Sejong shabu-shabu restaurant: 27,600-won course for two, Italy Shabu

As someone who takes shabu-shabu pretty seriously, I finally made it to Italy Shabu Kalguksu, apparently a well-known spot among civil servants in Sejong.

At first I just wanted a proper shabu-shabu meal, but then I found out even the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had eaten here, which quietly bumped up my expectations 👀 Let's see if it lives up to the hype — review starts now!

Where is Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch? Hours and parking

Italy Shabu Kalguksu Sejong Eojin Branch is located at 172 Jeoljae-ro, Room 302, 3rd floor of the Taehan Press Center, Sejong. It's open daily from 10:30 to 21:00, with break time from 15:00 to 17:00 (no break time on weekends), and last order at 20:30.

• ⏰ Hours: Daily 10:30–21:00 (break time 15:00–17:00 / no break time on weekends / last order 20:30)
• 🅿 Parking: Free parking in the building's basement; if full, free public parking 3 minutes' walk behind the restaurant

🗒 Menu

✨ Usage guide

Located in a commercial building across from Doraem Village Complex 6, Italy Shabu Kalguksu is right in front of the government complex, so it's said to draw a lot of civil servants at lunchtime.

If you order the seafood pajeon (savory pancake), you get free makgeolli (rice wine)!! You probably can't drink it at lunch, but it'd be perfect for an evening work dinner.

It's also designated as a Sejong-certified 'good price' business, which tells you the value here is solid.

For the restroom, you use the shared one on the same floor of the building!

Inside the restaurant: pet-friendly seating and the self-serve bar

The restaurant has plenty of windows, giving it a bright, clean feel overall. There's also a section separated by a wall for a bit more privacy, so if you're coming with a group, book ahead through Naver Reservations. It's also pet-friendly and runs with no break time 🐶

Italy Shabu Kalguksu has a few distinct points: it uses 100% Korean beef bone broth, and the kalguksu noodles are made in-house. The kimchi is also freshly made every morning in the Jeonju style, and the shabu-shabu vegetables are prepped fresh daily!

You can refill kimchi, ramen noodles, and broth at the self-serve bar, and milk ice cream and rice puffs are also free — perfect for a little dessert after the meal.

By the way, the water is Hovenia (Korean raisin tree) tea served in a Del Monte bottle.

What we ordered: 6-ingredient shabu kalguksu for two, 27,600 won

Order menu 🥩🍜

• Italy 6-Ingredient Shabu Kalguksu for two: ₩27,600 (beef chuck top, hand-made dumplings, potato dumplings, assorted vegetables and mushrooms, kalguksu noodles, egg-vegetable porridge)
• Extra fish cake: ₩4,000
• Extra beef chuck top: ₩10,000

I ordered the signature 6-Ingredient Shabu Kalguksu for two. Ordering it gets you shabu-shabu, kalguksu, and porridge all in one course, so the value is really solid.

The shabu-shabu pot was generously loaded with potato dumplings, hand-made dumplings, and vegetables — great for filling up warm.

The kimchi here was genuinely delicious. Crunchy texture with well-balanced, savory seasoning — it went so well paired with the well-cooked vegetables.

How does the Korean beef bone broth taste?

I tried the broth first, and it was much cleaner but also deeper and richer than expected. It's not heavily seasoned or punchy, but as the vegetables, mushrooms, and meat simmer together, the flavors slowly build into a growing savoriness. What impressed me most was that even after boiling a long time, it didn't turn salty or heavy — the aftertaste stayed clean, so I kept spooning it up.

Adding an extra plate of beef chuck top for 10,000 won

The meat was so tender and tasty that I ended up wanting more, so I added another plate 🥩 The house soy sauce served alongside was also surprisingly good — not too salty or sharp, with just the right amount of umami, making every dip taste even better!

Finishing the course: house-made kalguksu noodles and egg-and-vegetable porridge

After the shabu-shabu, we boiled up kalguksu noodles 🍜 There's a 5-minute hourglass timer next to it, making it easy to cook them just right, and being self-made noodles, they had a nice chewy, springy bite. Simmered well and topped with a bit of fresh-cut kimchi, it was a perfect match...

Personally, I prefer porridge over fried rice at the end. This one was nutty and mild, just right. Even though it wasn't strongly seasoned, a subtle savoriness lingered, so I kept taking spoonful after spoonful even while full haha.

Even stuffed to the brim, I couldn't resist the ice cream and rice puffs — eating them like this cleanses your palate and tastes so good...

Is Italy Shabu Kalguksu in Eojin-dong, Sejong worth it?

Overall, this place leans comfortable and mild rather than intense, which I liked even more. After going through the whole course — shabu-shabu, kalguksu, then porridge — I was very full and quite satisfied. The restaurant is spacious with roomy seating, making it good for dates as well as family meals or gatherings, and the menu itself is broadly likeable, so it should suit almost anyone you bring along. If you're craving a warm, filling meal in Eojin-dong, Sejong, this is worth a visit. Next time, I want to come back on a chillier day and eat it piping hot 🍲