Black pork belly vs neck shabu-shabu in Samgakji: Shabu in Seoul

I've always loved Shabu in Seoul, so I've been going around to different branches haha. This time my parents came to Seoul, so we went to the Sinyongsan Main Branch for a Samgakji lunch together. I thought the menu would be perfect for taking my parents, and sure enough, it was satisfying! Let me introduce it right away :)

Where is Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch, and its hours and parking

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch is at 61 Hangang-daero 62-gil, 1F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Yongsan-dong 3-ga 5-7), an easy walk from the Samgakji area. It's open daily 10:00–22:00, with a break time from 15:00–17:00, and last order is at 21:00.

• 📍Location: 61 Hangang-daero 62-gil, 1F, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (Yongsan-dong 3-ga 5-7, Yongsan-gu, Seoul)
• ⏰Hours: Daily 10:00–22:00 / Break time 15:00–17:00 / Last order 21:00
• 🚗Parking: Limited parking, use nearby public lots!

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch has a clean exterior that really stands out. Since I already loved Shabu in Seoul, I'd been to several branches, but this was my first visit to the Sinyongsan Main Branch! The tidy atmosphere made a great first impression for a Samgakji lunch with my parents.

Seating for a meal with parents: group tables and private rooms

Shabu in Seoul Yongsan Main Branch has everything from basic 4-person tables to group seating for several people, so the space was bigger than I expected. Once we walked in, it felt roomy.

There were even private rooms set up further inside for dining more privately. It looked good for family meals or for taking your parents out.

Shabu in Seoul set prices, weekday lunch discount and the 5 broths

At Shabu in Seoul, the set price changes depending on which meat you choose, and there's about a 2,000–3,000 won discount per menu item at weekday lunch, which made it a good pick for a Samgakji lunch.

There are a whopping 5 broths to choose from! Last time I went with my mom we had sukiyaki, so this time I ordered something different — the spicy mushroom broth.

Three sauces: sesame, chili and yuzu soy

One reason I love Shabu in Seoul is the sauce, haha. There are three sauces prepared — sesame, chili, and yuzu soy sauce — and you can add cheongyang chili and garlic to taste as well. I especially love the nutty sesame sauce, so I loaded mine up with cheongyang chili and garlic — ready to go!

The order: black pork belly and neck shabu sets at 23,000 won each

1st-grade black pork belly shabu set (₩23,000) × 1, 1st-grade black pork neck shabu set (₩23,000) × 2. After a short wait, our order came out quickly! Shabu in Seoul also serves the basic vegetables in a generously packed platter.

Vegetable refills aren't free though — you have to order extra — so we added napa cabbage for 4,000 won from the start, haha.

And then today's main event — the black pork belly and neck! I liked that the meat came neatly arranged, one slice at a time. At first I wondered, black pork belly in shabu-shabu...? But once I tried it, it went together far better than expected.

How black pork tastes in Shabu in Seoul's spicy mushroom broth

First, they load up the vegetables before the broth even starts boiling, haha. Loading in napa cabbage and mushrooms, the spicy mushroom broth got richer and richer as it went! With the extra cabbage we added, it was plenty for three people.

Once the broth started bubbling, in went the meat we'd been waiting for! It's sliced thin, so you don't need to cook it long — just a quick dip and pull it right out to eat.

I scooped up the well-cooked meat and vegetables together and dunked them right into my favorite sesame sauce. So good, haha. Eating the meat and vegetables — with a little of that spicy broth soaked in — together with the nutty sesame sauce, I just kept going.

Black pork belly vs pork neck: which shabu set to pick

Trying both, black pork belly and neck were clearly a bit different — the belly has more of the fatty part, so it's softer and richer, while the neck is relatively leaner, so it's easy to eat without feeling too heavy.

Finish one batch, put in more, pull it out once it's cooked! Since the meat is thin and cooks fast, you can keep eating without the flow ever breaking — that's the real advantage of shabu-shabu 🤍

Dessert at the table: rosé risotto and dessert tea

Once you're mostly done with the shabu-shabu, you can ask for dessert — and at Shabu in Seoul, this rosé risotto is genuinely a specialty. A staff member makes it fresh, right there, with shrimp added in, cooking it carefully at the table dish by dish — it looks delicious from the moment you start waiting for it...!

I tried a bite of the finished rosé risotto right away, and yep, it's delicious, haha. Even though I was already pretty full from the shabu-shabu, it's the kind of taste that kept me reaching for more.

Is Shabu in Seoul a good Samgakji lunch with parents?

We wrapped up the meal with a cup of dessert tea each. Going from shabu-shabu to rosé risotto to dessert tea felt like a full course, which made for a relaxed meal with my parents. With the weekday lunch discount and a spacious, clean space, this could be a good pick for anyone looking for a Samgakji lunch spot to bring their parents to :)

Since I already loved Shabu in Seoul, I brought my parents along, and once again it was a satisfying meal! The spicy mushroom broth with black pork, which I tried for the first time this time, matched better than I expected, and I'd love to have it again, haha.