Yeongdeungpo Korean restaurant for clam shabu and porridge: Palmi

After suffering through a week of body aches and a cold, I was looking for something wholesome to build up my strength and found this great spot in Mullae: Palmi Jogae Kalguksu. It is a Mullae Station shabu-shabu restaurant where you can have clam and beef shabu-shabu, then finish perfectly with kalguksu noodles and porridge!

The atmosphere and parking at Palmi Jogae Kalguksu in Mullae

After 6:30 PM, you can generally park in front of nearby factories that have closed for the day. Otherwise, I recommend Mullae Public Parking Lot. Low-emission vehicles get a 50% discount, and there are a decent number of spaces. It costs ₩150 per five minutes, or about ₩1,800 for an hour.

There was a tank in front of the restaurant. I was already excited at the thought of eating fresh clams and seafood.

The interior is decorated in a Korean hanok-inspired style, so I especially recommend it if you want a more composed setting for older family members, an important occasion, or a family meal.

Sangria slush welcome drink

Once you order and wait, a kind staff member brings over a sangria slush as a welcome drink. Little touches like this really get me! You can also order more separately later if you would like.

I really thought the interior was beautifully done. The menu is more than good enough for a date course, and the space is comfortable with an atmosphere that is great for conversation!

Each table has a built-in induction burner. Most seating is at four-person tables, so I recommend it for groups of two to four, but there is also a separate room for groups. It accommodates 6–8 people.

Palmi Clam Shabu Kalguksu prices and basic set

Palmi Clam Shabu Kalguksu is the signature and main dish. Weekday lunch is ₩15,900 per person, while dinner and weekends are ₩18,900 per person, so it is also open for lunch in Mullae.

Apparently, you can get a Palmi T-shirt when you spend over ₩100,000. The design is not tacky at all, so I kind of want one.

If you take part in the receipt review event, you can receive one of the following: a glass of draft beer, stir-fried beef brisket and bean sprouts, stir-fried mala meat and vegetables, or a bottle of soju.

We skipped alcohol and ordered cider this time. Mixing it with the welcome drink made for another delicious little treat. You should try it too!

This is the basic table setting—nice and tidy, right? It seems perfect for a wedding-invitation gathering or a lunch get-together with coworkers. The sauces are sweet chili, chojang (Korean sweet-tangy chili sauce), and soy sauce, in that order.

The fresh kimchi here is incredible. It is exactly the kind of flavor that goes with kalguksu.

Clam shabu kalguksu in spicy broth

It looks small in the photo, right? It is actually huge. Really huge. I thought a royal feast was arriving! There are three broth options, so order according to your taste. The spicy broth we ordered was not overwhelmingly hot.

I liked that the pan itself did not get hot. You worry that children might touch such a large pan, but that concern feels smaller here! Add all the vegetables and mussels, then once it starts boiling, add the beef and cook it shabu-shabu style.

Quite a few people added more meat, but we did not because we were saving room for the kalguksu and porridge, and the portion was just right. The beef had no unpleasant smell and was tender. It tastes exactly like the good version you are imagining.

The clams were well purged of sand, so they were easy to eat. Abalone is provided according to the number of diners. The scallops, Venus clams, and mussels were all fresh.

Finishing with kalguksu and abalone-intestine-sauce porridge

Once you have finished all the meat and clams, it is time for kalguksu. The noodles arrive beautifully packed in a lunchbox-style container. Properly cooked kalguksu with kimchi is an unbeatable combination. This is when you start getting really full, but hang in there—there is still porridge left.

Ask a staff member for the porridge, and they will bring a bowl with some broth removed and rice. It comes with abalone-intestine sauce, which adds even more depth of flavor. The porridge is wonderfully substantial too. It is seriously good. Please make sure to save room for it.

A Mullae restaurant for dates and family meals

It was delicious, the portions were good, and it quietly felt like having a course meal, which made me happy. It is easy for families to enjoy without much chance of divided opinions, and high chairs are available for children. If you are looking for a calm restaurant with good food and an atmosphere suited to conversation, I strongly recommend it.