Giving Shabu-Zen a five star not because it has the best quality of meat BUT the staff here is extremely nice, the restaurant is clean, and the price is so worth it for what you get. I ordered a $22 regular combo set and I was still full beyond dinner time. Definitely recommend dining during lunch time it gets pretty packed during dinner. read more

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I've loved this place for years! One of the healthiest Asian places around because for the most part, you know exactly what's in your food. The chicken is my favorite mixed with the other vegetables and sauces it comes with. If you like a lot of flavor, I recommend the spicy sauces as the meat and vegetables are very bland if you don't try them with something. Everything comes out super fast since it is uncooked and raw. Super easy to boil the meat which comes out cooked in under five minutes. If you're looking for healthy, this is it! read more

I love hot pot and the one place I really love to get it is specifically at Shabu Zen on Brighton Ave! They have a spot in Chinatown but it's much smaller. Compared to all other hot pot places, Shabu Zen's hot pot quality is so much better compared to all these other hot pot places in Boston and the prices aren't too bizarre either. You usually don't need to wait for tables on weekdays but of course it gets super busy during weekends. The service here is usually quick and they're super attentive. This place has been my go-to place for hot pot for about 4 years now and will continue to be!!! read more

Shabu-Zen - Love spicy? This yummy Mongolian broth would be your best bet. Order with surf and turf and you'll be set for a fulfilling dinner! - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Their broth/soup is just heavenly. It's one of the best hot-pots I have been to. Their top three for me have to be - Korean kimchi broth, Tom yum broth and veggie dumplings. Also great options are, spicy edamame and all of their slushes read more

Shabu-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Acceptable portions (notice I say acceptable), delightful to the taste (meat was a bit tough though), reasonably priced (since it was weekday lunch), and pretty good quality with good service. It wasn't the "wow omg that was out of this world, I must come back" but it met all positive criteria of good food experience so I'll give it a 4 stars. $13 JUMBO Beef (A5) during weekday lunch. Came out to be $17 with taxes and tips. They seemed to give smaller portions than dinner per the price. Hence, cheaper wasn't really "cheaper". However, the experience was great. I was not disappointed by the taste and veggie assortment. Everything was on point. Definitely better quality than ayce place in Chinatown but if you think you eat alot, this might not be your place. The front personnel seemed to be uninterested as the customers went out. I honestly could care less, but I'm sure that won't really help with the customer experience. Overall I liked the experience. Not too sure if I'd come for dinner but for weekday lunch, I'd give it another try if I get a chance. read more

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This place is overrated by far. Quite pricey for leaving hungry after dinner and the weekends are so busy, you could wait up to an hour, for shabu. Definitely not worth the wait or $. We each ordered the A5 beef combo with original and kimchi broth, neither being anything special. Tasted watered down down and bland. Even the kimchi broth didn't have much flavor, just a slight kimchi taste with spicy heat. The combo comes with either rice or udon noodles, so we did one of each which worked out well and the veggies were clean and fresh. I just do not get how they expect someone to be full off the amount of meat and veggies given per serving. They have a parking lot in the back but if it's a busy night, the lot will probably be full and you may have to street park. read more

BOOOOOooooOOO!!!!! HISSSSsssssSSS!!!!! Garlic BELCH!! Came here tonite with fellow yelpers Mel (grandma), Roni (who I will now refer to as "spermling"), John, Corey, Andrea, and Melanie (who I just discovered has 1 degree of separation from me at BU). Being a Shabu noobie, I thought the whole experience, though somewhat awkward at first, was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, sort of like the first time you watch porn with a group of friends. BUT..... BUT...... BBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!! Service was a tad bit sloppy. Waiter-with-a-bad-haircut-and-dog-rectum-breath managed to spill semi-scorching soup on my left hand (which I've affectionately named "Palm-ela Anderson") when he came to refill the shabu soup bowl thingies. AND... It took a frickin HOUR to get the bill. Tables around us came and went, both with smaller and larger parties, and they managed to get their bills on time, while the Yelp squad sat there like Crisco containers waiting to decompose into something OPEC could export. Not sure if I'll come back here unless dragged by friends. read more

Great tasting shabu-shabu. With three people on one pot, we didn't get enough broth. I shared the boneless short rib beef and the chicken/beef combo with a spicy peppery broth. The meat and broth was excellent. I wish there was more vermicelli and broth. Being hungry at the end which was a bit disappointing at this price. read more

Shit. Really didn't want to give this place anything under 4 stars, but with the recent changes in the past month... here goes folks: Typically my go-to hot pot place when I was in college at Bentley. In Waltham, there's not much going on. So we piggie-back off the BU kids with their micro-country and economy, and head to Allston/Brighton for some eats. I literally came here.. twice a week, minimum. Wouldn't be surprised if the next time I got a papercut and bled, black BBQ sauce would bleed out in place of blood (I literally use SO much chinese BBQ sauce it disgusts even me.. and I'm the one eating it). It was fairly priced, and was overall a pleasent experience. However, recent changes has changed my opinion about this little gem. One - price increase on literally everything. Well.. okay, fine. Normal occurrence with inflation. But two - wiping away the lunch menu? Three - discontinuing that complimentary and refreshing red bean dessert? Four - and this is the one that gets me - removing the extra plates of meat from the menu, and when asked about the availability and price (this is where the waitress said that yes it was still available and would only be a couple dollars) - it comes out at $10? We should have just ordered another combo at $14. What the eff. There are only so many things a business should do when they adapt their business to the current economy, but a slew of cost savings such as the above does NOT help your business, but drives away customers in hoards instead. Also, apparently their AC isn't strong enough, since I was sitting behind a fan. Well, at least I had the fan - I remember once their AC broke in the middle of summer, now that was a terrible meal, I was sweating everything I drank instantly. At the very least, the quality of food remained unchanged, and therefore Shabu Zen receives two stars still. read more

I am not exaggerating when I say that I know a girl who eats this stuff at least once, if not twice, a week. This stuff is good like...once a year, but honestly, I don't get the hype. I do enjoy cooking the food and all that, there's no problem with that. I'm just always bored with the food. There is always a lack of flavor. No matter which soup flavors I get, I always have to dump all of my condiments into the pot. I always ask for four portions of the condiments: three things each of the garlic, hot peppers, scallions, the mushy, flavorful brown stuff and three dishes of the soy sauce. I dump all of that in and a fourth serving of condiments as a dipping sauce. That is how I eat at Shabu Zen. Once I start cooking and eating, I always want more noodles. The thin slices of meat that they give are kind of pathetic. Like honestly...really? That's it? So after I disappointed myself over and over, I ended up getting seafood platters which were nice because they were fresh and had a bit more substance, but still, everything was lacking SOMETHING. Flavor-wise, I am always disappointed and I am always leaving hungry. I swear, I have never ever left Shabu-Zen satisfied and I'm always looking for something else to eat afterward. The staff is blah and are nowhere to be found when my pot is overflowing because it's boiling so high, but I can't get anyone to lower the heat. Sigh. I might as well throw random things I find in the fridge into a pot: hot dogs, eggs, spaghetti noodles, ketchup... I'd say it would taste much better than the water-in-a-pot that I get at this place (definitely more interesting). Blah. read more

Went here for lunch with a friend. They had a lunch special in which we could pick hot pot from for a decent price. ($8-$13) the protions were okay for the price, but i had to order another meat plate. The staff were friendly and the place was just nice to look at. Our total was about $25 for two people. I would come again for lunch cause of the lunch menu read more

Shabu-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

Delicious hot pot for a reasonable price. I always get the beef/lamb combo with the kimchi and spicy mongolian as the soups. (Go with at least one other person). The veggies given are bok choy, mushroom, cabbage, tofu, and corn and you can choose your base as either rice, vermicelli, or udon. If you want to have a nice lunch or dinner with a friend, this is a spot to definitely try. read more

Shabu-Zen - Left is the kimchi and right is the spicy mongolian. Took a picture too late - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

So nobody told me how to eat/order shabu so here's the breakdown to NOT embarrassing yourself: Get the meat combo with a friend and it comes in a big pot with a line in the middle so you can get two different broths (if you want). Choose a meat (I recommend beef) and expect it to come out with veggies. Choose a broth and make sure you get FLAVORING! MY LIFE WAS CHANGED when I decided to get the kimchi broth in the middle of my shabu session. KIMCHI ALL THE WAY... trust me. That dull chicken broth is no where close to being delicious. Choose a starch - I recommend udon that you can put straight into the broth and let it soak up all the goodness. Prep your soy sauce by putting garlic, scallions, chili and that brown stuff. Now time to eat!! Put the corn in first so it can cook all the way through. And I usually just wait for the broth to boil and put all the veggies in. Then I put a few pieces of meat (takes literally a few seconds to cook), fish it out with some veggies, dip it in my flavored soy sauce and into my mouth. It was pretty good! It's not as filling as you would want $15 to be, but it's quite yummy and hearty for the soul on a cold day. If you want to go the extra step, make porridge out of your leftover broth by ordering rice, egg and sesame oil. This will seriously make you full! read more

Shabu-Zen - Chicken/pork broth with chicken and pork meat and veggies - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I love Shabu Zen! I can't seem to find better kim-chee broth and good cuts of beef anywhere else but here. Be sure to put on an outfit you don't care about and leave your jackets in your car because it will smell like Shabu for a few hours. This is also a great hangover cure! Lunch is a lot cheaper here so if you want a great deal be sure to come before 3pm on weekdays, its about 40% off the combos. Dinner is kind of pricey if you are really hungry. Since they don't give you as much vegetables as before you end up ordering more and the special broths are extra too so it all adds up. It seems to me that the Chinatown location is a lot more generous on their portions. My favorite is the Beef Short Ribs and Udon noodles with Kim-Chee broth and a side of fish paste. It's delicious! Even though they have a private lot, parking is kind of a pain on weekend nights from 7:00-8:30. It's hard to find street parking too because there are a ton of restaurants and bars on Brighton Ave. So get there early or avoid the peak hours. read more

Shabu-Zen - A3 - beef short ribs - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Craving hotpot and unwilling to travel all the way to Chinatown? Shabu Zen is the place to go. Quality and selection of the meat is stellar. The broths are really flavorful, I liked the spicy ones best and no, it's not (entirely) because I'm Indian. The servers are really knowledgeable and helped educate clueless souls like myself on the menu. Also this place is HUGE, so seating is definitely not a problem. They have a nice collection of sake and soju as well. Things I wasn't a fan of - fish cakes and tripe (then again, that's an issue with my personal taste), the harsh hospital lighting, and the food being a tad overpriced. Overall, the food and hotpot experience definitely makes it worth it. read more

Shabu-Zen - Spicy mongolian broth - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

So, check it out... I came here because Bon Chon was closed and I was meeting up with my homegirls Shananay and K-Rock so we pivoted like power moving veterans and went to Shabu-Zen. It ain't no lie, this place is doggone fly. It's like the Closest Thing to Heaven. Makes me really want to Shout about how good it is! Got the meat platter, surf and turf and seafood platter and all were the bees knees, the bread and butter, the cats meow (champ champ)! The service is great, they give you love, not Pale Shelter. The watermelon dankness that is their fruit drink will make you feel Head Over Heels. Comes with free dessert. Don't get overwhelmed about the choices, when it's all mixed up, better Break It Down Again. This place is a Mad World, but it's awesome! Fairly priced, because they are Sowing the Seeds of Love. I'm gonna go listen to some Tears for Fears. read more

I feel like I'm not "culture" enough to enjoy Shabu-Zen or any other Shabu places in Boston. Why? Hot Pot Buffet got to me. But anyways, I am an avid hot pot enthusiast. So I really wanted to like these Shabu places. I don't. Their combo prices look alright but the portion isn't barely enough for me to get semi-full. Especially with hot pot you expect to get a lot of vegetable but what we get is so meager. Again maybe HPB spoiled me and made me into a greedy eater but I want to be bloated and full after hot pot. Sauce: Sad face. One part that MAKE hp is the dipping sauce. Theirs isn't good. I've had much much better. Broth: half herbal and half mongolian. Not memorable. Service: it was ok... I think because we sat in the empty section so that's why the waitress kind of forgot about us. read more

Indeed, a solid shabu spot on the pricier end. We came here on a quiet Sunday morning and ordered kimchi broth and herb broth. For the meat, we ordered the deluxe meat combo, sirloin, and beef. Service is very quick, and servers are very knowledgeable. I highly suggest the smoothies to end your shabu feast. The watermelon smoothies is so refreshing, and I also love the green tea latte smoothies. Hint: more parking in the back of the restaurant. read more

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-It seems a little silly to add an extra $3 for certain broths like tom yum, Chinese herbal spicy, and kimchi. It's diluted anyways when you request them to fill in more soup as the refill is composed of one of their clear broths. Why would the pork or chicken broths be on the house when those are made from meat extracts while the $3 options are only made from spices? -Very stingy on the condiments you can add to your dipping soy sauce. They only add a scoop's worth of each ie. green onions, garlic, green chili etc. regardless of how big your group is. I'm sorry I like ALOT of green onions and green chilies. Your portions of condiments to share amongst 4 people is typically how much I like to add to my own dipping sauce concoction. Sure you can always request for more, but it's an annoyance. Hot pot buffet will bring you a rice bowl full of each condiment. +Quality of the meat is undeniably better compared to Hot Pot Buffet, more marbled. As for the seafood, nothing markedly different. Price point was actually the same between Shabu-zen and Hot Pot. Amongst 8 people, it came out to $23 each with tips. Once you get used to hot pot buffet, everything seems to become skimpy once you head to any non-buffet hot pot establishment. Unless you're picky about the quality of your meat, Shabu-zen is no different than Hot Pot Buffet. read more

I like the Chinatown branch more because they use their space efficiently. BF and I had to wait about 15 mins to be seated with all the booths stayed vacant. I do enjoy Japanese hotpot over Chinese hotpot any day. I really like their udon. It's like a cross between udon and regular flat noodles. Delishhhhh :) read more

Shabu-Zen - Yums :) - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

This is one of the best shabu places in Boston. They have one branch in Chinatown as well. I'd say take the small.shabu with two broths. House and Szechuan. It takes about 15 mins to cook it in front of you. It's a good experience seeing it cook and smell the soup while its boiling read more

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Amazing restaurant with great music, staff, and food. I love visiting Shabu Zen (Chinatown-Boston/Allston). The servers are very attentive and the restaurant is always clean and well maintained. I stopped in on a cold rainy Sunday with my husband. The manager Ryan was exceptional he helped us decide what type of noodles to order, when we arrived we had no clue and he walked us through each option patiently. Despite having multiple parties Ryan made us feel welcomed and he payed special attention to each requested item. This place is a total gem and makes for a great night out with friends. Order the A1, be sure to try the mango smoothie, and mochi for desert, YUM. read more

This is by far my favorite restaurant in Boston. I do realize it's not for everyone, but for those who enjoy hot pot have to try this place. Broth: my broth of choice is kimchi, but I have also tried Mongolian. The kimchi is a bit spicy but has a lot of flavor. As of late they've been watering it down a bit but if you ask for the broth a bit spicier they'll do it. The Mongolian broth is very rich with a beef base. I would get it more often but now they charge $7 for it, which is way too steep for a broth. Combo: I typically get their A5 beef combo which comes with a plate of veggies and a carb. I'm a big eater so I usually get the jumbo which is 1.5x meat and add an additional rice to my udon. All the ingredients are very fresh and you can definitely tell that it's of higher quality compared to all the other hot pots around the area. If you are feeling a bit adventurous I'd recommend their beef tongue which is mildly salted with a slight soy sauce note to it. Drink: watermelon smoothie. It's straight up watermelon with simple syrup and it is the most refreshing thing on a hot summer day. My only gripe about this place is that they've been consistently upping their price. Right now I pay around $26. Any higher and I might have to find a new favorite place to go. Please stop upping the price! Love you Shabu zen read more

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I've been to the one on Tyler Street (Ctown) plenty of times and luv'd it. This place is much bigger than the one in ctown. I have come many times in the past w/ small groups and recently with a large group. I was glad they took reservations for our large group. Service was good/attentive, water was refilled, the orders came out correct. Luv their food here and their smoothie drinks are great too. They do have free parking in the back (small parking lot). read more

Seems like the prices keep going up and the dishes get smaller at the same time over the years. The condiments are given sparingly. I always have to ask for more since they love to over pour the soy. The service is still lacking. And it takes forever to get the fish paste! I'm done with half my meal before they bring it out and dump it into my broth. I come here out of convenience and the sesame sauce. Other than that, it's really not worth the price of the new menu. read more

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I've been obsessed with Shabu-Zen for years! I go to both locations, but prefer the spaciousness of the Allston location. My boyfriend and I go out for dinner here about once a month. We are always seated within 15 -20 minutes, and have found service to be quite good. We usually order the Vegetarian Delight platter and the jumbo Beef platter and split them, and both get the Szechuan broth (we love spicy!). I also always ask for additional Sha Cha sauce and a plate of fresh chilis to make a delicious, HOT dipping sauce (I combine all of the garnishes & sauces they give). The Vegetarian Delight platter is amazing. It overflows with vegetables and a variety of tofu. The portion size has definitely decreased over the past year, but I would still never not purchase this option. The bonus veg platter that comes with meat options doesn't hold a candle. The beef platter is delicious, fresh, and filling. While a bit disappointing to see raising prices and decreasing portion sizes, Shabu-Zen remains one of, if not my favorite, restaurant in Boston. read more

Shabu-Zen in Allston is equally well run as the one in Chinatown. Now, during the summer the students are away, so it is much easier to get a table even with a large group. Wonderful. A1 plus shrimp paste is my preferred choice. Beware though that the shrimp paste pieces need some time to properly cook. Picking one out undercooked is not a pleasant experience. Fully cooked, I actually prefer shrimp paste over my previous favorite fish paste. But both are good. They also have a Kobe beef option, but I think the standard American beef is at least as tasty and a much better value. Here Shabu-Zen shines, because their American beef is wonderfully marbled. It isn't fine dining, but a perfect casual restaurant that delivers value. read more

I'm a vegetarian and I felt Shabu Zen was incredibly accommodating. It was 10:30 on Saturday night, we were hungry and we didn't know where to get food. Deciding there was probably better parking in Allston than Chinatown we headed out intending to go to Le's to get pho. Le's was closing so after an Indian/ Japanese/ Korean conversation we settled on Shabu Zen. Regarding the other reviews, no, the service wasn't great. But it wasn't bad and I wasn't expecting 5 star service. The sake (which they had no recommendation for) was good and inexpensive, considering. The veggie selection was diverse and we sat at the bar, which had little leg room, but was fine. No, I probably wouldn't take a date here but for a fun night of talking and dipping things into boiling broth, it was good. This is Allston. I'm not expecting the Four Seasons. I'll go back because they have parking and they were nice. read more

Shabu-Zen - Yummy Veggie Meal and Sake! - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

After a long flight from California and a long day moving into my new apartment, my boyfriend and I were looking for something hearty and comforting to eat for our first night in Boston. Being unfamiliar with the area, we browsed Yelp for restaurants within walking distance to grab dinner and came across Shabu Zen -- and we were glad we did! For our first time, we decided to go with the highly recommended A1, but we've been back plenty of times since then and have had the chance to explore more menu items. Some of our favorites are: - A1 prime rib eye - Ton-toro (pork jowl) - Sautéed beef tongue (seriously don't knock it 'til ya try it!) - Spicy edamame Those were only a few but the menu is so broad that there are options for everyone. As for broth choice, we've tried the Japanese miso, spicy kimchi, and plain chicken broth (seasoned with the complimentary garlic, scallions, and shrimp paste). Out of those three we liked the spicy kimchi the most, but we do like our foods on the hotter side. Next time we will probably try their tom yum broth and maybe (just maybe) venture past the ton-toro, but it's so good I can see my self just re-ordering it every time I visit! read more

Shabu-Zen - Ton-toro (pork jowl) - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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This week's frigid weather made me crave hot pot. After work, we were in no mood to stand in the Chinatown location's long queue. We opted for the Brighton location because it had parking and no line. Several other reviewers point to cost and amount. Let me add my two cents worth to the mix. If you want quantity at a great price, you should opt for Fat Cow in Chinatown. Quality suffers (obviously) because it's all you can eat in a time capped at 3 hours. This is not a criticism of that particular venue as I have attended more than one group dinner there . In the world of portion control/finite amounts, Shabu Zen is an incredibly strong relatively speaking. Other local hot pot places match their quality but seem to limit quantity especially when it comes to the seafood options. SZ offers a generous portion of quality, healthy fare. I have never been disappointed. It's worth noting that the hot pot market seems to be expanding exponentially. Sadly, I have still not explored the new venues in Central Square and other neighborhoods. They are very high on my list. Despite this market growth, I will always come back to SZ. read more

Shabu-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

One of my favorite restaurants. I love the vibe. The staff is friendly and the food is amazing.. Sometimes Chinatown is packed so I'll head to Brighton both locations are great. read more

Great service! Our server was great! The food was amazing. Good vibes all around. Would like to see more if a variation of drinks.

One of the best in Boston. Also very good COVID precautions and policies. Great food and service. read more

Shabu-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

I have tried most hot pot places in the area, and this remains my go to. Best broths in town (get the Tom Yum!!), fresh ingredients, yummy sauce and awesome service every time. I like to order from the side dishes so I can customize my meal and I have seriously never been disappointed. read more

Came here once for lunch and once for dinner with a friend. I've never been too fond of going out to hot pot places to eat since it's always cheaper to just go out and buy the ingredients yourself and do it at home with friends. But I thought I would give it a shot. Overall it was a good experience, but not one I'd go out of my way to pay for (more so looking at the dinner prices at ~$20). Some of my notes: -Lunch is about 1/2 the price of the dinner so come during their lunch special (except on holidays because then there is no lunch special). -The broth you pick can enhance your experience greatly. I personally like the spicier broths because it gives a kick, but they are a little extra $$ -Throw your corn in first since you know that usually takes the longest to cook haha -Be patient and enjoy conversation while you are waiting for your food to be ready to be eaten. I'd give it 3.5-4 stars (4 more so for lunch because it is cheaper than dinner). I personally don't think it's worth it to come for dinner. read more

Shabu-Zen - Japanese Near Me - Allston, Massachusetts

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Was introduced to this place a few years ago by a good friend. Never disappointed when I go here for dinner. Would highly recommend the baby octopus and watermelon frozen drinks. Still a go to whenever I am in the area! Also small parking lot in back of restaurant! read more

I have been to this place many times I like food and services But only complain is respetion people are very rude. They need to take care of customer but it wasn't Very un happy read more

Phenomenal! Their food is so fresh and good, ugh I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I usually don't like non-all you can eat hot pot but I wanted to try this and I was satisfied from having the minimum! I got two courses, the Prime Grade Beef and the Vegetarian Delight, plus some quail eggs and that was the perfect amount of food. I was pretty surprised because, again, I'd rather have all you can eat! I also got the spicy Mongolian and spicy kimchi, perfect amounts of flavor and the sauce on the side is bomb. I can see why people go here and would definitely come back. The quality and the service is dope & the restaurant as a whole is pretty clean! read more

Updated: I come here all the time now. they have the best korean kimchee spicy broth. I always leave feeling full, but not too full. I love the quality and freshness of everything they serve! I am a huge fan! 5/5! read more

I was not supposed to be in this restaurant but I don't regret going there at all. It was an impromptu trip. Being a vegetarian I thought, they would have fish sauce in everything. Finally we decided to take a chance and it turned out to be a good experience. This is a hotpot place where you order from the choice of broths available (they make everything in vegetarian as well). We chose spicy mongolian and a plain vegetable broth. They serve with the platter of raw food (in my case it was mushroom and vegetables). They have hot pot right on the table and you cook your own food in the broth. We would visit there again. The prices are reasonable as well. read more

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