Dog-friendly kalguksu near Sejong Lake Park: Italy Shabu Kalguksu

Hi, this is Louisa. I was looking for lunch before a date at Sejong Lake Park and I stumbled on a real gem — Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch. When I went during lunch hour, government complex employees kept streaming in, and I thought, this must be a genuine local favorite.

I had the spicy shabu kalguksu (hot pot noodle soup), and it was loaded with vegetables, mushrooms and dumplings — plus free ramyeon and kalguksu noodle refills, so I came away completely stuffed. It's also dog-friendly, so I'd recommend it as a Sejong spot for anyone visiting with their pup.

How close is Italy Shabu Kalguksu to Sejong Lake Park?

Italy Shabu Kalguksu is close to Sejong Lake Park, so it's a great spot to eat before a walk. Parking is easy too, so driving in isn't a hassle, and at lunchtime a lot of government complex staff show up. Seeing how many locals kept coming made me even more excited to try it.

The atmosphere is relaxed too, so it works well for dates, family meals, or a workday lunch.

What goes into the spicy shabu kalguksu broth

I ordered the spicy shabu kalguksu. The broth looks rich and dark, but it's not aggressively spicy — more of a tangy, refreshing kick that had me spooning it up nonstop.

It's packed with fresh vegetables and a nice variety of mushrooms, so there was plenty to enjoy. With dumplings on top, one bowl alone felt like a full, hearty meal. Getting both the shabu-shabu experience and the kalguksu experience in one dish made it even more satisfying.

Fresh kimchi and tteokbokki at the self-serve bar

One of my favorite parts was the self-serve bar. You just help yourself to as much of the basic side dishes as you like, and the freshly made kimchi was genuinely delicious. Eaten alongside the kalguksu, I kept going back for more — several times over.

I was also a little surprised to see tteokbokki (stir-fried rice cakes) at the self-serve bar. I've seen plenty of places with just side dishes, but being able to freely help myself to tteokbokki too made the whole experience that much better.

Free ramyeon and kalguksu noodle refills

Here's another reason this place is such good value: the ramyeon and kalguksu noodle refills are free. I added ramyeon in along with the kalguksu, and that combo turned out to be way more delicious than I expected.

Dipped in the secret soy sauce, it's got this nutty, savory taste, so good!

Eating the ramyeon first in the tangy broth and then moving on to the kalguksu felt like enjoying two completely different dishes.

The pairing with the kimchi is amazing, haha. I finally understood why this place gets recommended for a date lunch near Sejong Lake Park.

Porridge to finish, then ice cream

After shabu-shabu, of course you have to finish with porridge. Making the porridge here is a must-do. I even stirred in an egg, and as the broth flavor soaked into the rice it was so savory and rich. Even though I was already stuffed, there was no way I was skipping the porridge...

After the meal, I noticed ice cream was ready as dessert. Kids would love it too, and it's a clean, satisfying way for adults to finish off the meal as well. Little touches of service like this seem to really boost the overall satisfaction. If you're looking for a date-worthy restaurant or a hearty lunch near Sejong Lake Park, definitely give Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch a try.