Beef belly and pizza at Yeosu shabu-shabu buffet: Tongkeun Shabu

Hey everyone, your resident big eater is back haha ~ I got to eat one of my favorite foods, shabu-shabu, in Yeosu! I was on a Yeosu vacation and stopped by the seriously delicious Tongkeun Shabu on the way back, so I hope you enjoy this post 💕

Tongkeun Shabu hours, parking and how to find it

Tongkeun Shabu / Hours 11:30–22:00 / Last order 20:30 / Closed: none / Parking: dedicated lot behind the store

I was looking for a hearty meal in Yeosu and ended up at Tongkeun Shabu. I already like shabu-shabu, but hearing it was all-you-can-eat here got me excited before I even walked in 🤤 Shabu-shabu is fun because you pick your own ingredients, which makes it great for groups, and I went in ready to eat until I was properly full since it was unlimited.

What the Tongkeun Shabu dining room is like

Walking into Tongkeun Shabu, the space was bigger and cleaner than I expected, so it was comfortable to eat in. Since shabu-shabu means going back and forth for ingredients multiple times, the layout and table spacing matter, and overall it felt easy to move around. It seemed like a good spot for family meals or for hanging out with friends over good food.

Unlimited vegetables and shabu-shabu meat

You can't talk shabu-shabu without the vegetables. Dropping fresh vegetables into the broth to lightly cook kept their crunch, and eating them with the warm broth felt comforting all the way down. I don't usually get to prepare many different vegetables at once, so being able to grab as much as I wanted was a real plus.

That day I went straight for the all-you-can-eat shabu-shabu without a second thought. The best part of shabu-shabu is really being able to pick exactly what you want and cook it right away. Instead of piling my plate high from the start, I took small portions and cooked them in the broth as I went — just watching the ingredients cook in the hot broth already made my mouth water haha.

The best part of all-you-can-eat is not having to hold back when you want more of something good. I meant to eat in moderation, but once I started, I kept going back for a little more of the tasty stuff haha. Shabu-shabu especially suits this style, since it's a dish meant to be cooked and eaten little by little rather than all at once.

Rice paper wraps are unlimited too

At Tongkeun Shabu you can also make unlimited rice paper wraps alongside the shabu-shabu, so I mixed vegetables and meat to my liking. I dipped rice paper briefly in warm water, then piled on shabu-cooked meat and vegetables and rolled it up — great texture and a satisfying bite. The crunchy vegetables with the tender meat made for a light but savory combo, especially with a dip in the sauce, and I kept reaching for more.

The salad bar: pizza, sushi and more

Beyond the shabu-shabu, the salad bar had pizza and sushi too, so there was a real variety to eat. From warm pizza to easy bite-size sushi, it was nice to grab in between rounds of shabu-shabu. Since it's all-you-can-eat, I liked that I wasn't just eating shabu-shabu ingredients the whole time but could mix in other dishes too.

Filling up on meat and vegetables and then also getting to try pizza or sushi made the meal feel even richer. With shabu-shabu, rice paper wraps, and the salad bar all to choose from, there was plenty to pick based on mood haha.

Two meats, and why beef belly wins

There were two types of shabu-shabu meat at Tongkeun Shabu, and of the two, I really loved the woo samgyeop (thinly sliced beef belly). Dipping the thin slices into the hot broth for a quick cook brought out a really nutty, rich flavor. It was great eaten with vegetables, and also worked well rolled into a rice paper wrap. The meat itself had enough savory flavor that it was delicious even dipped plain in sauce. Being able to grab as much of this tasty beef belly as I wanted, thanks to the all-you-can-eat format, was seriously satisfying haha.

How many broths can you choose at Tongkeun Shabu?

There were several types of broth to choose from depending on your taste. Since the broth you pick changes the whole character of the shabu-shabu, it was fun to choose the style I was in the mood for. Options ranged from light and clean to spicy and unusual, so I felt like I could come back multiple times and try a different broth each visit. Cooking a generous amount of meat and vegetables in my favorite broth meant the soup itself was delicious too. Having both unlimited refills and a choice of broths meant I could really eat exactly how I wanted haha.

Tables for two as well as four

Tongkeun Shabu has both 4-person and 2-person tables, so seating was comfortable no matter the group size. It's good for a group of friends or family, and just as easy for a casual meal for two. Since shabu-shabu means cooking ingredients right at the table, table space matters, and there was plenty of room to spread out. Having dedicated 2-person tables also makes it easy to swing by for a date or a meal for two. With seating options for different group sizes, it felt like a comfortable place to eat no matter who you're with haha.

Cooking the beef belly in mala broth

Among the broth options, there was also mala broth, so I tried something a bit different. The subtle mala aroma and numbing spice gave it a clearly different character from a standard shabu-shabu broth. Cooking meat and vegetables in the mala broth let that flavor soak in nicely, and I think fans of mala flavors especially would love it. It didn't feel too heavy — paired with the shabu-shabu ingredients, it came across clean and easy to eat.

Drinks, naengmyeon and ice cream, all refillable

Drinks were also unlimited, so I could sip freely while eating without worrying. Shabu-shabu means enjoying a lot of broth and ingredients, so having a cold drink alongside was even better. Not having to worry about running out and just grabbing as much as I wanted was a nice touch.

There was also naengmyeon (cold noodles) available, great for a refreshing break in between rounds. After eating warm shabu-shabu for a while, the tangy, cold noodles reset my palate nicely. It paired well with the meat and vegetables too, and having a cold option even during a heavy, filling meal made the whole experience more varied.

Finally, I got to finish the meal off with ice cream for dessert. After eating my fill of shabu-shabu and everything else, ending on something sweet and cold was just right. Especially after eating warm food for so long, the cold ice cream felt refreshing. It's a dessert kids would love too, so it seems great for families. With food, drinks, and dessert all covered, I left having thoroughly enjoyed the whole meal haha.

What to know before visiting Tongkeun Shabu

Weekday and weekend prices differ at Tongkeun Shabu, so keep that in mind. I checked the price beforehand, and since it varies by day, I'd recommend confirming ahead if you're planning a visit. If you're going on a weekend, don't assume it's the same as weekday pricing — check the weekend price separately before you head over.