Hapjeong shabu-shabu with separate pots and a noodle finish: Nahonsha

After work, my friend and I were looking for somewhere to eat near Hapjeong Station and ended up at Nahonsha this time. Since we were both meeting up after our shifts, we decided not to travel far and just eat around Hapjeong before heading home. I was craving shabu-shabu, and while searching I found out about Nahonsha, which serves solo shabu-shabu. It's a place that's fine to eat at alone, but I also liked that even when you go with a friend, you can each choose a different broth. I'd noticed a lot of people searching for solo mala hotpot in Hapjeong lately, so I was curious and decided to check it out.

Where Nahonsha is in Hapjeong, and its opening hours

Nahonsha is about a 5-minute walk from Exit 7 of Hapjeong Station. We met up at the station and walked over, and it wasn't far at all, so it was easy to find. It's also fairly close to Sangsu Station, so it's a convenient option to consider if you're looking for a place to eat around either Hapjeong or Sangsu.

On weekdays, it's open from 11:30 to 21:00. There's a break time from 15:00 to 18:00, and last order is at 20:30. On Saturdays it opens at 12:00. It's closed every Sunday, so it's worth checking the hours before you visit.

There's parking for about 2 cars in front of the restaurant. We came by public transit.

Nahonsha's window solo seats: easy to eat alone

Along the window at Nahonsha there's a long row of solo seats, each with its own individual induction stove. Inside, the place had a clean, cozy atmosphere overall, and there were green plants near the entrance that gave it a slightly relaxed feel.

There were also tablets for ordering and stands for propping up your phone at each seat. So if you're visiting alone, the setup lets you have a comfortable meal without feeling like you need to worry about anyone noticing. There were also 2–4 person tables further inside, and we sat at one of those.

Even though we went together, we each used our own pot. Eating shabu-shabu together but still being able to choose our own broth flavors was really convenient.

Which broths can you choose at Nahonsha?

You order at Nahonsha using a tablet, and there were several kinds of broth. There was the basic clear broth, plus spicy broth, tomato broth, miso broth, and even a mala-style broth. There was also a sukiyaki menu, so you could choose something besides shabu-shabu too.

That day I wanted something spicy and kick-y, so I ordered the spicy broth, and my friend picked the tomato broth. If you're searching for solo mala hotpot in Hapjeong but want something a bit lighter and more shabu-shabu style, I'd recommend this.

I ordered the spicy broth this time, and after a short wait, a full spread of shabu-shabu ingredients came out for each of us. It included napa cabbage, bok choy, bean sprouts, mushrooms, sweet pumpkin, dumplings, and fish cakes, all arranged nicely, with the meat served separately.

There were ponzu, peanut, and chili sauces set out, so you could pick whichever suited your taste.

Spicy broth vs tomato broth: how the two pots tasted

Nahonsha's spicy broth had a spicy, kick-y edge, while my friend's tomato broth was tangier and smoother, cleaner than the spicy one. Once the broth started boiling, we put in the cabbage, bean sprouts, and mushrooms first, then cooked the meat little by little.

Rather than just being spicy on its own, the broth got richer and richer as the meat and vegetables cooked in it.

The cabbage and bean sprouts especially soaked up the broth, and they went really well with the spicy soup.

As we added the mushrooms, sweet pumpkin, dumplings, and fish cakes one by one, the flavor of the broth kept shifting slightly. The meat was also really fresh and generous in portion, which surprised me.

I was curious about the tomato broth my friend ordered, so I tried a bit of it partway through. It had that distinct tangy tomato flavor and felt smoother and cleaner than the spicy broth. The longer it boiled, the thicker the broth got and the stronger the tomato flavor became, and my friend liked it a lot.

At the end, we added noodles too. Adding noodles to the broth that had been simmering with meat and vegetables meant the flavor really soaked in, and finishing off with noodles for the carbs was perfect.

Verdict: Hapjeong shabu-shabu that works solo or with a friend

Nahonsha turned out to be a place that works whether you want to eat shabu-shabu alone or your tastes don't match up with a friend's. Since each person uses their own pot, one person can pick a spicy broth while the other goes for tomato or mala-style, whatever they prefer, which I found really convenient.

I had the spicy broth this time, but if you're searching for solo mala hotpot in Hapjeong, trying the mala-style shabu-shabu would be a good option too. There's dedicated solo seating as well, so it suits anyone looking for a place to eat alone.

They're running a 4+4 promotion, and I liked the thoughtful touch of having a deodorizer spray by the exit. If you're like me and want a warm, brothy dinner near Hapjeong Station after work, Nahonsha is worth checking out.