Couple's first tomato broth shabu-shabu in Seongsu: Shabu in Seoul

My husband and I were looking for a dinner spot in Seongsu, and it had been a while since we'd had shabu-shabu (thin-sliced meat swished in hot broth), so we headed to Shabu in Seoul Seongsu near Seongsu Station. When you think shabu-shabu, you usually think clear broth or spicy broth first, right? But looking at the menu, there was a tomato broth I don't normally see. It was a combination I'd never tried and I was curious, so this time I ordered something a little different. Let me tell you about it :)

Shabu in Seoul Seongsu: location and opening hours

Shabu in Seoul Seongsu (샤브인서울 성수점) is at 53 Seongsuil-ro 6-gil, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, on the 1st floor of Yuwonji Industrial Center, and it's open daily 11:00-22:30. On weekdays there's a break time from 15:30 to 17:00, and I hear dogs are welcome too.

It's about a 2-minute walk from Exit 3 of Seongsu Station. Come out of Exit 3 and walk a little, and the restaurant is on the building's first floor with glass walls, so it stands out even from far away.

Inside Shabu in Seoul Seongsu: good for a date?

The inside was bigger and more pleasant than I expected, and the seats are divided by high sofa-style partitions. Maybe thanks to the curved lighting on the ceiling, the mood was a little different from an ordinary shabu-shabu place. The partitions made it feel somewhat separate from the next table. It was nice for just the two of us, and I think it would work well for a date or a family meal too.

How do you order at Shabu in Seoul?

You pick the meat first, then choose the broth and the finishing meal.

We ordered 2 servings of Black Nine wagyu rib-eye and the beef tomato broth, which was marked as a best-seller. It was my first time with tomato broth, so I wondered whether it would really go well with shabu-shabu, haha.

Three dipping sauces and side dishes

After you order, 3 sauces (sesame, chili and yuzu soy) and side dishes are set on the table. They prepare fresh sauces for each table, which I liked for hygiene.

The side dish was a vegetable kimchi that looked like young radish kimchi (yeolmu-kimchi). It was nice to nibble on between bites of shabu-shabu.

Beef tomato shabu-shabu: is the tomato flavor too strong?

The beef tomato broth is a red broth that comes with plates of vegetables such as napa cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms and sweet pumpkin. There was a good variety of vegetables.

Once the broth boils, put in the vegetables first, and add the meat after they've cooked a bit. At first I worried that a tomato broth would be thick and strong like tomato sauce. But when I actually ate it, the broth was rich yet not harsh. The tomato flavor wasn't too strong and the broth itself was rich, which surprised me. Eaten together with the vegetables and meat, it went much better than I'd imagined.

Black Nine wagyu rib-eye tastes better without sauce

The Black Nine wagyu rib-eye was really tender when lightly cooked in the boiling tomato broth, and although I expected wagyu to be greasy, it wasn't as heavy as I thought, which I liked. I dipped it in all 3 sauces too, but the meat has great flavor itself and the tomato broth seasons it well, so personally I liked it better without sauce, haha. It was enough to taste the meat itself.

Tomato risotto to finish the beef tomato broth

If you choose the beef tomato broth at Shabu in Seoul, tomato risotto comes out when you ask the staff for the meal after finishing the shabu-shabu. They put rice, shrimp and more into the leftover broth and top it with herbs at the end, and the finished dish looked quite appetizing.

Personally I liked this tomato risotto more than I expected. It came out thick, yet strangely it didn't taste heavy at all. I hesitated a little when first choosing the tomato broth, but after finishing with the risotto I felt glad I ordered this combination.

Omija (five-flavor berry) tea to cleanse the palate

After the shabu-shabu and tomato risotto, omija tea (schisandra berry tea) comes out last. Cleanse your palate with the refreshing omija tea and the meal is done :)

Tomato shabu-shabu at Shabu in Seoul Seongsu: final verdict

Shabu in Seoul Seongsu, where I went with my husband, was a satisfying meal overall. I was a bit worried since it was my first tomato shabu-shabu, but it was much better than expected, and I enjoyed the risotto at the end too. With meat, vegetables and a finishing meal included, it felt worth the price. Above all, the interior was clean and the seats were separated, so we could eat comfortably. If you're looking for a shabu-shabu restaurant with a nice atmosphere or a date spot in Seongsu, it's worth a visit :)