Full-course minari shabu kalguksu restaurant in Dongtan: Deungchon

As the weather's been getting colder lately, I've been craving something hot and spicy, you know~? I hadn't had shabu-shabu in a while, so I wanted to go for the full course — minari-scented shabu-shabu, kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), and fried rice, all the way to the last bite. So I went to Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch, one of the well-known shabu-shabu spots in Dongtan! Eating it with that clear, cool breeze outside was such a perfect match 🌿✨

Where is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch?

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch is inside the Gran Passage building right next to Dongtan Lake Park, so it was really easy to find! It's perfect for a Dongtan Lake Park date course~

Parking and what the dining room is like

If you're driving, don't worry about parking at all!! The Gran Passage building has a spacious basement parking lot, so even new drivers can park comfortably and walk right in. When you're leaving after your meal, just mention it at the counter.

Stepping inside, the interior was more spacious and cleanly kept than I expected, so I felt good the moment I walked in!

You know how at most soup or shabu-shabu places you often find splatter marks or grease stains around the tables or induction burners~? But here, there wasn't a single splash mark on the tables — everything was completely tidy. Totally pleasant!! The chairs were comfortable too, and it seemed like a great spot for couples on a Dongtan Lake Park date, or for families having a meal together!

Spicy mushroom kalguksu with beef shabu and dumpling noodles added

We ordered Deungchon's signature 'spicy mushroom kalguksu for two,' and added beef shabu plus dumpling noodles for extra heartiness!! Some branches include the shabu beef in the price and some require it separately — at the Gran Passage branch, the beef needs to be added separately too!!!

Ta-da~ not long after we ordered, a huge pot arrived, packed so full the ingredients looked like they'd spill right out — the visuals were amazing, right? Fresh, fragrant green minari and crunchy bean sprouts were piled on generously, and just looking at it felt refreshing 😲✨

Once the induction burner is on and it starts bubbling, the minari wilts down and its aroma melts deeply into the broth — the savory depth was truly next level,,!

Dipping the beef briefly until the pink is just gone, wrapping it around the chewy mushrooms and minari, and dunking it in wasabi soy sauce — the flavor bursts in your mouth and automatically makes you squint with satisfaction,,,

The dumpling noodles, packed full inside, soaked up the spicy broth completely, so every bite had the juices mingling with the soup — it would've been such a shame not to add them! It made the meal feel really satisfying,,!

What order to eat it in: kalguksu noodles first, then egg fried rice

Once you've eaten most of the vegetables and meat, it's time to add the chewy noodles~! True to its reputation as a well-known Dongtan shabu-shabu spot, the longer the noodles simmer, the more the starch thickens the broth, turning it into a rich, hearty beef kalguksu!!

The chewy, springy noodles get coated in the rich broth, which made me inhale the whole bowl 💕

And the highlight, of course, is the fried rice that closes out the meal!! Once you finish the kalguksu, ask the staff and they'll take the pot away and fry it up golden brown over high heat — Deungchon's signature nutty, savory egg fried rice truly lived up to its reputation ㅠㅠ

Mixing the leftover spicy broth I'd saved with the mashed potato mixed into the rice was genuinely moving — even full, I couldn't put my spoon down!!

Is the full minari shabu kalguksu course worth it?

With heaps of fragrant minari and bean sprouts, spicy broth, chewy kalguksu, and legendary fried rice, it was a perfect full course! The clean, tidy interior made the meal even more enjoyable — as a well-known Dongtan shabu-shabu spot, I'm already thinking about going back the next time I crave something spicy~ 💕 If you're near Dongtan Lake Park looking for a spicy meal to hit the spot, I highly recommend stopping by!!