Minari-packed white broth shabu-kalguksu in Gogidong, Yongin: Yun Ujae

Why go back to Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu in Gogi-dong, Suji, Yongin

Today's the story of a Yongin restaurant I loved so much I went back again — Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu in Suji-gu, Yongin. I'd actually been a regular here even before I started blogging about it.

The address is 3 Gogi-ro 173beon-gil, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 1st floor, and the hours are 11:00–20:50, with a break time from 15:00–16:30 and last order at 20:00.

Parking at Yun Ujae: lot full by early lunch, side lot as backup

Even though I visited Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu, a Yongin shabu-shabu spot, during an early lunch hour, the parking lot was already full. They have a side lot ready for when that happens. The parking is well set up, so it's genuinely great for family gatherings or moms' meetups. I imagine a lot of people already know this Yongin restaurant, Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu.

How the wait works: CatchTable sign-up and a seated waiting room

Usually during lunch, weekends and holidays you'll need to register for waiting through CatchTable. Even at our early lunch visit, the tables were already full, and right after we sat down the next guests had to wait. One big plus is the customer waiting room where you can sit while you wait after registering. I've also waited there myself on a weekend visit — sat down in the waiting room after putting my name in.

Private dining rooms at Yun Ujae for family gatherings

As a Yongin shabu-shabu spot, I've noticed people come in for meals whether it's weekday lunch or dinner, no difference. Every time I've visited before, it's been packed with guests, and it was the same the day of this visit. Another perk: there's a separate dining room, which makes it a great space for family gatherings or moms' meetups.

What comes with the 11,500-won shabu-kalguksu, and how to pick a broth

The signature menu is, of course, the shabu-kalguksu. It's 11,500 won per person, with sirloin (70g) + vegetables and mushrooms + house-made kalguksu + fried rice. With sirloin, veggies and mushrooms, noodles, and fried rice all included at that price, it makes for a satisfying full meal. Besides the noodles, there's also a savory pancake (jeon) that's good to order as a side. You choose your broth first, then order your shabu-kalguksu.

• Red — regular / spicy
• White — mild / regular / spicy

White broth at regular spice, loaded with minari (water dropwort)

We went with white broth, regular flavor, for our shabu-kalguksu. Thanks to the namhae anchovy and wando kelp, it had a nice savory depth while staying light — I'd recommend white broth, regular flavor, if you want something clean and mild. The broth was clear and light, so it soaked nicely into the noodles and fried rice by the end. Our shabu-kalguksu also came piled high with minari (water dropwort). You can add extra minari too, so if you love it, you've got to add more, right?

The dipping sauce ratio: 2 soy sauce : 1 wasabi : chili dadaegi

The special dipping sauce is a must, too — soy sauce 2 : wasabi 1 : ttaengcho dadegi, following the ratio they suggest, and I'd recommend dipping the meat in it. The meat and vegetables were already tasty on their own, but dipping them in the special sauce made them even better.

Kalguksu noodles timed by hourglass, then fried rice to finish

They use an hourglass to time the noodles precisely, so the kalguksu came out chewy without going soft or overcooked — really delicious. And of course, you can't skip the fried rice at the end. If you're looking for a Yongin shabu-shabu restaurant, don't overthink it — I'd recommend heading to Yun Ujae Shabu Kalguksu for dinner tonight or this weekend.