Hapjeong shabu-shabu restaurant with cheongyang chili broth: Nahonsha

Where is Nahonsha and what are its hours?

Nahonsha is a solo shabu-shabu restaurant at 42 Dokmak-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's open Mon–Fri 11:30–21:00 and Sat 12:00–21:00, closed on Sundays.

More and more people are eating alone these days. I'm one of them, honestly. Shabu-shabu was always a dish I skipped when eating solo, but with so many solo shabu-shabu restaurants popping up, I finally got to enjoy it again after a long time. Reasonable prices, fresh Australian beef, and a range of broths to suit your taste — here's my review of this Hapjeong Station shabu-shabu spot.

This time I visited Nahonsha, a solo shabu-shabu restaurant near Hapjeong Station that's become a bit of a local favorite. It's a 5-minute walk from Exit 7, heading straight toward Sangsu Station. It's right on the main road, so it was easy to find.

The greenery outside Nahonsha really stood out to me. I bet it looks even more atmospheric once the leaves turn red in deep autumn.

Window solo seats with one induction stove each

Inside Nahonsha, there are solo dining seats set up along the windows, and each seat has its own individual induction stove. Even if you come with two or more people, everyone can cook to their own taste on their own burner, which seems really convenient.

Here's a look at the interior of this Hapjeong shabu-shabu spot. The space has wood-toned tables throughout.

The window-side solo seats are set up here. True to its name as a solo shabu-shabu specialist, each seat has its own induction stove, so even groups of two or more can each cook to their own preference. Wouldn't this also make a nice date spot?

The tables and pots looked well kept and clean too. Cleanliness is a must at any restaurant!!

Nahonsha menu and prices

Clear broth shabu ₩14,900 Spicy broth shabu ₩14,900 Miso soybean paste shabu ₩14,900 Tomato broth shabu ₩15,900 Mala broth shabu ₩15,900 Hon Sukiyaki ₩16,900 Hon Special Sukiyaki ₩19,900

It's been a while since I saw a grandfather clock like the ones I grew up with. With a wooden menu board too, Nahonsha has an analog charm alongside its solo-dining setup.

Spicy broth shabu with extra mushrooms and beef

Spicy broth shabu ₩14,900 Extra mushrooms ₩3,500 Extra meat ₩5,000

I ordered the spicy broth shabu-shabu and added mushrooms and meat to it. I was torn between this and the mala broth, but I picked the spicy broth because it's a Korean-style spicy made with cheongyang chili, which I thought would be easier on my stomach. I originally wanted to add vegetables too, but they were sold out, unfortunately. I added mushrooms instead. I was really hungry that day so I ordered a bit extra. I won't say whether I finished it all without leaving anything haha.

On the left is the extra mushroom order, and next to it is the standard vegetable plate. The vegetables included napa cabbage, mushrooms, bok choy, sweet pumpkin, fried tofu, fish cake, and more — quite a variety.

Again, on the left is the standard beef, and next to it is the extra meat order — the meat quality was surprisingly good. Given the affordable price, I was a little worried the meat quality might not be great, but it looked good at a glance.

How to cook the spicy broth, and the peanut sauce

Nahonsha's spicy broth is a red broth made with a gochujang (chili paste) base. You set the induction to max power 5, and once the broth starts boiling, you lower the heat and eat at your own pace. As an impatient solo diner, I ended up throwing the vegetables in first haha.

I put the vegetables in first, tasted the broth, then added the meat. Once the meat went in, the broth definitely got richer.

There were soy sauce, chili sauce, and peanut sauce options, but I love peanut sauce so I only used that.

Kalguksu to finish, with the porridge sold out

Dessert at Nahonsha's shabu-shabu is either kalguksu (noodle soup) or nutrient porridge — kalguksu comes standard, while the porridge is an extra order. On my visit, the porridge was sold out, but with all the extra meat and mushrooms I'd added, the kalguksu alone was plenty.

Is Nahonsha a good spot for solo dining in Hapjeong?

Nahonsha, this solo shabu-shabu restaurant near Hapjeong Station, was a great place to enjoy fresh vegetables, good meat, and a variety of broths tailored to your taste. If you're looking for a hearty solo meal or a hot soup dish in Hapjeong, I'd recommend it.