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

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

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

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

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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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 soup broths are good and their classic flat iron and fatty beef are amazing cuts of meat however I've had better shabu shabu I didn't love their sauce compared to other places and their assortment of veggies . I ordered their spicy cucumber and was shocked to find out they were like pickles. It was ok not somewhere I would go for shabu shabu but wasn't bad to try out! read more

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If I had to choose a hotpot pot that isn't AYCE, Mokkoji would be one of my top choices. Whenever I go here, I order the spicy sukiyaki broth and ask for 1 drop of hot sauce for each of my sauces. For meats, I order the toro fatty belly and flat iron mokkoji cut. I think 2 regular plates are good to share with 1-3 people total if you're not feeling very hungry, but you can also upsize if you want more of the same meat. Service is great as always! Never experienced anything negative coming here. They also play great music and it's not too overpowering that I'm still able to hold conversations with my friends. Overall, very good meat quality and I always get out feeling satisfied. 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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Came in for a lunch with coworkers and had a great experience. We did come in a week day late afternoon so it was not very busy. This location seems a bit small so our party of 6 sat at the edge of the counter in a windowed style to accommodate. I do like that this shabu shabu has your own pot. I almost always go for sukiyaki base but fyi this is an extra $3 and other flavors range from an extra $1-$5. I think it's a bit steep for soup flavors, like spicy sukiyaki was $4. With an order of meat, you get rice which is refillable and veges. Veges come with a small amount of udon, their signature stamped tofu, enoki mushrooms, bok choy, kale, cilantro, cabbage, broccoli, carrot, a perilla leaf, and kabocha. I have to say, I think the kale is not a good choice to have for shabu lol. Did not touch that at all or the broccoli. Meat quality is really good ranging from about $20-40 depending on what you're getting as well as choosing between 4 sizes. This can get pricey lol. What seems to be more cost efficient is adding as a side extra meat with your order as an 8 pc side was only $11? Whereas the same plate comes with 11-12? Pieces and was ~$20. For dipping with sukiyaki, you get the raw egg that's mixed with something else. Along with the regular ponzu and sesame sauce. They offer ghost pepper spice drops if you'd like to add. 2 was great for me but if you can't handle spice, I wouldn't even recommend 1 drop. Great service and good food. Fun experience for people. read more

Mokkoji - Veges - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Mokkoji is one of my fav shabu places in the Irvine area. I always get the chicken broth (additional $3) & add hot drops to it. I do wish that they didn't charge extra for broths here considering that the plain broth is somewhat bland. The regular sized mokkoji cut comes with 10 pieces of meat. You also get a veggie bowl with nappa, bok choy, cilantro, tofu, etc. I just found this out, but most of the greens are unlimited refills (kale, nappa). I wish I'd know sooner! Also, make sure to ask for some garlic & green onions to put in your ponzu. Mokkoji is a great quality shabu restaurant. My total came out to $33 with tip, so it's a little expensive for not being an ayce shabu. read more

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I had visited the Cypress location first and wasn't too impressed but this location is much better! The main thing making it better, the sauces, more specifically, the goma. SO GOOD here! This location feels much cleaner but I do feel like the Cypress staff was a bit friendlier. Staff was attentive and helpful. Veggies also tasted better/fresher 4/5. I ordered the large Mokkoji cut which is on the leaner side and it was super good! Some hard, fatty pieces but overall tender, delicious meat. I ended up getting the marinade later on the side and didn't notice a difference in the meat flavor but it for sure made the broth flavorful! It was almost a sweet flavor which I really enjoyed so I definitely recommend the meat with marinade 5/5. The ponzu wasn't anything special to be honest 3/5 but the goma was perfect 5/5! With portion sizes of the meats, it really depends on the cut you get. My size large of the leaner meat looked like way less than the size large of my aunt's plate of toro, which is a fattier cut. It is measured by weight so you will get more pieces of meat with fattier cuts due to fat weighing less than muscle. The large mokkoji cut was a good size for me to finish on my own when super hungry but I think the large toro for my aunt was a little too much food for her. Overall, I definitely recommend this location over the Cypress one! It's not the best shabu place out there but I'd say it's a pretty solid choice when you're in the mood for it. It's got excellent goma and a unique marinade for the meats and broth. I'd definitely come back! read more

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

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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

Mokkoji's shabu shabu bar has many options for you to personalize your shabu shabu experience. We got the sukiyaki flavor which comes with a raw egg as well. You get a veggie bowl to start and can add any of the green veggies for free. We got the toro beef platter which also comes marinated. I enjoyed the food! The service is mid though; the staff were not very attentive and only come when you wave them down. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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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

A review for first-timers. This isn't my first time at a Mokkoji Shabu Shabu, but it was for this location. My friend and I arrived just a little before 11AM (when they open). People started to arrive and then there was an unspoken queue. Glad people were polite and orderly. Order your broth. The + sign is an additional cost. I went with the pork broth, as it is flavorful and rich. Order size and cut of meat. Honestly, the regular size was more than enough meat for a normal appetite. Server will ask if you want it marinated or not. I went with, at no extra cost. Additional add-ons: I really like fish balls with roe so I did add that. Veggies, rice and sauce complements your meal. You can ask for a "refill" at no extra cost. The service was really quick and nice. Staff consistently check-in but not overbearing about it. Looking forward to my next visit already! read more

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

I came to Mokkoji with my family for dinner and it was a great experience from start to finish, with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The broths were full of flavor, all the meat and veggies were so fresh. The zabuton was especially tender and cooked perfectly in the fire crab broth that Charli our server recommended, it was so good and really brought out the flavor of the beef. Charli made sure we always had what we needed; she was so friendly, and helpful when explaining the menu and gave such good recommendations. Her service truly made the night even better, and between the amazing food and her excellent care, this was easily a five-star visit that we can't wait come back soon. read more

This is not AYCA but the meat quality was truly amazing. My first time here was 7 years ago. Even there are a lot of shabu shabu places now we still go back to Mokkoji once is a while. It's alaways a nice experince here. Also we like to get take out from here and make our own hotpot at home. 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 place is incredible! The food is fantastic and the service is top notch! Highly recommend! read more

Mokkoji - Dinner for two - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The best Japanese shabu shabu I've ever had! We got the sharing toro beef with spicy miso and sukiyaki broth. The broths were super flavourful and the meat was marinated well. The dipping sauces are delicious, particularly the goma sauce. For those that love spice, they also offer hot drops that can be added to give it a spicy kick. We loved that the rice and some of the veggies are unlimited too. The service is super efficient and the interior is modern which gave it a nice dining experience. Cannot wait to go back! read more

Mokkoji - Toro Fatty Belly 32 Pc - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Every time I go the server Jay greets me with a smile and great service. He exceeds my exceptions Every time. Jay is so great thats why I keep coming back. read more

I was told that they were 'too busy' to accommodate a pick up order request upon calling to place an order. Note that Shabu Shabu is a dish that primarily involves diners cooking their own food, the excuse of being too busy seemed rather perplexing, given that the preparation involved on the restaurants end is minimal. Despite being a fan of their food (tried take out once during covid), the lack of accommodation for takeout is a major disappointment. read more

Oldie but goodie I'm just sad the prices have doubled since my last visit here during college days. The prices for a different broth are also significantly higher sighhhhh. Obviously, you can't go wrong with the Toro Fatty Belly. The meat is soft and fatty delicious . Otherwise, the Flat Iron "Mokkoji cut" is also a great option; not as fatty and soft as the toro but can also be delicious when not cooked well done. Marinated meats are the way to go. Vegetables are refillable (primarily just the kale, bok choy, and Napa). So sad that these portion sizes went down but the meat is still good size and delicious. Service was fast ambiance was squishy but fun read more

One of the best Shabu Shabu spots in Irvine. It's not AYCE, but it's by set, and you get a wide variety of meats. I'd recommend getting it with the marinade, because it makes it more tender and flavorful. Each bite of meat is literally addicting. It's paired with standard sesame and ponzu sauces, and they're so good. Service is great, but wait times can be long since it's pretty small inside. Thankfully, they have an online yelp waitlist, but if you have a party of 6+, you have to sign up in person. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Mokkoji was one of my go to spots but past two experiences were not up to par. The service was slow unfortunately and the portions are not it for the price you pay. The photo shown was all the udon noodles they gave. Didnt eat any. That was it. That was disappointing. I ordered Hot Sake and it didnt come out when asked twice. When it came out, it was semi cold. Not sure what's going on but not been worth the price the past visits. read more

Mokkoji - Saddd. I need more noodles than this! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

These days there are a lot of choices you have to choose if you have a hankering for shabu shabu. Especially in the OC, we were in Irvine today so that cut down on our choices by quite a bit but still tough when deciding. And decided we did, we wanted to try out this location as it looked pretty busy and close to where we were. I think the key to good Shabu are the protein selection the broth choices and the sauce. That will make or break a place in my opinion. I feel they hit all three categories at this location. What i really liked was when you ordered the protein they asked if you wanted it plain or marinated (garlic, sesame seed oil and something else i can't recall) but that was the kicker that made it that much more enjoyable. Really enjoyed myself here and so did the rest of the family as there wasn't anything left in front of them when everything was all said and done. read more

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This is a great place with a decent price for such a delicious meal. I hope the broth selection never changes and the never ending vegetables as well ! Really enjoy the combination and love the sauces as well! read more

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Mokkoji is our favorite restaurant! Charli is such an amazing server. She is so kind and caring and caters to all of our needs. The food is delicious. The flat iron mokkoji cut is my favorite. The meat is so thin and soft and melts in your mouth. The shrimp and salmon are also great options. The restaurant is always clean and has a great atmosphere. This restaurant is a true gem. Thank you for all the great food and service! read more

Mokkoji is a shabu shabu restaurant with multiple locations across Southern California. We came here on a Friday night, put our name on the waitlist, and waited about 15 minutes before being seated. There were tables across the restaurant and a lot of bar seating facing the kitchen. To order, pick a broth and pick one of the meat or seafood options. I got the spicy pork broth ($5) with the large brisket ($26.98). The quality of the meat was good and the broth was flavorful. I liked that I could ask for more veggies and rice to continue eating with the broth. When they poured the sauces they asked if we wanted any spicy drops. I saw the next table over ask for only one drop each so I did the same, and it was a good idea because even just one drop was really spicy. The service was quick and they brought the broth, meat, and veggies quickly. This was my first time at Mokkoji and I see myself coming back again. read more

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The food and service is great! They have a really great lunch special as well. The servers are very attentive and good quality meat, chicken and seafood. My husband and I love coming here for dates! read more

Spicy miso broth + 10 pc toro fatty belly - came with rice and bowl of udon, tofu, and veggies assortment. miso based broths are always my go tos because it is light and very similar to chicken broth; this broth adds a nice kick of spice but is not overly spicy to the point where you constantly have to reach for your water. I like a little fat alongside lean meat, so I chose the toro fatty belly. I opted for marinated meat to add flavor and richness to the soup. everything paired so well with their sesame sauce (you can add drops of spice for that kick, but I advise you to go for less drops because they are very strong - like buldak x3 strong for each drop). Service - friendly and quick :D I loved how customizable the experience was, you can share with others or go solo, either way you will be satisfyingly full! read more

Go-to hotpot place! My boyfriend and I go here at least twice or more a month I think their best meats are the Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" and the Toro "Fatty Belly". I love the sesame/peanut dipping sauce they have I got the spicy miso broth which definitely has more flavor than the spicy broth that I got last time. I really like the spicy sukiyaki broth as well! The service is great! Everything comes out pretty quickly and you're left to enjoy your meal . I would say it's pretty loud in there for idk what reason but I usually have a hard time listening to the other person if they are speaking. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I was scrolling through the reviews thinking that our party shouldn't be the first ones to notice how bad of a service these servers give out (especially the buff Asian guy). Indeed, I was right. Previous reviews would say that "they were having a bad day" but I can assure you, I've been here 3 times, and ALL 3 times, the buff Asian server had bad service. Don't need to give them excuses for having bad attitude; they look like they hate their job. Today, he took 3 of our orders with hands on the table, not taking down our orders on paper, and nodded after we finished ordering. I'm thinking "he probably has great memory since it's only 3 lunch orders". Food and drinks came...we orders 2 marinated beef and one without marinade along with 2 black tea with 1 green tea. Instead, we got 3 marinated beef with 2 green tea and 1 black tea. Usually, great servers would apologize, but no, he just gave us the "oh" (picked up beef) and left. Maybe he should have wrote the orders on paper instead of thinking he can remember Half way through, I ordered a lunch special for our 4th party. Her broth and beef came, but no server came to her to offer her drink and sauce. We asked for the sauce; the server came and left immediately. I didn't even bother ordering her drink...this was to the point where I don't even want to look at them. Throughout the whole meal, 3 servers would always be behind the bar chit chatting, no one came to fill up our water cups. I gave a tip according to the service I got - 10%. I don't even remember when I gave that low of a tip. Even though this branch is literally minutes away from my house, I'm just going to stick with Garden Grove branch. At least their servers know how to smile and not give you attitude. read more

This is the best hot pot I have ever tasted. The service is amazing and the vibe in the restaurant is really nice. This is my favourite restaurant ever!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

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

The broth / soup base was fragrance and tasty. The meat was high quality and rightfully so because of how much we were willing to pay. The place was quite busy and the wait was almost 1.5 hrs. I can deal with it all but not with the attitude. The server had attitude! It just killed the whole experience. I take my business elsewhere. It may only be 90% as good but to me service matters ! read more

I've been coming to this location since it first opened up and I loved it, but I definitely had the worst experience during my last visit. The chick with the pink hair needs to get trained on customer service. Her attitude is so rude to customers. It's a disappointment that I had to deal with her and her poor customer service skills. read more

Loved this place!!! Even though it was not all you can wear, the shared size Toro meat was super satisfying. Service was quick and the place was clean. Plus we were seated immediately. Would come again! read more

Simple and delicious. The ingredients were fresh, and the broth was light but flavorful -- just the way shabu shabu should be. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly with just a few swishes. What really stood out was how everything felt clean and balanced -- nothing overpowering, just comforting and satisfying. read more

I came here for the first time. I've been in other locations for the Cypress one is my go-to. There wasn't much people inside and got seated fairly quickly. The food was similar and tasted bombbb! I don't think their meat was as fresh but I still ate it up. The ambiance is kinda dim and a good date spot or good for friends and family. I'd definitely come back here if I'm ever in Irvine. I forgot to take a picture of my food but my go-to order is the spicy pork broth with toro (depending on how hungry you are I got a Large). Get 2 drops of their spicy drops, you won't regret it! read more