Dongtan clear mushroom kalguksu for two with fish tofu: Deungchon

The family's regular spot after a weekend of deep cleaning

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch is a shabu kalguksu (hot pot noodle soup) restaurant on the 2nd floor of Gran Passage Green Zone near Dongtan Lake Park. This time we ordered two servings of clear mushroom kalguksu and added beef, fish tofu, and a rice ball for a family meal. It's near our house so we go fairly often — and it's the place our older kid asks to go to first.

• A shabu kalguksu restaurant near Dongtan Lake Park, good for a warm meal with kids.
• Clear mushroom kalguksu with added beef, fish tofu, and a rice ball made for a satisfying family dinner.
• Gran Passage's basement parking is available, and up to 3 hours free when registered at the store makes it convenient for family outings.

Last weekend the whole family did a big cleanup of the house. After cleaning and organizing all day, none of us wanted to do anything by dinnertime, haha.

"Let's just eat out tonight!"

The moment those words were out, our older kid immediately said we should go to their favorite shabu kalguksu place. It's near our house so we go there often — that place is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch. If you're looking for a lunch spot near Dongtan Lake Park to go to with kids, or a menu the whole family can eat comfortably, this might be worth checking out.

Where is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch?

Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu Gran Passage Branch is located at 2F, Units 2004–2005, Gran Passage Green Zone, 9 Dongtan-daero 5-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do. It's on the 2nd floor of Gran Passage, right in front of Dongtan Lake Park.

Since there's a CGV in the same building, first-time visitors might find it easier to just remember "2nd floor of the Green Zone." Business hours are daily from 11am to 9pm, with a break time from 3pm to 5pm. If you're planning a late lunch, definitely check the break time first.

Parking at Gran Passage: up to 3 hours free

You can use the building's basement parking on B1–B2, and if you ask the store, you can register for up to 3 hours free. When you're eating out with kids, having to walk far because of parking is exhausting before you even start — so this was genuinely convenient.

Honest review of the clear mushroom kalguksu and add-ons

This time we ordered two servings of our older kid's favorite, the clear mushroom kalguksu. Clear mushroom kalguksu is made with a savory bone broth, lightly cooked with mushrooms and minari (water celery). When people think of Deungchon, many think of the spicy broth first, but for eating with kids, I find the clear broth much less of a burden. Minari tastes best when it's only lightly wilted rather than boiled too long — the aroma stays alive and you can really feel the mushroom's chewy texture.

And here's an important point: the basic mushroom kalguksu doesn't come with shabu-style beef included, so if you like meat, you need to order beef separately.

We also added beef and fish tofu this time. Cooking the beef lightly while the broth bubbled, then eating it with minari — I got why our older kid loves this place, haha.

From rice ball to kalguksu to fried rice at the end

When you come with kids, the meal never ends with just shabu-shabu. We also ordered a rice ball separately. It was handy for the kid to eat while the broth was still coming to a boil — quietly useful for a family meal. After eating a good amount of vegetables and meat, it's time for the noodles! The noodles, soaked in the warm bone broth, made the meal really filling.

But I made one mistake that day. I forgot there was already a final menu item planned in what we'd ordered, and added fried rice on top of everything.

"Ah, did I order too much?"

I wondered — but no. Maybe because the whole family had used up all their energy on the big cleanup, we ended up clearing almost everything. Even when you're full, the rice fried after the soup somehow still goes down, haha.

Is Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu good for a family meal?

My criteria for picking a shabu-shabu restaurant in Dongtan are actually pretty simple: can both kids and adults eat here together, is parking convenient, and can each person order extra based on how much they eat. On those points, Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu is a solid choice for a family meal.

If you have a kid who can't handle spicy food, you can choose the clear mushroom kalguksu, and family members who like meat can add beef. You can also keep going from kalguksu to rice, making it easy to have a filling meal. The staff were also friendly when we visited, which made the meal comfortable.

Rather than a flashy special-occasion restaurant, I felt this place suits a family gathering or a weekend dinner where you want to eat something warm with parents and kids together.

Tips to know before visiting Deungchon Shabu Kalguksu

If you're looking for somewhere to eat after a walk at Dongtan Lake Park, the location is good, and it's easy to park since it's inside Gran Passage. Just note that 3pm–5pm is break time, and if you want shabu-style meat, don't just look at the basic menu — check whether you need to add beef separately.

If there are a lot of people in your group, I'd recommend starting with the mushroom kalguksu and meat first, then adding extra noodle portions as needed, rather than ordering a lot of everything upfront. You might end up like me, forgetting there's a final course and adding fried rice on top, haha. Still, it's no secret that we finished it all because it was delicious.

It's already such a familiar spot for our family that our older kid says "let's go here!" before we even suggest it. If you're craving warm broth and noodles, or looking for a Dongtan Lake Park lunch spot or a shabu-shabu restaurant in Dongtan, this one is worth considering.

• Address: 2F, Units 2004–2005, Gran Passage Green Zone, 9 Dongtan-daero 5-gil, Dongtan-gu, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:00
• Break time: 15:00–17:00
• Parking: Building basement parking B1–B2, up to 3 hours free when registered at the store