This is my go-to Shabu Shabu spot. I always order the large prime rib, which although expensive, tastes tender and delicious. I also love that they'll hook up the vegetables to your liking. read more

I haven't been to this place in a while. My daughter was craving Japanese hotpot, so we decided to come here. The wait wasn't too bad--just about 10 to 15 minutes. The setup is nice, with each person getting their own individual hotpot. We weren't super hungry, so we ordered 14 pieces of Toro Fatty Belly and 10 pieces of Prime Rib to share, along with rice, mixed vegetables, and noodles. The meal comes with two types of dipping sauces: one soy sauce-based and the other miso-based. I like using the miso-based sauce for meat and the soy-based one for vegetables. The meat quality is excellent--tender and flavorful. The only reason I don't come here more often is the value for the price. It comes out to about $45 per person before tip, which makes it more of an occasional treat than a casual spot. read more

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I love coming here, the quality of the meats is next level. My go-to is the spicy sukiyaki with egg and the 10 piece flat iron Mokkoji cut marinated. The meat is well marinated and tastes tender and flavorful when cooked in the broth. It cooks within seconds. I usually get full with 10 pieces of the meat bc it also comes with a side of veggies and udon as well as rice. Service is always great and it's one of my favorite places in OC. Highly recommend! read more

Mokkoji - Spicy Sukiyaki Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" 10 Pc - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

A nice meal to end a rainy day. We went on a Friday night around 7PM and the wait was around 30 minutes. They have a lot of seating so people were coming in and out pretty quickly. I got a spicy soup base with brisket. I think the soup base can be better. It tastes like water with diluted hot sauce. But other than that, everything was really delicious. The brisket was really well marinated and you can still taste the sweetness and garlic flavor after you cook it in your soup. They also provide rice, veggies, and udon with your order. read more

Mokkoji - Brisket - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Establishment is busy, clean and comfortable. Staff was very professional and attentive. Our server was patient and knowledgeable. We ordered the SH (share) 32 piece set of beef Toro "Fat Belly" with the original broth. This came with vegetables and rice for two people. Food came out promptly. Everything was excellent, very fresh and delicious. They provide two sauces, a soy sauce and a sesame sauce. The sesame sauce has a slight kick to it. Definitely great value. TLDR: Excellent service, excellent food, excellent establishment, great value. Would recommend! read more

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On a weekday, when there's a line before the place opens at 11:30a, you know it's a good sign! Also, they have Yelp waitlist available so get on it! We all had the lunch special, which was a good amount of veggies and protein. Went with the OG broth, which was good. The lunch special also included black or green tea, but no refills! Boo. Overall, had a nice lunch! However, with so many hot pots around, we'll venture to try other spots for comparison. read more

Great lunch special on shabu shabu. Plenty of food and great service. You also get a drink with the lunch special which is nice. The marinated meat is a good twist on a typically standard type of meal. The price is right for lunch. They offer extra rice or vegetables free of charge which also nice. Quick and attentive service. read more

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had such a wonderful dining experience here. The service was warm and attentive without ever feeling rushed, and every team member made sure we had everything we needed. The flavors were absolutely outstanding -- from the fresh, beautifully marbled meat to the rich, perfectly balanced broths and the variety of tasty dipping sauces. Everything was served with great attention to detail and at just the right pace. The atmosphere is bright and welcoming, making it easy to relax and truly enjoy the meal. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a delicious and memorable hot-pot experience! read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

An extremely good shabu place to hit! I had the beef toro fatty belly with the spicy miso soup base, and it was very delicious. I think the price point is a tad bit high, but the quality of the food definitely is up to par for the price, so well worth it in my opinion. Very much recommended when it's a cold day! Shabu just hits different on those types of days. Will definitely be coming back here again in the near future. read more

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

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I'm the kind of person who never really liked shabu, so I'm glad that this place converted me :,) I love the veggie selection, and the meat is always good quality and almost too generous in the portions. The 10 pc is the smallest quantity offered, and I can usually only finish 5-6 pieces at most. I'll probably try the shareable next time. Great place to go to for a quick and casual meal :) read more

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I love going back to a place 9 years later and my dining experience being exactly the same! It's always a nice experience here. I went to college in Irvine and as your typical broke college kid, I couldn't go to Mokkoji often so I'd come about once or twice a year. But I loved coming here. I recently came back last week and everything was phenomenal per usual. You choose your meat, broth and get a bowl of veggies and cook everything as you go. Love the concept. It's forever going to be my favorite shabu restaurant as bold as that sounds. Meat quality is consistent so are the broths. If you want even more flavor, get one of the marinated options. Sukiyaki and miso broths are my favorite options here. Also, I have to say they have the best goma sauce, you can't compare it to another place! If you like a rich nutty flavor, then you will like the goma sauce here! They mix their rice grains and it adds a nice subtle taste to your typical bowl of rice. My only complaint would be I do wish they served a piece of corn in the veggie platter. But other than that love love love this place! And their prices are better than other shabu restaurants- no one can compete! read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I come here all the time for the vegeterian pot, the food is very fresh, the soup is right on point wrt taste.

The toro fatty belly with Miso soup broth is my go to here! I put myself on the Yelp waitlist on Saturday night and the wait was around 40 minutes. As we got seated our order was taken promptly and our veggie sides and meat came shortly after. The ponzu and sesame sauce that comes with the meal are so good! You can also ask for hot sauce drops in your sauce if you like it more spicy. The ambiance is spacious and there's table and bar seating! read more

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

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Great place for hot pot, hidden gem. Food is always good, the marinade can't be beat for the meat. I love how much veggies they give, service is always good, and kid friendly. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

My FAVORITE SHABU SHABU SO FAR!! The meats are high quality and so fresh. The price is also reasonable and not really expensive. Staffs are friendly, and they do come around and ask how's everything. Mokkoji is unique and amazing in my opinion, and I do wanna come again with friends and family. read more

Mokkoji - Toro Fatty Belly XL and Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" XL - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

very quick and organized service! didn't have to wait long for a table and everything was so well made. i got the toro as usual and it was very good! not too fatty of cuts but not too lean. everything was great and i'd def have to come back! not a big restaurant and so many people close together so it made us smell like extra soupy and meaty after haha wish there was better ventilation but overall great experience! read more

Mokkoji is a wonderful experience. A word of advice is put you name down through yelp to help speed up the seating process. The Big Beef plate is delicious and can probably feed 3 people. I suggest just getting 1 drop of the spicy and increase it if needed. The service was great and they were very attentive. I would definitely come back... read more

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This is absolutely one of my go to Shabu places within Irvine. Unfortunately they have some of the worst servers I have ever experienced. On 2/16, we went for an early dinner and right from entering the door the girl working there with grey/blonde looking hair, looked annoyed that we walked in. When we finally sat down the same girl and a skinny short Asian guy continued to have the worst attitude. Bare minimum acknowledgement that we were there and continued to look annoyed every time we asked for something. Like if they are so unhappy to be there, don't work there. It's truly unfortunate that I had to go out of my way to write this negative review, because I really do love the food, but the service needs to do better. On the plus side, the skinner tall Asian girl at the end who finally checked on us was sooo much nicer and offered to get anything else and helped us check out. Kudos to her-wasn't able to catch her name. read more

Still love coming here with friends and family. Staff are so informative and helpful and will explain everything especially if you've never had Shabu before. The lunch specials are great too. We came here recently and got a two person meal and that was more than enough to feed us. Don't miss out on the seafood either because it's fresh and a bonus to create a perfect surf and turf. The veggies are also a great accompaniment to all the meat. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here a couple times with friends, mokkoji is always a safe pick for shabu shabu. the spicy drop is on the spicier side and it goes well with rice. meat quality seems pretty good as well read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm so glad there's more shabu shabu places because this is one of the OG locations in OC, and therefore, gets busy quick! But it will always be my #1 and I'm so grateful for their wait list! In the same plaza as a Kohl's and Starbucks and parking shouldn't be too bad. The location is small-ish, so a party of 2 is probably perfect? 100% yes to getting your meat marinated (it's SO pretty) and extra rice (brown OR rice! Complimentary) and the hot drops (but heed with caution: it IS spicy) read more

Overall I enjoy dining here. The food is good with nice meat quality and the dipping sauces, especially the goma with hot drops, are delicious. Subtracted a star because I disappointed this last visit because they were understaffed and took forever to seat us despite plenty of open tables that were waiting to be cleaned. The mixed vegetable plate was also less visually appealing than normal which is probably due to the staffing issue and not really the fault of the kitchen or wait staff. I also requested to pay for my daughter's table and the server said she would give us the bill, later to find out they paid themselves and were not told we requested to pay it. read more

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Mokkoji has been a staple for me since moving to Irvine. It's consistently good, service is always fast, and is always there when I want a comforting and warm meal. I always get the spicy sukiyaki with the marinated flat iron. The meat with the veggies makes it a well rounded and satiating meal. There are also free refills for the leafy veggies if you want to eat more! I also always ask for the garlic paste, green onion, and chili paste tray that I add into my soup or on top of my bites. Mokkoji is a long time favorite of mine and a solid choice for shabu shabu! read more

Mokkoji - shared beef set for 2 - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Great food and big smiles by staff We loved it. Been here many times and always satisfied. read more

My sister and I came here for lunch on a Sunday and I really enjoyed it! It's convenient that they have a Yelp waitlist online, so we were seated immediately upon arrival! We got the share plate (comes with 32 pieces of meat, good portion for 2 people) of the Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut", and it was delicious! Make sure to say "yes" to the marinade.. it really makes a difference in the flavor! And you can surprisingly still taste it even after it's cooked in the broth. The share plate is definitely a good deal if you're with another person. We also each got our own veggie set with the share plate. It's nice they actually give free refills on Napa, bok choy & the kale! I got the spicy miso broth. Lots of flavor and wasn't overly spicy. Their ponzu dipping sauce & goma sauce were delicious. Service was excellent. Our servers were attentive and were always checking in on us. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Really solid Shabu place if you're someone who likes quality meat. We ordered the toro (share set) and maybe bc it's the amount we got that the plate looked amazing. And it tasted great too. I think a lot of people are fan of the meats here. My friend and I got the share for 2 and it comes with drinks/soft drinks, a shrimp appetizer that was delicious, 32 pieces of your choice of meat, and macaron dessert at the end. The prices are mostly based off your choice of meat and broth. I love the veggies that come with udon noodles and rice so you won't feel like you should've gone to an AYCE. And the sauces are great too. While the table seems small, I was surprised that we could comfortably fit all our drinks, condiments, rice and veggie plates, and appetizer and meat plates. The only thing I wasn't completely impressed by was their broth. I feel like it's a bit more thin or watery, but not in a tasteless way but I think I like the more flavorful, thick broths of other places. I got the spicy miso but now I wonder if next time I should get a non spicy broth and add hot drops. I do know other people who like the broths here so I think it's really just preference. Definitely plan on waiting a bit when you're here bc it's quite the waitlist. We waited for about 30 min which didn't feel too bad and makes you just more excited to grub. The inside is smaller than what I've seen for a Shabu place but I like it bc it doesn't feel like a place that wants to seat a bunch of people as fast as possible which can create chaos and an overwhelmed staff. It was money well spent. read more

Mokkoji - Veggies. Comes with udon underneath - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Ugh, we got stuck in the cramped back room in a corner. 5 people crammed into a corner table meant for 4. It was very uncomfortable and a very tight fit. It made eating unenjoyable as there was no room for 5 burners for the hotpot and our food. The salad bar was small and dismal and the food portions small. With so many other hot pot and shabu options available in Irvine with better service, quality, and room to eat comfortably, we won't be back here. read more

Food is still good, but the service has really gone downhill. Rice, sauce, drinks, pot, and even water all came out separately from different servers, with long gaps in between. I've been coming here for years, and the service definitely isn't what it used to be. And I saw that while there are so many empty seats inside, the server asked customers to wait outside... I could tell they are not very happy read more

Today we stopped by this place for a friend's birthday. We placed our order and received the vegetables and broth first. However, even after asking multiple times, it took about 20 minutes before a staff member finally brought us the meat. After we finished eating, I asked an employee if there was anything I could use to mix rice with the broth to make porridge. Instead of explaining, the staff simply asked, "What do you want?" As it was my first time here, I had no idea what options were available, so the response was quite surprising and disappointing. I wasn't expecting perfect service or big smiles, but the attitude and lack of basic courtesy throughout our visit left me very uncomfortable. I don't think I'll be coming back. If you decide to visit, don't expect friendly service. read more

First time trying this place, and overall, I'd say it was decent. I've noticed that Japanese shabu in general tends to be on the simpler, blander side in terms of flavor and ingredients. Personally, I wish there had been more variety in the sauce options and side dishes--but that might just be my preference. When it comes to variety, I still think Korean shabu wins hands down. I ordered the house broth, which had a very clean, seaweed-based taste. My friend tried the miso broth, and we both found it a bit too bland for our liking. We also ordered the prime rib and the marinated fat belly. The prime rib was good quality, but the fat belly was a bit too fatty and oily for us. We were seated at a small two-person table against the wall, which felt a little too cramped. My friend was sitting right next to the counter, with staff frequently walking by and a mop leaning against the wall, not exactly the coziest setup. Would I come here again? Maybe, if I were really craving Japanese-style shabu, but it wouldn't be my first pick. read more

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This is easily my favorite Shabu spot in Orange County and it's consistently very delicious. I always get the mokkoji cut with the marinade and change out the broth depending on what I'm feeling. The service is very quick, but I will say that at dinner time it gets very busy and there's likely gonna be a wait. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This used to be our go-to spot. The servers are nice and helpful. Unfortunately, the last 3 times the quality of the flat iron cut has declined so hard. Today we had the flat iron again and it was filled with tendons, more like bones you have to rip off the meat when it's in your mouth - we were truly disgusted. We addressed it with staff and the answer was, "oh yeah don't get the flat iron". Then why have it on the menu?? He didn't seem to care about it, but It never used to be this way. We won't be coming back unless we try a different cut. Truly super disappointing as we've probably eaten here over 100 times. read more

Mokkoji - Tons of tendons in the Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" - unless you like that, wouldn't recommend it anymore. - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

WINTERTIME MAGGOTS, IT'S TIME FOR MORE HOT POT. Mokkoji in Irvine is satisfying all of our hot pot needs, especially for this chilly SoCal winter! It's an East-Asian inspired hot pot joint that is hard to beat in this heat....or lack thereof... They've got plenty of locations around OC, but the Irvine location is packed all of the time! Josh and I ended up waiting an hour and some change for this heated treat! Like I said, busy restaurant, but good, clean decor. Let's be honest, though, we're here to chow down on some meat veg, and hot broth! You get your own selection of broth, and various meat selections, from beef, to pork, to others, with different cuts of each! Josh and I got a share-size of the beef belly, and we asked for it MARINATED. They put on grated garlic, green onions, and sesame oil. Doesn't that sound straight gas~? I know it does to me! Look at this stuff, wowzers, it's serving, and I'm being sent! I'm holding space for this soup guys. You get the meat, various veggies, a bowl of rice, and some great dipping sauces to fill out your table. DIP DIP DIP and DIP some more, because that's what you do at hot pot, and you guys know me! You can get unlimited leafy greens here too! Gosh, they got everything here. read more

Been coming here for years. Food & service are always great. I eat shabu shabu once a month. Won't be going anywhere else soon.

This is my go to Shabu restaurant. The flavor of the broth is amazing. I typically get the flat iron and it is not covered in fat. The sides that it comes with to cook in the broth are delicious. Especially the large tofu that it comes with! Everyone is always very welcoming here and the service is pretty quick! I recommend this place to everyone. Recently, I brought my father and sister in law who live in Arizona, and they loved it as well! read more

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

I have been to this place a few times and it's FANTASTIC! It's my favorite SoCal spot for guests in town and perfect winter meal. The service is amazing as well. read more

We've been coming here since 2016, and I can't believe I've never written a review until now! Mokkoji is a great shabu-shabu spot where you order a set that includes a meat option, along with rice, vegetables, and dipping sauces. What makes them stand out is that their veggies (kale, bokchoy, napa cabbage) are essentially AYCE, even though it's not explicitly stated on the menu. They also offer "hot-drops" for those who want that extra spice in their soups! The quality of the meat is higher than what you'd find at an AYCE spot. My husband and I typically order our own entrees, but I recently discovered their "share" option, where a plate of meat comes with two bowls of rice and two plates of veggies--making it a better value per slice of meat. Life hack! The service is excellent, and the food is delicious. However, with the growing number of hot pot spots in town, it's becoming harder to justify coming here, as the price isn't much lower than AYCE options, especially with the added cost for broths. Still, it's a solid choice if you're looking for quality over quantity! read more

Mokkoji - Veggie Set - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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The first time I went to Mokkoji, I loved it so much. This was about 2 years ago. On my recent trip to Mokkoji, I was unfortunately left disappointed. For a non AYCE shabu restaurant, I generally expect better quality meat and better quality vegetables. Unfortunately, the meat that I received was about 65% frozen, and did not taste fresh upon cooking. I feel that the vegetable portions have decreased since my last visit here, too. For this restaurant being so expensive, I really wish they at least provided more of these cheap vegetables. After factoring in the fact that each pork bone broth costed $5 and the shared plate of meat was around $52, my friend and I ended up spending as much as we would spend at an AYCE shabu place, but we weren't even full. Now this would be okay with me if the meat quality was better, but it felt on par to the meat quality at AYCE restaurants. I hope it was just the day that I went, and that the meat isn't served frozen all the time. I definitely will try to come back here again in the future to give them another chance. read more

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stopped by near closing and service was super attentive and nice! they have bar and regular table seating available and i opted for the bar. What I love about Mokkoji is how they have amazing options for meat and broth, and I always have leftovers from their sets. I recommend getting the flat iron cut and sukiyaki broth (comes with a raw egg!) I also enjoyed their appetizers, but think that just getting the hotpot is enough imo. Very spacious inside, will always come here for my hot pot cravings if I'm in the area! read more

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I have been coming here with my family since the restaurant first opened under the original owner. Unfortunately, the level of service has declined significantly over time. On my most recent visit, I was seated and greeted by an unfriendly server, who happened to be the same person I encountered during my last visit a month ago. When what used to be a busy lunch rush now has little to no wait time, it really says a lot about the current state of the business. I genuinely love Mokkoji and want to see it succeed, but if management does not improve staff training and customer service, the restaurant will likely continue losing customers. I hope the management team takes this feedback seriously because this place used to be one of our family's favorites. read more