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    Shinobu Shabu

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

    Waitlist - Shinobu Shabu

    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

    Shinobu Shabu Photos

    Business Info

    SHINOBU SHABU ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Recommended Reviews - Shinobu Shabu

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    Reviews With Photos - Shinobu Shabu

    Amanda S.

    Such amazing food and great service. The meat was delicious and the vegetables were crisp! We will be back here!!

    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!

    Outside.
    Mellanie A.

    My boyfriend and I were out in OC and decided to grab dinner somewhere around the area. I found Shinobu Shabu and upon arrival was confused as their sister store next door is a Japanese ayce bbq and this location is solely their Japanese Hotpot. Having never tried hotpot before this experience definitely blew me away. The service was great, our server of the night briefly broke it down on how to cook our hotpots and gave us some great suggestions, we were also served our food in a timely manner throughout the night. The AYCE option is your best bet as you can get up to 3 rounds of refills on broth, meats (4 meats per round) , appetizers and sides ( dessert included). The environment is somewhat small, yet nice and cozy making it perfect for any occasion. For unintentionally stumbling upon a random hotpot joint Shinobu Shabu is now definitely up there with my favorites and i'd recommend this to anyone looking for a great bite. 10/10!

    Wagyu beef belly and chuck eye

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    24 days ago

    Love this place! Excellent quality and great service!!! Andrew is the best! He's friendly and QUICK! Always a great experience!

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    Page 1 of 26

    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.… 

    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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    Avenue Shabu

    4.5
    (431 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I had my doubts about a shabu spot located in Huntington Beach of all places, but ended up here for…read morea work lunch and was pleasantly surprised. Each person gets their own individual pots and they have a variety of broths to choose from. If you're not too sure which broth you want to commit to, they'll give you a small sample to help you choose! I ended up with the Chinese herbal broth and it went nicely with the goma and ponzu dipping sauces. They have a self-serve bar for sauces, vegetables, raw seafood, and even sushi! The sushi was surprisingly good for an ayce shabu spot and there were 4-5 roll options to choose from. I love that each table has a screen to order drinks, appetizers, meats, and desserts because it made the whole dining experience run so seamlessly (especially for our large group) and we weren't left waiting for any food to come! The only downside is that the premium lunch option doesn't include wagyu, so I'll have to come back for dinner.

    Broths are very bland. I tried the spicy miso and the regular miso and both are bland compared to…read moreother places. This sucked since when cooking the meat, you're forced to eat it with sauce or some type of dipping which I don't usually do. Service was fine, came by to grab the empty plates, immediately brought out our meat, and made sure we had water. As for the interior, it's really nice inside! Overall, I'd probably only go here for lunch but besides that, I'd go somewhere else.

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    Bathroom
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    Premium Sliced Beef
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    Avenue shabu
    XhOtpOt — The Boiling House

    XhOtpOt — The Boiling House

    4.6
    (32 reviews)
    3.2 mi

    My expectations were blown out of the water with this place. We wanted to try a new hotpot place…read moreand came across this up and coming location and wanted to give it a stab. It might be hard to find but it's located in the raising claw at the corner of the plaza! We got the premium set which came with SO much meat. The quality of all the meats were very good and diverse. Our server Hayden was also very knowledgeable on all the cuts and attentive to our needs. He was switching out plates for us and bringing in new foods in the set menu as we ate. The restaurant set up is nice too, you don't have to worry about crammed tables as they have carts to put your extra plates on so you have plenty of room to eat. Overall the experience was fun and the food was really good, the price point is high but definitely worth it since you get a lot of meats and seafood as well. Personally I'd place this location better than mokkoji or Shabuya :).

    Quality HOT POT over here!…read more Place is a little hard to spot but be sure to lookout for the flagship name "Raising Claw". My bro and I opted out on the 55$ premium AYCE menu. The establishment really focuses on quality and representation. The first round order took about ten minutes to come out after the soup broth was brought out. Second round order was very consistent as the quality of marbled meats came out as identical as the first batch. The tri tip and Australia rib eye was very savory. All beef options were all excellent. Chuck roll is a little too chewy for my liking as opted out on second and third order. Green tea ice cream matcha is a good meal ender. Restrooms - Clean Would definitely come back!

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
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    XhOtpOt — The Boiling House

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    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

    4.0
    (524 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    I say it all the time and I'll say it again- Mokkoji is my absolute favorite place for shabu shabu!…read more Everything from the fresh quality of meat and veggies, broth flavor, attentive service, to the overall ambiance of the place has always made me want to continue coming back. This garden grove location in particular is not as crowded as its other locations in OC but it's great since I don't usually have to wait in line :) I always get the Spicy Pork broth which is $5 extra but is well worth the price if you want a more rich and flavorful broth. The veggie bowls come with each order of meat and they're my second favorite part of the meal. My favorite part would be the meats themselves. They're so fresh and well-marinated and I love dipping them into the sauces they provide on the side. I would recommend my personal faves, the flat iron and toro. Additionally, the 2 times I've been here I've been given complimentary sake on the house. Though I'm not the biggest fan of sake, I appreciate a restaurant giving out complimentary drinks. It adds to a customer's overall experience :)

    Mokkoji Garden Grove is absolutely one of those places that deserves a special shoutout just for…read morebeing a unicorn in today's dining landscape. Post COVID, outdoor dining that actually welcomes your fur babies has become so incredibly rare that any spot doing it right deserves all the flowers. Mokkoji does it right. Our pups were so happy and so were we! Beyond the dog friendly outdoor setup, the food is genuinely great. The shabu soups are delicious and the variety here is really impressive. What I especially love is the constant veggie refills because you never feel like you're scrambling or rationing what's on the table. There's always something to add to your pot and the spread keeps things fun and interactive throughout the whole meal. The staff here are also wonderful and attentive, which just rounds out the whole experience perfectly. If you have a dog and love a good shabu situation, this is honestly your place. Places that still prioritize the outdoor dining experience and welcome four legged friends should be celebrated loudly, and Mokkoji absolutely earns that celebration!

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    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu
    Veggies
    Veggies
    Toro "Fatty Belly"

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    Toro "Fatty Belly"
    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

    4.4
    (578 reviews)
    6.8 mi
    $$

    Easy eats shabu with lots of bar seating…read more 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!

    I've been to Mokkoji before and it's usually one of my favorite spots, so I brought a group here to…read morecelebrate my aunt's birthday. I chose this location specifically for the larger seating area, but I should have listened to the other reviews about the service. Because literally look at the most recent reviews below me and they all mention the bad service! The Food: To be fair, the food itself was solid. I always get the Sukiyaki, and others in my group tried the Pork Broth, Spicy Pork Broth, and Spicy Sukiyaki. Everything tasted great. Wish we were offered the spicy drops, the spicy broth people in my group wanted more spice. But again no one checked in on us. We ordered the shareable size for the Toro and Mokkoji Cut, both marinated, which was the perfect amount for our group of five. The Service Nightmare: However, the experience was a complete letdown. It felt like the staff was entirely disengaged from our table. They brought out our bowls of broth, but didn't even tell us how to turn on the stoves; we had to sit there with cold food and eventually flag someone down just to get the burners working. Furthermore, four people in my party had never been to Mokkoji before, and the server didn't offer to explain the menu, answer questions about how Shabu-Shabu works, or provide a recommendation. Instead, the person who did help us was mumbling and seemed annoyed to be there. We weren't even told about the unlimited veggies, and we had to struggle just to get basic service. Thankfully I knew some of this information since I had been before. But it was particularly frustrating to watch the table next to us receive attentive care, they were offered "spicy drops" and provided with to-go boxes. While we couldn't even flag someone down for water or our check. It became clear that they were receiving VIP treatment because they were former employees, which made our own experience feel even more neglected Final Thoughts: I work in retail, so I'm always extra kind to service staff, so this service was just bad. I'm sad because I wanted this to be a great birthday dinner, but this location really missed the mark. We still tipped, but I wouldn't recommend this specific location. If you love shabu, go to a different branch. Or even a different restaurant because if this is how their brand operates, it is not worth it.

    Photos
    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu
    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu
    Mokkoji Shabu Shabu

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    Shinobu Shabu - japanese - Updated July 2026

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