Gajeong shabu-shabu with mala xiangguo and pizza self-bar: Shabuway

Hi everyone, this is Taengtaeng Ball!!!🤗 I visited Shabuway, a Gajeong Station favorite for shabu-shabu, where everything was perfect — from the clean interior to the generous vegetables and the deeply flavorful broth. On a day when I fell completely in love with the charm of shabu-shabu, a dish you never get tired of eating every day, Shabuway satisfied everyone, young and old!! Here's my honest visit review.😉

Ordering the weekday lunch special at Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch

What I ordered at Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch was the weekday lunch special, an all-you-can-eat-only option. I took photos of the weekday, weekend/holiday, and weekday lunch special prices, so check them out for reference!!😍

Broth choice: For reference, I recommend the half-and-half broth so you can enjoy two flavors at once! We finished ordering with half clear broth and half spicy broth, and headed straight for the self-bar!!😁

There was even a sauce-pairing guide, so I tried out various sauce combos with the meat!!! There were also rice paper wraps and plenty of other ingredients to enjoy! For the signature two-color kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), there were prickly pear noodles and buckwheat noodles!!!😍

No matter how full you are, you can't skip kalguksu and porridge — the Korean dessert. I freely piled up ingredients prepared at the self-bar and enjoyed them, and cooking the kalguksu noodles in the rich broth made it even more delicious!!!😆 Finally, I finished it all off perfectly with porridge made by simmering the leftover broth with rice, vegetables, dried seaweed flakes, and sesame oil. It was the perfect course that filled me up completely!!

How is the meat and the atmosphere at Shabuway?

The reason Shabuway, an Incheon favorite, is special lies in this meat. Rather than using just any meat, I heard they carefully select only premium raw meat with vivid marbling and freshness.✨️ That's probably why there was none of the toughness or gamey smell typical of shabu-shabu meat, and it had a texture that melted softly in my mouth!! When fresh vegetables meet good-quality meat, the overall quality of the flavor feels like it's leveled up even more, don't you think? I could feel the care put into even a single cut of meat, which made it even more satisfying.

As soon as I opened the door and walked in, the overall white and wood-tone base created a warm yet emotional atmosphere! The tables were spaced generously apart, and the interior was so pleasant and cleanly maintained that I felt comfortable and happy throughout the meal. It was a perfect spot for family outings, a tidy date course, or a gathering with friends!!

What's on the self-bar: salad, pizza and mala xiangguo

Shabuway's self-bar had plenty of shabu-shabu toppings ready, like fresh leafy greens including napa cabbage, bok choy, and bean sprouts!! Alongside those, a variety of salads, cooked dishes, and simple sides were neatly set up too, so it was fun picking and choosing what to eat.

After finishing the meal, there was even refreshing soda and sweet, soft ice cream ready to enjoy, making it the perfect course for everyone, from kids to adults!!!😋

I love the self-bar so much!!! I especially had the salad and pizza several times. But on the other hand, my husband said the mala xiangguo was the tastiest.😆

Half clear, half spicy broth: how do they taste?

I loaded the half-and-half pot generously with fresh vegetables and noodles, waited for the broth to come to a boil, then dipped the unlimited premium meat in briefly before pulling it out to eat.

• Broth flavor: The clear broth was deep and mild, leaving a rich lingering taste, while the spicy broth was tangy and sharp yet clean, whetting the appetite — it was fun alternating between the two!
• Meat & sauce: The meat had no gamey smell at all and was tender, so dipping it with the vegetables into the special sauce created a combination that made you gasp in delight.🥰

No matter how full you are, it's hard to skip kalguksu and porridge, the Korean dessert! On top of that, I even enjoyed the ice cream really well!!!🍨😆

Final verdict and parking at Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch

If you want to enjoy a clean, hearty meal near Gajeong Station's Ruwon City, Shabuway seems like a can't-miss choice! In a trendy, pleasant interior, you can enjoy premium raw meat and a diverse self-bar to your heart's content at a reasonable price — it's a place that nails both value and quality.😃

Free parking for up to 2 hours is really nice!! I was even satisfied with how well the parking spaces were arranged!!!🚗