Hapjeong shabu-shabu for a wedding invitation dinner: Shabu in Seoul

The first time handing out wedding invitations after getting them printed. I decided to start at Shabu in Seoul, a well-known shabu-shabu spot in Hapjeong.

I figured it would be healthy, have enough distance from the next table, and be good for a cozy chat — a shabu-shabu dining spot serving 1++ Korean beef. Here's my review of Shabu in Seoul.

Where is Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch?

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch sits in the basement level 2 of the Hapjeong Prugio 1 building. If you know where Kyobo Book Centre and Olive Young are, you'll find it right away — it's on the main strip, a well-known spot in Hapjeong's Delight Square.

Definitely a popular place — there's a sofa out front and drinks set out for waiting guests. Even on a Saturday evening there was a fair wait, probably because once you sit down for shabu-shabu, you tend to linger and talk for a while.

If you're planning a good time with good people, it seems worth booking ahead on Naver Reservations before you visit.

Parking and the no-wait perk for pregnant guests

Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch, this well-known Hapjeong shabu-shabu spot, is also one of the rare places in Hapjeong where you can actually park. Park at the Delight Square 1 lot and it's processed as free parking. If you accidentally park at Delight Square 2, you need to move your car to Delight Square 1 within 20 minutes.

A perk at Shabu in Seoul: pregnant customers can apparently enter without waiting. What a thoughtful place... I'm about to hand out wedding invitations myself, so I guess I need to start a list of places with good perks for pregnant customers (?) haha.

Inside Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch: seating for a small gathering

The interior of Shabu in Seoul is mostly white and wood tones throughout. The vibe is sleek, and with a touch of hinoki-bath coloring, it somehow made me feel like I was about to enjoy a healthier meal, while also feeling comfortable and relaxed.

There's also a separate coat rack, so it felt neat but with just the right amount of formality — perfect for a wedding invitation gathering.

What comes with the table at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch

The pot for pouring in the shabu-shabu broth was already set up on the table.

With sauce dishes, spoons, and tongs all set, all that's left is to enjoy the shabu-shabu.

Menu at Shabu in Seoul Hapjeong Branch: 5 broths and their finishing dishes

At Shabu in Seoul, you basically choose a meat menu first. After choosing the meat, you pick one of 5 broths, order any extra side dishes you'd like, and then finish with a rice or noodle dish.

There were 5 broths in total: order the clear mushroom broth and finish with egg porridge, order the spicy mushroom broth and finish with rose risotto, blue crab doenjang broth comes with a doenjang rice roll, sukiyaki broth comes with yakisoba, and the recently launched beef tomato broth finishes with tomato risotto.

Changing the broth comes with an extra charge.

Once you've finished the shabu-shabu and want your finishing dish, you simply request it through the kiosk.

There were more menu items you could add on — the panda-shaped bunmoja (glass noodle jelly) is so ridiculously cute... but it was sold out. You can also order meatballs or lion's mane mushroom as extras.

If your birthday is coming up, it's worth using a birthday coupon when you book to get lion's mane mushroom as a free service. It also looked like a place that allows you to bring in a birthday cake for a party. If you're planning a birthday party in Hapjeong, Shabu in Seoul could be a great option.

Spicy mushroom broth and the three dipping sauces

I ordered the spicy mushroom broth, and the pot was filled to the brim. It looked more red than I expected, but it wasn't as spicy as the color suggested.

They brought out 3 sauces right away, along with chili peppers and garlic to go with them. Served in clean bottles, so I could add as much as I wanted without hesitation. These small details in the setup made it feel like proper hospitality, which suited a wedding invitation gathering in Hapjeong well.

And this is the basic radish kimchi. Need I say more.

Prime chuck flat shabu-shabu: how it tastes

I ordered the prime chuck flat shabu and they brought out two trays of meat. Looks like one box is a single portion. It had a gorgeous color and great marbling, perfect for cooking shabu-shabu.

I love broth with that beef fat (?) flavor in it, so if you're deciding what to order at Shabu in Seoul, the prime chuck flat seems like a great choice.

This is the vegetable plate that comes standard. Along with the basic vegetables, there were glass noodles, bean sprouts, and one cute little panda bunmoja tucked in, which made me happy.

That panda bunmoja is mine.

After thoroughly enjoying the shabu-shabu, it's time to order the finishing dish.

Rose risotto to finish the course

They cleared out the remaining broth and made a rose risotto with shrimp and mushrooms added in.

Rose risotto and omija tea to finish — Shabu in Seoul really felt like a proper course meal. It was great to enjoy a healthy full meal at a reasonable price.

On top of that, parking is available and you can bring in a birthday cake, so I'm giving Shabu in Seoul a big thumbs up not just for wedding invitation gatherings but for any gathering in Hapjeong. Where should the next one be! Review over.