Dongtan shabu kalguksu with big potato and two dumplings: Deungchon

It was a hot weekend evening and I really didn't feel like cooking, so we decided to eat out. After some back and forth about where to go, we ended up at Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch, right in front of Dongtan Lake Park at Gran Passage.

It's close to Dongtan Lake Park, so you can easily follow up dinner with a stroll around the lake — good for a date, a weekend meal out, or a family dinner.

Where is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch, and what are the hours?

Deungchon Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch is at 9 Dongtandae-ro 5-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Gran Passage Green Zone 2F, Units 2004-2005. It's open daily 11:00 - 21:00, with a break time from 15:00 to 17:00.

• 📍 Location: 9 Dongtandae-ro 5-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, Gran Passage Green Zone 2F, Units 2004-2005, South Korea
• ⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 - 21:00 (break time 15:00 - 17:00)
• 🚗 Parking: Gran Passage underground lot available

Gran Passage parking: Gate 3, free for 3 hours

When visiting Deungchon Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch, come in through Gate 3 of the parking lot and you'll be right in the Green Zone. Free parking is supported for up to 3 hours.

Just give your license plate number to staff at checkout and they'll register you for up to 3 hours free (extra charge is ₩3,000 per 30 minutes).

Green Zone 2nd floor: easy to find on a first visit

Deungchon Kalguksu is on the 2nd floor of the Green Zone at Gran Passage, in front of Dongtan Lake Park. Take the elevator or escalator up and the restaurant is right there — not hard to find even the first time.

We got there around 6pm on a Saturday, and a wait started forming right after we got in. If you're planning a weekend evening visit, going a bit earlier might be a good idea.

Inside Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu: interior and seating

The Gran Passage branch of Deungchon Kalguksu was kept clean. Tables come in 4-person and 6-person sizes, and they can be pushed together with neighboring tables for larger groups.

Deungchon Kalguksu menu: spicy, clear or perilla broth

You can choose the broth for the mushroom kalguksu based on your taste: spicy, clear, or perilla.

Being able to choose the broth type seemed great for visiting with a child who can't handle spicy food.

Looking at the menu, they also sell a freshwater shrimp soup, which caught my eye since it's a bit different from the usual Deungchon Kalguksu menu. The mushroom kalguksu basically comes with kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) plus fried rice included (shabu meat is extra). We ordered the spicy mushroom kalguksu set for two, which includes shabu meat.

The mushroom kalguksu comes with shabu meat and fried rice built into the flow, so it makes for a hearty meal.

Spicy mushroom kalguksu set for two, round one: shabu meat

After a short wait, a generous spread arrived.

There was quite a lot of mushroom and minari (water dropwort) in it, so it looked generous!

With Deungchon Kalguksu, the meat matters, but I think the real pleasure is loading up on vegetables like mushroom and minari. Round one is the shabu meat! Once the broth starts boiling, you cook the shabu meat first.

Despite being called the spicy broth, it wasn't overly hot — just pleasantly spicy with a clean finish, so it was easy to eat without feeling weighed down. Eating the mushroom and minari together with the meat was especially good — nice texture, and it went well with the broth.

The big chunk of potato is the surprise star

The potato was cut into big chunks too, and eating it fully cooked alongside everything else was also a treat.

Round two: kalguksu noodles and two dumplings

Once we'd enjoyed the meat, mushrooms and minari, it was time to add the noodles. Two dumplings came in along with the kalguksu.

The kalguksu noodles take a bit of time to cook, so we put the noodles in first, let them cook for a while, then added the dumplings and boiled them together.

As the noodles soaked up the broth and it got thicker, eating that with the mushroom and minari together — this combination never fails.

Piling the big potato chunks on top of the kalguksu noodles was especially delicious.

Last round: fried rice with a lightly crisped nurungji bottom

And the menu item you can't skip at Deungchon Kalguksu — the fried rice.

As we were nearly done with the kalguksu, staff took the pot away and made fried rice for us. We honestly thought of the fried rice as just a finishing item, but eating it changed our minds. You have to eat the fried rice!!!

Some places serve fried rice that's a bit mushy, but here the grains were fried up fluffy and separate, which made for a really nice texture. The bottom layer in particular had a slight crisp, giving it a nutty, chewy edge.

My husband and I were eating the fried rice going "this is genuinely delicious."

From shabu meat to kalguksu to fried rice, it was quite a filling meal for two people.

Is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu good with kids?

The restaurant had baby chairs ready, so it looked convenient for visiting with children.

Being able to choose a clear broth in addition to the spicy one meant there were menu options for eating with kids too. It seems like a good option for anyone looking for a family dinner spot.

A Dongtan restaurant to pair with a Dongtan Lake Park walk

For a weekend dinner out, we visited Deungchon Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch in front of Dongtan Lake Park!! We enjoyed everything from the spicy shabu kalguksu loaded with mushroom and minari to the fluffy fried rice.

What I liked most was that Dongtan Lake Park is right out front, so it's easy to follow the meal with a walk. If you're looking for a spot for a Dongtan date or a family meal out, this is a good place to check out. If you're near Dongtan Lake Park and want a hearty meal, I recommend this Dongtan restaurant, Deungchon Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch.