Mokkoji Shabu Shabu is a chain Japanese hot pot restaurant in Southern California. We went to have lunch with friends and was pleasantly surprised by their food portions. I ordered spicy sukiyaki soup base, with quail eggs and brisket. Each order of soup comes with complementary rice and vegetable assortment + udon noodles. At first, I thought the amount of food you get for $30 was not a lot compared to AYCE Hot Pot options BUT realized halfway through that everything appeared deceptively small and they actually gave enough where I could not finish everything. I do think the added $4 for a scoop of gochujang-looking paste was a bit egregious to make my broth spicy though. The brisket was also on the tougher side compared to KBBQ, possibly due to thicker cuts of meat. Overall, I liked the Mokkoji experience and pricing was fairly reasonable. I understand why they have multiple locations and would definitely be happy to come back to fulfill my shabu shabu fix! read more

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I enjoyed my shabu shabu experience at Mokkoji. They offer a wide variety of broth from the classically understated chicken broth to a deep umami spicy miso. I opted for sukiyaki, which was really flavorful and had that perfect balance of salty sweetness. I ordered the marinated brisket. The regular size is definitely enough, come here on an empty stomach. I split some drunken chicken wings with my table, which were the star of the show. So crispy, and the sweet marinade with the fried garlic was to die for. We drizzled the remaining marinade in the pan over our rice/meat once we were done digging into the wings. Each dish comes with ponzu sauce and sesame sauce, I love. I ended up spilling some on my light pink clothes, which I was devastated about. Definitely dress accordingly if you come here. The service was okay, they were good about clearing out our dishes once we had finished putting in our veggies/meat but the broth ran low a few times and the fire ran out for my friends' burner ovens so this had to be raised twice to the servers. Overall ambiance is a little worn down, I noted that the AC system wires were out and paint was peeling on the table. The exterior also is shuttered off, giving it a mildly unfriendly look. The price is reasonable and not too extravagant for shabu shabu, but I would definitely keep that in mind if you're someone who prefers a more elevated experience. I also noted that they'll be opening a new location in North San Jose/Milpitas soon, so I'm excited for them to continue expanding near my hometown. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

First time, celebrating our son's birthday. He had been a few times and really likes it here. I was disappointed in the size of the table for 4. The table was old and stained. I think I had higher expectations of such a popular spot. Every plate was squished onto our table while we attempted to maneuver around a boiling pot of delicious broth. How we didn't burn ourselves is a surprise to me. Every dish of pork belly, wagyu, flank and brisket was fresh and aplenty. The side dishes were fresh and sauces were impressive. Overall would've been a 4 if we weren't so squished and sitting on hard old wooden benches. Customer service could've been better but only 1 server who was very kind, just very busy. $200 was overpriced to me considering experience. read more

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i love this specific mokkoji location. the staff is always kind & welcoming. the store is a bit small so there is a wait when it gets busy. their meat selection is great & i love the garlic/onion marinade they put on the meat. they give free refills on veggies & have spice oil drops for those that love spicy food. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Broth 5/5 Meat 5/5 Vegetables 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5 This place was amazing. Seating will be insanely hard for big parties. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

The food was delicious! The veggies are unlimited and the broth! We had the 2 person special with brisket. The service was great! We were served right away and the refills on veggies were quick! It's a small place next to Sky restaurant.The tables were a little close together but the experience at each table is separate enough to enjoy. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

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We discovered this place when we were checking out riverside mall. This one was a great hidden gem, as there is not many shabu shabu places in the area. The inside is very small as are the tables so forewarned. They sat us very quickly, and it was quite busy. They offer a selection of broths to choose from and meats and veggies to follow. The range of broths is pretty good, and they also offer veggie broth as well. When they brought out our broth, we control the burners and heat temperature. Be careful as you can nudge it, it's very sensitive. The table was packed which made it a little difficult to manage. Everything cooked well and they had a few sauces for dipping, and the noodles they offer were pretty good. Overall it was very good however the service is slow and it's difficult to get their attention. Also it can be very noisy as everything is very compact. read more

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We enjoy the food here and so does my 10 yrs old. We were there yesterday for lunch and realized a lot of customers have a hard time figuring it out. So I hope this will help. We always order the special for 2 beef sampler. You get a little bit of every type of meat. Includes 2 drinks/soju/beers & a small plate(appetizer). For the soups we get the tonkatsu(pork bone broth). Now if you don't get the meat marinated like us then ask for the garlic, radish, green onions condiments to add to your soup. I usually add the garlic and radish paste while adding the green onions into my dip sauce. If you like spicy don't forget the hot drops either in the soup or the dip sauce. For the dip sauce they will give you 2 kind (goma- peanut base sauce and ponsu-Japanese citrus based) we usually ask for 2 ponsu each. You will get a side of rice each and also veggies/udon. Desserts included. Now I don't think a lot of customers are aware but you do get a free refill side of rice, veggies and soup for your pot. This is enough for us with or without our son. It's a fun spot for a group or by yourself. It does get crowded during peak hours. Highly recommend. read more

This place was delicious, definitely come hungry. I think an improvement could be instructions for those who have not been to the establishment before. I went with a group that did know how it works, but it was easy to get confused with how to order, what to expect, add-ons, etc. They have a hot oil drops which are spicy and great addition if you like spice, and the sukiyaki comes with an egg, don't forget to ask for it. The appetizer was small for what the price was (cucumbers), but the meat was high quality, definitely get them marinated. read more

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I love this place. The broths and the meats are so good and tasty. My favorite are the sukiyaki and miso. The place is a smaller joint, couple of tables. Not good for large groups. Maybe most 6 people. But you can sit at the bar and they have alcohol read more

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So happy there's a Mokkoji in the IE! The menu here is the same as all the other locations. I usually order the small or medium fatty toro with sukiyaki broth. There's 4 different sizes for meats and a variety of broths to order. Vegetables are included, and certain veggies are refillable (for free or for a fee). The side dipping sauces (ponzu and goma) are delicious and you can even add their spicy drops to it!! Service here is great. They're accommodating to everyone and even on a busy night, they always make sure you're attended to. Location is on University Ave and it's kind of hard to find if it's dark, but there's parking on both sides of the building. This is our go-to shabu place, so we'll always be back. Thank you! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Super happy that Riverside has a consistently good Shabu place that I can go to for a home style Shabu fix when I don't feel like making it at home! I've been to this location a handful of times and always leave with my cravings satisfied, ordering the staple sukiyaki broth and Toro beef combos. The service is on the steady slower side, but I'm not complaining because there's never really a wait for seating. The restaurant is clean enough to keep cooking back, and my only suggestion is for them to get new tables because at this point they're all warped from the pot heating systems. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Two combos and two meat platters between 3 people was plenty to share! - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Shabu shabu is such a nice feeling where you can make your own soup and eat at your own pace. This particular location is kinda of in a weird spot and when you enter you see burn marks all over the tables. The exterior and interior are kinda sketch but when the food came out. I didn't care what everything looked like except how the food came out. I ordered a set with toro I believe. This came with vegetables, noodles, and a tray of the fatty toro meat. They were very tasty and would come back here with friends! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

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Always love a good shabu shabu place & this place surprised my husband and me in a good way. We usually get sukiyaki for the broth but OMG the spicy sukiyaki is WHERE IT'S AT! The flavor was amazing; we wanted to take more home. This broth was a stand out for us in comparison to other shabu spots we have been to. I also appreciated that they allowed me to swap some of the vegetables and noodles for items I liked more for the ones I don't like because not all shabu spots allow it. Coming back for sure! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Spicy sukiyaki broth (top), regular sukiyaki broth (bottom) - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Mokkoji you have failed us again. We have it chances .... every single time we have come you guys are either out of something or service is so horrible we just want to walk out! Here we are again and they are out of flat iron and shrimp and chicken, what else?! Instead of having us sit through so much time passed, why don't you let customers know while handing out the menu that you are out of certain menu items?!?? If you are out of flat iron but make us pay for the higher grade meats you should offer the same price for the flat iron it is not the customers fault you ran out or don't order enough inventory. ALSO THE RESTAURANT was dead so can't say they were super busy so they ran out of food! This riverside location is by far the worst location! Never again. why do we even bother keep coming and giving them a try? because we used to go to the locations back in orange county and it was good!!! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - napa gone bad and browned - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

There really aren't many places in the IE like Mikoji or Meokja, and this one is by far the best. If you were a fan of Mikoji, Meokja definitely fills that space, great flavors, amazing Korean fried chicken, and solid variety. Highly recommend. read more

I really need this place to reopen because this was the best hot pot place I've been to went to a few other since they been closed and I've been so disappointed the food was so good! The service with some of the workers was amazing ! And the environment was always chill ! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

I always get taken care of here. Hands down best Shabu spot in Riverside I've lived in Riverside for almost a year now and have been searching for good shabu. I usually drive out to Orange County but I found this spot and it's my go-to now. Great food, great staff, excellent service always. read more

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Mokkoji is honestly my go to restaurant where you can consistently get the good quality shabu shabu. It's not the most affordable choice but it also won't break the bank either. Services are always great with friendly staff, and the environment is clean and welcoming. You can also use yelp to sign up on the waitlist ahead of time which I really love about since other popular shabu place you would have to go there physically in order to put your name down. I really enjoy the convenience of it all. We got the course package for 2 people that comes with 1 appetizer to share, choice of the meat for two, 2 beer or 1 hot/cold sake, and ice cream desserts! read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Usually macaroons but this time they had the Korean ice cream bars! - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Flavorful broths, meat are fresh as always. Free refill on rice and bok choy. Highly recommended !!! We always get the pork broth and sukiyaki. Dont forget to ask for the egg in ponzu sauce cuz sometimes they forget. read more

The server was very nice but compared to most shabu places in Fullerton and LA, this is not my recommendation. It is not a buffet. It is just as pricey, though... I will not repeat. read more

Nice people but it's ran by servers who don't seem to know what quality service is. They are very nice but they don't refill your water, or broth, or the endless veggies and rice... It takes a really long time for them to check on you -- in fact they don't and you have to wave them down a few times and pray that they wil notice you.... Due to this one big problem I had was my broth became extremely thick and salty, as did my friend's. The spicy pork bone and the spicy miso broths will thicken so quick. It's not worth the extra $5 for these because they just use a sodium filled scoop of a packaged soup base... You're getting tasty yes, but not really the healthiest. Next time I'd go for the clear (original) as to not start dying of thirst and salty saturation.... The meats were ok, but the best was the pork belly. The wait is long and I get that maybe there's no other shabu shabu spots around but if there were I'd definitely look for another spot until a few things improve. It's not very clean, lots of stains on the table as well. I checked in on Yelp and by the time I came, there were empty seats but they wanted to cater for a table of 5 that was STILL waiting for their full party. I have a feeling it was a friend they were trying to help and we ended up waiting a FULL hour and I felt that was off putting to make favorites. read more

The meats were delicious beyond what I expected but what made me give 3 starts was a mixture of service, the broth, and portion size for noodles. As soon as I walked in we were sat at the bar since it would be a wait for a table. I love bar seating so it was perfect! The server had asked if we had been before and we said we have not. She proceeded to say okay let me know when you're ready to order.... We were hoping she would go over the menu since it seemed confusing at first. Once we ordered we tasted our broths and I got the spicy crab broth and it was not spicy and did not taste like crab or seafood flavor which was disappointing. We ordered glass noodles which they forgot but we just gently reminded them, no big deal. But when they brought it out it was a beet small portion for 1 serving. But focusing more on the meats and seafood everything was very flavorful and super enjoyable!!! I would definitely come again to try and find what really works for my palate because this place can potentially be a new favorite for me! read more

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My friends brought me here one SoCal visit, and I absolutely love this place. The basics were simple enough - choose your meat, choose your broth, and voila! My favorite broth is Sukiyaki and I paired it with a large order (14 pieces) of Toro (fatty beef belly). One of my friends insisted I get the marinated version, and her insistence paid off. The combined richness of flavor from the beef belly along with the marinade made for a tender, melt in your mouth, delight. The Sukiyaki broth was light but flavorful and absolutely warmed me up. You also get an ample amount of veggies and noodles to add to your shabu (and apparently you could get unlimited bok choy and cabbage??? One of my other friends just kept asking for more). Would I come back? Absolutely. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Large marinated toro - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

This particular location of Mokkoji is a hidden treasure. Visibly it looks like a run down spot, not even open to the public. Speak easy vibes for shabu shabu lovers. When we got to place we thought it was closed so we called to make sure it was open. Half the door is boarded and the windows also covered with wood. Once you enter there a u shape booth in the middle and tables to the left. The scratched, burned tables have an electric convection stove that heats the metal bowls that have the broth. Aside from the poor visuals the food was tasty. I normally don't go to shabu shabu so I can't give a fair comparison. The last place I visited was on the high end side so the prices here wasn't surprising. Our meal which consisted of a L FATTY TORO, XL BRISKET, +5 spicy pork broth and garlic shrimp plate w tip cost $100. Wasn't too bad for a date night. The food was good. I loved the meal quality and garlic shrimp was okay. I enjoyed the experience of cooking the meats in the broth. Towards the end the broth got richer and richer from the melted fat. Definitely a heavy meal so we asked for veggies which were free to add. Overall, I will come back again. Definitely great for a date night or to hang out w friends. I noticed most of the people dining there were UCR. Go HIGHLANDERS! read more

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Been here numerous times , today was busier during lunch hour . The service we received were mediocre and not as attentive as before. so far spicy pork broth are my favorite, don't forget to ask for 2 drops of the spicy chili oil so good in the broth . Our first time ordering their seafood platter $44.98 1/2 lobster , salmon , shrimps and scallops . To be honest we looked kinda puzzled when the waiter brought over the seafood platter. We were waiting for the 1/2 lobster to arrive . Sadly there is no 1/2 lobster more like 2 chopped lobster balls instead . We felt cheated , the menu misrepresented 1/2 lobster , should say lobster balls . We were expecting 1/2 lobster . For the price of the seafood platter $44.98 it's not worth it IMO . We also ordered the XL Brisket $31.98 and XL prime rib $42.98 plenty of meat to share for 3 people. Don't forget to ask for more broth refill or more vegetables. Vegetables are not always the same , it changes through the season . read more

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I've been wanting to try mokkoji for the longest time and finally got the chance to! This location was alot smaller than I expected, and was full on Sunday at around 2 pm. For shabu I have high expectations. I expect the meat to be fatty/marbled, and the broth to taste delicious. My friends and I shared a large toro beef (my favorite), ribeye, and a small zabuton. Next time I go, I'll just get the toro since they all taste the same once they're cooked. I love their sesame sauce and the fire crab broth. At first, the broth tasted simple but once you ask them for the hot drops it becomes super flavorful! I'd recommend getting 4 drops of hot drops in your broth and 2 in your sesame sauce. My only complaint was that the service is slow. The restaurant is super small but you have to flag them down for everything...utensils, napkins, and water. read more

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First time trying a Mokkoji restaurant. Compared to other hot pot places, this one gets a downgrade because you only get one kind of meat and the portions are small. I was not full after my large serving of the Mokkoji cut, so I tried ordering more. Nope. The kitchen was closed. The restaurant was open until 10 pm, and it was 9:20. How can the restaurant be open but the kitchen be closed? Makes no sense. The food overall is good. The meat quality was good. Just isn't a very good value. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Menu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

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Tiny little hot pot restaurant in Riverside. The building for sure could use some work as it looks empty and condemned. There's only a handful of tables and some counter top seating. There was a wait and they cannot fit big groups. There was 7 of us and we had to take up 2 tables, next to each other by not connected. The waitresses were friendly, but overall the service was slow. I ordered the original broth and it was very plain so I had to add some spiciness. The meat quality was pretty good, but you're limited on sides and can order up to 3 meats at a time, unless you want to pay even more. read more

I used to frequent the Irvine location when I lived in the OC so I was so relieved when I found out they have a location in the IE. Located in a dimly lit plaza near UCR - this may be the only Shabu Shabu place in the IE I always find myself gravitating back to because it is consistent. My go to order is the Toro "Fatty Belly" with Spicy Miso and it always hits the spot during the warm or semi chilly SoCal weather. For some reason I also really like the way they serve their rice here. There is bar and table seating but I wouldn't go with a group bigger than 4. Service is a hit or miss - it sometimes seems like they're understaffed during the days I visit. Tip: ask for the green onion & garlic condiments for your sauces because they don't automatically give it to you. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Large Toro "Fatty Belly" with Spicy Miso broth. Always hits the spot. - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Interesting experience. Good food. Service is slow and confusing. Menu and checking in process is confusing. Overall not a friendly experience but the food is good so I'll try mokkoji again but probably at a different location. Broth: I liked the regular pork broth over the spicy pork broth. Spicy pork tastes like kimchi soup and has overwhelming flavor over all the ingredients. Regular pork allows the taste of each ingredient to shine through. Meat: I liked both the toro and flat iron. No real preference of one or the other. Toro is a bit more chewy due to its fattiness. Flat iron had more beef taste. We got both meats with the marinade which tasted great but makes the meat very sweet. Veggies: Free veggies but they don't give a lot. We asked for more cabbage and it took a while to come out. Checking in: We checked in on yelp but you have to physically check in at the restaurant to be placed on the real waitlist. Why open up the yelp waitlist then? Kind of frustrating having to wait longer. I think the text that Yelp sent should have more information on check in steps and emphasize that you need to check in asap to be on the real wait list. Seating: small store so seating is tight. We had a group of 6 and were split up. No big deal. We paid on two different checks (party of 4 and 2). But we had a mandatory service charge of 18%? Even though we are no longer seated as or paying for a party of 6? Kind of annoying to see that on the receipt. read more

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It has been so good every time I come. The service is amazing and the food comes out super fast. We got the shared plate for me and my friend and there were 32 pieces. We could not finish but it was delicious. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

Came here on a Friday night to catch up with a longtime friend, and we were both craving shabu shabu. It's always a food I enjoy having with friends I haven't seen in awhile, as the pace at which the ingredients cook makes for ample conversation time. I ordered the Spicy Pork soup base and a large-sized portion of the Mokkoji Flat Iron cut. Compared to other shabu shabu places I've been to, the portions were very generous at a reasonable price. They even inquired whether we wanted the meat we ordered marinated or plain. I personally had never seen another shabu shabu place do it, so I requested the marinated version. It was dressed up with minced garlic, green onion, and some sort of oil (maybe sesame). The flavors were so good and the meat was so tender. The array of veggies were perfect complements to our meal, and the rice was refillable! It seems like they use a special rice mixed with grain, which lent a nice nutty flavor that enhanced each bite. I'm always on the hunt for the best shabu shabu and hot pot places in different cities, and I'm happy to have encountered Mokkoji Shabu Shabu! Since it's a restaurant with multiple branches, I'll definitely encourage my friends and family across SoCal to visit. Thank you to Mokkoji Shabu Shabu's friendly and accommodating staff for making our dinner so pleasant! read more

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1st timer in a ALL YOU CAN EAT SHABU SHABU... Let me tell you one thing... it's delicious and I understand why there is a line everyday out of the door. I am bringing my sister for all you can eat 20.99 special on her next day off. Cool bar, and the servers are happy to serve. My favorite part is the clams ! I love clams and it's all you can eat I don't even know how to use cook clams so hopefully I had them cooking long enough but I am flabbergasted I never entered into this magaical place of unlimited food before . This way better than any buffet. This puts kbbq to shame sorry gens kbbq. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Miso broth - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I came in, but I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. My date and I ordered the couple promotion with the NY strip and seafood platter since they were out of lobster, and the spicy pork broth. The seafood tasted fresh and the plates of veggies and noodles offered great textural variation. It was a bit of a learning curve to figure out how shabu shabu worked, but once I figured it out I had a great time. read more

This was my first experience with this kind of hot pot. And it was amazing. The staff were great at explaining how it works, how to order and made excellent recommendations. I had the spicy pork broth with the flat iron mokkoji cut and a side of cucumber with chili oil. It all tasted so good. The broth just kept getting better as it cooked. I was offered extra veggies and I enjoyed an extra helping of bok choy. Really appreciated this new experience and I hope I get a chance to come back. read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Flat Iron Mokkoji Cut, spicy pork broth, Cucumber with Chili Oil Plate. - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

$72 for two hot pots is outrageous. Miso broth, noodles, a few veggies, and 10 thin slices of beef is what you get. The broth was flavorless, the rice was poor quality, the beef was average. This should have been $15 a peron tops. Had the service been exceptional, I would have given this place a 2 star review, however service wasn't great either. Would have rather had a top ramen for .25 cents. read more

It needs to be said. This place is getting more run down and dirty looking. The front door covered in plywood and a window? The paper lanterns are dirty and/or ripped. Light bulbs out. The fake plants on the door have enough dirt on them to grow real ones. The door vent filter looks like it's growing a beard. I like the food but have some pride. They had a rumor of moving to a new location and I thought maybe they put the effort in there but I don't see anything about that anymore. read more

Food is not fresh.....never had an mediocre tasting shabu before.....our enoki mushroom was wilted. Had to ask for another one.

Not usually a fan of hot pot but this place may have won me over. Very very tasty and good portions for the price. I left feeling full and happy. Service was good and wait time wasn't too crazy read more

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Toro Fatty Belly Flat Iron Mokkoji Cut - Hot Pot Near Me - Riverside, California

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