Namdaemun Market shabu-shabu restaurant with baby chairs: Yunseul

If you're looking for a date spot near Seoul Station or a good place to eat after Namdaemun Market, I recommend this! I stopped by Yunseul, a shabu-shabu restaurant at Grand Central near Seoul Station, after visiting Namdaemun Market. The place was clean, the interior was pretty, and above all the shabu-shabu and a special jeon (savory pancake) were genuinely delicious. Here's my detailed review.

What kind of restaurant is Yunseul?

Yunseul serves Korean-style shabu-shabu. The food is clean and the space feels upscale, and above all I really liked how mild and non-spicy the shabu-shabu was. It works for dates, but also for family meals, gatherings, and even eating with a baby — the vibe is relaxed enough for all of that. If you're looking for a good shabu-shabu spot at Grand Central near Seoul Station, I'd recommend this place.

Where Yunseul is and how to get there from Seoul Station

Yunseul is right in front of Seoul Station, in Grand Central. 📍14 Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea — an easy walk from Seoul Station Exit 4. Seoul Station itself is a spot everyone can gather from easily, whether you're meeting friends or family, so if you're searching for a good group shabu-shabu spot near Seoul Station, the location alone is a big plus.

They serve Korean-style dishes ranging from shabu-shabu to jeongol (hot pot). Jeongol is a dinner-only menu, while at lunch you can order shabu-shabu along with side dishes like jeon.

The mood inside Yunseul after a walk through Namdaemun Market

The first thing I liked about Yunseul was how much cleaner the atmosphere was than I expected! You'd think of a shabu-shabu place as a bit crowded and busy, but Yunseul overall feels neat and upscale.

I loved the big windows looking outside, and the tables and tableware were clean too, which made for a leisurely meal. The full-length windows, the tidy seating, the clean dishes — it all made me want to come back.

Is Yunseul okay to visit with a baby?

Yunseul was also great to visit with a baby. A baby chair and baby dishes were already set up. The baby dishes were just so cute.

How Yunseul's clear anchovy broth shabu-shabu tastes

We ordered the clear anchovy broth shabu-shabu. At Yunseul you can choose the broth from three options: anchovy, naengi (shepherd's purse) doenjang, or a spicy version.

The broth is really clear. As you simmer vegetables and meat in it, the flavor deepens subtly, and it's the kind of clean, mild taste that has you spooning it up again and again until the end. Above all, I loved that the seasoning wasn't too strong.

The seuji (beef tendon) that came as a service item! This was seriously delicious...

We dumped in all the vegetables! Yunseul's shabu-shabu had almost none of that punchy, over-seasoned feeling. It's not a salty, craveable broth but a clear, mild one — the kind where you take one spoonful and then another. It doesn't feel heavy afterward either, so it left me feeling like I'd had a healthy meal.

What does the minari gonijeon taste like?

There was a menu item that stuck with me as much as the shabu-shabu: the minari gondangi jeon (watercress and pollack roe pancake). The moment I saw the name I thought, 'wait, they put pollack roe in a watercress pancake?' — curious, so I ordered it.

I've barely seen this combination at other restaurants, so the menu itself already felt novel. But it wasn't just a curiosity — it was genuinely delicious...!

The fragrant, refreshing aroma unique to minari (watercress) combines with the soft, rich, nutty flavor of the roe, and the pairing works far better than I expected. The minari gondangi jeon added a richer, fuller flavor in the middle of the meal. Eating the two dishes together, the menu combination was really great.

Is Yunseul a good meeting spot near Seoul Station?

When you're meeting people near Seoul Station, taste matters, but the atmosphere matters just as much. Since Yunseul's food is Korean-style shabu-shabu, it's unlikely to clash with anyone's taste, and the restaurant's clean, sophisticated atmosphere makes it a good pick for a group visit.

When you want a healthy, non-spicy meal in a clean, upscale setting, and you're looking for a comfortable group shabu-shabu spot near Seoul Station where several people can meet easily, this place checks all the boxes. Try the clear anchovy broth shabu-shabu paired with the minari gondangi jeon at Yunseul.