Easy eats shabu with lots of bar seating. Went for a late weeknight dinner. I've read there's typically lines here so went a bit early to put my name down before my other half arrived. It ended up being a bit slow, so they let me grab some seats at the bar area for 30 min. Once it was time to order - got the large beef toro plate (marinated) with spicy miso broth. Everything came pretty immediately and got started with cooking. The broth itself has a little bit of a kick but isn't overwhelming. Was a nice warm flavor. The beef toro was melt in your mouth delicious and there was def more than enough slices for me. Veggies are unlimited - so you can ask for more of any veggies. Price was pretty reasonable considering the amount and quality of meat. Was a good time and would come back! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Toro Fatty Belly (large) - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I love Mokkoji!! They have the freshest meats & yummy veggies. Their mokkoji cut with the marinade is good! Their share plate is the way to go with 2 people. I love their chicken broth and adding hot drops to it, I just wish their broths didn't cost extra. This location isn't too crowded when I've gone, and there is a lot of parking for free in a lot. read more

Hmmm... where do I begin? I'm honestly torn between the food and the service. Shabu-shabu has always been one of my favorite meals, regardless of the season, so I was excited to dine in at Mokkoji again. Upon arrival, I was seated by a young hostess/waitress. Right from the start, I sensed a lack of warmth and hospitality. While not every interaction needs to be overly friendly, I do expect basic courtesy and attentiveness when dining out. I tried to brush it off, assuming she might be having an off day, but unfortunately the experience didn't improve. The food itself was decent, but service is a huge part of the dining experience, and this is where the restaurant fell short. Throughout my visit, the service felt rushed and impersonal. I felt more like an inconvenience than a valued customer. The restaurant wasn't particularly busy, yet it was surprisingly difficult to get anyone's attention. I had to flag down staff multiple times just to order additional food. When another waiter finally came over, I thought the experience might improve. Unfortunately, I was wrong. The interaction felt just as cold and dismissive as before. Basic courtesy, attentiveness, and hospitality were noticeably absent. When customers are paying for both food and an experience, a welcoming attitude and reasonable level of service should be expected. Sadly, that was not the case during my visit. I rarely leave 1-star reviews. In fact, I only do so when an experience is truly disappointing, and unfortunately this visit qualified. Great food can bring customers in, but great service is what keeps them coming back. I genuinely hope management takes customer service more seriously because there is potential here. However, based on my experience today, I cannot recommend this particular location :((. read more

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We went on a weekend dinner with friends and we were seated outside, the service was decent but I knew they were busy as well. I ordered the miso broth with the regular brisket (marinated) and it was good. The rice was pretty hard though... Overall, they accommodate large parties and provided us with a heater so that we wouldn't be too cold so we were satisfied read more

This is my second visit, first for this location. Last year I went to the Irvine location. Like Irvine's location, this place is small also. Has a bar area which is nice, especially if you are eating alone. Food is consistent. Both locations were good. I order the Mokkoji steak with spicy soup, +4 dollars. Service was not as good. Our server never came by to refill our water. We had a party of 6 people so the tip is auto included. Otherwise, it would have definitely been reflected on the amount. All-in-all, I would go back. read more

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If you want quality over quantity, Mokkoji is where it's at. Mokkoji is a renowned, traditional Japanese shabu shabu restaurant. It's such a distinctive hot pot dining experience ~ where you'll find tapas, unique flavorful broths and quality marinated meats. This Mokkoji shabu shabu bar is located in Costa Mesa, between Harbor and Adams Street, in The Shops at Mesa Verde plaza. The prices aren't outrageous for the quality of meats, seafood and veggies you get. And they offer so many sizes for their various cut meats ~ from regular 10 pcs, large 14 pcs, XL 20 pcs and SH 32 pcs, so it's perfect for all appetites. The restaurant is a decent size, clean & bright. There's definitely quite a wait during busy lunch/dinner hours..so be warned! I highly recommend joining their Yelp waitlist ahead of time. Timesaver!!! There are tables and bar seating. Not uber suitable for large parties. The staff is efficient, but can get busy, so you might sometimes have to flag them down if you need something. My go-to is always the spicy miso broth with the marinated toro "fatty belly." It's just melt in your mouth YUMS!!! I get the marinated flat iron "Mokkoji cut" as well sometimes, when I'm sharing with the hubs, as he likes a leaner cut. Depending on my hunger level, I sometimes opt for the addition of shrimp balls, as well as, add a garlic edamame or shishito pepper appetizer. Mokkoji NEVER disappoints and always satisfies my (and my family's) cravings..a total RxFoodie recommend!!! It's our family favorite shabu place in OC! Try it, if you haven't already and find out why. Bon appétit!!! P.S. It's especially good on cold, rainy days. read more

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SO GOOD! When it comes to shabu, I have only really had AYCE, but Mokkoji is perfect if you want to have to perfect serving! I had 10 pieces of meat and I was initially concerned about the serving size, but the pieces were big and it honestly looked like it was more than 10. Also, the veggies are unlimited, so you could request for more as you continue to eat! I heard it does get busy based on the reviews, but I went on a weekday which is probably why not too many people were there. Servers were super attentive and constantly checked in on us! I loved the food and would definitely come back. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is usually my favorite hotpot spot in OC, but our last visit was disappointing due to poor service. The staff seemed overwhelmed, often forgetting orders and rarely checking in. I also noticed staff spending time drinking with some customers instead of assisting others. The food is still great and consistent--the sliced meats are high quality and nicely marbled. However, the wait time was extremely long, and it would help if there were limits on how long tables can be held, as we saw guests linger long after finishing their meal. Until service improves, I'd hesitate to return. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I'm a regular at the San Diego location, so I figured I try the Costa Mesa one since we are moving to OC soon. What sets Mokkoji apart from other shabu places is their marinated meat and egg dipping sauce. However, the Costa Mesa location failed to deliver in both areas. The egg dipping sauce was significantly diluted and pretty much had no flavor. The meat was lightly brushed with a very small amount of marinade and it had no impact on the taste. Honestly the only thing good about this place was the service. The staff kept proactively checking if we wanted more veggies or if we needed anything. Sadly, I won't be back to this location and I really hope the Irvine one is better! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Still one of my favorite non ayce shabu spots. This location has less wait too. Tried the drunken chicken wings for the first time and it was surprisingly good. Definitely Korean inspired with the pickled soy sauce jalapeños and radish slices read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I absolutely love the food & quality at Mokkoji and I don't usually knock off stars for service but it was so bad that I had to this time. I put us on the waitlist and it said we would be seated in 11-26 minutes and then we got the text that the wait was taking a little longer. We ended up waiting an hour and were only a party of 2. The main server Steven seemed pretty frustrated throughout the entire shift. I asked for something and he smiled and before his face fully turned around - you could see he was annoyed. At least wait until you're fully turned around. I guess a lot of people had left that day all at the same time which was overwhelming for them?? They had to clean everything up all at once then seat 6 different tables but there were 3 servers in a small restaurant so it was doable. I heard him say to us and other parties to have a good day in a sarcastic tone. They never came over and asked us if we needed anything. We had to keep flagging them down. This was truly a poor experience. It just seems like the servers haven't figured out how to be efficient or there isn't a strong leadership presence there. Extremely disappointed because I love this place. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Veggie Set - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Absolutely amazing Shabu! The broth tastes truly homemade -- rich, flavorful, and comforting in that way only real, quality cooking can deliver. The ingredients were super fresh, the portions were generous, and every bite felt like it was made with care. The ambiance is great, they are always playing good music. The service was just as impressive. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and made the whole experience feel warm and welcoming. If you're craving good shabu with top-notch quality and great service, this place is a total win. Highly recommend! read more

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The food was good.. went in on a Saturday around 9 so it was close to closing time. The waitress was not interested in educating us on how shabu shabu works or how to order (i get it she was checked out and ready to go) but i was new and never had shabu shabu before which i explained so i did not enjoy it as much as i had hoped But the meat was delish which is why i gave the 3 star rating read more

We were unfortunately those people that showed up close to closing and felt so bad. We were in LA all day at Sephoria and I called another location asking if it was okay to head there for dinner and they said yes but ended up at this location. Staff seemed annoyed and honestly valid cus they're closing soon but we were starving and nothing was really opened late. That's surprising for me cus every where in Seattle is opened kind of late on a Saturday. We quickly ordered and basically inhaled our food. I was tired and the staff was nice for what the situation was. I ordered the spicy miso with a reg serving of beef belly. Soup was bland as hell haha but at that point I just needed to eat and sleep. read more

Will definitely be frequenting this shabu spot! Mokkoji is a shabu shabu restaurant where you cook your own meat and vegetables in your own personal pot at the table. Plenty of parking in the shared plaza lot, and service is fast. When ordering, first you choose your broth. Original is free, but you can also choose other options that range between $1-5 extra. Personally, I like getting the original because the sauces served with your shabu are flavorful enough for me. Next, you choose your meat or seafood choice. I like getting the brisket. It's tender and still has a good amount of marbling. Personally, the regular, which includes 10 pieces is enough for me, but they also have other options: L (14 pieces), XL (20 pieces), and SH (32 pieces). You can also get your meat "marinated," where they pour some extra yummy sauce on top. I'd recommend it! Each meal comes with a bowl of rice, a ponzu and sesame sauce for dipping, and veggies. They also have some small plates you can add on as well. In my experience, meat has been good quality, and they offer a good variety of fresh vegetables. Bonus, you can ask for more vegetables (kale, bok choy, cabbage)! read more

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Easy parking in plaza + bar seating + small interior. For choices of meat, we ordered the 14pc toro ($28) and the 10pc wagyu zabuton ($57). Everything was delicious! The wagyu cut was the highlight of our meal, I would highly recommend trying it at least once. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

One of my fave shabu places. The quality of meat is amazing. My favorite is the toro (beef belly). The vegetables they provided and the amount of meat for a regular is more than plenty. It's honestly so much food for one person, enough to take home! I went with my friend who had already eaten dinner an hour before we met but she scarfed down the shabu here and she loved it so much. It was her first time too! That's how you know it's bomb if it can even be eaten as a second dinner!! This is definitely one of my top three shabu places and even the other locations I've been to have been spot on! Service was expected. Nothing crazy that blew mind. Helpful when they needed to be and left us alone to enjoy our meal. read more

The food is good but the service could be better. The waiters are on their phones and was a bit hard to get their attention especially since the burner at my table kept turning off and took way longer to heat up since it kept turning off due to malfunction. read more

I've came back numerous of times to give this place another chance and can honestly say it redeemed itself. I trusted the Spicy Miso and it's improved! Jay has been my server for many of these visits and his exceptional service definitely stands out. My experience has never been better!! He's super attentive and almost knows exactly what we need before we even ask! Definitely a great motivator to trusting this place again. read more

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This is one of my go to shabu spots that isn't AYCE and still has good quality meat and yummy broths. Asides from the fresh veggies, meat quality, I think the service and ambiance here is a bit out of order. Sometimes I don't care much to leave a review regarding service quality but when it's a repeatable offense I must do so. It seems hard to wave down a server for anything, it seems to be a bit understaffed or no order to how they run things. Will be back for the food but I don't have expectations for the service read more

This place is a must-try. It's the unanimous conclusion from our group of three -- and this was our second visit. Yep, we've been here twice now. It's excellent and a very solid, classic sukiyaki experience. It's about a 20-minute drive from UCI, and super easy to get to if you have a car. What surprised me most was the sauce bar -- they have a raw egg option, which feels really authentic. Of course, you can choose other broths and flavors too, but if you go with the sukiyaki broth, you won't be disappointed. Price-wise, if you eat until you're satisfied, it's usually around $50-60 per person. A set for two ended up being a bit over $120 after tax. For students, it's definitely a splurge, but it's worth it -- that's why I came back twice in one week. 这家店可以给到夯！这是我们一行三人一致给出的结论（第二次去） 对，一共去了两次了。很棒，算是很标准的寿喜锅。离UCI 20分钟车程，有车也是方便过来的。 最让我惊喜的是有鸡蛋做蘸料，这个很正宗了。 当然你也可以选择别的锅底和风味。但选择寿喜锅的话这家店不会失望。 人均大概在50-60刀左右如果吃的满意。一份双人餐税后120多刀。对于学生来说是奢侈的下馆子。但物有所值，所以我才会在一周内来光顾两次。 read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Toro Fatty Belly Brisket Flat Iron Mokkoji Cut New York Prime Rib Kataroshin Zabuton - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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my friends tried the sukiyaki soup and it was amazing. my spicy sukiyaki is soooo bomb. there's a hint of spice to it but nothing too overpowering. i went for the lunch deal and it's such a steal. i highly recommend getting the marinated meat since it has soooo much flavor. the servers are so attentive and nice, they keep checking on us and asking if we want more rice/ veggies/ drinks so that's a huge plus. my only problem is that their rice is always a little too soggy/ overcooked. it makes eating it with the meat or veggies a lot less enjoyable. but overall a really great spot. i've been back 3 times already and i will go back more! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - lunch set ($25) x3 - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is the best Shabu Shabu in the area, I love getting the Sukiyaki broth with the Brisket, marinated on top. Although, prices are steep starting $24 for a Regular. I just really like the flavors, sauces here more than other Shabu Shabu places. I like how they marinate the meat as it brings more flavor to the meal. They provide a raw egg and soy sauce to dip your meat in it. If you aren't feeling that, I would just add the egg to the broth. The staff here was great and we went on a Saturday evening and it wasn't packed. The place itself is in a plaza with other restaurants that offer a lot of parking. read more

Mokkoji in Costa Mesa is a spot where you won't have to worry about parking, thanks to its big parking lot. The restaurant itself is pretty small and compact, and while I waited about 20 minutes, I got seated at the bar, although there are tables available too. The menu offers a good variety of options to choose from. In my opinion, the broth could use some improvement, as it was quite flavorless and not spicy at all. However, the meat cuts were impressive--thin and tasty. The sauce was very good; I added garlic spicy sauce and green onions, which helped a lot. You also get a bowl of rice and veggies with your meal, but keep in mind there are extra charges for certain items if you want more. The servers were helpful, nice, and attentive, making the overall experience pleasant. Despite some shortcomings with the broth, it's worth trying for the other elements. read more

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This place gets fairly busy during night but i came in the afternoon right around opening and it was really empty. I got the spicy crab and the toro fatty belly and everything tasted amazing. The meat quality was good the broth tasted great with one spicy drop and all the dipping sauces and sides were fine. The inside is really nice it can be a little tight but has plenty of seats. The service was great all the workers were accommodating and friendly with changes and my order. I do think for its price i paid around 25 just for meat and 5 extra for the broth its not really too worth it. I do understand it is a premium hot pot but still fairly pricy imo with only getting 10 pieces of meat. read more

Enjoyed a comforting meal on a Thursday lunch and was met with the kindest service. The food was great and really hit the spot! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Flat Iron Mokkoji Cut - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Haven't been to this location for a couple of years now. I went with friends and family last Sunday, and boy...the quality and service in this location is still top notch! Our server, Ryan, was super friendly and accommodating. Two thumbs up for him! and keep up the good work. Appreciate all your help and great service. read more

LOVEEE MOKKOJI!! So happy this finally made its way up to the Bay! Mokojji is so good for couples or groups cause we always get the shared size and it's super filling. Also love the vegetables/udon selection! The marinade tasted exactly like the one down in OC so they did an amazing job with the presentation. The sauce also is huge for hot pot places and the sesame one was just the right texture. They were also so sweet to accommodate us, only wish this place was bigger!! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Really good hot pot in OC definitely worth the drive. The quality of the food is great and the prices are very reasonable for what you get. Solid spot if you're craving hot pot and don't mind making the trip. Would come back again. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Best hot pot I've ever had amazing service and great vibes highly recommend visiting if you get the chance!

Years later and Mokkoji of Costa Mesa still holds the top spot in my heart and appetite for non-AYCE shabu shabu in the area. Broth is tasty, veggies are very fresh, staff is super friendly, and most important of all, the meat is very high quality and always on par. Everything said in my original review still holds and I will be a regular as long as I'm a local. Phil, the manager, is absolutely amazing and incredibly welcoming always. Perfect guy to manage in customer service and I can tell he is great under pressure when it's busy, incredibly nice to all customers. read more

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This is my first time going to Mokkoji as I've heard from word of mouth that this is the go-to spot for shabu shabu! I decided to try it specifically at this location as it has better ratings in terms of service and overall experience. Fresh baskets of veggies and toppings were already laid on out the table and we had to scan the QR code on the table for the menu. Also, tip: Check in for a free refill of veggies! Otherwise, the only veggies they can refill are limited to the cabbage and kale I believe. I was recommended the Spicy Pork Broth and either the Toro Fatty Beef Belly or Flat Iron "Mokkoji" Beef cut as the proteins. The portion size of the meats range from 10pcs to 52 pcs of meat. They also asked if I wanted the meats marinated in sauce in which I agreed upon. After mixing my soup paste with the broth and it was boiling, I cooked my meats. The beef was good quality and held the flavor of their garlic sauce after cooking. My soup became more flavorful after every dip but got a little heavy towards the end of the meal. I like that they include udon noodles and white rice as well. To amp up the spice, we added these spicy drops. I found 2-3 drops to be perfect for my spice level, however, I think 4-5 drops would make the broth actually spicy. Service was great and attentive and this Shabu experience did meet my expectations! I do see myself coming back to Mokkoji again as I feel like the value and quality is up there! read more

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4.5 Stars! Mokkoji in Costa Mesa is pretty good and you get a lot for the price you pay. I give it a 4.5 stars only because the spicy miso broth was slightly different than I expected and wasn't quite the typical miso flavor, but I still enjoyed it. It's not too spicy and just enough for flavor. I ordered the pork belly and got about 16 slices--pretty good quality and sliced perfectly. There is shabu bar style seating, plus regular tables inside and outside as well as heaters so, evening and night time dining still works out. I just want to point out that the manager there is SUPER efficient and accommodating. It was pretty busy, but he made sure everyone had great service and that the servers were on point. The space is also clean and well manicured. I would highly recommend giving this place a try! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Veggies - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Affordable shabu spot for the quality and presentation you get. My go to order is the spicy miso soup with the Mokkoji cut. The toro fatty belly is also excellent. The portions are generous, and everything comes plated beautifully, which makes the whole experience feel a little extra special. One thing I really appreciate is that you can ask for refills on the vegetable toppings The EDM music here is not for everyone. If you come w a group of friends, I can see this being hype. But they do have it on quite loud. I've been to the Irvine and Garden Grove locations as well and the music was much more mellow and a pleasant ambiance to dine at. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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My first stop when I come back to Orange County. The Costa Mesa location has some of the best service. Quick to be seated & quick service. Always have a great meal when I come. Except during my last visit the broth tasted like too much kombu was added. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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One of my favorite places Delicious food and great service I go there regularly, it's my spot now to meet up with my friends :-) read more

This is a nice shabu shabu (Japanese hot pot) in Costa Mesa. Seatings are limited, so I'd recommend getting a reservation before you come. On the menu, you can pick your broth, meat, add-ons, and appetizers. It's not AYCE, so everything costs extra, even to get a different broth than the original. The regular 10 pieces of meat with rice and veggies was enough to get me full. If you're particular hungry, you can get bigger sizes for more proteins. Check out the combinations at the bottom, too. You can get beef + another protein. My friend got scallops in addition and she enjoyed them. Note: Don't forget to turn on your personal stove. Turn up the heat to get your broth boiling and then you can turn it down to your liking. * Spicy Miso Broth 5/5 - The broth was good, mildly spicy. * Brisket 5/5 - You can get these marinated and that added so much flavors. * Garlic Shrimp 5/5 - These were very tasty and crispy. read more

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This place hits the spot in this cold weather! It's cozy and clean and the staff is very attentive. They had a variety of options for broth and meat, and even had a vegetarian package! We started off with garlic shrimp and I picked the sukiyaki broth base and the two item combo with brisket and scallops. Garlic Shrimp- This was such a flavorful starter! You can really taste the garlic seasoning and the shrimp was nice and tender. You get a sweet and spicy sauce to pair. Hotpot- The sukiyayi broth is sweet and they give you a lot of vegetables to accompany the broth. The brisket is soft and ready in less than a minute. The scallops were fresh and tender but take care not to overcook. They offer you two side sauces to enhance but I personally didn't need it since my broth was already flavorful. Great meal overall! Would definitely come back. read more

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Mokkoji is such a staple in the OC Shabu scene. They never fail to amaze with the meat quality, I would recommend the toro if you're into fatter cuts. But otherwise the flat iron cut would suffice. The marinade they use and garlic flavors the broth super well at the end. Our waiter was very kind to always get extra veggies and green/onion and garlic for us whenever we requested. Veggies and rice are free refills so feel free to ask for more if the meat doesn't fill you up. This spot has bar and table seating if you have a larger party. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Spicy pork broth with Flat Iron Mokkoji Cut - Hot Pot Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This place is straight . The staff are insanely welcoming and friendly--one of the brothers even jumps into karaoke with me, which already tells you the vibe is undefeated. The meats are always fresh, the house sauce is absolutely to die for, and the customer service is top-tier every single time. My wife and I come here almost weekly because it never misses. The food is light, never heavy, and always hits. I always go with the spicy miso broth, brisket, plus extra lean meats. The veggies are fresh, the fried fish balls are elite, and that secret sauce? Game-changer. Big shout-out to the crew, the cooks, and everyone behind the scenes making this spot so damn good. Absolute must-visit. read more