At Tabu Shabu, you're in for an interactive dining experience like no other. Choose from flavorful broths like miso, black garlic, or spicy Sichuan, and cook premium ingredients--think wagyu beef, fresh seafood, and artisanal noodles--right at your table. read more

Awesome food and service! Tokantsu ramen with ribeye is the best. It's also easy parking and was no wait when we went on Monday

Gluten FREEDOM! Wow! It's very rare that you can find shabu places that have GF options and this place does NOT disappoint. Ok I'll admit it was sort of confusing on how to order but the staff was very patient and explained it all. GF peeps be sure to tell them you are GF right away so that they don't give you their standard sauces. They have GF soy sauce and PONZU. They also give recommendations on how to create a GF sauce and broth to have a yummy shabu experience! I also got the truffle oil side and YES that leveled up my experience! They have shiritaki noodles which are a huge plus! The meat isn't pre marinated so you're safe to choose what you want! The staff works like a well oiled machine and move as one which is a testament that there is good communication between the kitchen and wait staff ensuring that things work smoothly and seemless. Bravo! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Gf spicy miso, shiritaki noodle and brown rice - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I have been to Tabu Shabu a few times, and originally went because they had grassfed beef. I do not think they are very authentic, but went anyways because I always like having higher quality meat. But the beef I got this time was not very fresh. Traditionally shabu shabu is just water with kombu, and the meat is supposed to turn the water broth-y, and infuse the water, then you can make porridge out of it. This beef definitely would not make good porridge. If you have had shabu in Japan, then you probably would not enjoy Tabu Shabu. This place is more Americanized and more fusion. There aren't many traditional Japanese ones in California, the only one is probably Kagaya in Little Tokyo. If you want authentic then go there. I still wanted to give them four stars because their service is pretty good, and the meat was okay on my past visits. read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - spicy miso - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I think the Shabu here is decent. I ordered the Tonkatsu broth and thought it ran a little too light. The choice of proteins can be a bit pricey so choose accordingly. The service was great as all the staff was extremely helpful. The yelp check in offer is a nice little dessert... though they only allow one redemption per party :( read more

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Found this place on Yelp and we went as a party of 4 on a Monday night. Absolutely excellent service from all the employees I felt with, yes we joined a waitlist and yes we still had to wait awhile, but they did a killer job communicating. The food service was 10/10, and the food was 10/10. They deserve this. We had a blast for sure. read more

I brought the gf here for her bday cuz it has great reviews and I thought it'd be a unique experience. We enjoyed the meal! Plus we got free edamame for checking in on yelp. We got spicy miso broth, all the veggie and udon fixings, chicken and beef. Everything was super fresh and tasted great. Great music, great service and fun all-around. However, the soup was way too hot for way too long. It took 15 minutes off the burner to even be able to sip without burning my tongue and sweating through my clothes. Also, I recommend tearing apart your veggies before starting to cook them or asking the staff to cut them up prior (they're served in large pieces). Once they're in the broth and cooked, it's really difficult to eat them without making a scene! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Before throwing it all in the bowl to cook - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Excellent Shabu! I've wanted to try Tabu Shabu for awhile but the waitlist was always super long and now I know why! They have a nice variety of protein on their menu along with choices of sauces and extras. Staff is extremely nice and efficient. There are no individual tables, just one large oval table for everyone to sit around. It gets busy but service is fast. Highly recommend! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Tabu Shabu is incredible! The food is amazing, but what makes this place THE BEST is the people that work there. I have been to Tabu a handful of times and have always received incredible service. Tonight, Jose used my leftover Sukiyaki broth to make porridge, and honestly, this NEEDS to be on their menu. The porridge was so amazing (see picture). Jose was telling us that every server makes the porridge differently, but it's all good. I recommend you go to Tabu, and you 100% need to ask for the porridge!! Thanks for an amazing evening, Tabu! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Sukiyaki broth porridge made by Jose! - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

So I came one day because I was invited and from their on a came back today because I missed the spiciness if the bok choy honestly, the best because you can tailor it to your own liking. read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Best service and great food. Keep coming back. Definitely check them out you won't be disappointed.

The best place to go with friends and family for some Shabu and drinks. Servers are always nice and make you feel right at home. The ambience is chill and casual. The meats are great quality, cut perfectly and so tender! read more

Simply the best! The best food and steak in OC, I would recommend anyone to come and bring your girl to this place.

Incredible shabu, but what really makes it, is the excellent service and personable hosts. Swish on my friends!

My boyfriend and I stopped by for a late dinner around like 9ish. This place has the U-shaped sitting where it's a bar-like seatings (side note, I always prefer to be able to adjust the heat/stove on my own but was unable to here due to the set up they have). We are both huge fans of shabu shabu and has been to a lot of shabu places around the area. Sadly, our expectations weren't really met here. We ordered the sukiyaki broth, toro beef belly w a side of the wagyu ribs. The meats itself were good, it had good portions of intramuscular fat I love in meat! However it was the broth that didn't do it for me and as it is the crucial element of shabu shabu, everything just kind of fell short. The broth was really dense and sour like it has too much mirin, and the dipping sauce was also far too sour as well. our "iced" water had no ice and was luke warm when we received it so it felt like it was just sitting around for a while before we got there. And on the side note, I forgot our server name but the service we got was really lacking. I get that we stopped by kinda late but he was just rude and condescending. He acted like we couldn't afford our meal or something because I asked about sharing our entree since we always prefer to share as we can't finish our own portions most of the time, and that my partner doesn't like using the dipping sauces anyway. He basically told me because we were sharing, we HAVE to get the share plate ($6) which I understand but we didn't even get the other rice serving that was supposed to go with the shared plate, so I paid 6 dollars for nothing. We were also missing a couple of utensils that I had to ask several times for, while other parties had everything all set the first time around. Overall, I personally wouldn't come back here if I am going to be judged for sharing and having to pay extra 6 dollars for literally nothing. read more

Amazing service and welcoming . Food is always great and of the highest quality. The stew at the end is what you really wait for

I'm all about quality over quantity for the most part but I also believe a restaurant needs to have value. My experience at Tabu Shabu was one where I spent quite a lot for quite a little. I left feeling like I needed a McDonalds run to get myself full, and that's never a good thing for a restaurant. Food -I got the $32 Large combo with allowed the selection of two meats. I got the Wagyu chuckroll and the certified angus ribeye. The Wagyu was delicious and the rib eye was good as well. Meal came with a good selection of veggies, some tofu and rice. I got the spicy miso mixed with the tonkatsu broth per recommendations on yelp. It was good but a little heavy for those who like to drink their broth. Overall, the food was good but at $32 I felt like I would rather go somewhere else. Service -Came on a weeknight and service was a bit slow. It wasn't busy yet I had to flag down service to take my order. Our server was friendly and patient though. Environment -The entire restaurant is just a Shabu bar with seating facing inside. There are no tables so this isn't a good spot for large groups. Interior is a bit dark. Overall, the food was good but pricey. You will not be full if you have a large appetite but you will end up spending a lot of money on your meal. Mine was $60 for two people, both still hungry at the end. read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - $32 combo meal. Two selection of meats, veggies and rice. - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Date : 1/7/2019 - Monday, Lunch Hour I'd like to give a quick shout out to José . He's the best server here, no doubt about it. He's quick, efficient, and always checks back on you. WHAT I GOT : Angus Ribeye - Regular - $17 - Decent portions for the meat and I love how you can customize your veggies, at no charge Truffle Sea Salt Edamame - FREE w/ Yelp check-in TIP: Make sure to save your noodles, veggies, and a little bit of the meat for your soup bowl towards the end of your meal. Definitely worth it! If it's your first time, just mention that to your server and they'll gladly help you out. read more

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Loved having lunch at this place! I had the half lean grass fed beef and salmon lunch plate. I got the spicy miso broth and it was delicious. Just the right amount of spice. I got the brown rice and shirataki noodles. I loved the noodles and didn't even miss the udon. All the veggies were fresh as well. I ordered kimchi, edamame, and dumplings. They were all good, but I don't think you need to order them unless you're really hungry. My favorite was the porridge I got to take home. I asked for level 5 spicy, and it was hot but not too overpowering. Perfect for me, but if you don't like spicy, ask for something lower than 5. The service was outstanding, and I loved that we each got our own pot. Highly recommend and can't wait to go back again! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Miso soup base with veggies and shirataki noodles - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Fun experience to essentially "cook" your own food in your personal hot pot. It's bar seating so expect to be seated close to a stranger. One very important thing to remember--put your name on the Yelp waitlist and get there on time! I would get there 10-15 minutes before it tells you to as they are pretty strict with the waitlist. Once you receive a text, you need to be there within 5 minutes or others can go ahead of you. If you're not there in 15 minutes, you get completely removed from the waitlist... and that would be terrible! On to the food. We started with the crunchy garlic edamame. You get to choose your broth. I went with tonkotsu pork and it's super flavorful! Also, the perfect broth when you get to make a noodle soup at the end. I went with brown rice, all the veggies, and kale ramen noodles (it's healthy, right?) My internal rationalization. For protein, I went with prime premium ribeye as it seemed like the best quality of the meats. Such a fun way to eat! I placed the majority of my veggies in (except spinach, as that cooks super fast) and a couple slices of meat in at a time. I also got a pasteurized egg as I like to dip my meat in it after it's cooked! Save your noodles for last as the waiter can transfer your noodles into a bowl to make your own ramen bowl. Service is great here, everyone is very attentive whether you want more broth or need drops of spicy in your broth. read more

Wonderful food and will totally come again with more friends! Very friendly service from every staff member. If you have never been to one before they explain every step with patience and are willing to help with the process. Love it. read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Met up with a friend here for dinner and was glad that there was an outdoor dining option during the pandemic. There is limited seating outside with a handful of tables for two, but they are nicely situated in a fenced in patio with warming units on the table for the shabu shabu cooking. We were warmly greeted and sat down. Start by picking your base for your shabu shabu. There are four options, traditional kombu seaweed dashi, spicy miso, tonkotsu broth and sukiyaki, with the latter two with an additional $1 and $2 charge respectively. I had never seen tonkotsu broth offered at a shabu place and since I love the richness of this broth, decided to try this option. You then choose which grains and veggies you want and protein. I went with the full veggie platter and certified angus ribeye. Options for protein sizes come in regular, large, XL, and mega. I went for large. Your server will then bring out your broth choice and start it heating. It is a pot that is divided into two on the warming element so you and your tablemate can choose two different broths. Then your veggies and grains come out and you can start swishing and cooking the vegetables and then your protein. I really liked tonkotsu broth especially with the noodles for dunking and enjoying. Dipping sauces can be augmented with spicy drops. Be forewarned, they pack quite the heat. Service was friendly and helpful and attentive here. I really enjoyed my first visit here. I really liked how the tables were set up outside on the patio. Tabu Shabu is definitely one of my favorite shabu places I have been to in Orange County to date and I like that they have a patio during the pandemic for social distancing. read more

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If you are looking for a fun experience, come here! This is a great place to socialize with friends, or even go on a first date. Our waiter (wish I remembered his name. For reference he kept saying 'brotha' lol) was so attentive and great! :D Ingredients, materials, and drinks all came out fast and everything tasted fresh. Get here early so that you don't have to wait since this place is pretty tight and cozy. I wouldn't recommend this place for small children. Although I think they have hi-chairs, imagine trying to watch over your baby and trying not to overcook your shrimp. read more

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Love this place! The broths are delicious, large vege portions and don't forget to ask for the flavor bomb. Highly recommend this place. Service is good. read more

My friend and I were craving for some shabu since it was a cold night. We stumbled upon this place and decided to give it a try. I think we waited about half an hour since the place was already packed inside so we decided to dine outside. The meat was good quality along with a good amount of veggies. As for the soup, my friend and I felt like it was a little bland for our taste. I got the spicy miso and my friend got the sukiyaki. There was definitely no spicy flavor in the spicy miso so I just wished the broth had more flavor. Overall, not the best shabu place I've had but my cravings were satisfied. I would come back here if I'm in the area and want to eat something warm. read more

10/10 recommend. Tasty, fresh, and flavorful ingredients. Veggies, meats (I got the wagyu) and sauces were all on point. Can't wait to come back! read more

Ambiance is amazing. I love the artwork. The staff are very friendly and attentive too. Plus the food is delicious! I highly recommend this spot in Costa Mesa. Good options for plant-based eats too read more

After a long day at Hoag in Newport Beach we were trying to find a place to have dinner around 10pm. Luckily with the help of Yelp we found Tabu Shabu! When we arrived there were still quite a lot of customers dining but there was no wait and we were seated promptly. We ordered the tonkotsu pork and kombu soup broths. They had 4 choices: Kombu, Spicy Miso, Tonkotsu Pork and Sukiyaki ($2). Unlike many other shabu places the only soup broth that cost extra here is the Sukiyaki for $2. After you pick your broth you pick your grains: White, Brown or Paleo (receive more veggies). The vegetable plate also comes with a variety of vegetables and your choice of udon or ramen noodles. For protein we got the wagyu short rib ($24) and wagyu chuck roll ($18). I definitely recommend the wagyu short rib the meat was tender and delicious. Service was great, the servers constantly came to check up on us to make sure everything was great. Even though we were the last table seated and they closed at 11 they did not rush us to leave and made us feel very welcomed and we were able to relax and have a nice meal. Overall great place I would recommend visiting! P.S. don't forget to use your Yelp check-in for the free Truffle Sea Salt Edamame! read more

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My favorite Shabu spot!! Love the food and service here. Staff members are great! Always an amazing time when I go. Never disappointed!

Best shabu shabu in Costa Mesa. They always have a wait after 5pm. They do offer "join waitlist" on Yelp. You can add your self to the waitlist when you are near by. They have a Mexican restaurant next door with a bar. You can grab drinks and wait for your name to be called! read more

Tabu Shabu - Costa Mesa - Spicy miso with grass fed ribeye. Perfect weather for Shabu shabu - Japanese Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First time here and the food and service was amazing. Just like your typical Shabu places you select the broth, you select your protein, you select your choice of rice and veggies, and then you're all set. We chose the wagyu short rib and the grass fed ribeye (hooray for grass fed!) and both were really tasty. The quality of the meat was really good, lots of marbling, and we could see it being sliced fresh in the kitchen. I liked the short rib better than the ribeye just because it was more flavorful, most likely due to more marbling. The spicy miso broth is the way to go, but if you want to know a secret, you can mix the pork and spicy miso broths together and you get the best of both, with a unique flavor Ps- Once you are all done or tired of cooking, you are ready for the soup. Jose came through once again and made our soup for us. He added all of the ingredients, one by one, each in a specific order--LIKE A PRO. What made this place stand out was the service. Jose was our server and he walked us through everything from beginning to end, he even mixed our broth and added some secret ingredients for us. We came on a Saturday night around 9-930 and we only waited about 10 minutes or so, so not bad. We will definitely be back to see Jose again! read more

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Everything is amazing from the food to service. Spicy miso broth is amazing and the portion size is more fair for the price vs other shabu.

Great servers, friendly, attentive, professional and courteous! Food was delicious. Outside seating available, as opposed to counter dining. Wonderful experience and glad we stopped by. Definitely recommend and would be a repeat spot for our rotation. read more

This is what you think Shabu Shabu should be if you've never had Shabu before. If you're looking for authentic flavors, do not go here. The food is tasteless. read more

Just had to update my review to 5 stars, thank you to Jose and Tala for one of the best dining experiences I've had! The first time I came here I was super underwhelmed by the experience since I only heard great things about this place. I came back here last night with some friends and left two hours later. Who stays at shabu for that long? [WAIT TIME] There were a few open spots when we came for dinner but since we were a group of 5, we waited about 40 minutes for some spots to open up so we could all sit together. We didn't mind the wait but one of the servers came out and brought us some edamame to apologize for the wait, how kind!! [SERVICE] Thank you again to Jose and Tala for one of the best dine-in experiences I've had! Sometimes it's awkward sitting at a bar eating shabu since you're literally staring at servers when you look up, but Jose and Tala made the experience super fun. They're kind, friendly, attentive, and an overall joy! [FOOD] Now I would have to say that this still isn't the best shabu I've had, but the customer service is definitely what made this place better! - Crunchy garlic edamame [5/5]: check in for a free bowl of edamame!! Apparently you can also ask for the crunchy garlic seasoning on the side to eat with your shabu, and I would recommend you do because the seasoning on this is SOOO good - Truffle oil edamame [4/5]: enough truffle without it being too overpowering! I ordered the pork tonkotsu broth and when I asked if the broth could be spicy, they said they could add a little spicy miso to it! For the meat, I ordered the wagyu shortrib, and it was pretty tender! 4/5 for the broth and meat. This place has one of the best goma sauces next to Mokkoji, but I wasn't a fan of the ponzu sauce. I think it was actually yuzu, which I'm not too big a fan of because it's too tangy for my taste. - Porridge [5/5]: Honestly worth the add on, it's $4 to have them make a porridge with your leftover broth and it's soooo good! They add sauces and crack an egg in it and it ends up creamy like a risotto. It's definitely a good leftover food to take home for the next day! [TL;DR] A great place to take someone for their first time having shabu shabu because the servers are very hands on and you will have a great experience! Thanks again Jose and Tala! read more

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This review is exceptionally overdue, but I have to shout out my favorite shabu spot in the neighborhood! From the food quality to the customer service, this spot is 11/10 for me. Daniel, Mustafa, Wells & Michelle are the absolute cherry on top - I always leave Tabu with my heart & tummy so happy! Incredible staff and vibe, I will continue to stop by weekly! Thank you! read more

The BEST tabu restaurant in town!!! The owner is amazing, the staff is top notch and most importantly the food is exceptional!!! Do yourself a favor and enjoy one the of the best food in OC! 100% 5 stars!!! Love it!! read more

Came here like two weeks ago and I almost forgot to review but the customer service was so spectacular ,I had to review! Our server was extremely sweet and attentive. The cooks and everyone were just so on top of everything! The food was delicious and very well priced! All around a great experience!! There isn't much more to say because it was just amazing! Great food and great customer service! Also, their outside dining is fully equipped for shabu and we are all for an outdoor summer night dining experience! (Sad I didn't get a picture of the food) read more

I always make it a point to come here when I am in town and it never disappoints. The food is awesome and the staff are so attentive and friendly, especially Michelle! 10/10 would recommend coming here. read more

Hair was found in rice bowl, showed the server and was given new rice. Still charged full price for everything, no discounts or effort to make experience better read more