Samgakji lunch: black pork neck shabu set for 2 at Shabu in Seoul

I went to Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch, a great shabu-shabu spot for lunch around Yongsan~~ Shabu-shabu lets you eat fresh vegetables and meat together in warm broth, and they had a new beef tomato broth on the menu, so I had to try it 🥰

Here's my review after finishing off the grade-1 black pork neck shabu-shabu set for 2, all the way to the finishing risotto — let's go!!

Where is Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch, and is there parking?

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch is located between Yongsan Station and Samgakji Station, so it's really easy to get to!! It's about 3 minutes from Samgakji Station Exit 3~~ If you're picking a meeting spot around Yongni-dan-gil, I'd really recommend this as a Samgakji restaurant haha

There's no dedicated parking, so I'd recommend the nearby public parking, the Samgakji temporary public parking lot (p≧w≦q)

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch opening hours and break time

• Sun–Thu / 11:00–22:00 (last order 21:00)
• Fri–Sat / 11:00–23:00 (last order 22:00)
• Weekday break time / 15:00–17:00

They have a solid lunch set too, so I'd recommend this as a Samgakji lunch spot as well!! It's also a good location if you're looking for a restaurant near the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan~~ Since it's shabu-shabu, everyone from kids to adults can enjoy it, so the menu choice felt easy too haha

You can also easily book through Naver reservations >< A great place for family gatherings, work dinners, blind dates, or wedding invitation meetups — worth keeping in mind as a Yongsan shabu-shabu spot 💖

How do you choose the set, meat and broth?

I love that shabu-shabu isn't just about the meat — you get to eat vegetables too~~ You choose your meat by black pork, hanwoo (Korean beef), or wagyu, then pick your broth!! You can also add extras like meatballs or tofu skin~~~ Note that the finishing dish differs depending on the broth, so it's good to check that ahead 💗

Inside Shabu in Seoul: seating and tables for groups

The place is neatly done up in black and wood tones, so it feels upscale, and the space is wide and comfortable!!! There's proper group seating too~~ a good spot to set up a get-together as a Samgakji restaurant ( •̀ .̫ •́ )✧

Grade-1 black pork neck shabu set for 2 and the new beef tomato broth

I went with the grade-1 black pork neck shabu-shabu set!! The grade-1 black pork neck comes out thinly sliced, and I couldn't even imagine how good it'd be cooked shabu-shabu style

You get to add in a variety of vegetables along with the meat, so it's a totally filling one-meal setup (☆▽☆)

At Shabu in Seoul there are various broths — clear mushroom, spicy mushroom, blue crab doenjang, sukiyaki!!!

They said a somewhat different new broth had come out, so I chose the beef tomato broth~~~ It has that distinct tangy, clean flavor of tomato with beef flavor added, and a slight kick of spice haha A different kind of charm from your typical shabu-shabu broth!!

On the table they had yuzu ponzu sauce, chili sauce, sesame sauce, garlic, and chili peppers ready, so you can just mix up a sauce to your taste and you're set 👍

The vegetables looked so fresh that I got excited just seeing them~~ Fresh vegetables plus glass noodles, vermicelli, and mushrooms!! Rice paper came out too, so you could enjoy it stuffed like a fresh spring roll!!!

Load up the pot with plenty of vegetables and wait!! I personally like eating the vegetables first before moving on to the meat. I heard Shabu in Seoul gets fresh vegetables delivered directly from the source every day — you can really feel that charm the moment you eat (❁´◡`❁)

Dipping everything in the various sauces one by one, it disappeared in no time, seriously ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

The tomato broth was tangy-sweet with a slight kick — so good it was really satisfying ><

How does the black pork neck taste in rice paper wraps?

Put the fresh meat in too!! Dipped briefly in the shabu-shabu broth to cook, the black pork neck's chewy texture was amazing 🫢

It's soft while still having that distinct pork flavor, so it's delicious even on its own~~ And wrapping it in rice paper makes a totally delicious wrap haha

Is the fried tofu skin worth adding?

I also added the fried tofu skin, and I really recommend everyone add it, seriously ㅠㅠ It's savory and delicious, and soaked up with broth it tastes like heaven ㋡ ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

Finishing the beef tomato broth as tomato risotto

Finish up the shabu-shabu quickly and move on to dessert >< With the beef tomato broth, you get tomato risotto!!!

They make the tomato risotto right there with the leftover beef tomato broth haha Watching it in person, the ingredients went in so generously and with such care that it was touching (●ˇ∀ˇ●) I'm already planning to come back to Shabu in Seoul again just for this beef tomato shabu-shabu, for the risotto alone!! If you're looking for a Samgakji lunch spot, you have to come try this

Even the omija tea (schisandra berry tea) for dessert was a lovely touch 🤤 With chewy black pork neck, plenty of fresh vegetables, and finishing with tomato risotto, it was such a filling meal~~ Most of all, the combination of beef tomato broth and tomato risotto was distinctive and memorable (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)

A place I'd recommend as a Samgakji restaurant!!! If you're looking for somewhere to eat around Yongsan or a restaurant near the National Museum of Korea, check out Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch too 😊