Basic shabu-shabu, cream pasta and egg porridge course in Dongdaemun

Good food and a good atmosphere can wash away a whole day's fatigue, right? The place I visited for dinner today had exactly that kind of charm, so let me leave a review.

Location and atmosphere of Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch in Dongdaemun

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch, where shabu-shabu meets a proper restaurant. If you're taking public transit, it's a 1-minute walk from the Saeseoul Hospital bus stop, and parking is available though the lot is small, fitting only 1–2 cars. The moment I stepped through the entrance, the interior vibe felt really special — clean yet cozy lighting that would work perfectly for a date or a gathering with friends.

Menu prices and one-pot-per-person seating

After sitting down, I took my time browsing the menu. Basic shabu-shabu is 7,900 won, and mala shabu-shabu is 8,900 won. Everything looked delicious so I agonized over it for a while before ordering the signature popular dishes.

After ordering, I looked around and noticed the carefully chosen decor pieces and the neatly arranged table settings. You could feel that even the small details were designed with customer comfort in mind. With one pot per person, you can enjoy it comfortably whether you come alone or with company, and the seating comes in a variety of options — solo, 2-person, and 4-person seats.

What's in the basic shabu-shabu

For today's meal, I ordered the clean and light basic shabu-shabu.

Once I sat down and placed my order, fresh vegetables, mushrooms, beef, and even fried tofu stamped with the Shabu Torang logo were neatly arranged and brought out.

How does the clear basic broth taste?

The clear, light broth got deeper the longer it boiled, and it felt like it cleared out my insides. Dipping the well-cooked vegetables and tender meat into the special sauce made it purely light and clean — no greasiness, just a clean taste that kept going down easily. I could taste the freshness in every bite, and the seasoning was just right, so I could enjoy it all the way through without getting tired of it.

Cream pasta cooked in the shabu-shabu broth

After enjoying the shabu-shabu for a while, it was finally time to try the cream pasta I'd been curious about. Pasta noodles topped with flying fish roe, bacon, and grated cheese were added to the reduced broth and simmered — the savory depth of the shabu broth blended with the cream sauce to create a nutty, thick cream pasta.

Pasta at a shabu-shabu restaurant felt unfamiliar, but it worked together so much better than I expected — I devoured it in no time.

Finishing with egg porridge

No matter how full you are, the finale of shabu-shabu has to be egg porridge. We simmered up egg porridge in my friend's pot.

Stirring rice, egg, and dried seaweed flakes into the remaining broth, a soft, bubbling porridge came together. It was nutty and warm, letting me finish the last bite clean and satisfying.

The portion was much more generous than I expected, and by the end I felt a genuinely happy kind of full. Shabu-shabu, pasta, and egg porridge to finish — I got to enjoy the whole course deliciously.

From the light basic shabu-shabu to the cream pasta to the egg porridge, I had a full course experience at Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for good food in Jang-an-dong, Dongdaemun~

Visit information

• Hours: Daily 11:00 - 22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Address: 146 Janghan-ro, 1st floor, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Parking: Small lot, fits 1–2 cars
• Transit: 1-minute walk from Saeseoul Hospital bus stop