Junggye-dong shabu-shabu with torched brisket and udon: Hana Shabu

I went to Hana Shabu Shabu with my mom for a weekday lunch. It's near Junggye Neighborhood Park, so it's also a nice spot for a light walk after eating. We arrived almost right at opening, before the lunch rush, so the place was quiet.

When I eat with my parents I usually look for something where we can have meat and vegetables together, and that day I was craving a warm broth, so we chose shabu-shabu (hot pot where you swish thin meat in broth). Here's my honest take on this Junggye-dong restaurant.

Where is Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch, and what is it like inside?

Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch (하나샤브샤브 중계본점) is in a commercial building near Junggye Neighborhood Park. It's easy to combine a meal and a walk here, which made it convenient for meeting up.

It wasn't crowded when we visited, but looking inside I could see quite a few tables. Since there were two of us, we were shown to the bar table, and we ate comfortably while chatting.

The overall mood is calm, so I think it suits you better when you want a relaxed meal rather than a noisy one. If you're looking for a place to take your parents in Junggye-dong, the atmosphere is worth considering.

How is the brisket shabu-shabu for 2 served?

At Hana Shabu Shabu we ordered the brisket shabu-shabu for 2. The table was set with broth, water and sauces, and you can pick from three: chili, sesame and ponzu (citrusy soy sauce), whichever you like.

First came the basic sides: cabbage salad, Cheongyang chili (spicy green chili) and danmuji (pickled yellow radish).

Vegetable platter with several kinds of mushrooms

The vegetables arrived a little later, and I liked how many kinds there were. There were several types of mushrooms, which was a welcome sight for a mushroom lover like me. We added bean sprouts and the other vegetables too, and each one had a different texture, so it was fun picking and choosing.

Brisket sliced thin right in front of you

While we were boiling the vegetables in the broth first, the owner sliced the brisket thinly right in front of us. Watching it being prepared like that felt a little magical, honestly.

The broth was rich without being too salty. I dipped the meat in the chili sauce and also paired it with the ponzu, and since each sauce changes the feel, it was nice to alternate.

What makes Hana Shabu Shabu special: a torch-grilled slice of brisket

Midway through the meal, the owner torched the brisket and handed us one slice each. It had a different flavor from the shabu-shabu style, and it stuck in my memory. They only gave us one piece, though, and I was so sad about that,,

Does Hana Shabu Shabu finish with porridge or udon?

The finish at Hana Shabu Shabu is udon noodles, not porridge. After we'd eaten a good amount of the ingredients, we added the udon noodles to finish. When you have shabu-shabu you usually think of kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) or porridge, but here it's udon.

Noodles in that rich broth went together better than I expected. Personally I love the porridge after shabu-shabu, so that part was a bit of a letdown, but after plenty of brisket and vegetables, the two of us finished the meal full.

If you're thinking about shabu-shabu while searching for Nowon restaurant recommendations, it's good to know in advance that the finish is udon. If you go expecting porridge, you might be slightly disappointed like me.

Weekday lunch with Mom: final verdict

At Hana Shabu Shabu Junggye Main Branch, we talked slowly over the meal, so it felt even more relaxed. The owner was also kind, so even though it was our first visit, we felt comfortable staying.

After eating, we walked around Junggye Neighborhood Park right next door. Having a walk after the meal, rather than just eating and parting, made it nicer time with Mom.

If you're searching for Nowon restaurant recommendations and wondering what to eat with your parents, shabu-shabu, where you get meat and vegetables together, could be a good choice. I also liked that a weekday lunch lets you eat relatively unhurried.

• A wide variety of vegetables and mushrooms
• Brisket sliced thin in front of us
• One torch-grilled slice of brisket
• Downside: the finish is udon noodles, not porridge
• Enough food for two

What stayed with me from this visit was the variety of vegetables and mushrooms, the brisket prepared in front of us, and the torch-grilled meat. I missed the porridge, but overall the portion was plenty for two.

I'll probably think of this place again on a day when I'm craving a warm broth in Junggye-dong. And if you're looking for a quiet place to eat with your parents in Nowon, it's worth a look.

If we have another lunch plan around Junggye Neighborhood Park, we'll stop by again. This day, a tasty meal with Mom plus a walk together made for a lovely lunch date.