Seoul Station shabu-shabu with two dessert rice choices: Yunseul

Went Namdaemun shopping today for the first time in a while~! It was packed with even hotter items than I remembered. Dragging my tired body along, I went to get dinner at "Yunseul," a shabu-shabu place near Namdaemun and Seoul Station. And when it comes to eating with mom, nothing beats shabu-shabu!

Yunseul hours and parking at Seoul Station

• 🕒 Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00), last order 13:45 / 19:45
• 🅿️ Amenities & services: free parking available, Naver Reservations

How to find Yunseul at the back of Grand Central's first floor

Yunseul is a 1-minute walk from Seoul Station and a 4-minute walk from Hoehyeon Station — an incredible transit location. We didn't even start from the station but from Namdaemun Market, and it still only took 5 minutes.

As you walk, the Grand Central building comes into view — just go inside. It's such a huge new building that it catches your eye right away.

Once inside Grand Central, well-grown plants greet you, and if you follow this path all the way in, Yunseul is right at the very back.

It was a little hard to find at first, so I checked the map, but since it's located at the very back of the building, you just keep walking in.

It has such a great atmosphere for a shabu-shabu place that I was already excited before even going in.

They're open every day from 11am to 9:30pm, with a break time from 3–5pm, so it's good to keep that in mind before visiting.

What are the window seats at Yunseul like?

The interior atmosphere at Yunseul was great, and there were tons of tables. Each table was spaced far apart so you could eat quietly...! We got assigned a window seat, so we got to eat with a pretty view — as soon as we sat down, the table next to us was clearly on a blind date, the vibe was that good...! Mom and I spent almost 5 minutes just talking about the atmosphere, interior, and view. It really would be a great spot for a date, a blind date, or bringing your parents.

Brought a video to capture the vibe that photos just can't. Even the bgm was perfect... Yunseul... I can't believe this is a shabu-shabu place...!

What comes in Yunseul's set for two

After soaking in the atmosphere, it was time to choose the menu. Since it was just mom and me, we ordered the set for two. For broth we chose spicy mushroom, for meat we chose prime pork shoulder, and for the pancake we chose minari roe pancake. For dessert rice we ordered bulgogi kimchi fried rice and gondre juk.

There was a receipt review event running too, and it gives you an extra plate of pork shoulder (140g), so it's worth joining.

They were setting the table right after we ordered... even the tableware was so pretty I kept gasping. Where do they even get dishes like that?

Complimentary beef tendon and quail eggs, plus three sauces

The complimentary tendon and quail eggs came out. They said it's best eaten warm, so I ate it right away — it was really good. Light but savory, it really woke up the appetite.

Then the sauces were set out. In order: sweet chili, peanut, and soy sauce. My favorite is the savory peanut sauce, which goes great with the spicy mushroom broth!

What does the minari roe pancake taste like?

Before the shabu-shabu came out, the minari roe pancake arrived. I've had minari shrimp pancake before, but roe pancake was pretty unfamiliar. One bite in and it was crispy and light — I kept gasping as I ate it. If you didn't know it was roe, you'd never guess. It was the textbook definition of crispy outside, tender inside, and something I'd order again next time.

The shabu-shabu ingredients were ready right after. Super fresh mushrooms, meat, minari, and even the noodles were so pretty just to look at. There was even a lion's mane mushroom I'd never seen before, which was fun to spot.

The view while eating. The autumn evening sky was so pretty... any place would be nice in this weather! But getting to eat with such a good view really made it special.

Dessert rice: bulgogi kimchi fried rice or gondre juk?

After finishing the noodles, Yunseul prepares dessert rice — we ordered one kimchi bulgogi fried rice and one gondre juk. Both were so good that if two people are visiting, I'd definitely recommend trying one of each. If you can only have one, go with the kimchi bulgogi fried rice! They make it in a stone pot with barley rice, kimchi, and seaweed, and you could hear it sizzling the whole time it was being mixed — it stayed warm right to the last bite. The barley rice was so good I actually ordered another portion. The gondre juk had gondre herb in every bite, giving it a pleasant aroma as I ate. It was a day I realized porridge with gondre in it is way better than plain rice.

Who is Yunseul the right restaurant for?

Overall, the food, atmosphere, and service at Yunseul were all so satisfying. Honestly, I pictured shabu-shabu places as somewhat casual and bustling, but Yunseul was completely different from what I expected, which made it stand out even more. The interior was clean and upscale, and the wide spacing between tables meant we could talk comfortably without worrying about the table next to us. Especially at the window seats, once evening came the view outside was so pretty — the atmosphere was genuinely unbeatable...!

We visited as just mom and me, but I'd really recommend this place to anyone looking for somewhere to eat with their parents. It also seems like a great spot for a friends' gathering, a family meal out, or for office workers near Seoul Station looking for a place for a work dinner or meetup!

• ✔️ Family meal out with parents
• ✔️ Meeting friends near Seoul Station
• ✔️ A quiet-atmosphere blind date
• ✔️ A couple's date with good vibes
• ✔️ A meal or small get-together with coworkers
• ✔️ A clean, satisfying dinner after Namdaemun shopping

If you're looking for a shabu-shabu spot near Seoul Station for a gathering, or somewhere with a good atmosphere to eat with family or friends near Namdaemun, I'd recommend the Seoul Station branch of Yunseul :)