Family shabu-shabu dinner in Mapo, Seoul with prime Angus chuck flat

Visit date: Sunday, September 6, 2026

After a long time, the whole family gathered for a delicious dinner out, so we went to Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, which has been buzzing as a hot spot lately. This was my first time at the Hapjeong location, but I already knew the taste from eating there with Yunsik at another branch, so I was even more excited. I wanted my kids and husband to finally taste that deep broth and tender meat I remembered, so I headed to Hapjeong Station with the whole family, full of happy anticipation.

The restaurant is inside Mecenatpolis, a mixed-use complex directly connected to the subway station, which made it perfect for a relaxed family dinner. The clean, pleasant facilities already put me in a good mood before we even walked in. Best of all, knowing we were about to enjoy already-proven delicious shabu-shabu together as a family made my steps into the restaurant feel light.

The atmosphere and location of Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch is located on basement level 2 of Delight Square 1, in the Mecenatpolis building.

In front of the restaurant, cold drinks were prepared for waiting guests — this small, thoughtful touch put me in a good mood even before going inside.

Shabu in Seoul has its own modern yet calm, sophisticated sensibility. The warm beige tones and wood elements gave it a cozy feel like a high-end hotel dining room, and each table was divided by partitions for privacy, which made dining comfortably with the kids really pleasant.

The staff greeted everyone kindly, and everything from the table settings to the lighting and utensils was neatly managed, making it a place well suited for bringing parents or holding family gatherings.

Menu at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch: how to choose meat and broth

At Shabu in Seoul, you order by first choosing the meat you like, then picking a broth to go with it. The meat lineup is impressive, ranging from 1st-grade black pork belly and pork neck to prime Angus sirloin, chuck flat, and even top-grade two-plus Korean beef and Black Nine wagyu top blade with gorgeous marbling. There are also five signature broths to choose from — clear mushroom, spicy mushroom, blue crab doenjang (soybean paste), sukiyaki, and beef tomato — which made choosing genuinely fun.

Each broth comes with its own tailored dessert menu after the meal — egg porridge, rose risotto, doenjang rice rolls, yakisoba, or tomato risotto — a really thoughtful touch. As side toppings, there were plenty of options to choose from, including fresh vegetables and various mushrooms, as well as handmade shrimp balls, whole shrimp, fried tofu pouches, kirimochi (sliced rice cake), and glass noodles.

We chose the prime Angus chuck flat and picked clear mushroom broth for the kids.

Prime Angus chuck flat shabu set course ₩25,000 x3 / Bean sprouts ₩3,000 x3 / Chuck flat ₩13,000

Three servings of prime Angus chuck flat with clear mushroom broth

Once you order, yuzu soy sauce, chili sauce, and sesame dressing are prepared, along with cheongyang chili peppers and minced garlic.

We ordered three servings of the prime Angus chuck flat dinner course, whose savory, clean texture is its charm, and started cooking fresh vegetables and bright red meat in the gently bubbling broth.

A kid who never eats shabu-shabu added bean sprouts three times

Honestly, my kid Minimani usually doesn't like vegetables soaked in water, so shabu-shabu isn't a favorite. But that day, after tasting a piece of chuck flat soaked in the flavorful broth, they started tapping the table with both hands, exclaiming, "Mom, why is this so good?" — I was so surprised.😃

They devoured it so fast that I was busy just keeping up, and Minimani kept asking for more bean sprouts and meat, so in the end we added crunchy bean sprouts three times in a row and meat once more, eating until we were completely full.🤣

My husband kept praising the broth for being deeply savory without being overly seasoned, and finished his bowl with great satisfaction. Mixing minced garlic and chili into the chili sauce and sesame sauce on the table made a special dipping sauce that kept the flavor exploding without ever getting tiresome.😍👍

Finishing with egg porridge

The true finish of shabu-shabu is definitely egg porridge! Cooked carefully with vegetables and eggs stirred into the rich broth, then finished with a swirl of sesame oil and a sprinkle of seaweed flakes, it was a perfectly satisfying flavor.

The whole family left full and happy, all agreeing that choosing this spot for our family dinner was a real success.👋👋👋

Location and parking for Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

• 🧭 B2, Delight Square 1, 14 World Cup-ro 1-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul
• ⏰ Daily 11:00–22:00 / break time 15:00–17:00 (no break on Sat, Sun) / last order 14:00, 21:00
• 🚇 64m from Hapjeong Station Exit 8 (Lines 2, 6)
• 🚗 Free parking available

For free parking up to 3 hours, you must park specifically in the Delight Square 1 parking lot. Be sure to check the parking lot entrance so you don't accidentally enter the wrong building.

How was it as a family dinner spot?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch gave us a perfect evening in a luxurious, comfortable space, and the staff's attentive service left a very positive impression throughout our stay. If you're looking for a comfortable place near Hapjeong, close to the subway, for a family gathering or a special occasion, this spot inside Mecenatpolis offers easy parking and great accessibility for an even more satisfying time.

I felt really proud to have found a true family-friendly restaurant that could win over everyone's taste buds, regardless of age or gender. If you want to try the kind of life-changing shabu-shabu so good that the kids are already asking to go back, I highly recommend stopping by. Strongly recommended!