Black Nine wagyu hot pot in Apgujeong Rodeo, Seoul: Shabu In Seoul

I was looking for somewhere with a nice atmosphere to eat in Apgujeong, so I went to Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo.

Shabu-shabu is a meal I often go for with family or friends since you get meat and vegetables together, but this time I wanted somewhere a bit cleaner and more atmospheric, so I decided to check this place out.

The Apgujeong Rodeo area especially has a lot of restaurants and a lot of good atmosphere, and this place felt like a good one to recommend if you want somewhere relaxed to chat over shabu-shabu.

Where is Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo? Hours and parking

It's on the 2nd floor at 12 Seolleung-ro 155-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and it's open 11:00 to 22:30. Parking is available, and valet is ₩5,000, so it's convenient if you're driving.

What's on the menu

Inside the dining room at Shabu In Seoul

The interior of Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo felt clean and refined overall. Compared to a typical shabu-shabu restaurant it felt a bit more modern, and there was island-style table seating set up in the middle.

Besides the table seating, there were also private rooms, which looked good for a family gathering or a meal with friends where several people come together.

Choosing the clear mushroom broth from five broths

At Shabu In Seoul you can pick from five broths according to your taste, and I went with the clear mushroom broth.

It's said to be Shabu In Seoul's signature broth, made with shiitake, button mushrooms, and other kinds of mushrooms, and true to its name the broth was clear and clean-tasting. At first it felt light, but there was a subtle mushroom flavor that made the broth taste deeper the more I ate.

Black Nine wagyu chuck flap and the vegetable platter

You can choose meat from six kinds, and what I picked that day was the Black Nine wagyu chuck flap. It's said to be a premium menu item made from a top-grade cut of a crossbreed between Japanese wagyu raised in a pristine region and Angus.

I lightly cooked the thinly sliced wagyu in the broth, and since I didn't cook it too long, the tender texture came through well. The clear mushroom broth itself wasn't overpowering, so I could really taste the savory flavor of the meat, and the combination of the broth and the wagyu worked quite well together.

Adding various vegetables into the broth along with the meat made the broth's flavor grow richer and richer. And that day the vegetable platter was tastier than I expected, so I ordered another one.

Rather than just eating meat continuously, having plenty of vegetables made the meal feel much cleaner, and there was also fun in alternating between the vegetables and the wagyu.

How the shabu-shabu tasted

The combination I picked — clear mushroom broth plus Black Nine wagyu chuck flap — was overall most memorable for its light, clean flavor. The broth wasn't too strong, so I could really taste the savory wagyu, and with the mushrooms' subtle aroma added, the broth was easy to keep eating without any heaviness.

I especially liked the tender texture of the meat when it was only lightly cooked in the broth, and with plenty of vegetables added, it felt like a pretty filling meal on its own.

With shabu-shabu, the flavors of the meat and vegetables naturally build up in the broth as you eat, don't they? It was fun how the broth, light at first, grew richer the more we ate.

Personally, I think anyone who prefers enjoying the clean, natural flavor of the ingredients over a more intense-tasting shabu-shabu would be quite satisfied here.

The broth was so good I kept refilling it, and to finish, we thoroughly ate up the porridge (juk) at the end too.

Why Apgujeong Rodeo shabu-shabu works for a gathering

Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo felt like a place better suited for a slow meal with family or friends than for eating quickly alone. Since you can choose your meat type and broth, you can enjoy it to your own taste, and the setup was decent, since the vegetable platter that comes as default can be ordered again if you want more.

Above all, the space is clean and there are private rooms, so it seems well suited to anyone looking for a place in Apgujeong to gather.

Final verdict on Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo

Overall it was a meal where I could enjoy good meat and vegetables together in a clean space. If you're looking for Apgujeong shabu-shabu and want a light, filling meal rather than something too heavy or intense, this could be a good choice.

If you're looking for a place to eat with friends, have a family meal out, or gather in a small group in Apgujeong Rodeo, how about Shabu In Seoul Apgujeong Rodeo?