Sad to say, the quality of this place has dropped steeply. Service is terrible now. Stuff that used to be provided immediately like green onion/garlic for sauces now have to be requested. It takes multiple asks to get something delivered and the wait staff attitude is piss-poor. As for food, it's like they don't care about quality as they slice. XL is now 20 pieces. Beef toro was brought out as a messy clump and other meats were sliced so thin they fall apart right as you put it in water This is sad for a once great restaurant. Will def be looking for other shabu options now. read more

There's a reason AYCE hotpot is AYCE hotpot - you get what you pay for. You pay more for the quality of meat here, and it's worth it. My go to is the sukiyaki soup base with the toro fatty belly. The dipping sauces are top notch here as well. read more

Mokkoji - Sukiyaki soup with toro fatty belly - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Friend- wanna get shabu shabu? Me- not really a fan Friend- this place will change your mind. It did I absolutely love the food here. I came a couple times after and the service is amazing. Very helpful staff that had all my questions answered. You can't go wrong with the food since you are the one customizing it and able to control the pot temperature. I love the thin sliced beef with the broth. My favorite although simple is just the broth and meat. But just to my taste. They have amazing options. A safe order is spicy miso OR sukiyaki, mokkoji cut . They provide the vegetables for free. read more

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We came before 9pm but they served us very bad, they take care the people that came after us. We had orders of pork belly and brisket but they brought out pork belly until they asked us how we were doing a while later, and we had to ask 3 times for hot drops until they finally they bring it out. read more

I've been coming to mokkoji for a while and never left a review but I have to because our server Ethan really went above and beyond in taking care of us. He's really informative and helpful and friendly. Food is always delicious here (hence why I'm a regular lol) . My favorite soup is the spicy miso and pork bone. Thank you Ethan!! You made this experience especially special . read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

@mokkoji.irvine Location: Irvine, CA Ordered: Shabu Shabu meat 32pieces with spicy broth and veggies. . Review: My go-to shabu shabu bar in Irvine. Place is clean and their shabu meat is great. There is usually a line outside so I recommend to be in the waitlist on yelp once list is open. They don't accept reservation. Veggies are refillable except for tofu (extra charge). Had great shabu lunch today. read more

Mokkoji - Brisket 32 Pc - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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JANELLE and the team really are awesome. She's really wonderful. Thank you! Super clean. Hard workers. My favorite order: original broth Taro fatty belly Condiments with extra green onion read more

Absolutely YUMMMMM!!! Was randomly in town from South County and happened upon this spot for a light dinner. We got the chicken broth and sukiyaki broth. The chicken broth was divine. I kept wondering how many hours it took to develop the flavor. The sukiyaki was also a nice sweet balance. We chose the first beef option on the menu with the marinated spices. I think it's extra garlic and scallion. The flavor really build up in the broth-- worth it! Your meat platters come with rice and veggies. And the tofu has a cute stamp with the restaurant name. read more

Mokkoji - Marinated meat - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Found an amazing shabu place in OC! One of the best shabu shabu I've had so far! The wait is usually really long - up to an hour or more but it's definitely worth the wait! We got the Toro Fatty belly with Spicy Pork Broth and Flat Iron "Mikkoji Cut" with Spicy Sukiyaki. Ordered 14 pieces but the cut of the meats felt like there was so much more. We also got the Shishito Peppers which were amazing! The orders came with a yuzu and a sesame peanut sauce. We got to add hot drops of ghost reaper spice into the peanut sauce which definitely added a delicious kick to it. There was also a great amount of veggies for your broth. The quality of the meats were top-notch and tasted so good with both broths. Toro fatty belly was so tender and flavorful and the Flat Iron cut was nicely marinated and delicious. My favorite is probably the toro fatty belly and the spicy sukiyaki because the broth comes with an egg for dipping and it makes the meat taste heavenly. Servers were super friendly and service was pretty fast. For high quality meats and tasty broth, Mokkoji is definitely the best! I highly recommend this place for delicious shabu shabu! read more

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I'm so surprised it's taken us this long for me to make a review, we've been going here almost weekly and we love the food, my husband and 2 kids are weekly hot spot. The service is great the food is amazing and it hits our weekly cravings. We've been trying different locations but this is by far the best and we come from south Orange County. Great place, service and ambiance !!! And we will be coming In today! read more

Food is great, Service is great! !! MUST GET MARINATED MEAT AND GARLIC!! Food: - Shared 32pcs Flat Iron: it was so good!! Price wise was great and it included assorted veggies, corn, enoki mushroom, rice, and udon. The inclusions comes in pair of 2, so its quite alot. You get Sesame and the shabu sauce as well and they ask you if you want the spicy drops on them. I got 3 drops because 1 was not enough. So it ended up being a little spicier than I would have liked. Go for 2 drops if you can survive the samyang original. Also, we got Spicy Miso for the soup base, its a 8/10 Service: - Staff was friendly and accommodating, everything was served quickly. Overall we paid $60 for 2 people. Very Satisfied. read more

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Restaurants was small so the wait times can get very long easily. But the food makes up for it! My favorite non-AYCE Shabu shabu place around town. The quality of meats are great and there are plenty of options. I always get worried I never will get full but they have different sized meats you can choose from. Comp cabbage and bok choy if you ask. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of the best shabu shabu restaurants but in a smaller location with high demand so be prepared to wait or add yourself to the waitlist ahead of time. Got the spicy broth with an large order of the flat iron beef. Beef cuts were high quality with great marbling. A large order of beef and a refill of veggies was enough to make me full. Service was quick and overall very tasty sauces and marinade to go along with the shabu shabu. read more

Mokkoji - Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This used to be one of my favorite spots but I left really disappointed with my last visit. The service was just terrible. Came here for a party for 3 on a Sunday night and the restaurant was just starting to get busy. It took awhile for the server to come and take our order but we were pretty understanding. It then took a really long time for our waters to come out, so long that we actually had to remind our server for our waters. We also got one of our meats ordered wrong, so we had to wait even longer for our food. We ordered miso broth but it lacked flavor so we had to ask for additional paste, which no surprise, did not come out until we had to again remind our server to bring it out. Not once during our meal did we have someone to check in on us or ask if we needed anything else. We also had a really hard time in general getting any servers attention. I don't think I would return. read more

The seating situation here is absolutely atrocious. I love the food here, but the hosts and hostesses can't properly seat a restaurant to save their lives. I always have to end up waiting an extra 40 minutes whenever I come here and it's so frustrating especially when I'm bringing guests from out of town. I hate to be that person, but the host and hostesses that were working on 12/30 around 7PM kept communicating wrong information to us and it really tainted my friends' first experiences here. I love the food here and i will continue to come back, but I would never bring a visitor back. read more

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Really fresh food. Good beef and seafood. My sister and I really enjoyed the lunch there.

May have been a stroke of bad luck because the place is popular and is always busy . We were here during the Holiday season and later that evening the entire family had varying bouts of Gastroenteritis. Willing to give this place another shot because the flavors were tasty, just unfortunate that we all got food poisoning. read more

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Great service and great food! There is so much flavor! the Mokkoji cut is the best! I would definitely recommend!

I've been coming here for years and it is hands down my favorite shabu spot! The wait can get long, but just use the yelp waitlist. Service is efficient and they don't mind when I sometimes modify my veggies! Ambiance is poppin and lively. I get the garlic shrimp, fatty toro Mokkoji's style and original broth, but the spicy pork broth is good too. The goma is soooo delicious! My go-to spot. read more

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Been coming here for years and it's consistently good. Great meat quality and broth. Individual pots and not shared.

Perfect food for the cold weather! I ordered the spicy miso broth and the XL Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" with Pork Belly. I am in love the with goma sauce with 1 hot drop. Definitely recommend checking in on the Yelp waitlist to save time. read more

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I can't believe this is my first review. My husband and I and our kids go there every week religiously. The food is always great. The service is fast and efficient. It's located next to Starbucks the restaurant is kind of small and gets packed quick. You'll love it! read more

I have been visiting the Irvine Mokkoji location for years and plan to continue going during non-peak hours. My favorites are the pork broth and marinated toro. While the food is great, the service can be inconsistent, especially when it's busy. There's usually enough staff when I'm there, but the place is quite small, often leaving me elbow-to-elbow with other customers. Additionally, it gets extremely cold at this location. read more

quality isn't the same anymore, the flat iron was super tough to chew and the restaurant really needs a good refresh and deep cleaning because the furniture have all seen better days. the service was ok until they charged my credit card on another party's check, although refunded but that's a mistake that shouldn't be made in the first place. when asked if we could split our checks it was a maximum of 3 cards and the server had the audacity to ask if we could just all venmo each other and put it on 1 card, he/she's lucky i ate with a group of very accommodating people. maybe the costa mesa location is better but the irvine location is not what it used to be. read more

You know how people always say don't believe the hype? Well this place ... deserves the hype It's good. The peanut sauce which is the only sauce i ever use, is damn good. I like it a lot. Free veggie refills also. So I asked for more kale. Yum. I got the cheapest meats. Same with wife. Total with tax came out to less than $45 that's cheap. Wife says she will only eat shabu here moving forward. Anyway I arrived on a Sunday right when they opened. 11:30 and there was already a waitlist !!! The heck !!! Anyway check In using yelp asap and you'll be good. Meat was really tasty. Marinated too! I got the miso and wife got the original. I just used a bunch of their sauces on the side and used all the green onions lol Yes, I'll be back for more. Yum. read more

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Delicious food and a good vibe! We got this on the whim and did not disappoint. Would recommend if looking for a hot pot place. read more

Mokkoji - We did the shared combo - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I can't say enough good things about Mokkoji. The staff (Tyler and Brady) make the meal with awesome suggestions and recommendations. This place is a gem. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Mokkoji has been an extremely popular Shabu Shabu restaurant that has been expanding in Orange County. Located in the Cypress Village Shopping Center, it's conveniently near many other food establishments, as well as other dessert places to check out afterwards! There's a large parking lot with good parking available, and you'll usually be able to find a good spot. One of the hardest parts about coming to this restaurant is the wait, but fortunately they allow you to join the waitlist through Yelp. Still, you should definitely expect a wait. I went in a group of four on a Saturday night and we waited over 40 minutes to get a table. But there's also seating outside while waiting as well. Once you enter, you can see why the wait times are so long. The restaurant is usually bustling. The restaurant is an overall casual vibe, but you can definitely go for any occasion! There are a lot of tables adequate for large parties as well! Each table has their own stovetop so each person is able to have their own pot! All of the waiters who helped us were very polite and personable, as well as so ready to provide recommendations when we needed it! This is not all you can eat, so you're typically required to order the quantity you want meat-wise. Considering how this is an individual pot, make sure you order accordingly! I ordered the large (14 pieces) size for the meat, and I was sufficiently full! But my other friends ordered XL (20 pieces) and they felt it was a good choice for them! I liked how their menu offered a wide variety of broths and meat. I got the sukiyaki broth and it was a great balance of sweet and savory! They also provide you with a bowl of vegetables, which I felt was a sufficient amount for one person. Overall, if you're looking for a non-AYCE shabu shabu restaurant, I recommend Mokkoji! I only took one star off because of the long wait times, but overall, I do think it's worth the wait, as long as you have the time for it! read more

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Cool ambiance. Staff is generally nice. Foh staff is pretty haughty though. Guys, you're not the only shabu place in town. Randomly closers early one night we were there. There are other places a few miles away. Go there read more

This is hands down my favorite shabu restaurant. The marinated meats, broth, and sauce quality are hard to beat. My favorite broth is the spicy sukiyaki. I would recommend this place to shabu snobs and shabu newbies. The menu is very straightforward, and the quality is there. The only downside is that it is pricey for something you cook yourself. read more

Love the meat and sauce！I ordered Miso broth with Toro "Fatty Belly" . Rice and vegetable are included. Miso broth is not salty ！！which is good！Meat is fresh and tender！！ read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Love food , service and place the people are amazing . The quality of the meat everything fresh and clean read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Really good food. Fresh veggies. Quality beef and delicious sauces. Just add one drop of chili oil for a good heat. read more

Mokkoji - XL NY steak with original broth and one drop of chili oil in each sauce - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Mokkoji will always have a special place in my heart. This has always been our go-to for after hikes, a catch up session with a friend, for family birthdays and especially a casual dinner out during the colder days. The quality of the meat, sides and sauces altogether are fantastic. It's always packed because it's so good. The only complaint I'd have is for them to invest in a bigger space haha but aside from that it's a must go. read more

High quality shabu shabu -- overall such a great eating experience. The meat was super fresh and well-marinated, and the soup broths were flavorful but not overly salty. Service was really quick and attentive, and they were able to refill the soup base. read more

Mokkoji - Toro Fatty Belly - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I want to come back but the service is terrible. The waiter didn't even ask what I ordered when serving the meat, gave mine to my friend. He questioned customers multiple times throughout the meal. I saw how he served some others, felt discriminated. read more

Can't believe I have yet to review Mokkoji! I highly recommend coming when they open so there will be a lot of space. It does get pretty crowded on the weekend. The food is always consistent. I always go with the spicy pork bone broth or spicy sukiyaki along with a large marinated flat iron steak. They give free veggies and rice refills. Ask for hot drops to add a nice kick to the sauces they make. If you can handle spicy, I'd go with 3 or more drops. Overall, mokkoji is one of the best spots. read more

Mokkoji - Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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The best shabu place. One of the things I miss about living in OC is being close to this place. Whenever I'm in Irvine I try to go here. Assortment of veggies is good and the fatty toro and iron cut are my favorite meats to get. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

My girlfriend and I finally got a chance to try Mokkoji because we were in the area running errands! We've heard nothing but good things, so we were definitely excited to eat. We came in with a game plan because we explored the menu before hand. That game plan was a large order of beef belly for me, and my girlfriend got the same and added seafood for an additional $6. This is one of those instances where the food tastes just as good as the photos look. Toro Beef Belly: So. Damn. Good. The beef belly was so tender and delicate, it broke apart just right when you chew. The way it cooks also makes it an excellent dipper, so you get plenty of ponzu or goma with each bite. Not sure if it comes with the sauce/marinade by default, but you absolutely have to get it with it. Spicy Miso Broth: The presentation looks VERY appetizing. They put a big ball of miso and it dissolves as the pot boils. The broth itself wasn't anything memorable, but it was better than spicy miso at other shabu places I've been to. Goma: I felt like the goma sauce was worth mentioning. I normally dislike goma because it's gritty and I just don't like the taste of it in general, but Mokkoji's goma is a huge exception. I actually *really* like the goma here! Other things worth mentioning briefly is the bowls they use to grind sesame seeds. It makes grinding the seeds sooo easy because of the grooves in the bowl. The hot drops here are ghost pepper extract. I ended up putting 4 in my sauces and soup, but honestly I could have probably done double and be okay. However, I eat spicy on daily basis and am always looking to push my spice tolerance to the test. The only other thing was the rice. It was too mushy, but that's just a personal preference. Mokkoji has definitely made it on my list of restaurants to visit from time to time. The sauces, the meat, and the service was all great. Definitely looking forward to my next meal here! read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I love getting the toro beef with chicken broth. It's my favorite place for Shabu Shabu in the Southern California region. My girlfriend likes the spicy miso the most. Overall this will forever be a spot in my restaurant rotation. It's like a 1-2 times a month vibe read more