Hanwoo top round vs brisket shabu-shabu in Hapjeong: Shabu in Seoul

I was drawn in by the phrase "premium shabu dining," so I visited Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, a shabu-shabu restaurant in Hapjeong. Warm wood-toned interior, comfy booth seating with dividers — it turned out to be a perfect Hapjeong date-course spot. Let me tell you about it.

What are Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch's hours and parking like?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is open Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00, with last orders at 14:00 / 21:00 and a break time from 15:00 to 17:00. On Sat and Sun it's open 11:00–22:00, with last order at 21:00 on weekends.

Parking gets 3 hours free at the Mapo Hangang Prugio 1 Commercial Parking Lot.

Getting there

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1. The original map also shows Kyobo Book Centre, the Hapjeong Silppuri Welfare Center, and Olive Young nearby.

What's the vibe and seating like at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch?

Soft indirect lighting gives Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch a calm mood, and the beige and gray tones on the walls and seats made the whole space feel clean and relaxing.

The seating is in plush sofa-style booths. Each booth has a high back, so you don't feel other tables' eyes on you and can focus fully on your own group. Each table also has its own induction burner, so everyone could enjoy the shabu-shabu at their own pace.

Ordering is done via tablet, so there's no need to flag down staff, which was convenient. There's also a coat rack on one side of the restaurant, handy for hanging up winter coats. The vibe suits solo dining, friend gatherings, family meals, and dates alike — I'd recommend it if you want a quiet meal in Hapjeong.

What's on the menu at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, and how much does it cost?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch splits lunch and dinner prices by cut. Prices range from ₩21,000 for lunch 1++ hanwoo brisket up to ₩36,000 for dinner Black Nine wagyu flower sirloin.

• 1st-grade black pork belly: Lunch ₩20,000 / Dinner ₩23,000
• 1st-grade black pork neck: Lunch ₩20,000 / Dinner ₩23,000
• Prime Angus chuck eye: Lunch ₩22,000 / Dinner ₩25,000
• Prime Angus chuck flap: Lunch ₩27,000 / Dinner ₩30,000
• 1++ hanwoo top round (boseopsal): Lunch ₩27,000 / Dinner ₩30,000
• 1++ hanwoo brisket (eopjinsal): Lunch ₩21,000 / Dinner ₩24,000
• Black Nine wagyu flower sirloin: Lunch ₩33,000 / Dinner ₩36,000

The basic table setup

Each table comes with a pretty basic setting already in place. (*ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈)ꕤ*.ﾟ

Ordering the 1++ hanwoo top round and brisket shabu sets

What we ordered that day at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch was the 1++ hanwoo top round (boseopsal) shabu set, the 1++ hanwoo brisket (eopjinsal) shabu set, and a Coke.

I could tell just from the color of the meat that the 1++ hanwoo top round and brisket were on another level. (᎔˘꒳˘᎔)

What finishing dishes does Shabu in Seoul offer per broth?

At Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, the dish you finish your meal with after the shabu-shabu depends on which broth you chose.

• Clear mushroom broth → egg porridge
• Spicy mushroom broth → rose risotto
• Blue crab doenjang broth → doenjang rice roll
• Sukiyaki broth → yakisoba
• Beef tomato broth → tomato risotto

Since you have to pick a broth you like from the start, the key is thinking ahead about which finishing dish you want before choosing.

Chili, yuzu soy sauce, sesame sauce — what's the recommended combo?

We poured out three dips into small bowls: chili, yuzu soy sauce, and sesame sauce. You can add sliced chili peppers and minced garlic to taste. I ate mine with sliced chili on top of the sesame sauce, and the flavor was better than I expected.

How different do hanwoo top round and brisket actually taste?

You just add the vegetables into the pot of broth all at once. Napa cabbage, mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, green onion, and sweet pumpkin all light up in color once submerged in the broth. Once it starts bubbling, sweetness starts coming out of the vegetables, and the broth gets much deeper than at the start. (◍ ´꒳` ◍ )

The well-cooked napa cabbage comes in long pieces that are awkward to eat whole, but cutting it with the scissors into bite-sized pieces made it much easier. The cabbage, soaked in broth, was sweet and soft — delicious even without the meat. (˶ˊꇴˋو(و ⁾⁾💖

The 1++ hanwoo top round has little fat, so it goes down clean and light, while the brisket spreads savory richness through your mouth the more you chew. Alternating between the lean cut and the savory one kept things from getting repetitive. ( ੭˙ᗜ˙)੭

We tried alternating between yuzu soy sauce, chili, and sesame sauce. The sesame sauce with sliced chili peppers turned out to be a surprisingly good combo, and I kept going back for more. It was devil-calorie territory so I tried to hold back,,,😭😭

The panda-shaped glass noodles were too cute to eat, so I saved them for last haha😂

Finishing with rose risotto and omija tea

At Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, the finishing dish is prepared for you if you ask the staff. I wasn't expecting much, but the moment shiitake mushrooms, shrimp, rose sauce, and yellow egg mixture were stirred into the broth to make rose risotto, the thick, creamy risotto looked amazing 😎😎 We cleaned our palates with omija tea and wrapped up a satisfying meal.

Final verdict: who should visit Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is a place I'd want to return to whenever I want a proper, clean meal in Hapjeong. The wood ceilings and booth seating made the meal comfortable, and having staff pour the broth and ordering by tablet meant no hassle throughout.

The vegetables were varied and fresh. The hanwoo top round was lean and clean, the brisket was savory and rich, so alternating between the two cuts was genuinely fun, and being able to pick freely among yuzu soy sauce, sesame sauce, and chili kept it interesting until the end.

I'd recommend this to:

• Anyone who wants to eat in a quiet atmosphere
• Anyone who wants a proper, tidy meal with parents, friends, or a partner

If you're deciding on a shabu-shabu place in Hapjeong, give Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch a try. The atmosphere, ingredients, and service were all satisfying.