Gimpo shabu kalguksu restaurant with 20-shrimp minari jeon: Homilwon

It's cool fall weather now, and I was craving shabu-shabu with hot broth! So I went to Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu, a famous spot in my neighborhood! It's apparently been on VJ Teukgongdae, which only built my expectations before I even got there. I visited with my mom, and she'd already been here once with the neighborhood ladies — that's basically a certified good restaurant, right? Haha.

• 📍 Address: 142-17 Geolpo-ro, Gimpo-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00
• 📖 Signature menu: Full Table Special Shabu Kalguksu (19.9)
• 🅿️ Parking: Available (free)

Where is Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu Gimpo Main Branch, and is parking free?

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu sits along an old road in Geolpo-dong. The parking lot is wide and the building stands alone, which felt just right for gatherings or family meals. There was even a note asking parties to double-park together in the lot — isn't that proof of a great restaurant?! In particular, this is clearly the kind of place where a lot of people drive over separately for group meals!

There was a standee out front announcing the VJ Teukgongdae feature! You could feel the pride of being a well-known restaurant, and it only raised my expectations more.

The interior was decorated modern yet pretty, like a hanjeongsik (traditional set-meal) restaurant. It looked completely fine for bringing your parents along too.

Menu and prices: Full Table Special Shabu Kalguksu for two

Homilwon Shabu Kalguksu's menu is broadly split into the nourishing king rib shabu kalguksu line and the agaricus mushroom shabu kalguksu line. From the agaricus mushroom side, we tried the Full Table Special Shabu Kalguksu (19.9) for two, which lets you sample a variety of dishes, plus the Crispy Shrimp Minari Jeon with twenty shrimp (18.0)!

Self-serve bar with unlimited beef, mushroom and radish rice

The side dishes were self-serve like this, and rice was unlimited too — but here's the best part: the beef mushroom radish rice was unlimited as well!

Adding in the house-pressed sesame oil and the secret sauce made it even tastier and more filling!

The misugaru (roasted grain powder drink) offered by the exit wasn't too sweet, which I liked, and it was impressive that they give you a big popcorn if you write a review. Oh! There's also warm agaricus mushroom tea, which sounds perfect to enjoy warm during or after the meal, don't you think?

Full course review: from boiled pork to finishing porridge

Warm onsuyuk (boiled pork slices)

First up, the onsuyuk (Korean-style boiled sliced pork) included in the set arrives! It has a hint of herbal aroma like jokbal (braised pig's feet), tender and chewy, and eating it with the garlic sauce was perfect for whetting the appetite. The radish salad served alongside paired perfectly too.

Stir-fried jjukkumi (spicy webfoot octopus)

Next came the stir-fried jjukkumi! It had great charred wok flavor, no fishy smell, and was delicious. I thought the portion would be small since it's part of a set, but there was actually a huge amount!

Agaricus mushroom shabu-shabu and kalguksu noodles

And finally, shabu-shabu! You get a pretty, colorful pot filled with agaricus mushrooms and various vegetables, along with meat, kalguksu noodles, and even a bowl set aside for porridge — so you can add everything in at your own pace, which I loved.

It's served so beautifully that it's a feast for the eyes too — a real plus when you're dining with someone!

Crispy minari jeon with twenty shrimp, 18,000 won

The shrimp minari jeon (herb pancake) we also ordered arrived next, and even though it's a minari jeon, the outside was crisp and it was packed with shrimp — how is it this good?! I kept thinking about it! Definitely order it, you won't regret it!

Porridge to finish the meal

And finally, the porridge — no Korean can resist it! We ate the full course until we were completely stuffed! With this cool autumn weather sometimes turning a bit chilly, I really recommend trying this shabu kalguksu with its excellent hot broth.