Hapjeong shabu-shabu lunch with beef tomato broth: Shabu in Seoul

I've got a new favorite shabu-shabu spot these days. It's got a clean vibe and even comes with a proper meal at the end, so I really want to recommend it to anyone looking for good food near Hapjeong Station. It's Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, a shabu brand that's pretty hot right now. Let me break down the menu, price, meal structure, taste, and atmosphere in detail. Let's go 😉

This is the place for shabu-shabu near Hapjeong Station: Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

Location and parking for Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is on B2 of Delight Square 1, 14 World Cup-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. It's a 1-minute walk from Exit 8 of Hapjeong Station.

Tip: if you're coming by subway, skip Exit 8 and instead take the passage on the right toward Kyobo Bookstore — it's faster 😊. If you're driving, search for 'Mapo Hangang Prugio 1st Complex Parking Lot' and park in Lot 1, where you get up to 3 hours free.

The Delight Square building also has a Kyobo Bookstore and plenty of coffee shops, so there's lots to do after the meal too. Let's head inside first.

The place feels clean and upscale. Maybe that's why there were a lot of women among the customers, and quite a few couples on dates too. Let's take a look at the menu.

The broth you choose decides your finishing meal

First off, lunch and dinner prices differ slightly. You start by picking one of five broths — and this is the important part, because the broth determines your finishing meal.

• Clear mushroom broth – egg porridge
• Spicy mushroom broth – rosé risotto
• Blue crab doenjang broth – doenjang-wrapped rice
• Sukiyaki – yakisoba
• Beef tomato broth – tomato risotto

Since it's set this way, think about which finishing dish you want and choose your broth accordingly.

Next comes the meat choice: black pork belly, black pork neck, Angus eye round, Angus chuck flat, Korean beef boseopsal, or wagyu ribeye. I ordered the 1++ Korean beef boseopsal lunch for ₩27,000 × 2 people with the beef tomato broth 😊.

They quickly set up the broth, vegetables, meat, and sauces. The meat and veggies were arranged so appetizingly 😊.

There are three sauces: soy sauce, chili, and perilla. All tasted good and were beautifully plated. They also gave us garlic and peppers to add in.

How was the beef tomato broth?

With the beef tomato broth all set up, all that's left is to eat once it boils! I put in the mushrooms and scallions first, brought the broth to a boil, then dropped in the vegetables and meat...

I also ate the dumplings we got from a review event, along with glass noodles, panda-shaped rice cake, and rice paper alongside the vegetables and meat. Compared to the usual clear mushroom broth, the beef tomato broth wasn't greasy but also wasn't too sour. The tomato's mild tanginess met the beef broth for a refreshing, delicious combo. It's not a particularly unusual flavor, just something everyone would probably like, which I think is a plus.

The 1++ Korean beef boseopsal was good quality and tasted decent, but last time I had it, the slices were thinner and easier to eat — today for some reason they came a bit thicker. Thinner cuts have a better texture 😊. Now let's try the dessert.

Dessert: fresh tomato risotto made to order

They made the tomato risotto fresh right there, with tomato butter, shrimp, and cheese — the ingredients were surprisingly good and it tasted great. Personally, I enjoyed it way more than the porridge option. Risotto as a shabu dessert, who knew 🤭.

Finishing with a refreshing omija tea? and that's the meal done! It's not an overeating buffet-style situation, but I left full and satisfied 😊.

Why I'd recommend this for a Hapjeong lunch date

If you're looking for a clean shabu-shabu spot with good composition and good taste, Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is worth a visit. For anyone dating in Hapjeong, you can knock out Kyobo Bookstore and coffee all in one trip, so I recommend it as an indoor date course.