Weekend dinner shabu-shabu in Seohae, Incheon: Shabuway

So many people I know mentioned Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch whenever we were heading to Ruwon that I got curious. I tried going as a walk-in once without a reservation, but the wait was too long and I failed—so the following week, I came back with a reservation. It already seemed to have built quite a reputation around Cheongna and Gajeong Station as a great shabu-shabu spot.

Shabuway Ruwon City Cheongna Branch: should you reserve on weekends?

Hours are 11:30–21:30 daily, with a weekday break from 15:30–17:00. Parking is available in the building, with two hours supported.

The first thing I noticed on entering was that it was much bigger than I expected. The restaurant stretches out on both sides around the central salad bar. The tables are generously spaced and the ceilings are high, so it did not feel cramped even on a busy weekend.

There were private rooms farther inside, and plenty of high chairs were ready too.

An easy shabu-shabu setup, even for first-timers

When I said it was my first visit, a staff member explained everything step by step. The guidance was so kind that it made a great first impression. First, we chose two broths. We picked one with shiitake mushrooms and one spicy broth; having two flavors in one pot would work well for a family with different tastes.

The basic set comes with three meats—beef brisket, pork shoulder, and pork neck—as well as plenty of vegetables. After that, you bring back whatever you need from the self-serve bar.

The meat I kept reaching for

But what I ended up being more into than expected was the meat. Since it was shabu-shabu, I thought I would just have it with vegetables and various accompaniments, but the meat was so good.

I kept going back for more—to the point that I wondered whether I had eaten this much meat at a meal anytime in the past few years. I lightly cooked it in the broth, dipped it in sauce, then made another sauce and ate it again. It was the same meat, but changing the sauce kept me coming back for more.

A self-serve bar busy with vegetables and sides

And what really surprised me was the self-serve bar. There were fresh vegetables and mushrooms, rice paper, and all sorts of shabu-shabu ingredients.

There were even dishes like suyuk (boiled pork), mala xiang guo, glutinous-rice tangsuyuk (sweet-and-sour pork), and salmon salad.

I came for shabu-shabu, but then I had to eat this and that too…

There was so much food that it almost made me busier, haha.

How to finish with kalguksu and juk

There are ingredients ready for adding kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) after the shabu-shabu, plus ingredients for juk (rice porridge), so you can really finish the meal properly.

I took the julienned cucumber and carrot that were set out for the kalguksu and wrapped them in rice paper, eating them like Vietnamese spring rolls. It was also pretty fun creating combinations exactly the way I wanted.

You can make sauces to your own taste too, and popular recipes are posted in advance, so even on a first visit there is no need to overthink it.

Unlimited fruit and ice cream too

Fruit, drinks, and ice cream are unlimited. There is seasonal fruit, along with unlimited soda and juice.

You can even have ice cream at the end, so if you bring children, there is no need to sort out a separate dessert after the meal. I liked it even more because there is no time limit.

Weekend dinner prices and a visit tip

When you eat shabu-shabu, you have meat, Vietnamese spring rolls, kalguksu, and then juk—it takes quite a while, right? I liked being able to eat slowly here without feeling rushed by the clock.

With meat, vegetables, side dishes, Vietnamese spring rolls, kalguksu, juk, and dessert all available to eat as much as you want in one place, I can see why so many people come for family meals. We visited for weekend dinner and paid ₩29,900 per adult and ₩8,900 per child. Adult weekday lunch is ₩24,900; weekday dinner, weekends, and holidays are ₩29,900; elementary school students are ₩16,000; and preschool children aged 36 months to 7 years are ₩8,900.

Just looking at the price, it may feel a little higher than an ordinary shabu-shabu restaurant, but seeing the self-serve bar yourself changes your mind. Do not end up making a wasted walk-in trip like I did—on weekends, I recommend simply reserving. If you are looking for a good shabu-shabu restaurant around Cheongna, Ruwon City, or Gajeong Station, make sure to stop by at least once!