Hapjeong shabu-shabu with sweet chili sauce and kalguksu: Nahonsha

I was looking for somewhere to eat solo around Hapjeong today and ended up at Nahonsha, a shabu-shabu spot I'd heard was really good.

I go to Hapjeong pretty often, but I had no idea a shabu-shabu place like this existed. The exterior alone, all lush and green, was so pretty.

Where is Nahonsha and what are its hours?

📍 Location 1st floor, 42 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul 🚇 About 5 minutes from Hapjeong Station Exit 7, also close to Sangsu Station Exit 4 ⏰ Hours Mon-Fri 11:30-21:00 Saturday 12:00-21:00 Break time 15:00-18:00 Last order 14:30 / 20:30 Closed every Sunday

It's located between Hapjeong and Sangsu stations, so it's convenient to reach from either one.

They have all kinds of shabu-shabu broths and even sukiyaki, and the lunch special includes a mushroom and minari (water dropwort) potato sujebi (hand-torn noodle soup). Broth at places like this is usually really tasty, so I bet that broth makes an amazing potato sujebi too.

Bar seats and one induction stove per person at Nahonsha

Walking in, the interior was clean and had a nice atmosphere. There were a lot of bar-style seats especially, so it didn't feel awkward at all to be there alone.

Every seat has its own induction stove, so everyone cooks their shabu-shabu in their own pot.

It's great for solo dining, but it would also work fine if you came with a friend and each ordered something different. The overall wood-tone look gave it a warm, pretty cozy vibe for a shabu-shabu place ✨

Nahonsha's menu: clear broth shabu-shabu with extra meat

Nahonsha sells solo shabu-shabu in various broths as well as sukiyaki. After some deliberation, I went with the clear broth shabu-shabu since it seemed like the cleanest, lightest option. And since it's disappointing if there isn't enough meat with shabu-shabu, I also ordered extra meat. I mean, I'm a meat lover .. 🤗

I took a seat by the window, and I think that's the prettiest spot here. Right in the middle of Seoul, but it felt like I'd landed somewhere in Gyeonggi Province — the view was so healing 🍀

Three dipping sauces and the vegetable plate

There were three sauces — peanut sauce, sweet chili and soy ponzu. I dipped in soy sauce first, then switched to peanut sauce and sweet chili. The sweet chili was sweet with a little kick, and it really woke up my appetite.

The vegetables came out generously — bok choy, napa cabbage, bean sprouts, plus fried tofu and dumplings. I don't usually eat many vegetables, so on days like this eating shabu-shabu, it feels like I'm actually taking care of my health.

After finishing the meat, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) came out too, so I could round it out with some carbs.

The beef came out too, and I'm glad I added the extra meat. It wasn't so much that it was overwhelming, just enough to fill me up nicely and enjoyably.

How the clear broth tastes and the kalguksu noodle finish

Eating shabu-shabu alone in Hapjeong like a pro — the view outside the window was so pretty, the food was delicious, and I felt really good.

I boiled all sorts of vegetables and meat in the broth, dipping alternately in soy ponzu and peanut sauce. The meat was sliced thin so it never felt tough, and the broth itself was rich and deep, so I scooped up some of the soup with a spoon too.

After finishing the meat and vegetables and then the kalguksu, it felt like a proper full meal. The broth left over after fishing out the vegetables and meat was a little salty and so delicious, and it paired perfectly with the kalguksu.

If you're looking for a good shabu-shabu spot near Hapjeong Station, I think Nahonsha, where you can enjoy solo shabu-shabu comfortably, is worth a visit 💓 As the weather gets a bit cooler, I find myself craving this kind of warm shabu-shabu even more 〰️