Garlic-broth spicy shabu kalguksu in Susan-dong, Incheon: Guksuhwa
In short
Guksuhwa is a kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup) and shabu-shabu restaurant on Sorae-ro in Susan-dong, Namdong-gu, Incheon. On a sweltering summer evening, the writer and her husband ordered 2 servings of spicy shabu kalguksu (₩15,000) and a crispy Korean-pork minari (water dropwort) pancake (₩12,000). They ate it as a course: a broth loaded with Korean garlic, then vegetables and beef, kalguksu noodles and a final porridge. With a self-serve corner, pomegranate tea and coffee for dessert, Guksuhwa served a dinner that made them forget the heat.
Good to know
- Address
- Guksuhwa Namdong-gu Main Branch, 565 Sorae-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon
- Hours
- Mon–Sun 11:00–21:30
- Break time
- 15:00–16:30
- Last order
- 20:40
- Parking
- Available in front of the restaurant
- Spicy shabu kalguksu
- ₩15,000 (2 servings ordered)
- Minari pancake
- ₩12,000
- Restaurant size
- 2 floors, with group seating
- Self-serve corner
- Kimchi and broth refills
- Dessert
- Drinks such as pomegranate tea, plus coffee
- Price reference
- ₩15,000 ≈ $11 · ₩12,000 ≈ $8.9 (2026-09-30)
as written by the visitor on Aug 6, 2026
Guksuhwa
Why spicy kalguksu on a scorching summer day
The weather has been absolutely brutal lately — I'm sweating buckets just standing still. But on days like this, I find myself craving hot, spicy soup even more, like fighting fire with fire. So my husband and I braved the heat to go find something delicious to eat. I really wanted to introduce this place called Guksuhwa, where you can enjoy a generous serving of kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and shabu-shabu together.
Location, hours and parking at Guksuhwa
Guksuhwa's Namdong-gu main branch is located at 565 Sorae-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon. It's open Monday through Sunday from 11:00 to 21:30, with a break time from 15:00 to 16:30 and last order at 20:40.
- 📍 Location: 565 Sorae-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea (Guksuhwa Namdong-gu Main Branch)
- ⏰ Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:30
- Break time: 15:00–16:30
- Last order: 20:40
- 🚘 Parking: Available in front of the restaurant
A café-like interior with group seating
The first thing I noticed walking in was how clean and modern the interior was. Unlike the typical old-school feel of most kalguksu restaurants, the whole place is bright and cozy, almost like a café, so I felt good the moment I stepped inside.
The tables were spaced generously apart, so you could focus on your meal comfortably without being bothered by other diners.
The restaurant is quite large, spread over two floors with plenty of group seating, so it looked perfect for weekend family outings, work dinners, or any kind of gathering.
What we ordered and the prices
- Spicy shabu kalguksu ₩15,000 × 2
- Minari (water celery) pancake ₩12,000
My husband and I ordered spicy shabu kalguksu, with its irresistibly hot broth, as the main, and the crispy Hanwoo-pork minari pancake — crispy even by name — as the side.
Once we ordered, the table quickly filled up: a big pot of broth, a basket of fresh vegetables, appetizingly red shabu beef, chewy kalguksu noodles, and even porridge ingredients to finish the meal. The broth is packed with domestic garlic, so the longer it boils, the deeper and richer the garlic flavor gets.
How to eat spicy shabu kalguksu, step by step
Every table at Guksuhwa has an easy-to-follow guide for the order of eating, so even people who don't know how to cook the dish can just follow along.
- First: once the broth starts bubbling, lower the induction stove to about level 5 and drop in the fresh vegetables and meat to cook.
- Second: cook the kalguksu noodles, stirring occasionally so they don't stick to the bottom of the pot, and use the self-serve corner to top up the broth if it runs low.
- Third: after finishing the noodles, ladle out some of the remaining broth and simmer the prepared vegetables and egg over low heat to make a savory porridge finish.
Scooping up fragrant minari, mushrooms and tender beef in that hot, tangy broth was an excellent combination of flavors. It wasn't overly strong, just spicy enough to keep pulling you back for more, so I kept spooning up the broth. After finishing the beef, the noodles we boiled had a wonderful chewy texture, and the porridge at the end rounded off a perfect course.
That final porridge was genuinely the best part 👍
How was the crispy Hanwoo-pork minari pancake?
The crispy Hanwoo-pork minari pancake we ordered on the side exceeded our expectations. True to its name, it was crispy all the way to the edges, like a cracker, and loaded with fragrant minari and savory pork, hitting both texture and flavor perfectly. I really recommend pairing it with the spicy shabu kalguksu broth — they go great together.
Self-serve corner, dessert, and frozen packs
A tidy self-serve corner off to the side of the restaurant lets you help yourself to kimchi or extra broth whenever you need it.
As we were finishing up, they brought out a dessert drink that seemed to be pomegranate tea? It was sweet and refreshing — perfect for cleansing the palate.
On our way out, I noticed a showcase inside the restaurant displaying Guksuhwa's various frozen packs, so you can enjoy the same taste at home — fun to browse.
There's dessert too — and coffee to finish it all off ~
Who should visit Guksuhwa in Susan-dong
If you're near Namdong-gu, Incheon and looking for a clean, comfortable place to fill up on a solid meal, Guksuhwa in Susan-dong is worth a visit. The generous portions and delicious food made us forget the heat for a good, mood-lifting dinner — a place I'd love to come back to 🤍
Where it is
565 Sorae-ro, Namdong-gu, Incheon, South Korea (Guksuhwa Namdong-gu Main Branch)인천광역시 남동구 소래로 565 국수화 남동구 본점
