Dongdaemun solo shabu-shabu with tomato broth: Shabu Torang

As the weather has gradually turned cooler lately, I’ve started craving warm, brothy dishes! How did it become proper fall weather the moment September arrived this year? So lucky-vicky (^з^)-☆

This time, Baekkkomi and I went to a solo shabu-shabu (Japanese-style hot pot) spot in Jang-an-dong! (o´・∀・)🥚

Solo shabu-shabu in Jang-an-dong: Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch

It was Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch, ta-da! It’s on the first floor at 146 Janghan-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, and is open from 11:00 to 22:00. Last orders are at 21:00! Once we arrived and mealtime got closer, more and more diners began to come in, hehe.

As its name suggests, Shabu Torang is centered on shabu-shabu, with a range of other dishes to enjoy too. What I especially liked was the individual-meal setup, which makes it much less daunting when you want shabu-shabu on your own! There are so many people eating alone these days, after all. I thought it would be a good option for anyone wanting a warm meal alone in Jang-an-dong or somewhere casual for lunch.

Tomato and classic broths, in the combinations we wanted

There were two of us, but we each chose the broth and meat combination we wanted.

Baekkkomi ordered tomato broth with beef chuck, plus one serving each of beef chuck and thin-sliced beef belly, and chose cream risotto as a side.

True to Baekkkomi’s love of tomato broth, the preference was crystal clear again, hahaha.

Pingji kept it simple with classic broth and thin-sliced beef belly! I added beef chuck and a half portion of vegetables because it didn’t seem like quite enough.

With shabu-shabu, it just feels like a proper meal when you add vegetables along with the meat >_<

The fun of making your own combination

Even when you’re having the same shabu-shabu, it changes depending on the broth! Hehe. Baekkkomi went for something a little different with tomato broth, while Pingji enjoyed the clean flavor of the classic broth. Choosing according to our own tastes made it fun to swap broths and try each other’s too.

Sauce containers are set out too. My husband Baekkkomi loves peanut sauce and soy sauce with tomato broth, while I like soy sauce with the classic broth and sometimes add chili sauce as well.

Adding a little soy sauce to the broth seasons it just right, and it was tasty, hehe. Ordering both beef chuck and thin-sliced beef belly also kept us from getting tired of one texture!

Since you can lightly cook the meat in hot broth and eat it right away, I think shabu-shabu is surprisingly satisfying for lunch too.

Cream risotto alongside shabu-shabu

A range of options, from pasta to risotto

I came expecting only shabu-shabu, but having sides such as pasta and risotto meant we could change up the meal depending on our preferences—that was another great point. That’s why it’s called Shabu Torang, hehe. We ordered the cream risotto Baekkkomi loves, and it was nice as something to have at the end after the shabu-shabu. Adding a side made the meal feel more abundant for two people than shabu-shabu alone.

Instructions for making the pasta and risotto are all provided too! Baekkkomi said he wants to try the sukiyaki next time~

A warm meal that also works well solo

Personally, I had thought shabu-shabu was a little difficult to eat alone, but with an individual setup like this, it works better than expected as a solo-dining meal too.

Because you can cook the meat and vegetables in the hot broth as you go, it would also suit days when you want to take your time over a meal. If you’re looking for a good solo meal in Dongdaemun or a place for lunch alone in Jang-an-dong, Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch could be worth adding to your list! This time Baekkkomi had tomato broth and Pingji had classic broth, splitting things by our preferences, but next time I’d like to try another broth or the sukiyaki too, haha.

If you’re looking for shabu-shabu, a solo meal, and a good-value lunch in Jang-an-dong all at once, keep this place in mind!