Dongdaemun spicy tomato shabu-shabu with Buldak pasta: Shabu Torang

A visit to Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch in Jang-an-dong

Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch (샤브토랑 장안직영점) had me extra curious because Ryu Su-young, who is well known from Fun-Staurant, is its model. I heard it had newly opened in Jang-an-dong, so I went to check it out myself!

I heard the parking was limited, so I arrived a little before the weekend lunch rush.

The clean ivory-toned exterior looked neat, and the standing sign at the entrance made it easy to see the menu at a glance.

Individual induction burners for solo meals or dates

Even though it was early lunchtime, there were already quite a few people inside. This is the real deal for solo dining in Jang-an-dong! Each person gets their own induction burner, so coming alone doesn’t feel awkward at all, though I also saw plenty of parties of two and four. The table layout and interior were nicely done, so it also looked like a good spot for a date in Jang-an-dong.

Choosing your broth and after-dish

From the broth to the after-dish, it’s all up to you! There are a whopping five broth options, and so many kinds of after-dishes too. Finding the menu hard to choose from? Then start with Ryu Su-young’s recommendations, haha.

I ordered: ✔ Spicy shabu-shabu (Ryu Su-young’s pick): beef brisket + half vegetable portion + cream pasta; ✔ Tomato shabu-shabu: beef brisket + assorted toppings + cream Buldak pasta. It can look a little confusing at first because there are so many options, but take it one step at a time and it’s not difficult at all!

Spicy shabu-shabu with beef brisket and vegetables

First, bring the broth to a rolling boil, then drop in the vegetables and meat! The tender beef brisket and soft-cooked vegetables were such a perfect pairing. As the flavors from the meat and vegetables build in the broth, it gets richer with every bite—so delicious, haha.

There are three sauces ready to go, but dipping everything into the sweet chili sauce was totally my style!

What does spicy tomato shabu-shabu taste like?

What would tomato shabu-shabu taste like? You get tomato’s distinct tangy, rich flavor, and I chose the spicy option too, making it spicy tomato shabu-shabu. At first I wondered, “Will this really work?” but somehow it worked so well, hahaha. The sweet-and-tart tomato flavor gets a punch of heat, making it quietly addictive! The assorted toppings are generous too. There are fish balls, dumplings, fish cake, and more, so it’s fun picking through everything.

Making cream pasta with the remaining broth

Cream pasta after shabu-shabu? Once the vegetables and meat have simmered and fully flavored the broth, leave about one-third of it in the pot and add the pasta. Seriously, the thoughtfulness here is incredible... Getting shabu-shabu and Western-style food in one meal—isn’t that killing two birds with one stone? At this point, the cream pasta could be the main menu, owner, haha.

And the cream Buldak pasta was spicy and creamy! I’m usually someone who always leaves a little food behind, but for once I scraped the bowl clean, hahaha. It was the kind of flavor that makes you lose all self-control and think, “I’m just eating today...” hahaha.

If you’re looking for individual shabu-shabu in Jang-an-dong

If you’re looking for individual shabu-shabu in Jang-an-dong, Shabu Torang Jang-an Direct Branch seems like a pretty good choice. It’s fun to add the vegetables and meat yourself and cook them at the table, so I’d recommend it for dates in Jang-an-dong too! From solo meals and dates to family dinners, I recommend it as an easygoing shabu-shabu spot in Dongdaemun-gu.