Samgakji shabu-shabu lunch course with plum tea: Shabu in Seoul

Today I'm introducing a restaurant near Samgakji Station: Shabu in Seoul. Visiting in person, I found not just the food but the overall vibe of the place so good that it'd make a pretty great spot for a lunch date! Let's get right into the review~

Where is Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch, and what are its hours?

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch is at 61 Hangang-daero 62-gil, 1st floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Weekdays it's open 11:00–22:00 (break time 15:00–17:00, last order 21:00), and weekends 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:00).

• Location: 61 Hangang-daero 62-gil, 1st floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Fri 11:00–22:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 / last order 21:00
• Hours: Sat–Sun 11:00–23:00 / last order 22:00
• Also: Group seating, separate men's/women's restrooms, reservations, Wi-Fi, high chairs, waiting area, easy payment

How to walk to Shabu in Seoul from Samgakji Station

It's a 10-minute walk from Exit 3 of Samgakji Station! I could feel the upscale vibe even from outside~

Is Shabu in Seoul a good spot for a lunch date?

Here's the interior. It has a warm overall atmosphere that fits well with shabu-shabu. There were high partitions between tables, so I didn't feel too self-conscious about neighboring seats. No matter how delicious the food is, it's hard to focus on conversation if it's too noisy around you!! On that front, Shabu in Seoul had a comfortable atmosphere for sitting down and eating slowly.

There was even mouthwash in the restroom — little touches like that made me happy~

Shabu in Seoul menu and the 25,000-won almokshim lunch set

The menu! You could choose your meat based on preference between pork and beef. This visit, I ordered the Prime Angus almokshim lunch — 25,000 won (clear mushroom broth)!

The table setting and three dipping sauces

The table came pre-set with spoons, chopsticks and dishes, which gave it an extra touch of class.

There were several kinds of sauces too! Chili sauce, yuja soy sauce, and sesame sauce.

You can pour them into small dishes and dip according to taste~

Clear mushroom broth and the order to cook the almokshim beef

First the broth arrives! Refills on the broth are free.

Vegetables and rice paper wraps! The ingredients were incredibly fresh.

And the almokshim!

Two sheets of rice paper were provided per serving, which was nice to pair with the meal.

They boil the vegetables in the broth~~

The meat goes in with a splash too! It's sliced thin so about 15 seconds in the broth was enough to eat right away, which was great! The distinct clean flavor of almokshim was impressive, and it wasn't too fatty, so it didn't overpower the taste of the broth.

Dipped in sauce!! Personally, the yuja soy sauce was my favorite~

I also tried the rice paper wrap — a little tricky to eat, but the broth had soaked into the wrap, making it even tastier.

Kalguksu noodles, egg porridge and plum tea to finish

Kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) is a must with shabu-shabu.

They boiled it for about 4 minutes! The broth soaked into the noodles so well, and it was so delicious!!

The finale: egg porridge!!

They added dried seaweed flakes too, giving it an explosion of savory flavor~~ Salty, nutty and warm, I kept going back for more!!

Plum tea was served for dessert, and its sweetness made it a great way to finish the meal.

Final verdict on Shabu in Seoul

• Taste ★★★★☆
• Portion ★★★★☆
• Price ★★★★
• Hygiene ★★★★★
• Service ★★★★☆
• Atmosphere ★★★★☆
• Would revisit ★★★★☆
• TOTAL | 4.5(5)

I visited Shabu in Seoul Sinyongsan branch, and above all, I felt the calm atmosphere made it a great fit for a lunch date.

Located close to Samgakji Station, with warm, filling food and a clean space, it would be a great spot to set as a meeting place.

A heavy meat dish might feel like too much some days, but I think this is a solid choice when you want to eat a proper meal too!! Thanks for the meal again today.