Mild shabu kalguksu lunch after a health checkup, Sejong: Italy Shabu

I'd been wondering what to have for lunch lately when I heard there's a shabu-shabu place near Government Complex Sejong that's great for dieting too, so I visited Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch (이태리샤브칼국수 세종어진점). You can enjoy a full course of shabu-shabu, kalguksu and fried rice, and with big private rooms and pet-friendly seats it's popular for family meals and get-togethers.

Where is Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch, and does it have a break time?

The restaurant is on the 3rd floor of Taehan Press Center in Eojin-dong, Sejong, and it runs with no break time. Take the elevator and it's an easy visit, and the lack of a break time was especially nice. I booked ahead, and when I walked in my name and order were already prepared, which felt very thoughtful.

Does Italy Shabu Kalguksu have private rooms and pet-friendly seats?

Besides regular seats, there are private rooms and pet-friendly seats. The rooms make it a good spot for family gatherings or company dinners. As lunchtime got closer, plenty of office workers and civil servants from the area came in. Being able to eat with your dog is a plus, and group gatherings and full-venue rental looked very handy too.

What's in the mild-broth set for two we chose after a health checkup?

We ordered the Italy 6-item shabu kalguksu, mild broth, set for two. My friend had just had a health checkup, and since they'd poked all around the stomach and colon, we went for the gentle, non-spicy flavor.

The spread was much more generous than I expected: beef chuck, handmade dumplings, potato ongsimi, Korean beef bone broth, assorted vegetables and mushrooms, house-made kalguksu noodles and 3-color egg fried rice. It was plenty for a meal. With meat, vegetables, dumplings and potato dumplings all in one, I was very satisfied.

Adding extra beef for protein while bulking up

I'm bulking up these days, so I added extra beef to the set. The portion was pretty good for the price. Shabu-shabu usually leaves me short on protein, but today I'm leaving fully topped up.

What's on the free self-serve bar?

The self-bar has simple bites like macaroni and tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and instead of soft drinks they serve hovenia fruit tea. I looked around the bar before eating, and the macaroni and tteokbokki were surprisingly tasty, a nice way to whet the appetite. The hovenia tea was impressive too. You can feel the attention to small details.

How did the mild-broth shabu-shabu taste?

Once the broth starts to boil, you add the beef chuck and vegetables piece by piece. The fresh vegetables and tender beef chuck went well with the broth, and dipping them in the house special soy sauce made them even better. The potato ongsimi had an appealing chewy texture, and even people trying it for the first time should find it easy to enjoy.

House-made kalguksu noodles with wasabi soy sauce

After plenty of shabu-shabu, we added the house-made kalguksu noodles. Maybe because they're made in-house, the noodles had a lively chewy texture and went well with the broth. Having them with kimchi made them even better. After one bowl you definitely feel full and satisfied.

When I stirred wasabi into the soy-based sauce and dipped the food in it, I got a sharp kick, and the meat and vegetables blended nicely. I personally love bok choy, and the vegetables were so fresh and tasty.

Finishing with 3-color egg fried rice and self-serve ice cream

The last course at Italy Shabu Kalguksu is, of course, fried rice. It was fun to stir-fry the 3-color egg fried rice myself, and it's the kind of dish you keep eating to the end even when you're full. After the meal you can also help yourself to free ice cream, and the combo of ice cream with puffed-grain crackers went together better than I expected.

Wow... the soft ice cream is the real deal. It's as smooth as Häagen-Dazs, and the combination with the puffed-grain crackers is crazy, honestly. I hardly ever eat ice cream, but I finished it in a flash.

Verdict: a filling, gentle lunch near Government Complex Sejong

Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch was a good-value Korean restaurant where you can enjoy everything from shabu-shabu to kalguksu, fried rice and dessert in one go. With generous portions, a clean space and friendly service, plus private rooms and pet-friendly seats, it works well for all kinds of gatherings. If you're looking for a hearty meal around Eojin-dong or Government Complex Sejong, it's worth a visit.