Pick your own beef cuts at a Jungsan-dong buffet: Pyeonbaek Hoegwan

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan is a restaurant where you can enjoy an unlimited course of cypress-steamed beef, shabu-shabu, kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), porridge, and a salad bar. We use only the freshest, best-quality ingredients every single day, and our cypress steam, made the traditional way with 12 medicinal herbs, offers customers the best value for money in the greater Seoul area. We're known as an ideal spot for family outings and company or group gatherings. — From the Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch introduction

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch hours, parking and playroom

• Hours: Daily 11:00 – 22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Parking: Available
• Notes: Playroom available, group dining possible

What kind of restaurant is Pyeonbaek Hoegwan in Jungsan-dong?

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch is located in Jungsan-dong, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon. I love cypress steam (pyeonbaek-jjim) and eat it often, but I had no idea the main branch was actually out on Yeongjong Island! It really lives up to being the flagship — the staff were so friendly. It's a genuine gem where you can enjoy not just cypress steam but all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu too. There's even a playroom, so kids love it even more :p

What's on the menu and how much is dinner?

The menu at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch is buffet-style, so you take whatever you want in whatever amount you want. The beef is also laid out separately as usamgyeop (short rib) and umokshim (neck), so you can freely enjoy exactly the cuts you like.

• Dinner, adult, ₩20,900 x 2 people
• Preschooler, ₩7,900

Cypress-steamed beef: one tray is plenty before a refill

First, the cypress steam comes out set in a steamer. Pyeonbaek Hoegwan's version has far more meat than other places, so if you refill it even once more, you might not have room left for the shabu-shabu. The meat quality and quantity are both so good that one round alone is plenty to properly enjoy it.

The cypress steam takes about 10 minutes to steam, so you can bring over other dishes you want while you wait. The beef that comes out of the steamer is truly the best of the best. It's savory and tender — a flavor you could eat every day and never get tired of, ㅠㅠ

Dip it in sauce with the vegetables and you're done. But the soy sauce at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan mixed with cheongyang chili really goes so well together! Personally I strongly recommend this combo: 'soy sauce + cheongyang chili.'

Shabu-shabu: half-and-half broth and only the cuts you want

Once you finish the cypress steam, just tell the staff you want shabu-shabu and they'll clear the steamer and bring out a half-and-half broth pot. Add whatever vegetables and meat you like and you're set! It's simple, but the broth takes a little while to come to a boil, so bring over your ingredients while you wait.

The cypress steam comes already loaded with meat, but for shabu-shabu you have to bring your own meat, so you can choose exactly the cut and amount you want. Ramen noodles, fried rice — whatever you're craving, you can cook it all!

How to fit both cypress steam and shabu-shabu into one meal

Shabu-shabu and cypress steam — a combo you could eat every day and never get sick of. Plenty of shabu-shabu places have popped up lately, but cypress steam spots are surprisingly rare. This might just be my personal taste, but the meat in the cypress steam has all the fat rendered out of it, so it tastes genuinely light and savory ^^ Whenever you want to enjoy cypress steam and shabu-shabu together, don't hesitate — Pyeonbaek Hoegwan! If you're heading out to Yeongjong Island, keep the Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Main Branch in mind~