Cream mala pasta and beef-belly tteokbokki: Shabu Torang Jang-an

Do you love shabu-shabu? I do too — vegetables and meat cooked in warm broth just hits the spot. This time, while looking for a good-value lunch spot with a bit of a twist in Jang-an-dong, I ended up at Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch.

This place is a little different from your usual shabu-shabu restaurant. Everyone gets their own individual pot and picks their own broth — it's a solo shabu-shabu specialist, and once you finish the shabu-shabu, you can even use the leftover broth to make pasta or tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes). That was pretty fun. And the prices surprised me even more.

Solo shabu-shabu found in Jang-an-dong

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch is on the 1st floor of 146 Jangan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul. Parking is available both in front of and behind the building, so it was convenient to visit by car.

The biggest feature here is that it's solo shabu-shabu. Even if you and your dining companion have different broth preferences, there's nothing to worry about — everyone gets their own pot with the broth of their choice, and you eat at your own pace. I think it's a pretty good spot for people who enjoy eating alone, too.

Basic shabu-shabu ₩7,900, spicy shabu-shabu ₩8,700

I ordered the basic shabu-shabu and the spicy shabu-shabu. The basic came with beef chuck for ₩7,900, and the spicy one came with beef belly for ₩8,700. There are many meat options to choose from, so you can swap freely. Given how expensive eating out has gotten these days, this really felt like a bargain.

At first, given the low price, I didn't expect much from the portion size or meat quality, but eating it, I was pleasantly surprised. The vegetables were fresh and the meat was tender — the basic shabu-shabu alone was a satisfying meal.

The basic broth was clean and light, while the spicy broth had a bit of a kick. Personally, between the two, I liked the spicy shabu-shabu a little more.

Fresh vegetables and tender meat

Putting vegetables and meat into the pot and simmering them, I was reminded that shabu-shabu really is best eaten fresh. Lightly cooking the fresh vegetables in the broth and eating them with the tender meat felt clean yet hearty.

What I really liked was having my own pot — no need to worry about anyone else, I could cook things exactly as much as I wanted. The basic shabu-shabu itself has the clean flavor we're all familiar with. But if you stop there, you're only enjoying half of what Shabu Torang has to offer. As I kept eating, I noticed some unique extra menu items you can only get here.

Cream mala pasta made with leftover broth

This was genuinely surprising. After enjoying the basic shabu-shabu, I left about one ladle of broth and added the cream mala pasta (₩3,500). Then you simmer it down until it thickens up — that's it, done.

I couldn't help but laugh after the first bite. The idea of turning leftover shabu-shabu broth into pasta was already fun, but the actual taste was great too. The distinctive mala aroma blended with the creaminess, and the thick sauce clung nicely to the noodles.

Honestly, I thought of shabu-shabu as a fairly basic dish you could get anywhere, but this cream mala pasta felt like something you could only get here, which made it more memorable. I'd even say it tasted better than pasta from a dedicated pasta restaurant. The process of turning shabu-shabu broth into pasta, kind of like making instant tteokbokki, was fun in itself. This menu alone made me want to come back.

Meat-packed broth tteokbokki with beef belly

The spicy shabu-shabu was delicious too. I drank down that tasty broth until only about half a ladle was left.

This time, I added extra beef belly (₩3,800) to the spicy shabu-shabu and also added the broth tteokbokki (₩2,900). Adding rice cakes and beef belly into the spicy leftover broth resulted in a truly meat-packed tteokbokki.

Maybe because the tteokbokki seasoning itself was so good, eating it with the beef belly was a whole different treat. Chewy rice cakes with tender beef belly made this feel distinctly different from regular tteokbokki.

I came in for shabu-shabu, and at some point found myself eating tteokbokki instead — it was pretty fun. Being able to mix and combine menus like this seems to be one of Shabu Torang's biggest appeals.

Just over ₩10,000 per person of happiness

I ate so much, so full, and yet it came to just over ₩10,000 per person — that's surprising. Given how much eating out costs these days, calling this a value spot in Jang-an-dong felt entirely natural.

With shabu-shabu, meat, and vegetables, plus the option to add pasta or tteokbokki, this isn't just a cheap place — it's one where you get both fun and satisfaction relative to the price. The solo shabu-shabu format is also great for eating alone. If you visit with a friend, it could be fun to each choose a different broth and compare.

Worth traveling for

Shabu Torang doesn't have that many locations, so I made a special trip out to Jang-an-dong. Having eaten there, I think it was well worth the trip. The shabu-shabu itself was satisfying thanks to fresh vegetables and tender meat, but what stood out most was the unique way of using the leftover broth to make cream mala pasta or broth tteokbokki. The cream mala pasta especially is something I'd order again next time without hesitation.

If you're looking for a good spot to eat alone in Jang-an-dong, or want a hearty meal without breaking the bank, this is worth a visit. Since you can enjoy shabu-shabu plus pasta and tteokbokki, it could also be fun for a family meal with kids or a get-together with friends. Most of all, I was completely full and yet the price wasn't a burden at all — this visit was quite satisfying. If you're looking for a good-value restaurant in Jang-an-dong, it's Shabu Torang.

I'd recommend not stopping at shabu-shabu alone — definitely add the cream mala pasta too. If you want an affordable meal with a little extra fun, this place is worth remembering.