Weekend kimchi mandu shabu-shabu in Pyeongtaek: Songdam Kalguksu

Today I visited Songdam Kalguksu in Anjung, Pyeongtaek — great prices and great taste! From all the restaurants I've tried around Pyeongtaek, Anjung really does seem to have a ton of genuinely good spots ❤️ Songdam Kalguksu is one of them. It's a bit hard to reach on foot, so I'd recommend driving. This is already my Nth visit — that's how great the value is! Let me share my review right away~

Where is Songdam Kalguksu, and is there parking?

Songdam Kalguksu is at 129 Gangbyeon-ro, Anjung-eup, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do, and it's open 9:00–21:00, closed Mondays. There's a large parking lot, and both local currency payment and takeout discounts are available.

When you drive past Songdam Kalguksu, you kind of go 'huh, there's a restaurant here?' I noticed it while driving by, looked it up out of curiosity, and found out it's this kind of place! The parking lot is huge too, so you don't have to worry about parking when you visit!

One big plus is how spacious the restaurant is! I visited on a weekend for lunch and the tables were nearly full of customers. I took these photos toward the end of lunchtime once things had quieted down!

How to order at Songdam Kalguksu and what the menu costs

Ordering at Songdam Kalguksu is a two-step process.

• 1) Choose your hot pot: octopus, clam, beef, or vegetable (mixing is allowed)
• 2) Choose optional add-ons

Since the menu is hot pot kalguksu (칼국수, knife-cut noodle soup), the noodles come as a basic component — but if you want to eat it shabu-shabu style, you'll need to add mixed vegetables and mushrooms too!

• ✔️ Octopus hot pot kalguksu ₩11,000
• Beef hot pot kalguksu / clam hot pot kalguksu / vegetable hot pot kalguksu ₩8,000
• ✔️ Meat mandu / kimchi mandu ₩5,000
• ✔️ Self-serve egg porridge ₩3,000, fresh clams ₩7,000
• Extra noodles ₩3,000, beef ₩7,000

Aren't the prices really nice? If you just want to enjoy the noodles without extras, you can order the octopus hot pot kalguksu on its own and enjoy it as noodle soup!

Beef hot pot kalguksu for two, 1 kimchi meatball mandu, mixed vegetables, plus fresh clams. That's what I ordered!!

The base broth and side dishes: corn bread and barley rice

This is the basic broth that comes with the order. Even just this broth alone is already well-seasoned, so it's great to sip on right away.

The kimchi and corn bread that come as a default. You can also buy the corn bread separately — it's great for passing the time while waiting for the food! Delicious!!

And here's the barley rice that comes by default. As a kind of appetizer, mixing in some yeolmu kimchi (young radish kimchi) and giving it a good stir makes it delicious! It seems to have plenty of sesame oil too, so it's really fragrant!

Kimchi meatball mandu, 5,000 won: how thin is the dumpling skin?

I felt like just the noodles might be a bit lacking, so I also ordered the kimchi meatball mandu (dumplings). The skin on the kimchi meatballs is very thin, so you can eat them plain or dip them in the broth! The dumpling skin is amazingly thin!! They also steam the mandu fresh when you order, so you get to enjoy them piping hot!

Beef hot pot with mixed vegetables and fresh clams, eaten shabu-shabu style

I ordered the beef hot pot. On top of the beef that came with it, I also added fresh clams and mixed vegetables since I thought it might feel a little lacking otherwise! I'd really recommend the mixed vegetables! You can eat it shabu-shabu style! It changes the depth of the broth 😁 And if you're someone who just wants plain kalguksu, I'd recommend the fresh clams instead! It makes the broth taste refreshingly clean 😁

The broth already looks refreshing, right? haha Songdam Kalguksu tastes great even with just the basic broth, and adding beef on top makes it even better~

It's been getting chilly lately so I was craving a hot broth, and eating shabu-shabu really got my appetite going! After finishing the vegetables and meat, I even added in the noodles at the end — I really ate my fill! I wanted to finish with the vegetable egg porridge too, but I was too full to manage it. Such a shame. With the mixed vegetables and meatballs added, I was already full just from the noodles.

House-made kalguksu noodles and the spicy dadaegi sauce

The kalguksu noodles in particular are house-made — they're freshly made right when you order. Love that!

Boil the noodles down until they're piping hot and enjoy. There's also a spicy seasoning paste (dagadi) available, so if you want it spicier, you can add that in for a nice kick~ If you need more side dishes, there's a self-serve corner too!

Is Songdam Kalguksu worth it for kalguksu shabu-shabu in Anjung, Pyeongtaek?

Songdam Kalguksu is a great spot for kalguksu shabu-shabu in Anjung, Pyeongtaek. With its parking lot and spacious dining hall, it's comfortable to use, and it's also excellent for family gatherings or group dinners. You can freely customize your order to your taste, too. And on top of all that, the prices are affordable and the food is genuinely delicious. If you're looking for kalguksu shabu-shabu in Pyeongtaek, I'd recommend Songdam Kalguksu.