Korean restaurant in Yongin for shabu-shabu kalguksu: Jangwongap

What did we have for lunch before going to Lotte Outlet?

Before going to Yongin Giheung Lotte Premium Outlet on Sunday, my husband and I had lunch at Jangwongap Kalguksu Yongin Giheung Branch (장원갑칼국수 용인기흥점). We chose it because we wanted both kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) and shabu-shabu.

How were parking and the Sunday wait?

The restaurant is near Yongin Giheung Lotte Outlet, with IKEA nearby as well. There was a large parking lot, but it was full when we visited. After parking and going inside, we also found there was a wait for a table.

The posted hours at the time of my visit were daily from 10:30 to 21:00. Break time was 16:00 to 17:00, and last orders were at 15:00 and 20:00; there was also a notice that the restaurant could close early if many guests were waiting.

There was also information about an event for completing a survey at the entrance.

After registering for the wait, we filled out an order form and submitted it at the counter.

There was also a note from the staff to guests. Reading it, I could feel their consideration for customers.

Snacks, gangnaengi (puffed corn), and misutgaru (mixed-grain powder drink) were set out for people to have while waiting. The snacks were also available to buy. We ate snacks while we waited, and I had a cup of misutgaru after the meal. It was sweet and nutty.

We registered as a party of two, waited, then sat at the table we were shown to. Tableware for two had been set out for us.

Which menu and broth did we choose?

The table had a seven-step guide to eating shabu-kalguksu. I read through it once before we started.

The menu included beef brisket minari-wrap shabu-kalguksu, live abalone and beef brisket shabu-kalguksu, shabu-kalguksu, and basic kalguksu, with a choice of broth. Sirloin, minari, mushrooms, and more could be added. There were also Jochiwon peach bibim mandu (mixed dumplings), limited to 20 orders per day, but we did not have them this time.

We ordered two servings of beef brisket minari-wrap shabu-kalguksu and added two servings of sirloin. We chose the clear broth.

The pot was generously topped with minari (water celery). It came with beef brisket, minari wraps for wrapping the meat, and house-made kalguksu. The minari wraps made the table setting look appealing.

The sauces included seasoned sesame oil and galchi sokjeot (salted hairtail innards). I mixed packaged wasabi into the soy sauce set on the table.

The extra sirloin we ordered was prepared alongside it.

How did we eat the beef brisket and minari wraps?

Once the broth began to boil, we added the beef brisket and sirloin and cooked them.

Adding the meat made for a generous amount. There were several foods on the table, but the setting still felt neat.

The restaurant had a self-service bar and a takeout counter. A notice said only pajeon (Korean savory pancake) was available for takeout. We added mushrooms to the pot and dipped the cooked meat in the sauces provided.

Following the guide, I wrapped meat in minari and dipped it in the seasoned sesame oil. It tasted nutty.

We added and ate more of the sirloin as well. I also did the reverse, wrapping minari inside the meat; both ways were delicious.

How was the texture of the house-made kalguksu?

After the shabu-shabu, we added the kalguksu.

After adding the noodles, we waited about five minutes. We ate them when all the sand had run through the hourglass.

I especially liked the texture of the house-made kalguksu noodles. We ate the remaining meat with the noodles.

Partway through, I brought Cheongyang chili peppers from the self-service bar and mixed them into the clear broth.

Both my husband and I enjoyed the kalguksu. After the shabu-shabu and then the noodles, we were quite full.

Can you also have fried rice to finish?

At the end, we had the complimentary kkakttuk fried rice. We set aside the food remaining in the pot, then stir-fried it without raising the heat.

We finished the meal feeling full after the fried rice as well.

The parking lot was busy and there was a wait on Sunday, but I was pleased with this lunch, eating from the minari wraps through the kalguksu and fried rice in order. Next time, I would like to come with my daughters and try the spicy broth too.