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    Shinobu Shabu

    4.5 (1k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Hot Pot
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Waitlist - Shinobu Shabu

    Waitlist closed

    The restaurant is not taking waitlist parties right now

    Shinobu Shabu Japanese Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SHINOBU SHABU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Shinobu Shabu

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    Reviews With Photos

    Wing C.

    The service was great. The meats were okay. But their tonkotsu broth was awful. It was SOUR and unappetizing. I kept thinking maybe they accidentally added in sour cabbage or maybe even soap... what in the world can this possibly be a pork bone broth... it was SO bad. One of the worst broths I've ever had.

    The front of the restaurant
    Doug B.

    There are two Shinobu restaurants a few doors away from each other. One is shabu shabu and the other is Japanese BBQ so make sure you go to the right one. They have a Yelp waitlist, but there was no wait when we went. There is seating at the bar, as well as tables along the other wall. If you walk to the back and go around the corner, I believe there are more tables over there on the other side. They have two tiers of AYCE, silver and gold. The gold tier includes everything in the silver tier and adds USDA prime short rib & ribeye as well as salmon. We opted for the silver tier which has a good variety of red meat as well as chicken breast and shrimp and is quite a bit less expensive. There are four broths to choose from and I always go with spicy miso. Hot drops are available upon request to kick up the heat. You can order as much meat as you like as well as appetizers, veggies, and noodles. We had several rounds of gyoza and panko fried shrimp which were excellent and each came with its own sauce. The meats all had great flavor and the shrimp are already peeled and deveined making them easy to cook and eat without making a mess. They give you two small bowls of sauce for dipping which includes a peanut sauce which I didn't really care for and a soy sauce. If you have more than a few people in your party, you may have to share half of a regular sized broth bowl. They have a good bar menu and we enjoyed a few bottles of Kikusui sake. The silver tier is a very good dinner value for $36.99 per person as of February 2025. Service was good and I would return again if in the area and have a taste for shabu shabu.

    Peter T.

    Pretty good for an all you can eat option. Their broth, I chose the spicy miso, was really good and I enjoyed their appetizers as well. The proteins and the veggies I feel like I could have gotten anywhere else. The one thing for sure that sets them apart from everyone else was their appetizers have tvs so if you want to watch the games this is a great spot.

    Meat!
    Nathan N.

    Our server Thuan was very helpful and friendly. My mom and I came pretty early to the restaurant, and were thus seated immediately and got to start eating right away. We went for the AYCE option so we can try as many things as we can. The food was delicious and well worth the price. The beef options are the best things on the menu, in my opinion. I have confirmed my love of ponzu and sesame sauce with meat. Ponzu goes so well with so many things, my mouth is watering at the thought of eating here again. As this place is all you can eat, you can order several rounds of meat. I would make a whole meal of it, having it be my only meal of the day, post-workout. AYCE shabu shabu is a blessing. I am excited to come back and eat more.

    Veggie plate
    Jenny L.

    Shinobu Shabu is my go to place for hot pot whenever I'm in HB. I always get the AYCE menu since the quality of their meat is delicious. I love the fact they have spicy drops that you can add to your dips and pot. Typically, we don't really order much from the appetizers because we're there to make the most of our money by eating as much meat as we can. Service can get a bit slow depending on traffic of customers. However, they're typically really good about asking if you need more broth, meat, etc. for broth refills, they do bring the actual broth that you ordered initially for refill rather than just some type of stock like other places. I also like that they offer brown rice as well.

    short rib, chuck eye and beef belly
    Ryan N.

    I'm a fan of their sister business Shinobu Japanese BBQ and Shabu in general and decided to give their Shabu a shot. My visit was last Saturday 10/17/25 during lunch for a party of six. Its highly recommend that you use their waitlist to set up a reservation for your party. The business is small with 4 tables perpendicular to each other with 2 tables seating 8 and the remaining 2 seating six. There is bar seating which may sit up to 20 so approximately 50 customers max. They offer two dining options al la carte or all you can eat. I highly recommend getting the ayce which has two tiers. Silver 36.99 and Gold 50.99. We went with the Silver tier which includes 7 meat options 3 beef, 2 pork, 1 chicken, and 1 shrimp, variety of appetizers and ice cream. Overall the meat selection was decent. With the exception of the fried shrimp the appetizers we ordered were mid. We got the karaage chicken, and fries. The service was slow due to being understaffed. At the time i think six to eight total staff was working. Two were serving tables and the rest in the back doing food preparation. It took a while to get our next rounds of meat and vegetable orders. Overall the experience was ok. The are other Shabu restaurants that I prefer over Shinobu Shabu and might return if I'm in the area.

    Pork Belly and Choice Ribeye
    Justin N.

    Boy oh boy where do I begin? First off - the quality of the meat we got was amazing !! We got pork belly and both prime and choice ribeye. Very delicious melt in yo mouth flavor!! I personally liked the sukiyaki broth for meat, and the spicy miso for veggies :) Service was excellent, and the overall ambiance was nice and clean. I wanted to make a HUGE point and shoutout to our server Andrew. He made great recommendations for the meat we chose, and was on point for service. If I could give him a million stars I would - because his attentiveness, warmth and great display of character showed how great of a place Shinobu Shabu is! Thank you for the amazing time Andrew !!!

    Gold AYCE Menu
    Samara G.

    This hidden Jem is just a free doors down from Shinobu Japanese BBQ. It gets a bit busy, but it's totally with the wait. The vibe is very chill and relaxing. It's been one of our favorite spots to go! My husband and I sat at the bar, we got the AYCE. Everyone was super friendly and they tag teamed on service which is fun! For the broth I got a mix of the Spicy Miso and Tonkotsu. It's great because it's a little creamy, has a touch of heat in it, perfect for some cold nights. My husband got just the Tonkatsu, which is full of flavor, minus the heat that I got. The meats are amazing, you can see the full quality of the marbling. They use Wagyu for the chuck eye and beef belly. Veggie plates are my JAM it comes with spinach, lettuce, bok choy, carrots, mushrooms, tofu, and fish cake. It's so tasty. If you only want a select few items, you can totally get just the veggies you want. This place is amazing, if you want a good comfort food, do this! Reasonably priced and the service is fantastic.

    Charlie V.

    If you're into hot pot, you have to try this OC Gem. Shinobu Shabu totally hit the spot. The vibe is super chill -- cozy tables, friendly staff, and the smell of the broth as soon as you walk in makes you instantly hungry. I usually go with the all you can eat silver option. The best meats that I usually pick are Choice Short Rib, Wagyu Chuck Eye, and Wagyu Beef Belly for MAX BIG BACK. Some sides that I would recommend are the chicken karaage, panko fried shrimp, and furikake fries for something to snack on when your meats are cookin. You can get a nice plate of veggies, noodles of your choice, and your choice of broth -- I go with the spicy miso, which had just the right kick without being overpowering. Everything cooks right at your table, so it's fun to mix and match flavors and sauces. The ponzu and goma sauces were amazing -- I mixed in some garlic, radish and scallions to elevate the flavor. Service was great too. The servers -- Kevin, Will P, and Andrew -- were super attentive and kept refilling our broth without us even asking. The whole experience felt easy and relaxing almost like you're eating at home-- perfect for a casual dinner with friends or even a solo comfort meal. Bottom line:Fresh ingredients, great flavors, good vibes. Definitely coming back when it's cold out -- or honestly, anytime I'm craving a cozy, interactive meal. ~ type sheets

    ig: @cravingswithcat
    Catherine N.

    I really like how Shinobu has a Yelp waitlist, I joined before driving over and we were seated as soon as we got there. The meat quality surprised me and the vegetable options were pretty good as well. I did not love the peanut sauce that came with the meal, I prefer a sesame sauce and wish they offered that instead. The meal ends off with ice cream, that is so nice and who doesn't;t love a sweet treat. ig: @cravingswithcat

    Grace H.

    For $25, the AYCE lunch special is a steal! I went in on a rainy afternoon with a couple of friends, excited that menu includes wagyu. We were really impressed with the quality of the meat, veggies, and noodles. Our favorite meats were options 1 and 2. There's not as much meat variation but we were content mostly ordering those 2 options. The appetizers, such as the panko fried shrimp and edamame, were also good. We were also glad that the meal came with ice cream at the end. I'd definitely came back for this deal again with other people!

    Wagyu beef belly and chuck eye
    Joey G.

    Very clean; chill atmosphere; great quality meats - we came in for lunch and the $25 special is a bargain for the amount of stuff you get. Thuan was our server, they were super friendly and welcoming- very personable and patient with us. Thuan in addition help us with great tips and suggestions for first-timers.

    Steven I.

    Great first Shabu! Kevin and Andrew walked me through the whole thing! They were super helpful in getting me started and helped all along the way! Will definitely be back again soon! One of the best meals I've had in a long time! Thanks guys!

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    Great hot pot, great quality meat, great service. You can join yelp waitlist ahead. We go here at least once a quarter

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    Shinobu Shabu Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Shinobu Shabu

    Sorry to ask but do u guys take cash?

    Sure do!

    Is this establishment dog friendly?

    It is not. The tables are close to each other so taking a dog may bother the people next to you.… Read more

    Is there a minimum required number of diners for the AYCE option?

    There's no minimum requirement for AYCE, though ordering a variety of dishes is the best way to maximize value.

    Hi do you take reservations?

    Yes they do 👍🏽

    How long are you guys closed for?

    We are open 6 days a week currently for dinner only, our hours on Yelp are updated anytime we make a change, thank you!

    Is there free vegetable refill?

    No refills on veggies....if you choose the vegetarian option it seems like they double the veggies. You won’t go away hungry.

    View All 9 Questions

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    Black ramen was absolutely delicious -- rich, flavorful broth with perfectly cooked noodles and…read morejust the right depth of seasoning. You can tell care goes into it. The yellowtail sushi was fresh and super tasty, and I loved that they added a generous extra slice of sashimi on top of the nigiri. That little touch definitely didn't go unnoticed. Service was friendly and welcoming without being overbearing. And the $7 house sake? Surprisingly large pour and very generous for the price. I like what this place is selling. Solid food, fair pricing, and good vibes. I'll definitely be back.

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    Sea Salt Japanese Eatery - Baked Salmon Roll & Cream Cheese

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    SeaSalt is one of my favorite places for sushi in Huntington Beach. The sushi is incredibly fresh…read moreand you can really taste the quality of the fish. Every roll we tried was amazing and beautifully prepared. The atmosphere is great and the staff is friendly and attentive. The restaurant is clean, comfortable, and a perfect spot for a nice dinner. You can tell they care about the food and the experience. If you're in Huntington Beach and want amazing sushi, I definitely recommend SeaSalt. I'll definitely be coming back.

    Really cute neighbourhood spot, and it was clear there are a lot of regulars which is always a good…read moresign. Came in during a slow afternoon, but the service was fantastic: quick, attentive, and genuinely friendly. I don't think I've ever seen a server that happy if i'm being honest. Great fish selection for nigiri/sashimi, and they definitely don't skimp on portions. The slices were slightly thicker than what you typically get at most Japanese restaurants, but not overwhelming at all. Because of that, the nigiri and rolls do come with a bit more rice as well, but everything was well-balanced. Also ordered the Brussels sprout appetiser, which was a standout and easily one of the best Brussels sprout dishes I've had. Each sprout was perfectly coated with Parmesan cheese and nori. I'm addicted. Overall, a great spot with quality fish, exceptional service, and a cozy vibe. Will definitely be back.

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    Momonoki - Prosciutto salad

    Momonoki

    4.1(302 reviews)
    4.7 mi
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    Went here cause I love Asian fusion had butternut squash ravioli was amazing sad they took it off…read morethe menu I also had a different pasta can't remember the name the calamari the steak - wish there was more chimichurri a pork belly dish super tender prosciutto salad with Panna cotta so different but works ! And focaccia so fluffy and delicious ! By the way they own a farm so it's mostly if not all farm to table ! I came back 6 times to get through the whole menu after this service was great and the place is small so dinner gets packed ! So be prepared Never uploaded this review then came back because they redid their menu and again never disappointed and the server who noticed I was waiting to order and hopped right out her spot to come take mine even though I think it was her coworkers job lol well done on the customer service and observation it was so sweet and adorable

    Notes to consider so you don't make the same oops I did. -…read moreThe restaurant does not have apparent signage in the front. Know where you're aiming to go. - There is a sister restaurant named Mono Yama two doors down ...cue to me walking in between aimlessly because my friend recommended the place and all i recalled was "momo". That said, the people were super nice in both places. You can tell it happens often. We went right as it opened, and we got seated right away. The menu is via a QRC on the table. We ordered 3 things - vongole pasta. Previously they offered it uni but this one had claims and shrimp. We also got the pesto and the calamari. Calamari was crispy but it also was slightly too salty and seemed to be a lot of batter. The calamari pieces were small. The pesto pasta was okay, but the pesto wasn't the traditional pesto. I couldn't put my finger on it but it must've been the dashi. The udon was cooked well though. Soft, definitely not al dente. This vongole was the biggest miss. It had a taste that we also couldn't figure out, but it was not enjoyable to eat. We left the meal very dissatisfied. The friend I went with, who has gone before, also agreed it was disappointing. As someone who hates to waste food, we were very close to leaving nearly half of each dish there. My friend ended up taking it back. Later that evening, we both were feeling off. Idk, perhaps it was a coincidence. In the end, it was a truly sad experience.

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    Niya Sushi - Chirashi Platter

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    We were greeted w a smile from Christine and a clean spot at the sushi bar along with a comforting…read moremug of hot green tea. Chirashi bowl was delicious- in all my years I haven't had rice this delicious. Presented w care to keep the sashimi cold and the rice hot- quail egg, caviar and two types of roe were unexpected treats. The Toro was fresh and perfectly sea-butter. Gold medal chefs! The coffee ice cream stuffed macron was a perfect end to our night out. I'm going back soon for the blue crab hand roll.

    My husband and I have been coming to Niya for about five years, and unfortunately our last three…read morevisits have been extremely disappointing. I want to be clear that we've always enjoyed the food here, although even our most recent meal fell short. The real issue, however, has been the wait times, which have become unreasonable. Today my order was estimated to be ready at 7:15 PM. It is now 8PM and I am still waiting. For context, I placed the order at 6:00 PM. Meanwhile, guests continue to arrive and are being seated. Spending nearly two hours waiting in the lobby for a to-go order--both today and on our last visit--is simply unacceptable. The waitress did offer a free dessert and a gift card, which I declined because, unfortunately, we do not plan on returning. She then offered $20 off the bill. While the gesture was noted, it does little to address the broader issue when the bill is $130 and the wait has been this excessive. If the owners are reading this, please take a serious look at how orders are being managed. If the kitchen cannot handle the volume, online orders should be paused until the system is fixed. This used to be a place we genuinely loved, which makes this experience all the more disappointing. At this point, however, the wait and frustration simply aren't worth it anymore.

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    Fisherman's Table Yamasaki - Special snow crab hand-roll $30

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    4.4(417 reviews)
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    I went to the famous Toro Carving Event from their Instagram. I recommend calling a month early to…read morereserve a seat because it was booked solid! They do this near the end of the month on Mondays. Unfortunately, this is their 3rd to last event as they're going to be doing some restructuring. The staff was very nice and accommodating. Drinks were flowing and the sashimi was non-stop. Nigiri and handrolls were also delicious and I ate until I was close to puking. It was super cool to be able to cut into the fresh fish from Mexico. It's definitely tougher than it looks. I always thought it would be easy to cut like butter, but definitely takes a lot of strength and skill. There were other tasty tuna dishes like the miso soup, salad and crispy tuna steak. I recommend sitting at the bar so you can see Chef Yamasaki cut the fish in the front row seats. It was cool to taste the varying levels of fatness of the fish. The super chutoro was practically butter. They also offered tuna to go at $50/lb. Definitely worth it. The venue is their regular restaurant but with more tables in the middle. A little loud but definitely a fun time. There were 3 birthdays too! We had ice cream mochi for dessert and there were strawberry cakes for the birthday girls. We averaged about $170 after tip and it was worth every penny.

    This is a four-star review because while the food was excellent, the service was unfortunately the…read moreslowest I've ever experienced. The entire meal lasted 2.5 hours, and that was only because we ended it early and asked for the check. We ordered the Omakase Yamasaki for $69, and everything we received was amazing. The salad to start was great, and the fish was prepared perfectly. However, the pacing really took away from the experience. I'm not sure if they were understaffed, but the service was so slow that by the end we were exhausted and didn't even want to finish the meal. We also mentioned that my friend has a shellfish allergy, but a crab hand roll was still brought out. While it was very delicious, my friend couldn't eat it, and we chose to leave without a replacement because it would have taken another 20 minutes. The food was memorable, but the service and timing need improvement for the experience to match the quality of the food.

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    Shinobu Shabu - japanese - Updated June 2026

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