Beef shabu kalguksu in Byeongjeom, Hwaseong: Mansu Shabu Kalguksu

Hey everyone! I can never resist a "newly opened" sign,, and lately the trend seems to be shabu kalguksu (hot pot with noodles). So when I heard Mansu Shabu Kalguksu had just opened, I rushed over to check it out ♥︎

Where to park at Mansu Shabu Kalguksu when the lot is full

There's parking for a few cars right in front of the restaurant. If it's full, you can use the parking at nearby Dalbitnarae Children's Library!

Since it's a totally new spot, the interior was really clean and pleasant. It already seems to have a reputation as a Byeongjeom shabu-shabu hotspot — there were a lot of families there. Makes sense, since there's really no better menu for the whole family to share.

Menu and prices at Mansu Shabu Kalguksu

The signature menus are beef shabu kalguksu and spicy pork belly shabu kalguksu. The prices are super reasonable ♥︎ ♥︎ and get this — kalguksu noodles and fried rice are included in that price! There are also meal options like pork cutlet and bibim kalguksu, which would be great extras if you're going with kids. And for sides, there's fried mandu (dumplings) and handmade tteokgalbi (grilled short rib patties) to make the meal even more filling.

What comes with the beef shabu kalguksu set

After ordering through the table-side tablet, everything got set up nice and fast. It already looked pretty generous, right? The vegetables — napa cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms, bean sprouts, minari (water dropwort) and more — came out fresh since they're plated right when you order.

These meatballs are something you can only find at Mansu Shabu Kalguksu!! You scoop them in yourself, which made me feel like I was actually cooking — pretty fun. And then, the pride of Byeongjeom shabu shabu — the handmade kalguksu noodles that taste even better because they're made in-house ♥︎ The portion was generous too, which I loved.

Two side dishes, and kimchi refilled three times

The basic side dishes at Mansu Shabu Kalguksu are corn salad and a kimchi made with Gangwon-do napa cabbage that tastes even better for it. Only two side dishes, but they beat any restaurant with 12 banchan,, the kimchi was so good I refilled it three times? The corn salad was also exactly my kind of flavor. I want to go back just for these two alone haha.

How does the clear beef broth taste?

Alright, once the broth is boiling, you just load it up with vegetables and meat and dig in~ But do you know how good the basic broth here actually is?? Since it's a new spot, I figured I'd try the basic flavor first — and wow. The clear broth had this incredible refreshing quality. They gave plenty of broth too, so I kept scooping it up, unable to stop — such a deep flavor, phew.

The meat, vegetables, and soy sauce dip are all delicious, but there's also chili sauce at the self-serve bar. I'd recommend the chili sauce — it gives a bit of a Vietnamese summer roll vibe. Honestly, when the basics are this good, everything just works together.

How to cook and eat the meatballs

Scoop the meatballs into the broth in bite-sized pieces, and after a bit they'll float to the top?! That's when they're perfectly cooked. Chewy and clean-tasting, almost like a dumpling — such a unique topping! I love shabu shabu and have been to a lot of places, but this is the first time I've had a spot serve meatballs like this — really different.

The house-made kalguksu noodles are the highlight

After eating for a while, in go the handmade kalguksu noodles! Ah, these noodles are seriously insane,, chewy, springy, and bouncy, and if you let them simmer a bit longer, they get soft and pillowy too — this might honestly be the highlight of the whole meal haha.

The self-serve bar also has refillable broth. I added a little more when cooking the noodles, and having plenty of broth was just so great. All you broth lovers out there, come gather~~~

The kimchi has a bit of a spicy kick, so eating it together with the noodles is the best!! Ah, I want to eat it again right now, seriously..? Slurp, slurp,,,

Finishing the pot with fried rice

By the time you finish the noodles, you're already pretty full? But how can you resist the fried rice — it looks so good too, hehe. They make it perfectly, so all you have to do is eat!

And of course, kimchi on top of the fried rice too lol. Boss, do you sell this kimchi separately? It's so ridiculously good,,♥︎ Even the kimchi alone convinces you this place is the real deal — a Byeongjeom shabu-shabu spot that's serious about their shabu kalguksu.

Dessert, the noodle-making room and group bookings

The owners of Mansu Shabu Kalguksu even prepare dessert for you.. a wide variety of tea and coffee — honestly, this place is just so good.

There's also a clean, spacious noodle-making room where you can watch the noodles and meatballs being made in person. It made for a really comfortable, clean, and delicious meal! They also do group bookings, so this would be great for a work dinner :-)