Sundubu shabu kalguksu for two with dessert bar in Osan: Dongchundang

Today I'm introducing a solid, filling lunch spot in Osan Sekyo — the shabu shabu place Dongchundang :) My boyfriend loves kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and I love shabu shabu, and it turned out there was a place where we could enjoy both shabu shabu and kalguksu plus fried rice, so we went right away — the portions were huge and the taste was amazing! Here we go!

Parking and store size — big enough for a bus

Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch has a genuinely huge store and parking lot, so family gatherings and company dinners are no problem at all. Honestly, from what I saw, a bus could easily pull in. You could even charter a bus for a group outing here. If parking matters most to you, you need to go to Dongchundang in Osan 👍

The store is really spacious, right? There are group tables and a waiting area on one side. One side by the window is kept open for a spacious feel, so it's nice for a meal anytime.

Reading the sign about Dongchundang's philosophy of a healthy, comfortable meal made me think this would be great for a meal with parents in Osan. I came for a lunch date today, but next time I definitely want to bring my parents!

Choosing broth and meat — how spicy is the spicy broth?

We ordered the Sundubu Shabu Kalguksu for two, and you get to choose the broth and meat when ordering, so you can customize it to your taste. We chose spicy broth and beef. After trying it, it wasn't too spicy at all — just the right level of spicy, so anyone, even people who can't handle spice, could eat it without trouble.

What's at the self-bar?

The self-bar has refills of spicy and clear broth, plus sauces, cheongyang chili peppers, kimchi, wasabi and more, all free to grab. Everything was kept neat and clean overall, which made this Osan kalguksu restaurant even more satisfying.

Unlimited makgeolli refills, and even popcorn!

And one thing that really surprised me — besides the side dish self-bar, the dessert self-bar was amazing! They had warm black sesame soy milk, cordyceps tea, popcorn, gangjeong (Korean rice snack), coffee, and even unlimited makgeolli (rice wine) refills. They gave out so much I wondered if there was anything left in profit for them. Why did I only discover this generous Osan restaurant now!

Another thing that felt really thoughtful was that the spoons and chopsticks at every table came sterilized in hot water, and instead of bottled water they gave a separate container of ice, so everyone could pour water to their own taste — that touch was genuinely impressive! Little considerate details like this everywhere are why I can confidently recommend Dongchundang in Osan as a place that's satisfying from start to finish.

The sundubu shabu kalguksu set for two

I had so much to introduce first that the main dish ended up in the middle of the post, haha. When you order the Sundubu Shabu Kalguksu for two, they bring out a hot pot piled high with minari (water dropwort), mushrooms and bok choy, plus meat, kalguksu noodles, sundubu (soft tofu) and kimchi separately. And yeolmu (young radish) bibimbap comes on the house! The kalguksu takes about 7 minutes to boil, so you eat while you wait. Such a great deal!

Bassak bulgogi, limited to 30 a day

The bassak bulgogi (crispy bulgogi) is limited to just 30 servings a day, so out of curiosity I ordered it. It's seasoned nice and salty, which pairs really well with hot rice.

The complimentary yeolmu bibimbap

I also had the yeolmu bibimbap! Mixing it with wooden spoons somehow made it taste even better.

Eating order — kalguksu, shabu shabu, then sundubu

Once the kalguksu comes to a boil, you add the sundubu and beef and eat it shabu-shabu style. The meat had a bright, vivid red color that looked really good. The amount of meat was more than expected too, so I started feeling full right around here. Both of us in this couple eat a lot, and even so the portions were massive!

Dipping the shabu shabu and sundubu, a spoonful at a time, into soy sauce made for a proper healthy meal. Parents would definitely love this Osan shabu shabu restaurant, and even though it's meant for two, the portions felt like a three-person meal — we were both stuffed to bursting.

The soft, fluffy sundubu is nutty and delicious on its own, and eating it together with the shabu shabu broth is just like enjoying sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew). The kalguksu noodles are mugwort noodles, and even the noodle plate comes piled with minari, so there's no need to ask for extra. At other restaurants you often pay extra for more vegetables, but at Dongchundang they just pile it on generously.

There were even chewy ongsimi (small rice dumplings) in this Osan shabu shabu! You can really feel that they don't skimp on ingredients, which is why I'd recommend it for a family meal.

Finishing off with fried rice and affogato

The finish is fried rice! I saw fried rice on the side menu and thought at first we'd have to add it separately, but no — it comes included with the shabu shabu! Eating it with all the colorful vegetables was bursting with nutty flavor. Truly the best, most filling meal!

And the real finish was excellent — ice cream! They give one per person, so we made affogato with it, meaning no need to go to a café afterward — completely satisfied! It's not just scooped-out ice cream, but a dessert they clearly put thought into. Definitely visit Dongchundang Shabu Shabu Kalguksu Osan Dugok Branch. This place is the real deal!