Cheongrok Minari Restaurant Spicy Shabu-Shabu Review

Picking a lunch menu has been a surprisingly stressful task lately, right? I kept wondering what to eat, and this time I was craving something filling with plenty of vegetables, so I checked out a new spot.

This was 청록미나리식당 (a restaurant known for unlimited fresh minari and vegetables). I could help myself to fresh minari and mushrooms without holding back, and for 14,900 KRW, the meal included meat, kalguksu, and fried rice ingredients all in one set. It felt like a great deal. With the introduction out of the way, I’ll jump right into the review.

Cheongrok Minari Restaurant with its eye-catching green sign

🌿 Stepping into a Clean Dining Room With a Fresh Self-Serve Bar

Clean interior of Cheongrok Minari Restaurant

We arrived a little after noon and didn’t run into a crowd, so we grabbed a table right away.

As soon as we sat down, we placed our order on the tablet at the table. We could choose a clear broth, a spicy broth, or a half-and-half option. Since we were in the mood for something spicy, we went with the spicy shabu-shabu.

Shabu-shabu self-serve bar packed with fresh vegetables

After ordering, we headed straight for the unlimited self-serve bar. This was easily the biggest highlight here. The minari, bean sprouts, mushrooms, and other vegetables all looked incredibly fresh. Even in the hot weather, everything was well maintained and crisp. As someone who loves vegetables, this really hit the spot.

🍲 Diving into Cheongrok Minari Restaurant’s Spicy Beef Shabu-Shabu

Beef, kalguksu noodles, and fried rice ingredients included with the order

The beef rolls, fried rice ingredients, and kalguksu noodles were set up on our table in no time.

We added a generous amount of vegetables from the self-serve bar into the red spicy broth and let it come to a rolling boil. Mushroom, bean sprouts, and minari were provided by default, and we could always go back for more.

Once everything started bubbling away, we lightly cooked the beef and paired it with the softened minari. The distinctive fragrance of the minari blended naturally with the spicy broth and really woke up our appetites. The beef was tender and mild, making it easy to keep eating.

🍜 Finishing Off With Chewy Kalguksu and Porridge

Kalguksu, porridge, or fried rice made with the remaining broth

The carbohydrate course was the true highlight of shabu-shabu. After working through a good amount of meat and vegetables, we dropped the green-tinted kalguksu noodles into the broth. The soup had cooked down nicely, allowing the flavor to soak into the noodles. Even though we were already full, the chewy texture kept our chopsticks moving.

For the final course, we could make either porridge or fried rice. All we had to do was reduce the remaining broth and add the fried rice ingredients that came with the meal.

We ended up making porridge. The nutty aroma of sesame oil drifted up from the bowl and left us feeling pleasantly satisfied.

💡 Who Should Come Here?

1. Anyone who wants a filling meal with meat, kalguksu, and fried rice ingredients at a mid-10,000 KRW price point.

2. Anyone who wants to enjoy unlimited vegetables. The endless minari and mushrooms made for a satisfyingly healthy meal.

💬 Wrapping Up With Final Thoughts

If you enjoy minari, there’s a good chance you’ll love this place. The vegetables, including minari, bean sprouts, and mushrooms, could be refilled as many times as needed from the self-serve bar. While some people might think 14,900 KRW sounds expensive, considering lunch prices around Seolleung and Yeoksam, this shabu-shabu set felt packed with value.

📍 Location: Between Yeoksam Station and Seolleung Station
⏰ Hours: Daily 11:00 – 21:30
💰 Price: Spicy Shabu-Shabu 14,900 KRW
🅿️ Parking: Public transportation recommended

The restaurant sat almost exactly midway between Yeoksam Station and Seolleung Station, making it a convenient lunch spot for office workers around Centerfield and nearby business districts. Visitors could either walk from the subway stations or take a bus from Exit 1 of Yeoksam Station.