Hapjeong tomato broth shabu-shabu with a heavy beer mug: Nahonsha

What is Nahonsha, the solo shabu-shabu restaurant near Hapjeong Station?

Eating alone isn't a big deal anymore in this world. It used to be that choosing where to eat solo meant worrying from the start — too many restaurants and dishes were built for portions or occasions meant to be shared. These days, though, I find myself actively seeking out places where I can eat a proper meal on my own. This time, the spot I'd recommend near Hapjeong Station is a shabu-shabu specialist called Nahonsha.

The name itself is fun — Nahonsha roughly means 'enjoying shabu-shabu alone,' and it's a place where you can enjoy shabu-shabu and sukiyaki in individual solo pots. The biggest draw is that you don't have to wait for anyone else — you just pick what you want and eat at your own pace, alone.

Nahonsha, a solo-friendly shabu-shabu spot near Hapjeong Station — the interior is pretty stylish too, right? Shabu-shabu is oddly one of those dishes that's not easy to eat alone, since it's so strongly associated with a big pot in the middle of the table surrounded by a group of people.

Why Nahonsha's one-person pot is easy for eating alone

But it's a different story at Nahonsha. Thanks to the individual pots, you can enjoy shabu-shabu entirely on your own. Eating alone here doesn't feel like just getting a meal over with — you can simmer the food at your own speed, which actually makes it a dish that suits solo dining surprisingly well.

One nice thing about shabu-shabu is that you don't have to rush — you simmer, eat, simmer again, and take breaks in between as you continue the meal. Rather than feeling awkward about eating solo, I found myself focused entirely on my own meal.

Mala shabu or tomato broth shabu: which broth to order at Nahonsha?

Alongside the standard shabu-shabu, two menu items stand out at Nahonsha: mala shabu and tomato broth shabu.

If you want the distinctive aroma and numbing spice of mala, go for the mala shabu. If you're after something different, there's the tomato broth shabu, served with a tomato hot pot style broth.

I couldn't skip the draft beer either, and I was shocked at how heavy the mug was — haha, seriously, you have to hold it with both hands.

The real fun of shabu-shabu actually starts with the broth — even when you're cooking the same ingredients the same way, the mood of the meal shifts depending on which broth you pick. If you're a shabu-shabu fan, trying an unusual broth like mala or tomato, not just the classic one, can be part of the fun.

The tomato broth shabu already feels different from regular shabu-shabu just by name, right? Using a tomato hot pot style broth adds a new option to the familiar shabu-shabu experience, and the flavor really does have that sweet-tart tomato aroma, like a spoonful of tomato was dropped right in — a good pick for beginners to try.

What comes with Hon Sukiyaki and Hon Special Sukiyaki

Another menu item at Nahonsha is the Hon Sukiyaki. Sukiyaki also tends to be thought of as a shared, one-pot dish among a group, but here it's served as a solo item. What sets it apart is Nahonsha's own distinctive sukiyaki sauce, which really boosts the flavor. If you're torn between shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, just pick based on your mood that day — sometimes you want something clean and light like shabu-shabu, other days you crave the richer flavor of sukiyaki.

The Hon Special Sukiyaki builds on the Hon Sukiyaki base, letting you add special extra ingredients plus optional extra meat, and it comes with rice included by default. It's a good choice when you want a heartier meal.

How the writer would order at Nahonsha next time

The real advantage of eating alone isn't just that you can eat by yourself — it's that you don't have to accommodate anyone else's taste or even ask 'what do you want to eat?' If I'm craving mala today, I get mala; if I need something refreshing like tomato, I get the tomato broth!

Next time I go back, I think I'll get the mala with extra meat and extra noodles, and skip the porridge!

True to its name, Nahonsha is built around solo shabu-shabu and sukiyaki, and once you sort through the menu, the choices are actually pretty clear.

If eating alone always felt awkward and picking a restaurant was always a struggle, a solo-pot shabu-shabu specialist like this might actually be the more comfortable option. The fact that shabu-shabu and sukiyaki — dishes I used to think of as things you eat with others — can now be enjoyed solo feels like the standard for what counts as 'eating alone' is quietly shifting too. It's not about eating something simple because you're alone — it's about being able to fully choose what you actually want to eat, precisely because you're alone!

If you're ever looking for a place to eat solo near Hapjeong Station, picking a shabu-shabu at Nahonsha and enjoying it slowly with a cold draft beer sounds like a pretty good plan.