I expected. If anything it was refreshing and clean-tasting, so my stomach felt comfortable after eating. Eating the well-cooked vegetables and beef shabu shabu together, I felt full but light at the same time!

Mugwort kalguksu noodles in the shabu broth

After finishing the shabu shabu, we added the kalguksu noodles. Since they're mugwort noodles, the noodles themselves are green! We simmered the noodles in the shabu shabu broth, and they were really delicious too :) After the meat, vegetables, and now the noodles, my stomach was starting to fill up, haha. But it wasn't over yet.

Bangatgan Cham fried rice to finish

As the finishing course, we finished off with the Bangatgan Cham fried rice included in the shabu kalguksu set for two.

It's fried rice loaded with domestic sesame oil, so the nutty flavor really stood out. Fried over high heat with a good sizzle, it was so good I already knew I'd have to come back just for this. My stomach was already full, but somehow there was still room for fried rice — magic;; With shabu shabu, you really haven't had a proper meal until you finish it off with the fried rice.

Free ice cream for dessert

After eating my fill, right before heading out, they handed us each an Excellent ice cream bar at the register? One per person, so dessert was fully taken care of too;; Wrapping up the meal with a high-quality vanilla ice cream was such a nice touch. Little extras like this dessert really left me finishing the meal in a good mood. I'd absolutely go back — 200% would return, haha.

Is Dongchundang Osan Dugok a good spot for a meal with parents?

There was a note posted at Dongchundang saying the food is designed with elderly diners in mind, and after eating, I could kind of see what they meant. My stomach felt properly full, but strangely I didn't feel bloated at all! I ate a lot — vegetables, meat, warm broth, and kalguksu — and still felt light afterward.

If you're looking for a place to take your parents for a meal, I'd recommend giving Dongchundang a try. Parking is easy, the store is spacious, the tables are well spaced, and above all the food isn't heavy, making it a great spot for a family visit. It's a good option not just for people like me who love shabu shabu, but for anyone looking for somewhere to eat with their parents.

Unlimited makgeolli, shabu shabu, kalguksu, and fried rice, plus a dessert of ice cream on top — a place I want to visit again. Check out Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch, an easy-parking restaurant in the Osan Sekyo area.