Best Affordable & Delicious Hotpot in Gangnam, Seoul — Shabro21 Gangnam Restaurant Review

Best Affordable & Delicious Hotpot in Gangnam, Seoul — Shabro21 Gangnam Review

Discover Shabro21 Gangnam, one of Seoul’s most talked-about shabu-shabu restaurants. Clean broth, fresh ingredients, and budget-friendly prices — here’s my honest local review with must-try menu picks.

Contents

Shaburo 21 Gangnam Restaurant: Basic Information

Restaurant Name	Shaburo 21 Gangnam Branch
Type of Cuisine	Japanese Cuisine in Korean Style
Restaurant Opening Date	May 10, 2024
Restaurant Address	13-5, Gangnam-daero 102-gil, Yeoksam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Restaurant Business Hours	Daily from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Last Order: 8:30 PM)
Parking	No Parking Available
Seating Capacity	Hall Tables and Counter Seating for 20+ Guests
Amenities	Free High-Speed 5G Wi-Fi, Clean Restrooms Separated by Gender, Suitable for Groups of 4 or More, Complimentary Fresh Filtered Water

Shaburo 21 Gangnam Branch(shortened to Shaburo 21 Gangnam) is located on a hillside along Gangnam-daero, between Gangnam Station and Sinnonhyeon Station. It sits in the alley directly behind CGV Gangnam(a multiplex cinema). Since the restaurant is listed on Google Maps, it’s easy to find.

Shaburo 21 Gangnam does not have its own parking lot. If you’re driving, it’s recommended to use Yeoksam Culture Park Public Parking Lot No. 2 (Click the Link), which is an outdoor lot with EV charging available. Compared to regular paid parking, it’s more affordable (₩300 per 5 minutes, roughly ₩3,600 per hour). From there, it’s about a 10-minute walk to the restaurant. 

Shaburo 21 Gangnam Restaurant: Menu and Prices 

Menu	Price (KRW)
샤브로21 샤브샤브 Shabro21 Basic Broth Shabu-Shabu, One Serving (Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g + vegetables)	₩7,500
얼큰 샤브샤브 Spicy Korean-Style Broth Shabu-Shabu, One Serving (Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g + vegetables)	₩8,500
포 샤브샤브 Vietnamese-Style Pho Beef Broth Shabu-Shabu, One Serving (Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g + vegetables)	₩8,500
미소 샤브샤브 Japanese-Style Miso Broth Shabu-Shabu, One Serving (Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g + vegetables)	₩8,500
마라 샤브샤브 Chinese Sichuan-Style Mala Soup Broth Shabu-Shabu, One Serving (Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g + vegetables)	₩8,800
반반 샤브샤브 Half & Half Shabu-Shabu, One Serving  (Choose 2 broths)	₩9,000
스키야키 Sukiyaki, One Serving (Choice of Beef Brisket or Beef Chuck, 90g + vegetables)	₩8,500
추가 소고기 Extra Order: Sliced Frozen Beef Brisket 90g (One Serving)	₩3,800
추가 모둠 야채 Extra Order: Assorted Vegetables (One Serving)	₩3,000
· 피쉬볼 꼬치 (Fishball Skewer, 1ea) · 어묵 꼬치 (Fish Cake Skewer, 1ea) · 물만두 (Mini Dumplings, One Serving) · 계란죽 (Egg Porridge, One Serving) · 손칼국수 사리 (Hand-cut Noodles, One Serving) · 도삭면 사리 (Knife-shaved Noodles, One Serving) · 쌀국수 사리 (Rice Noodles, One Serving) · 분모자당면 사리 (Sweet Potato Glass Noodles, One Serving) · 넓적당면 사리 (Wide Glass Noodles, One Serving)	₩1,500 per item
공깃밥 Steamed White Rice (Bowl, One Serving)	₩1,000
계란 Egg, 1ea	₩800
· 규동 (Gyudon, Japanese-Style Beef Rice Bowl, One Serving) · 부타동 (Butadon, Japanese-Style Pork Rice Bowl, One Serving)	₩6,500 per item
· 카라이 규동 (Karai Gyudon, Spicy Japanese-Style Beef Rice Bowl, One Serving) · 카라이 부타동 (Karai Butadon, Spicy Japanese-Style Pork Rice Bowl, One Serving)	₩6,800 per item
샤브로 21 하이볼 [플라워/미도리/레몬/핑크자몽/콜라임/자몽허니블랙티/위스키] Shaburo 21 Highballs (Choose Your Flavor: Flower, Midori, Lemon, Pink Grapefruit, Cola Lime, Grapefruit Honey Black Tea, or Whiskey)	₩3,800
· 산토리 하이볼 (Suntory Highball)  · 봄베이 하이볼 (Bombay Highball) · 짐빔 하이볼 (Jim Beam Highball) · 잭콕 하이볼 (Jack & Coke Highball)	₩5,800 per item
· 간바레 도쿠리 (Ganbare Tokkuri, Small Bottle Japanese Sake) · 고로시 도쿠리 (Goroshi Tokkuri, Small Bottle Japanese Sake)	₩3,800 per item
맥주  Beer (330ml)	₩3,800
소주 Soju, 1 Bottle	₩4,000
· 코카콜라 (Coca-Cola, 355ml) · 코카콜라 제로 (Coca-Cola Zero, 355ml) · 스프라이트 (Sprite, 355ml)	₩2,000 per item

Photo of Vietnamese-Style Pho Beef Broth Shabu-shabu at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Shaburo 21 Gangnam offers generally affordable menu options. The most expensive item costs ₩9,000, which is approximately $6.30 USD at the current exchange rate. 

As mentioned below, all orders at Shaburo 21 Gangnam are placed using a tablet PC kiosk at each table. Payment can be made by card or mobile. If you’re unsure how to use it, simply raise your hand to call a staff member — friendly assistance is always available.  

Shaburo 21 Gangnam Restaurant: Real Customer Reviews

Photo of the Front of Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of the Waiting List Kiosk at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Shaburo 21 Gangnam is very popular, so the restaurant is often busy. Upon arrival, enter through the main entrance and register your phone number at the wall-mounted kiosk to join the waiting list. 

Next, step outside and wait on the bench in front of the restaurant. When your turn is ready, you’ll receive a notification via the KakaoTalk app. After receiving the message, return to the restaurant and a staff member will guide you to your table. 

Photo of the Dining Hall Table Seating at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

We were a party of two, so we sat at a table for two. The seating is part of a wooden booth-style table for four, divided in half with a frosted glass partition for privacy. Instead of chairs, there are cushioned seats for added comfort. Beneath the seating, there’s a basket to store bags and personal belongings, making it easy to enjoy your meal. 

When you’re seated, two hot plates, two utensil holders, small plates, cups, and a thermos of chilled ice water are set on the table. I always wipe down the table with a wet napkin when I visit restaurants, but at Shaburo 21 Gangnam, everything was already clean — utensils, cups, and plates were spotless. 

Since the dishes are cooked at the table, if you want to avoid splashes on your clothes, you can request a disposable bib.  

Photo of the Tablet Kiosk at the Dining Hall Table in Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of the Tablet Kiosk at the Dining Hall Table in Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Each table is equipped with a mini tablet kiosk. You can select your menu items and complete payment here, which sends your order directly to the kitchen for serving. 

The kiosk allows you to choose your language, so you can switch to English. Don’t worry if you’re unsure — simply ask a staff member for help. Friendly assistance is always available. 

For our first round, we ordered Pho Shabu-shabu, Mala Shabu-shabu, Tokkuri (Japanese sake), and a Pink Grapefruit Highball. 

Photo of the Shabu-shabu Table Setup at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of the Pink Grapefruit Highball at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of Tokkuri (Japanese Sake) at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of Tokkuri (Japanese Sake) at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of Heart-Shaped Tofu at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

The Shabu-shabu table setup at Shaburo 21 Gangnam is neat and well-organized. The staff are friendly, serving quickly and hygienically. Once the broth in the pot starts boiling, add vegetables and beef in portions and enjoy. Since the meals are served individually, there’s no need to share, so each person can eat comfortably. 

I thought all Shabu-shabu might taste the same, but the broth here is truly flavorful. I tend to be detail-oriented, so I carefully observe everything when visiting a restaurant. The assorted vegetables were fresh and unblemished, and the sliced frozen beef brisket was of excellent quality and taste. 

Shabu-shabu at Shaburo 21 Gangnam makes for both a satisfying meal and a great pairing with drinks. 

Photo of Additional Orders at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

While enjoying our Shabu-shabu, we ran out of food, so we ordered additional items: Gyudon (beef rice bowl), more beef, assorted vegetables, hand-cut noodles, and one bottle of soju. The broth can be refilled anytime at no extra charge. One of our friends, who prefers a clean and mild flavor, enjoyed the Vietnamese-style pho beef broth, while I, pairing drinks with my meal, found the Sichuan-style Mala broth from China absolutely delicious. 

Photo of Gyudon (Beef Rice Bowl) at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

Photo of Gyudon (Beef Rice Bowl) at Shaburo 21 Gangnam

 

At Shaburo 21 Gangnam, the Gyudon is served with steamed rice in a bowl topped with beef stir-fried with vegetables and seasonings. The beef is infused with a smoky flavor, offering good quality for the price. The portion is generous for a single serving, making it easy to share with companions. 

Shaburo 21 began in the Noryangjin academy district of Seoul, serving affordable, hearty, and clean meals for students on a budget. Today, it has grown into a franchise brand, with locations in university areas and other neighborhoods popular with young adults. 

The most affordable Shabu-shabu starts at just 7,500 KRW, making it an excellent budget-friendly meal. Despite the low price, the food is fresh, delicious, and the restaurants are well-maintained. Some locations even have counter seating for solo diners. 

I’m excited to share this great restaurant with you. If you’re visiting Seoul, be sure to stop by Shaburo 21 Gangnam — highly recommended! 

Recommended Menu Picks

For first-time visitors, these menu items are highly recommended: 

1. Pho Shabu-Shabu – Light and fragrant, perfect for those who prefer a mild, clean broth. 

2. Mala Shabu-Shabu – Spicy and flavorful, great for pairing with drinks. 

3. Pink Grapefruit Highball – Refreshing and perfectly balanced with the shabu-shabu. 

4. Gyudon (Beef Rice Bowl) – Savory and comforting, ideal as an additional order. 

5. Tokkuri (Japanese Sake) – Complements the meal nicely for a casual drinking experience. 

Final Verdict

Shaburo 21 Gangnam is a must-visit for hotpot lovers in Seoul. It offers affordable prices, high-quality ingredients, clean and comfortable seating, and efficient service. Whether you come for a quick lunch, casual dinner with friends, or a drink with your meal, it delivers a satisfying and flavorful dining experience. 

💡 Pro Tip: Try the “Half & Half Shabu-Shabu” to taste two broths in one meal — it’s perfect if you can’t choose between Pho and Mala. 

Suggested Reading

Discover a Variety of Must-Try Restaurants in Seoul, South Korea. Check the Link for More. 

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