Hapjeong shabu-shabu with barley tea and heat setting 5: Nahonsha

Today I visited Nahonsha, a shabu-shabu spot known for good food, to eat something healthy.

What is Nahonsha? A solo shabu-shabu restaurant near Hapjeong Station

Nahonsha is a shabu-shabu place located near Hapjeong Station. The exterior was so clean it looked really upscale. It's full glass, so you can faintly see the interior from outside, and the whole storefront has this sleek, tidy look that catches your eye. I feel like it'd draw a glance even if you were just passing by. Expectations were at 100 from the entrance alone.

⏰ 11:30–21:00 (Saturdays from 12:00) / 15:00–18:00 break time / Last order 14:30, 20:30

They also sell a lunch special — potato sujebi (hand-torn noodle soup) for 11,000 won! I ended up going in the evening this time, so I'll have to try that on a lunch visit.

Inside Nahonsha: the room and ordering on the table screen

The atmosphere at Nahonsha was really clean and tidy. I visited close to last order, so I took advantage of the empty moment to take a bunch of photos haha. You order directly on the tablet, which seemed like it'd make reordering more convenient too.

Prices are in the low tens of thousands of won, so it's not on the expensive side — feels like a shabu-shabu spot you can enjoy without much burden!

This place really seems perfectly suited to eating alone! I guess that's why it's called Nahonsha — 'na honja shabu-shabu' (me, alone, shabu-shabu) haha.

They're also running a reward event like this haha. I don't have many reasons to be around Hapjeong Station often so I didn't grab it, but if you go often, be sure to sign up and enjoy the reward benefits!!

Nahonsha's basic setting: three sauces and barley tea

Nahonsha's basic setup includes soy ponzu, sweet chili, and peanut sauce. For water, you can choose between barley tea and bottled water. I went with barley tea, and it was nutty and delicious.

Clear broth shabu-shabu, ₩14,900

Clear broth shabu at 14,900 won: why heat setting 5 matters

One tip before eating: the staff said it's best simmered at heat setting 5. (It really was delicious.)

It came with carrots, mushrooms, fried tofu, bok choy, napa cabbage, dumplings, zucchini, mung bean sprouts, and tofu. As for the broth, what more can I say — it was really rich, and it soaked so well into the vegetables that everything tasted even better. The kalguksu noodles at the end were amazing too...

How much meat comes with the clear broth shabu?

The amount of meat was just right, and it was soft and tender — perfect. Big eaters might feel it's a bit short, but for a normal portion, it was exactly right — not too much, not too little, and I really liked that.

Is Nahonsha worth it for a meal alone?

The day has come when I can eat shabu-shabu alone... how nice. The overall atmosphere was great, and the staff were friendly, which put me in a good mood. And honestly, what I liked most of all was the rich broth and the just-right portion. I recently went somewhere else where the portion was way too much and I left over half of it, which was a real letdown, so having the portion be exactly right here made for a really satisfying meal.

If you usually like shabu-shabu but have felt it's a bit much to eat alone, this place is worth a visit. Going solo doesn't feel awkward at all, and being able to enjoy a warm bowl of shabu-shabu in a clean space felt like the biggest advantage. In particular, being able to eat vegetables and meat together in one sitting made for a meal that was fairly filling yet not heavy.

This is a good spot if you're looking for somewhere to eat alone near Hapjeong Station, or on a day when you're craving something a little healthier and warmer than usual. Next time I'd like to visit during lunch and try the potato sujebi lunch special too. If you want to enjoy shabu-shabu comfortably on your own in Hapjeong, I recommend Nahonsha! I'm calling it a Hapjeong Station shabu-shabu go-to haha.