Dongtan Station cypress-steam buffet for a bloated stomach: Pyeonbaek

Why I picked cypress steam at Dongtan Station on an upset-stomach day

I was hungry but my stomach felt bloated, so I went to Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch (편백회관 동탄점), a cypress-steam and shabu-shabu restaurant on the 2nd floor of Granvia Star at Dongtan Station. Greasy food felt like too much, but I didn't want to skip a meal either... you know those days, right?

If you're looking for a place near Dongtan Station where you can get full without upsetting your stomach, read this first. It's my honest review of the all-you-can-eat cypress steam and shabu-shabu.

My boyfriend and I were both in exactly that state. We debated what to eat, then headed to Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch, a shabu-shabu and cypress-steam specialist.

Is the meat all-you-can-eat at Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch?

Yes, it's not just vegetables. The meat is unlimited too, in two kinds: sliced pork neck and sliced beef brisket.

Honestly I hadn't researched anything, so I didn't even know it was a buffet. I sat down, looked at the menu, and was so surprised!! The price is just so reasonable.

And it's not only the vegetables that are unlimited, the meat is too. There are two kinds, sliced pork neck and sliced beef brisket, so you can pick whichever you're craving that day. I've had plenty of shabu-shabu, but cypress steam was a first for me... two unlimited dishes at one table?? ><

What we ordered, prices and restaurant info

We ordered the cypress steam and shabu-shabu buffet, choosing cypress steam plus katsuo (bonito) broth and spicy mushroom broth, for ₩16,900. On weekdays, if you arrive by 3 p.m., you get the same menu for ₩16,900.

• 🍲 Cypress steam & shabu-shabu buffet: cypress steam + katsuo broth, spicy mushroom broth, ₩16,900
• 📍 Location: 446 Dongtan-daero, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi, 2nd floor, Granvia Star, Dongtan Station
• ⏰ Hours: daily 11:00–22:00 (last order 20:30)
• 🚗 Parking: 3 hours free at the Granvia Star car park (basement level 4, spacious and roomy)
• 🚇 Nearest station: Dongtan Station, within walking distance, between Lotte Department Store and Dongtan Lake Park

But! If you leave food behind, there's a ₩5,000 environmental fee, so only take what you can really eat haha

Cypress steam with a timer that tells you when it's done

At Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch, the cypress steam comes out first, one per person, and the staff set a timer on top of the cypress steamer. When the timer rings, a staff member comes over and even opens the lid for you.

Zero need to keep lifting the lid to check if it's cooked. Wow, this is so convenient, really..

A rice paper wrap self-serve bar with a compartment bowl

The restaurant has a separate rice paper wrap (wolnam-ssam) self-serve bar for wrapping up with the steamed meat, and a special bowl with the vegetable spots drawn in compartments. There are three sauces: peanut, chili and ponzu.

While the cypress steam cooked, we headed to the self-serve bar. And here I found another cute detail. The spots for pineapple, sprouts, carrot, cucumber, onion and red cabbage are marked out, so you just fill them in and you're done. Even a clumsy-handed person like me ended up with a nice-looking bowl lol With three sauces, you don't get bored to the end ><

How was the cypress steam spread for an all-you-can-eat?

The cypress steam came with meat and vegetables, plus plump shrimp as a highlight. I thought a buffet would give modest portions, but it looked generous.

When the timer finally rang and I opened the lid.. the steam rushed up and I was surprised all over again.

How we ate our cypress steam rice paper wraps

The grease had drained right out of the cypress steam, so the meat wasn't heavy and tasted clean, and the hot steamed shrimp were springy with a sweet flavor. I recommend soy sauce when eating the meat alone and peanut sauce for the wraps.

Okay, time to really dig in. Dip the rice paper briefly in water~ then pile on vegetables, meat and shrimp and wrap it up >< For meat on its own, dunk it in soy sauce, and for the wraps I highly recommend the nutty peanut sauce! Best of all, it's a buffet, so I could double the meat without feeling self-conscious haha

Came for shabu-shabu, ate two rounds of cypress steam.. that's me

After finishing one round of cypress steam, I meant to move on to shabu-shabu, but in the end I ordered another round of cypress steam only. I never got to the dumplings or the kalguksu (knife-cut noodle) add-ins.

This is kind of funny. The cypress steam was so good that I thought, after finishing a round, I'd try the shabu-shabu? But in the end.. heh.. heh.. I didn't make it to the dumplings and kalguksu noodles that would've been great in the shabu-shabu.. but the cypress steam was so good that I didn't regret it at all ⭐️ I never knew I liked cypress steam this much, really..

Pyeonbaek Hoegwan Dongtan Branch for team dinners and family meals?

Two kinds of meat plus vegetables are unlimited, and at ₩16,900 for weekday lunch, the value was great. Cypress steam itself is a menu with the grease drained out, so you can eat a filling meal comfortably, and details like the timer and the compartment bowl were thoughtful.

Less a drawback than something to keep in mind: the time limit is 100 minutes. Since it's a buffet, if you want to take your time, keep an eye on the clock and pace yourself. (And don't forget the ₩5,000 environmental fee if you leave food!)

With 110 pyeong of space and a kids' zone, it looks well suited to family meals and large group dinners. These days the rule for company meals is to eat something good at lunch, right? At ₩16,900 for weekday lunch, it's perfect for a full-stomach meal with coworkers, so I highly recommend it if you're looking for a team-meal or family spot in Dongtan.

Oh, and you'll be loosening your belt on the way home because you're so full.. wear roomy pants ㅋㅋ (seriously)