How odd that Heat Shabu was never on my radar when it has so many positive reviews and has been in business for so long. Glad my mom suggested it for her birthday dinner or I don't know when I would've ever gone! Service was excellent (both helpful & informative). Since we'd never gone before, we were offered a sample of the broths; this was super helpful and appreciated because I ended up not ordering one of the broths I thought I was definitely going to get. I got the Kobe Beef with Miso & Crab Rieu as the two broths. I was able to comfortably split the large size with my husband, but we probably could've used a slightly larger portion for his sake. (He felt a bit hungry after the meal but noted his stomach had settled.) As a party of 5, two of us shared one pot (or two broths) and three shared another pot. The chicken wings appetizer was very flavorful too! (The server listed three options for wings and we went with the one that included jalapeños.) For noodles, you can choose between instant ramen, fresh ramen or vermicelli. It also came with a small scoop of ice cream at the end of the meal! I think I'll come back for AYCE soon. All the ingredients were fresh and very tasty. read more

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Although this is not an authentic Japanese restaurant the food was good. The portions are on the smaller side if you are very hungry. I ordered the Large American Kobe Beef with miso and crab broths. It was an average size to feed two people, however I was hungry so I was not full after the meal. The dish came with thin sliced beef, veggies, and choice of noodles or rice. The portion of noodles was very small. The crab broth was my favorite of all the broths and had a nice crab flavor. The meal came with dessert which was a choice of ice cream; I chose the cookies and cream. The chicken wing appetizer was scrumptious. The wings were fried and coated with sauce with lots of jalapenos. Service was good as the employee offered samples of all their broths to assist in making a selection. After the food was served he checked if we needed anything and refilled water. There is indoor and outdoor seating. It was busy on a Saturday evening so reservations are recommended. Free parking is on the street. read more

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Cozy restaurant with both à la carte and ACE options. I came here on a rainy weekday and it did not disappoint. We ended up going with the ACE option, which is worthwhile if you are hungry. The quality of the meats were great and the side offerings were extensive. They even let you sample the various broths you can pick from, and any of them can be made "spicy." The service was quick and they come by often to make sure you are getting what you need. Definitely recommend! read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I made a reservation for Valentine's Day weekend for 6pm, on the 15th to be exact. The day of the reservation, I received a call from the restaurant to confirm my reservation. We arrived at 5:45pm and our table was ready. We got the AYCE shabu for $41.50 per person. They do offer other options for AYCE and they also offer non AYCE menu as well. For our broth, we got miso and tonkatsu. Quality of food was great. The broth was a bit too salty. There are 2 different dipping sauces. They offer ice cream for dessert at the end. We found it odd that they served ice cream in a really warm bowl. The ice cream was melting. We got green tea and cookies n cream. Both were really good. Services were top notch. We had multiple servers. All were super friendly and attentive. My boyfriend left his credit card there after paying. We were walking to our car and one of the server came after us to give us the card back. We really appreciated it. There are seating indoor and outdoor. Parking is limited in the back. Can park on the streets. This place gets packed so I will recommend making reservations if you can. read more

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Had to come back and update with pictures! We came in two days before Valentine's Day and the interior was decorated with the cutest love themed touches!They were also offering a special holiday appetizer: the A5 wagyu bao, and wow... absolutely worth it. The wagyu was incredibly tender and juicy, and the kimchi and veggies on the side added the perfect crunch and balance. It's $21 for two baos, but honestly worth every dollar. Service was just as impressive as the food. Shoutout to John,Mike and Sally they are always attentive, friendly, and genuinely makes the experience great as always. You can tell they really care about their guests. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I've been coming to Heat Shabu for a long time, and every single time I walk through those doors the staff hits me with that "hi, welcome back" vibe -- the kind of greeting that feels like you've missed your friends all week and you're finally catching up. It's warm, it's familiar, and it's exactly why this place stays on my radar. Came here with friends and had one of those nights that felt like the old days -- laughing, eating, taking our time, and just enjoying being out together. We got the AYCE and went all in... and I mean all in. We ate until we couldn't anymore. The kind of meal where you look around at each other like, "yeah... we're absolutely getting our money's worth." Our waitress was incredible. Attentive, patient, and always checking in on us even though we had her running laps grabbing broth, more meat, more veggies, more sides -- honestly, we ate the house down and she never missed a beat. That kind of service sticks with you. The food here is always fresh, the broths hit just right, and everything comes out clean and consistent. The atmosphere stays calm, cozy, and unhurried -- perfect for long conversations and slow bites. And the owner? Cool as heck. One of those people who sets the tone for the whole place without even trying. Parking can be a little tricky depending on the time, but once you're inside and that pot starts steaming, the hassle outside fades away fast. This is our go-to hot pot spot. Period. We won't eat hot pot anywhere else. Heat Shabu has earned that loyalty with great food, great service, and that welcoming energy that keeps you coming back again and again. read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Heat Shabu is definitely up there on my list of best places to eat at when it comes to AYCE hotpot in Sacramento! I want to mention that I've only been to the Fair Oaks location before this, and my friend and I wanted to try the downtown location this time. First, the restaurant is kind of small but when walking in, you are greeted by nice staff and a very simple but aesthetic interior that gives off cool vibes. We sat in the corner by the window and it gave us a nice view of the street. The menu is just like the Fair Oaks' location, same meats and veggie options. We decided to go with our favorite 2 broth combination, which is Tom Yum and Spicy miso. They were both pretty flavorful but the Tom Yum could be a bit more sour in my opinion. We ordered the American Kobe beef, Angus prime beef, Australian lamb and Berkshire pork belly, and they are all very tender and sliced perfectly! I also love that they offer fish balls with roe, and my friend and I are suckers for them! We eat at least 5 servings of it! The service was amazing! Our server was very attentive and came by frequently to check on us and to ask if we wanted to place another order. Like any other hotpot restaurant, you can order 3 proteins and any sides per round. Our wait time between placing orders and receiving them was less than 5 minutes! It was a great experience talking to the staff and eating there, and I would recommend taking your friends and family here if you want to grub and get your money's worth! read more

Heat Shabu - Pork, lamb and both types of beef. Veggies and fish balls. Tom yum and spicy miso broth - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I visited Heat Shabu Baru in Sacramento, CA [2416 18th St] on Thursday, 12/18/25, around 9 PM. I opted for the AYCE option. For the broths, I sampled all the flavors on the menu. For this time, I proceeded with the Tom Yum broth & BBH broth. The food items ordered included Mixed Vegetables, Ramen Noodles, Rice, American Kobe Beef, Angus Prime Beef, Australian Lamb, Wagyu Meatballs, Shrimps, etc. The entire hot pot experience was phenomenally delicious. Everything paired so well with both of the flavorful broths. The restaurant's interior was nicely decorated, clean, and inviting. The musical taste was super entertaining (including 90's/00's R&B). The service was attentively outstanding. All in all, I'd return to Heat Shabu Baru in the future. I recommend coming here for the hot pot fix! read more

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This place was very interesting. All the windows were all covered in condensation from the hot pot steam. They use portable propane stoves for some of the tables and I thought it was interesting how you can do hot pot at the bar area. This place gave "eating at your relatives house" vibes. So more of the focus was about the food quality. I liked that they have so many different unique broths to choose from and they even brought out all the broths to sample. The BBH broth was my favorite! The meats here were best I've had so far. HUGE quantities and the slices were thick, especially for hotpot. The prices are expensive so we opted for the lowest tier AYCE. The selection for this was definitely more limited, but regardless it's still a lot of food. At the end we got a complimentary scoop of ice cream, which was a nice way to end the meal. read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Good recommendation from a friend! My friend and I went on a weekday evening right after they opened, around 4:50PM. The space itself is on the smaller side with bar seating, and some of the tables were full when we came in. By the time we finished, there were people waiting for our table. We ordered from their à la carte menu. For their broths, we tried the miso and tonkotsu broth. While the miso was okay, the tonkotsu broth was definitely more flavorful and finished by us both. For the shabu meats, we tried the American Kobe Beef and Australian Lamb. I was hoping for more of the lamb taste, and so the beef was my personal favorite. The beef was tender after cooked and went well with the given sauces. We also had extra orders of vermicelli, udon, and fish balls with roe. I loved the fish balls, and it was a good portion size for its price. We also ordered a Shirley Temple, which was refreshing and light between bites. The place is more on the expensive side in my opinion, but the portion size and quality of meat is decent! read more

Heat Shabu - Australian Lamb, American Kobe Beef - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Took my daughter to try hot pot for the first time last night and of course, she is now a HUGE fan! I'd been to this place years ago and recalled it being tasty but last night definitely surpassed my expectations. First of all, the service is seamless and a vision of excellent teamwork. Our server Sally was so friendly and so patient when explaining our options. We opted for the all of you can eat so we could get a little taste of everything. We asked for 1/2 orders of everything b/c we're not the biggest eaters and still the portions were so generous. My daughter enjoyed the Kobe beef and ramen the most. I loved it all. The thin slices of pork belly & yummy lamb were my top contenders. The place has both inside and outside seating, it's clean and beautifully decorated. Parking was easy for us but I can see how it could be challenging on a busier night. We can't wait to be back!! read more

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This is our go to shabu spot! Great friendly service. We usually order to go since we have young kids and it doesn't take that long. About 20-30 mins. We do tend to order when they open. We always get the Kobe beef course with tonkatsu and spicy tonkatsu. Their soups are very good and flavorful. Kobe beef is good quality and very tender. My sons love the tender beef. The course comes with plenty of veggies, rice, and ramen. I prefer the fresh ramen and I believe you can choose instant ramen as well. Inside is clean and has a modern feel. Not too loud. We will continue to be regular customers here read more

Took my partner out to dinner here yesterday and LOVED it! It was our first time at hot pot and the experience was a 10/10. My partner is Celiac and this is one of the few places in Sac that offers a gluten free broth that is actually gluten free. The Tom Yum broth is gluten free and actually has a good flavor to it. They also offer gluten free vermicelli noodles and gluten free soy sauce upon request! I am not celiac but we split a pot so I ordered the BBH broth which had a nice flavor pallet to it with the just right hint of spice. The service was amazing. The staff kept our sides and protein consistently full throughout our experience. The proteins and veggies all tasted fresh and flavorful so no complaints there! The ambiance is very chill and lowkey. The staff were kind and the place was clean. I will be back soon for another great dinner! read more

This is one of my favorite hot pot places in the area. They open until 11pm which is a good amount of time. I came around 9pm on a Friday night and they served me right away. They have excellent service and very spacious seating. Shout out to our waitress Taylor with the great service and the rest of the staff. They are very attentive when we had orders. We got the AYCE hotpot and everything was so good. The best part was getting ice cream after! I would definitely recommend anyone who is in the area. read more

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Tuesday AYCE includes appetizers (2 apps per round)! I've gone with party of 2 all the way up to party of 6 usually for dinner or special occasions/get-togethers. Street or alley parking isn't too bad. It's easy to make a reservation either by phone, or I prefer DMs through their IG account. Mondays also have Happy Hour all-day and 10% off your bill. I like the BBH (bun bo hue) spicy broth, and the non-spicy tonkotsu (pork bone) broth the most. Also a fan of the American Kobe Beef, Kurobota Pork, Wagyu Meatballs, Fishball with roe, Shrimp. Included are mixed veggies and ramen noodles, and you can add steamed rice. Gunther's ice cream for dessert, so far I've seen green tea and either strawberry or cookies and cream depending on the night. 90 minutes max, everyone must order the same AYCE category, 3 items/round. Have fun Shabubus! read more

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Heat Shabu Baru was one of the better hot pot restaurants I've been to. I visited when it wasn't too busy which I was surprised given this restaurants reputation. My party was immediately sat and we opted for the All You Can Eat option which was honestly satisfying for us, at an extra cost they also have AYCE + Drink, and also a tier higher with AYCE Wagyu. Mike was the one taking care of us and his hospitality and attentiveness was amazing and made our dining experience fantastic. I was a little bummed out to hear that it would be an additional $4 to change our broth(s) flavor, especially since it's we opted for all you can eat style. One thing to note is that this place is very small and can get very busy at times (from what I've seen), but that wasn't an issue for us. Regardless of that, my experience here was really great because of the service and the delicious food. I will definitely be back here in the future. read more

I came here to celebrate my friend's birthday dinner. I've been seeing places like this before and I was always curious how the soups and everything would taste. We had all you could eat per person and the way it works. You pick your meats you pick noodles or rice. There is stuff for a little bit of an up charge that you could add. You choose the broth that you prefer. We had a pretty big party size so we had two hot pots in our table. When we picked our broth, there's two that we could pick per pot. You could control the temperature of the heat of the pot yourself. Once the meats and vegetables and all the goodies come out , you could just start dipping it in there. They also have a nice bar I ended up getting a drink. I do not. remember what it was called, but it was very delicious. The staff was very nice and attentive. I was not sure what drink to get and they created one for me . They also refill your broth and make sure you have enough toppings. They let us bring outside cake to celebrate my friend's birthday. We ended up ordering some ice cream for all of us . So we had cake and ice cream to end the night. Overall, my friend had an amazing birthday dinner. We had a great time together as a group. The food was delicious. Definitely recommend to check this spot out. One thing I recommend is come hungry lol . Perfect for groups . read more

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Loved the broth options deep and flavorful, perfect for hot pot. We tried pretty much every option to offer and favorites were the lamb, beef and wagu meatballs. It was a fairly busy night and staff were very attentive and efficient. It is a cozy spot perfect to enjoy hotpot with family and friends, glad I found this spot on my trip! read more

Heat Shabu - BBH AND SPICY TONKOTSU BROTH - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Quality over quantity! Selection is limited, but the meat here is quality. Surely the best soup base in town. Better than gogi, seapot & grand. I'm a soup girl, the soup & the meat is right there! read more

Heat Shabu - Angus Ribeye Prime - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I finally made it back to Heat Shabu after way too long and it was amazing as usual and I had a great time of food and fun. The shabu meat is now served in these cool rectangular trays just like in Japan and the soups are divine as usual. The staff is amazing and provided exceptional service and catered to our every need. The owner Anthony (great name) is super friendly and welcoming and he makes sure everyone there has a great time. I plan to return often now that Shabu weather is upon us! read more

Oh my goodness! I never knew hot pot could taste this good!!! I'm completely blown away!! Our waitress was super attentive and nice. Broth was flavorful (tonkotsu and crab rieu). We got some veggies, shrimp, Kobe beef. For appetizers, we ordered Kobe beef sashimi three times cuz it's that good! They also offered complimentary ice cream at the end and we got green tea. It was tasty too! Will definitely be coming back!!! read more

Heat Shabu - Angus Ribeye Prime - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I was way overdue for another meal at Heat, but finally made it back. Staff are really friendly and accommodating. From the moment you walk in you're greeted with their warmth. The staff will explain everything to you and make recommendations if it's your first time. Food is excellent quality and comes out pretty quickly, yet we never felt rushed. Laidback ambiance with R&B playing to enjoy your hotpot! read more

Best dinner ever. Never a disappointment with this place: Anthony runs An amazing establishment and jojo is an amazing server. read more

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Great time with my friends!!! Good price $41 for all you can eat!!! We came around 7:00pm and all the party arrived around 7:30 and they were still very accommodating! Ambience was great very chill and relaxed. Would definitely come again and I recommend everyone to at least try! Mike was a great server and provided to the amazing experience!!! 10/10 would come again read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Came by for ayce and was not disappointed! I loved the decor walking in, the spot is decorated nicely and the bathrooms were super clean. We also got the all you can drink sake hot/cold. Mike and Trevor were super hospitable, made sure our broth wasn't burning and that we had all of what we needed. read more

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From start to finish, this was a perfect dining experience. We were greeted warmly as soon as we walked in and seated promptly. Our waiter, Mike, was attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly without being intrusive. The food was outstanding! So fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish came out at the perfect temperature, and you could tell care and quality went into each plate. The menu had a great variety, making it easy to find something for everyone. The atmosphere was clean, comfortable, and inviting, making it the perfect place to relax and enjoy a meal. Service was efficient, and timing between courses was just right. Overall, this restaurant exceeded expectations in every way. Excellent food, exceptional service, and a great ambiance. I will absolutely be coming back and highly recommend it to anyone looking for an amazing dining experience. read more

When it's cold outside the one thing the body really needs warmth and something hot to eat or drink. Heat Shabu has both warmth and good hot food for those needs. It was pretty busy for a Tuesday night but come to find out they do AYCE on Tuesdays with much to offer from appetizers to meat options. Although we didn't have a reservation, we were sat pretty quickly but it was outside. Not to worry about sitting outside though as they have plenty of heaters to keep you warm. The service was good from start to finish as everyone is very helpful and nice. The broth for all the hotpot is delicious, this was our second time coming here and both times the Tonkotsu and Crab Rieu has been GOOD. All portions of meat come with a side of veggies and ramen noodles for your broth. We didn't take part in the AYCE but they do offer all their appetizers on that menu and honestly if you go that route definitely get the wings. Our experiences here have always been good and very little to complain about. I do recommend getting a reservation in advance just so you can secure a table before getting there. If in the mood for hotpot, Heat Shabu should be in your rotation. read more

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Still my favorite establishment for AYCE hot pot. On this visit, I added the wagyu rib. It was very tender and the meat was fall off the bone. I ordered my usual spicy tonkatsu and spicy miso broths. My proteins were the pork belly, angus and American love beef, and shrimp. The apple sake and green tea ice cream was the perfectly ending to my meal. read more

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Hands down still the best hot pot in Sac even with all the new ones popping up , this is still the staple & the staff is incredible as always ! They have new daily specials! read more

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Really amazing Shabu restaurant. First time trying this place. I was expecting a very large dining room, but it was cozy and intimate. Great ambiance and music. The service was really amazing too. We were sat quickly despite not having reservations, and we were frequently checked on for additional orders. The BHH and Spicy Miso broths were really flavorful. Also this is the first time that I've ordered shrimp and it was already shelled--very good quality shrimp. The Kobe beef and prime beef were really delicious and also really good quality. I would definitely recommend! read more

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I love Heat Shabu especially on Tuesday because they have all AYCE appetizers + hot pot. Services were great. The place is small so I highly recommend to reserve a table in advance . read more

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We were out here and got hungry a bit later than usual dinner time and on a Wednesday night it was a bit difficult to find a place open past 9am. This place was open until 11pm with last call at 9:45pm - which gives plenty of time to enjoy Shabu2. Service was great - we got sitted right away, took our order, and food came out in right amount of time. We got a la cart move large and added other meats to accommodate our party. Meat was great quality and there was enough veggies and noodles can with the combo. Their choice of broth was great and we tried Tonkotsu and Tom Yum. Both were absolutely delicious and full of flavors. They had about 12-15 tables and I can imagine place may get packed busy during dinner time. Highly recommend this place. read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Amazing, nice atmosphere, food was great, and the customer service was very nice to us.

Thank you to Sally for being so welcoming during our time here! She wasn't our original server, but she was much more friendlier and engaging than our original server. I got the BBH Broth and it was really tasty! read more

Heat Shabu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Enjoyed my visit here. The atmosphere was casual, and the hot pot was satisfying and fun to eat with friends.

Love this place! Tuesdays are always the best because of free appetizers. Great staff and ever better food!

Oop. For the price I was very disappointed. The broth flavors we got were bland- I had to throw so much garlic and green onions into my bowl. All of the meat tasted similar and had a rubbery chewiness to them. The service was good, we did have to remind our server about small things a few times. This place def gets poppin but there's other places out there that cost less and are a bit better. read more

Heat Shabu - Miso, tonkotsu - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

It's been over 10 years since I last reviewed this place. Oh does time fly! I have since came back several times, and the new additions are quite nice. Now AYCE is still expensive but considering inflation, it's in range with other hot pot places. They added a BBH broth which I quite enjoy since I'm Vietnamese. Their goma sauce is decent and if you ask for habanero, it gives it a nice touch!! I can't eat as much as I used to, so now we just do large entrees and that comes with veggies, complimentary rice, and a small bunch of egg noodles. Definitely call for a reservation because this place fills fast. I'm also happy they have a location in fair oaks now! read more

The food was really amazing and the service was quick. It was my first time trying hotpot and they even let me sample all the broths which was so considerate. Everything was delicious and it was hard to choose. Great prices and great quality. The salt and pepper wings were so yummy. The broths were really flavorful and the protein quality was very good. We went on a slower night so it was honestly very chill. Definitely recommend! read more

Heat Shabu - Proteins: Shrimp, American Kobe Beef, Angus Ribeye Prime. Broths: Spicy Tonkatsu and Tom Yum - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I absolutely LOVE Heat Shabu! This is my favorite shabu place in Sacramento I've been to so far, and I always recommend this place wholeheartedly. They have very different broths to choose from, and I've been like 2-3 times and sometimes they change it up! You can ask the server to sample the broths and they'll actually bring it out to you! They offered it to me, which was really nice! I've been seated both at the high top bar area and at the tables. I actually enjoyed the high top with just 1 person! It's way more intimate just as nice! I've never gotten ayce here, but I'm sure if's be excellent. I always just get the same wagyu cuts or my favorite slices of beef and one set of veggies. You can switch the veggies out for each other if you ask! I appreciate how flexible this place is, how much they care, and how good the food is. 5/5 and I'm coming back for sure! read more