Hapjeong shabu-shabu with mala kalguksu and egg porridge: Nahonsha

My friend and I hadn't seen each other in ages, and it came down to meat vs. shabu-shabu — shabu-shabu won! So here's my review of Nahonsha, a clean, tidy spot in Hapjeong known for solo dining and also for its mala tang 🤍

Where Nahonsha is and when it opens

Nahonsha is on the 1st floor of 42 Dokmak-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open Mon-Fri 11:30-21:00 and Sat 12:00-21:00, with a break time from 15:00-18:00, last orders at 14:30 and 20:30, and closed Sundays. You can also make a reservation through Naver Map.

Walking from Hapjeong Station Exit 7 toward Sangsu Station, you'll spot the orange-lit sign!.!

Single seats and the mood inside Nahonsha

Nahonsha has solo-only seating and a system built for it, so eating alone here felt really comfortable. Whenever I want a warm soup dish by myself, nothing beats shabu-shabu, and there were quite a lot of other solo diners too.

The atmosphere was cozy and tidy, almost like a quiet, pretty little restaurant — I think women would especially like it.

What does Nahonsha's mala broth shabu-shabu taste like?

This is what the main menu at Nahonsha looks like. The most satisfying part of this visit was the broth choice — besides the basic broth, there were several types, and after some deliberation I went with the mala broth, which turned out even more appealing than expected.

Combining shabu-shabu with mala broth gave a clean yet tingly flavor, quite different from a regular mala tang (spicy numbing soup). The distinctive numbing, spicy character of mala was still there, but the broth itself wasn't overly harsh or heavy, so it stayed enjoyable right down to the last spoonful.🌸

The basic beef and vegetable set and one pot per person

The basic order comes with vegetables and meat.

Dipping the fresh vegetables and neatly plated beef briefly into the tingling mala broth got the seasoning just right. The well-cooked cabbage and mushrooms soaked up the mala broth so every bite had great depth of flavor, and the fish cake was genuinely delicious!!! I loved being able to control the flame on my own individual pot and simmer everything to my taste.

It was such a thoughtful touch that water, sauces, and tissues were all gathered in one spot, so I didn't need to call a staff member for anything — really convenient.

Finishing with mala kalguksu and egg porridge

Once the broth had absorbed enough flavor from the ingredients, they added kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and let it bubble away. The numbing, spicy mala broth soaked right into the noodles, making it feel like a special mala fresh-noodle dish. As the starch from the noodles dissolved into the broth, it thickened and reduced further, and I really liked that hearty texture.

I was full after the noodles but there was no way I was skipping the porridge. The porridge came with frozen vegetables, which was a bit of a letdown. I'd also worried the mala broth might be too intense for porridge, but once they stirred in egg and rice, the mala's tingle stayed subtle while the egg's nutty richness wrapped around it. It gently soothed my mouth after all that spice and left me warm and satisfyingly full.

+Extras I added+ extra meat, extra porridge

I made sure to grab the ongoing 4+4 coupon event too, and now I'm heading home for the day.

If you want a clean, tidy solo mala shabu-shabu experience near Hapjeong Station, I highly recommend Nahonsha's Hapjeong branch 💌🌸

Who will enjoy Nahonsha near Hapjeong Station

• Anyone near Hapjeong looking for a comfortable place to eat solo — the solo-only bar seating and individual pot system are perfect for enjoying a leisurely meal without worrying about anyone's eyes.
• Mala tang lovers who still prefer a cleaner broth — if you want the numbing kick of mala without the harsh, heavy feel of a typical mala tang, this fresh take on mala shabu-shabu is worth trying.
• Anyone who refuses to skip the noodle and porridge course when eating shabu-shabu — from meat and veggies to mala kalguksu simmered in the rich broth and finished with egg porridge, this is a fully loaded, satisfying meal.
• Anyone who values kind, thoughtful service as much as good food — small perks like coupons and attentive service make for a genuinely pleasant meal here.

Next time I'll go for sukiyaki dinner in Hapjeong, hehe.