Hapjeong shabu-shabu in beef tomato broth with risotto: Shabu in Seoul

Where is Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is on the B2 floor of Delight Square Building 1, which you can see right as you come out of Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station, so it's easy to reach from the station ^^ If you drive, the Delight Square Building 1 car park reportedly gives up to 3 hours of free parking, so keep that in mind.

Here's the exterior of Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, haha. It looks upscale, so it's obvious right away that this is a premium shabu-shabu place :)

There's also a monitor right next to the entrance showing food videos and a menu board with the signature dishes, so you can look at the menu ahead of time!!

What is the atmosphere like at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch?

The inside is clean and modern, with each table separated by partitions. Such a tidy interior near Hapjeong's Mecenatpolis was a welcome surprise, haha.

Stepping inside, the interior was even cleaner and more modern, and the tables are separated by partitions as standard. The tables are also laid out generously, so it looked like a comfortable place to eat without worrying about a wait :)

How to choose your meat and broth at Shabu in Seoul

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a shabu-shabu restaurant where you pick the cut of meat and the broth separately. This was already my third visit, and it's my favorite shabu-shabu spot ^^ Unlike other places, it has a wide variety of meats and you can choose your broth, which is probably why I keep coming back!!

There's also a separate kids' menu for families, so you can see the attentive service :) There's a good range of pork and beef by cut, such as grade 1 black pork neck, prime Angus chuck eye and 1++ Hanwoo beef flap meat, so order whatever suits your taste.

This time I ordered Angus chuck eye for 2 with beef tomato broth :)

Side dishes and a custom dipping sauce

These are the side dish that came out first after ordering, and the custom sauce I made myself, haha. The side dish is crunchy radish pickle, and the sauce is my own custom mix of soy sauce, chili and sesame.

How does Angus chuck eye taste in beef tomato broth?

Next came today's star: Angus chuck eye shabu-shabu, haha.

The Angus chuck eye looked like really good raw meat, and I couldn't wait to drop it into the beef tomato broth ^^

The vegetables looked fresh too, and came in a generous heap: mushrooms, napa cabbage hearts, bok choy, kabocha squash and more :)

Once the broth starts bubbling, you add the vegetables and meat, and there were so many vegetables that no matter how much I ate, the pile never seemed to shrink!!

The Angus chuck eye was tender and got more savory the more I chewed, haha.

Cooked in the beef tomato broth, it had a subtle tomato aroma with real depth and great savory flavor :)

Is the tomato risotto at Shabu in Seoul worth it?

For the closing meal at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, I had tomato risotto made from the reduced beef tomato broth, haha.

The tomato risotto is a special treat, with the look and taste of something from a proper Western restaurant, so it has a unique charm!

I liked that a staff member made the risotto right at the table with the thickened tomato sauce ^^

And the omija tea (five-flavor berry tea) served as dessert is sweet and tangy, perfect for cleansing the palate :)

Final verdict on Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a premium shabu-shabu restaurant with a lovely atmosphere and a modern interior, so it would be really good for a family gathering or a date ^^ I went at an early weekend lunch and the place was already packed, so it seems well known as a Hapjeong shabu-shabu favorite, and best of all, the shabu-shabu was delicious :)

There's a variety of broths and you can choose meat by cut, so you can pick to your taste!! The Angus chuck eye I had this time had a tender texture and went well with the fresh vegetables, and the beef tomato broth felt different, with the tomato aroma adding savory depth. The tomato risotto I had as the last course was really delicious too :)

If you're looking for a good restaurant in Hapjeong or a good lunch spot near Hapjeong Station, I confidently recommend Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch.

• Taste: ★★★★★
• Would revisit: ★★★★