Dongtan shabu kalguksu, 10-minute weekend lunch wait: Deungchon

We went on a weekend date at Dongtan Lake Park and had lunch at Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu in Gran Passage. Honestly, you have to eat Deungchon shabu regularly, right? I finally had a really good one again 😋

How long is the weekend lunch wait at Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch?

There were 5 parties waiting at weekend lunchtime, but we got in after about 10 minutes. It was packed, as you'd expect at weekend lunch, but the tables turn over quickly so we didn't wait long. And it was a cloudy day~ I guess everyone was thinking of Deungchon shabu, haha

Menu at Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch

The branch has a regular menu and a separate set menu. You can also add vegetables or fried rice, plus self-serve sujebi (hand-torn dough soup) and self-serve rice balls.

What comes in the spicy shabu kalguksu set for 2?

The spicy shabu kalguksu set includes beef, so we ordered the set for 2 🙌 The vegetables are minari (water dropwort), mushrooms and potato, and it comes with kalguksu noodles, mandu (dumplings) and fried rice. Plus 190g of shabu beef 🌟 The vegetables are a little different from other Deungchon branches. With the set you get everything from beef shabu to noodles to fried rice, a whole meal done.

Induction tables and shared 4-seat tables

The best thing about this branch!! It's induction, so no burner heat and no worrying about sweating, and it felt clean and comfortable~ It was so crowded that I couldn't take photos of the interior, sorry ㅠㅠ Two parties of 2 can share a 4-seat table, so keep that in mind!! We had no problems at all~

A mountain of minari: how do you cook the spicy shabu?

The vegetables come already in the pot, and the food arrived super fast after ordering. As you can see in the photo... the minari came piled up like a mountain 😂 My partner, who loves minari, was like yay~ The beef, kalguksu noodles/mandu and fried rice come out with it too.

First turn the heat up to 9 (max) to boil, then once it bubbles, lower it to 4 to eat. There's so much minari that you need to spoon broth over it as it cooks, and the big potato inside doesn't cook easily, so push it down to the bottom and cook it there 🌟

Deungchon shabu kimchi and beef shabu

And the kimchi at Deungchon is so good, isn't it~ It's crunchy and spicy like freshly made kimchi. It goes so well with the shabu!!! Dip the beef in the sauce and you get that signature Deungchon spicy, punchy flavor. Maybe that's why so many people seek it out as a Dongtan shabu-shabu favorite,,,

Kalguksu portion and staff topping up the broth

Once you've eaten a fair amount of vegetables and beef, you add the kalguksu noodles and mandu and boil them. I think the kalguksu portion at this branch was bigger than at other branches. We like that thick, rich broth 😊 But we let it reduce too much, and a staff member saw and poured in more broth, haha. They walk around checking on tables. I like kalguksu more, so I got full midway... but the highlight of Deungchon shabu is the fried rice!!!

Fried rice made by the staff

When you've eaten about enough kalguksu, a staff member comes, ladles broth into your bowl, takes the whole pot away and brings back finished fried rice. I always wonder how they get this taste... and eat it in amazement. Isn't it just so good?? 🥹 I think you have to have the fried rice when you come to Deungchon. The punchy flavor and crispy, toasted bits make you keep eating even when you're full~

A lunch idea after a Dongtan Lake Park date

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu gives you shabu-shabu, kalguksu and fried rice all in one. The Gran Passage branch is great for lunch after a Dongtan Lake Park date, and I'd recommend it for a family meal too! Spicy Deungchon shabu is something you need to eat regularly. If you're looking for a Dongtan shabu-shabu favorite or a good restaurant at Dongtan Gran Passage, it's worth a visit 🙌