Shabu-shabu course meal in Yeonsu, Incheon: Syabudaum Songdo

Shabu-shabu that feels like being treated to a proper course meal / a place I'd love to bring my parents back to

I've always loved shabu-shabu, so whenever I hear about a new shabu-shabu place opening near Songdo, I naturally get curious haha. This time I was curious about the new Syabudaum branch that opened near Gu-Songdo's Songdo Amusement Park, so I went right away!!

Honestly, shabu-shabu is such a familiar dish that I didn't expect much at first, but the moment I walked in, the place felt cleaner and more upscale than I'd imagined, so my first impression was already good. It felt less like somewhere you'd casually grab a meal and more like a place to dine with someone special haha.

What makes Syabudaum different? Shabu-shabu served as a course

Syabudaum had a slightly different vibe from a typical shabu-shabu place. Usually when you order shabu-shabu, the ingredients and broth all arrive at once, but here the food comes out one dish at a time like a course, so there was a fun sense of anticipation for the next dish throughout the meal.

Because the food arrived in order from start to finish, the meal naturally unfolded at a relaxed pace, and I found myself focusing a bit more on each dish. It felt like a great place to visit on a day when you want to properly enjoy a shabu-shabu course.

Starting with lotus root and eggplant fritters

I went in only thinking about shabu-shabu, but after ordering, a variety of dishes started coming out one after another right from the start, so the spread turned out to be more substantial than expected. The crispy texture of the first dish — lotus root fritters and eggplant fritters — was great too!! Eating the warm, freshly fried fritters got my appetite going, and I started looking forward to what would come next haha.

Korean beef 1++ carpaccio, an unexpected menu at a shabu-shabu place

One of the most memorable dishes of the day was the Korean beef 1++ carpaccio!! I really didn't expect to find something like this at a shabu-shabu restaurant, and it felt refreshingly different to be able to enjoy the rich flavor of Korean beef in such a light form.

The texture, melting softly in the mouth, was great, and it had a completely different appeal from the shabu-shabu that would follow, which really made the course-meal experience shine. I liked that instead of just eating to get full, each dish let me experience a different flavor!!

The main shabu-shabu, with broth that deepens as you go

The main shabu-shabu also exceeded expectations! Adding fresh ingredients into the broth one by one and slowly cooking them, the broth that started out clean seemed to grow deeper in flavor the more ingredients went in.

Eating the meat and vegetables together felt light yet full of the broth's flavor, and maybe because we'd slowly worked through the earlier courses, the main dish felt even more relaxed. Being able to naturally chat while eating shabu-shabu made it feel like a great fit for a meal with someone important to you.

Finishing with porridge instead of udon

For the final dish, we got to choose, and we picked porridge instead of udon. Personally, I think that was the right call. Simmering tofu and zucchini in the leftover shabu-shabu broth let the deep flavor of the broth soak all the way through — it was genuinely delicious.

The soft ingredients blended with the warm porridge in a way that felt gently filling, and even though I was already pretty full, my spoon kept going back for more. Personally, I'd say the finishing porridge is a must-try if you visit Syabudaum haha.

A course that even includes dessert

Just when I thought the full meal was finally over, dessert arrived at the end, which lifted my mood all over again. The ice cream came topped with homemade rice cracker cookies, and the combination of crispy cookie and soft ice cream was delicious!! Having a sweet, cool dessert at the very end cleaned up the palate nicely, and it felt like the course flowed well from start to finish.

How about for a meal with parents or family?

Syabudaum felt a bit different from the typical shabu-shabu place I had in mind. Starting with lotus root and eggplant fritters, moving through Korean beef 1++ carpaccio, then the main shabu-shabu, and finishing with porridge and dessert, it really felt like I'd been properly treated to a full meal.

Each dish was well put together, and the calm atmosphere of the restaurant made it feel like a good fit for a family meal or a day when you want to make a bit more of an effort with your parents.

Above all, I liked that the food came out one dish at a time like a course, letting me enjoy the meal more slowly than usual. If you like shabu-shabu but want something a bit special, this kind of setup is pretty great. If you're looking for a new place to eat in Gu-Songdo, Syabudaum near Songdo Amusement Park naturally comes to mind, and next time I'd love to visit again with someone else and enjoy a proper meal all over again haha.

Wouldn't you like to enjoy a meal with someone special at a place where you can have shabu-shabu together with a full course of other dishes? Highly recommend Syabudaum!!