Been coming to San Mateo for a bit and never knew there was a shabu place until recently. Typically for hot pot, I'm used to SeaPot or Little Sheep/Happy Lamb, so was pleasantly surprised. $34.95 for AYCE regular or $38.95 for supreme AYCE which includes some more gourmet cuts of meat. Honestly, paying a little bit more is worth it since the quality of the American wagyu and the beef toro is so good compared to the Angus. You can only order two meat portions at a time but you can have up to four rounds, so not bad. Plus the portion is pretty good for one serving. I enjoyed the black garlic tonkotsu broth. They also have a great selection of veggies, meat and noodles. I recommend their ramen! Overall, definitely would come again. read more

First time here and we really liked it and the kids loved it! Food is very well proportioned The broth was very good we had sesame hot oil and the black garlic broth. It got busy and they were understaffed but they pulled it together. The only thing is that kids age 4 and up pay $17 bucks I think that's a bit too much for little kids and the price for vegetarian or vegan is the same price as for the meat lovers! read more

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The place was pretty empty but clean. We were helped and seated immediately after we arrived. The food was fresh and really good. I loved the premium prime beef with the umami dashi! read more

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On the pricy side but high quality meats (they serve American wagyu Kobe beef) and lots of variety for the shabu. We typically do the AYCE because if you get the a la carte the incremental difference isn't that much. Prices for AYCE are $35 for premier which excludes the wagyu and seafood, supreme for $38 which includes the wagyu and seafood and $50 for AYCE and drink. Fun spot to come with friends! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - AYCE menu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

SERVICE: We were seated shortly after arrival. There is a sheet of paper that you can write your order on, up to 1 meat and 4 sides per person. Our waiter, Haruki, was very polite, friendly, and attentive. My friend dropped his chopsticks, and Haruki noticed and brought us a new pair shortly. Haruki also walked by often, so it was easy to order another round. Our broth was also refilled twice without us asking. FOOD: Broths- delicate umami dashi and gyokai tonkotsu kuro (black garlic oil) Meats - prime black angus beef toro, American wagyu Kobe beef, kurobata burkshire pork Personally I liked the black garlic oil broth the best! We also ordered the beef toro and wagyu multiple times, the meat is good quality. I love eating melty Napa cabbage and bok choy. We also got a fresh egg for dipping, and asked to make sure it was pasteurized. The udon noodles are also a solid choice. You automatically get ponzu and sesame sauce for dipping. OVERALL: Would definitely come back! Quality meat, yummy sides, friendly service. read more

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My friends and I love shabu shabu and wanted to try a place we've all never been. We were going to venture out to the SJ location, but noticed there was a San Mateo location, which is closer. Many shabu places have long wait times, and we were planning to go on a Sunday, so we made reservations for 6:30pm. Surprisingly, when we arrived, there were only 3 parties inside eating. Boy, were they understaffed!!! There was no one at the front. We waited around until we saw someone who looked like they might work there to tell them we had reservations. He pointed to our table, and we went over to get situated. We looked over the menu and filled out the paper to place our order. Broth: Black Garlic Tonkatsu and Nagoya Spicy Red Miso Dashi-- both delicious! Meat: American Wagyu Kobe Beef, Beef Toro, and Berkshire Pork-- good, perfect thin slices. o Sides: Fish tofu, quail eggs, gyoza Veggies: Napa, tong ho, spinach, taro, lotus root, daikon, pumpkin-- warning, there's no enoki!! But there's so many other options that shabu shabu does not usually have, so it felt more like Chinese hot pot at this point. All in all, our experience was just okay. I would have actually given this place 2 stars, but I feel so bad for the one man who was working all by himself. He was the host, waiter, and busser. It was literally a one man show. I am more disappointed if anything, because I really wanted to love this place. Service definitely could have been better if they had proper staffing. Instead, we were left frustrated half the time because we could not get help. When we finally did get his attention and asked for things we needed, he would forget half of it, so we would have to sit and wait to wave him down to remind him. In this case, they could really use a call button at every table. Also, gratuity is automatically added to the bill, but for what? We barely got any service. Automatic gratuity is usually added to groupd of 6 or more and is usually noted on the menu or somewhere in advance. Seems that a lot of places are just adding it to the bill regardless these days since covid. Sorry to say, but we do not see ourselves coming back. read more

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My partner decided to make dinner reservations for us here. Upon checking in, we noticed that they were super understaffed and probably only had 2 people serving the entire place. It took us a while to be seated and to order. We decided to do the premium AYCE since you get the America wagyu options. It was decently priced, and most of the AYCE places are pricey nowadays in the Bay. We got about 4 rounds of meats and veggies before we were full. They do limit you to only one meat option per person per order. Once the order was in, the food did come fairly quickly. My only complaints were that it was heavily understaffed and hard to flag down someone to put in your order. Food was pretty average, and cuts of meat were really inconsistent with quality. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

The food and meat selection was excellent and very well priced for the AYCE option. The way it works is that for each "round" of food, you're allowed up to one meat and 4 veggie options per person, and with a table of 4 people this ends up being a RIDICULOUS amount of food -- we barely got through 3 rounds. With the "Supreme" option the meat choices are excellent. I will say that the broth choices were a little lacking, even the spiciest and supposedly most flavorful broths tasted a little bland, and there was no spice to speak of whatsoever. Service was a little slow at times between rounds, but overall very friendly and helpful. The inside of the shop was very clean and not too crowded, so it was a nice place to sit and talk while making your way through the endless piles of food! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Great quality of meats and soup bases. Love how they have the option to do AYCE hotpot and beer/hot sake!! Each person costs $50 pp, but it's so worth it. Can't wait to come back again soon! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Taichi Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I've walked pass this place many times and have always wanted to try it. I would best describe this as an economy shabu shabu. It was $37 plus tax and tip for all you can eat. There were about six main meats that you can choose from, a couple of seafood items, the standard veggies, about six or seven different bases, three noodle choices, and a few sauces. You can choose one meat selection at a time and then anything else you want. The paper you fill out only shows for rounds but you can keep ordering up to 90 minutes. As one might expect with an all you can eat place the meat quality was definitely not as good as my normal shabu-shabu place. The veggies were good but they didn't offer as much as what I'm used to. The two bases I had seemed to just be broth, there were no spices and stuff in the bases like pieces of garlic, shallots, anise, etc. The staff was extremely friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu, especially regarding gluten. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

My first shabu shabu experience! Service: Team was very friendly here. We were greeted immediately upon entry and seated quickly. The restaurant was full and we were starving so we really appreciated their hustle in getting us seated quickly. They got our order in quickly, checked in on us regularly and brought out rounds fast! Food: Fairly large variety of meats, seafood and veggies. I'm not a huge meat eater and appreciated the large non meat variety including different types of tofu. We also liked the variety of greens, with favorite being the Tong Ho. Ambiance: Nicely decorated, with privacy blinds in between. Super glad for the extra privacy and padding to drown out the annoyingly loud group. Value: All you can eat has three tiers, with the top tier including sake and beer. They have a La carte but all you can eat is a better deal. I personally prefer the system at Seapot where the conveyor belt constantly circulates ingredients so there's no waiting and Seapot does have more selection (including more sauces, appetizers, dessert and fruit). Pro tip: $5 off during happy hour if you enter before 630pm. Street parking in front. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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My friends had booked a reservation at 1PM on a Sunday. Interesting to learn the earliest they open is 1PM on weekends and 5:30PM on weekdays. It is a bit short staffed on Sunday's opening hours, but the servers are kind and do their best to check up on you. Although my party was 20 minutes late, the server said he'd be back to explain the menu when the full party was here (but never did) so we ended up filling out the menu to the best of our knowledge and turning it in. We learned that you can order 1 Meat per person per round (it shows 4 rounds on the menu but you can really go as many as you'd like within the allotted time of 90 minutes). The quality and freshness of the meat and veggies are pretty good, but the taste was nothing special. I thought the Umami broth was tasty! It made the flavor of the meats tasty. I also liked how their noodles seem to be made in house! Though the ramen and udon look pretty similar (in thickness). I would come back here in the future! read more

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My family and I (party of 3) came for dinner with a reservation at 8:30 on a Tuesday. I specifically searched for: 1. A new hot pot place we haven't tried 2. A place that was open later than 9- we wouldn't be able to do dinner until 8:30 and 30 minutes isn't t enough time to enjoy AYCE hot pot, right? We chose this place because: 1. It wasn't Taiwanese, which we usually go for 2. They close at 10 When we got to Taichi at 8:25 and we're seated right away. It wasn't at all busy. There were 2 other parties, who were well into their meals. The place was small with a cute interior. So... we sit down and start looking over the menu and within 5 minutes the waiter came back asking if we were ready. No. We weren't. He said he'd come back in a couple minutes and he did. We still weren't ready. He asked if we could at least pick the broth to get it out to the table to heat up. We told him the broth flavors we wanted (spicy miso and tonkatsu) and he went to get it. From this point on the waiter rushed us. He explained that we can only order 3 meats at a time, and up to 12 additional items. After our first round came out he asked if we were ready with the second picks because the "kitchen was closing soon at 9:15."IT WAS 8:48. When the waiter came back with our second round I asked him what time they close. He said "9:30 or 10." I told him I saw the hours outside and on Yelp. Both are posted until 10. His response was that they close at 10 but if they don't have patrons, 9:30. Plus it takes a while to clean up the kitchen. So here's the thing.. 1. There were patrons up in there. -ME AND MY FAMILY 2. The allotted time for AYCE is 1.5 hours. If a business takes reservations until 9PM, they should be able to accommodate the full time allotted for seating. So they should be prepared that if someone comes at 9, they could potentially be there until 10:30. Not that we would have even been there for that long, but I wasn't even 20 minutes into my meal before he started rushing us along. I am still giving a 3 star review based on the fact that the broth was very flavorful and my family really liked the soups. The quality of the meat was good. The vegetables for the most part were good. Some of the cabbage given shouldn't have made it on the serving plate, though. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Red Miso Soup and tonkatsu with black garlic oil - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Quick service and amazing food! We visited on a Sunday night (party of 5) and waited around 30-40mins to get seated. We were understanding since they seemed short staffed. We decided on getting the supreme, and were able to get 4 soup bases / 2 pots. We were really happy with the meat quality and the choices of the sides! Service was quick and friendly, and we were really satisfied with our meal! Restaurant had some chatter but not too loud - it was perfect so we could still hear each other in conversation. We will definitely visit again! read more

Tai chi Pot Shabu Shabu definitely met our expectations. We love having hot soup during summer, so we decided to stop by and have dinner here. A few things to note: 1. Sauce bar is on fire 2. Veggie options are decent 3. Meat quality is solid We ordered two different soup bases one spicy & one thai inspired base. I prefer the spicy one! The combos come with veggies & i would recommend doing the combo. All in all 10/10 read more

Pretty fast service and good quality food for a hotpot place! It wasn't also that busy when we went so we'd order and get things really quickly. Good: I enjoyed all of the meats - I'm not usually a fan of lamb for example but the lamb here was really tasty! We got the Supreme option so the Wagyu was really good. I liked the veggies and the option for gyoza which was pretty different for a AYCE place. Oh and the broth was really unique! I liked the black garlic and spicy miso soup that we got. Bad: This place is pretty cold, we sat near the door and it was really drafty. Also, it's pretty pricey - we ended up paying $51 after tax and tip which felt like a lot compared to some other places in the area. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Broth - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I love trying new places. This place was memorable for sure. I used the Yelp reservation to book, but you don't really need it. Upon arriving the sauces were already placed. It was my first time here so I asked for recommendations and steps. We did the supreme menu which comes with the top tier meats and seafood. I asked for recommendations for soup base. We went with miso and black garlic. Both are fire! The meat was really good also. My favorite is the beef belly. I love how everything came out fast, too. Shoutout to Ian for taking care of us and making it memorable. He also made me a special hot sauce cause I love everything spicy. 5/5 for food and flavor 5/5 for customer service. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Hot sake - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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It's Sunday afternoon and I'm feeling for shabu shabu. I'm so glad we tried Taichi! The meat and veggies were fresh and neatly prepared, dashi broths were refilled with thought and care to balance the flavors, not just water was added. Sesame and ponzu sauce were also excellent. Clean space and excellent service. Thank you Taichi Shabu Shabu! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I'd been here a couple times before. However, I met my gf here yesterday and decided to bring my family the next day. Yup, this shabu shabu is so good; two days in a row was delightful! They have happy hour specials for sake and beer if you're not tanking up. However, in the event that you do, your bill can be adjusted accordingly to the Ultimate all-you-can-eat package which covers the excess drinking. I'm truly amazed this place is not mobbed. The menu is so diverse with a perfect amount of broth, meat and veggie choices. The meats are so fresh and are naturally succulent. Wagyu, kobe, beef belly, Berkshire pork and lamb are my favorites. The broths are msg free. So no cotton mouth after! I love the extensive variety of vegetables too. They have the typical you find at most shabu/hot pot spots but most importantly some choices not found everywhere. I LOVE the lotus root! They have shungiku vegetable too and of course the regular veggie fixings of a long list of options: everything from bok choy to kombucha squash. They play Japanese pop/rock and the atmosphere is perfect for an "izakaya" setting. Every server has been solicitous. I'm familiar with Ian as of late. He really takes care of the tables and is very personable. I love Taichi and can't wait to return for more delicious food in a pleasant atmosphere! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Spicy Mala Dashi (lf) & Ultimate Umami Gyokai Tonkatsu Broth - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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#taste - 5/5 - all the food items were tasty and there was decent variety for a shabu shabu place #portion size - 3/5 - I felt that the amount of meat I got was on the smaller side and very thinly sliced. I'm assuming the average person would be full from maximizing their order (4 rounds of 1 meat and 4 sides per round) but I eat a lot and I still wanted more meat. #health - 4/5 - shabu shabu is generally a healthier option when eating out due to all the veggies/sides but the premium meat is probably on the fattier side for the average person #value - 3/5 - this rating is due to the capping at 4 rounds of meat/sides allotment per round as well as having dined at other unlimited all you can eat places at a cheaper price #context - came here with friends as an alternative to another all you can eat hot pot spot. #like - I liked having multiple beef options. The sides were a decent variety and I also really enjoyed the sesame dipping sauce that comes on the side. #dislike - the lamb was a bit on the gamey side. It can take time to receive your food in between rounds of ordering. #suggestion - without listing specifics, there could be more variety in the sides options. #tip - the wait was a bit long so definitely try to make reservations. It helps to check out the menu to know what you want because it can take some time to receive your food after you've placed your order. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Napa cabbage. Fish tofu. Fresh tofu. Beef ball. Bean curd. Kabocha squash. Spinach. Daikon. - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I found my new favorite shabu shabu place! The food, the service, the quality, EVERYTHING is just on point. Bring your friends, family, or yourself here! Japanese shabu shabu is very delicate in flavor compared to Chinese hotpot. Very communal experience and super fun! The SERVICE (10/10) - All the servers are are so sweet and kind. Coincidentally, met another Nini here! Our Server Nini was so attentive and accommodating. She was so fast and efficient. All the servers are attentive and they make sure to keep the food coming and the waters refilled. The Food- (10/10) All of our food came so fast! The meat quality here is above and beyond. I definitely recommend going with the supreme all you can eat set! Worth the extra 3 bucks to try wagyu beef! The marbling is impeccable. I also really enjoyed the pork here. The veggies are so fresh and crisp. If you haven't yet you have to try shungiku, it's so flavorful and different. I was very satisfied with the service and food. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - The WAGYU (the marbling) - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Wow! Taichi Shabu Shabu is not like any other Shabu places I've been to. Located downtown San Mateo on E. 4th Ave - almost missed it as it's a smaller restaurant plus it can be a bit difficult to find parking during prime time. I would recommend using their Yelp wait list but seems like their systems aren't working properly so my reservation got delayed about 25-30 mins. I'm so used to the small menu with limited meat, veggie, and soup options offered at other Shabu restaurants. So when I saw the extensive menu here, I was so excited! There were so many veggie and meat options that we tried almost everything. It's supposedly "AYCE" but you are limited to 4 rounds and can only order certain amount of items per round (1 meat & 4 sides per person per round) - but it was more than enough for us. Everything was super fresh - I really enjoyed the beef belly, pork, wagyu beef, lotus root, tofu skin, fresh ramen, and the super silky soft tofu. Bummed they didn't have enoki because of recall. It's on the pricer end compared to other Shabu's but the quality and variety of the food is definitely worth. read more

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I've been wanting to come here since it popped up on my Hot and New list on Yelp. I finally came here today and had the AYCE. It's a two person minimum to access the AYCE so remember to bring a friend! We got the premium selection which excludes the wagyu, fresh seafood, and things like spam, but does include the rest. We ordered three rounds of food, including various meat/fish balls, vegetables, and tofu. I ate my fill of beef and lamb, neither of which I thought were amazing (too tough), but then we ordered pork and it was AMAZING. Gosh, really should've ordered that Japanese meat at a Japanese hot pot place smh. We got split black garlic and red miso and both soups were delicious! The red miso we ordered was mild (you can adjust the spiciness) and for me it was excellent- the immediate taste wasn't very spicy but cooking food in it was perfect! The server was very friendly and I overheard her explain how the process worked to someone else who hadn't done anything like this before. Very kind and patient. I'd say my food needs were addressed pretty quickly and efficiently. I used their bathroom while I was there, it was pretty clean :) On the way out I noticed they have toothpicks and mints. Idk what it is about having those, but that gets an extra point. Note: they use American Express sleeves but only take Visa MasterCard! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Black garlic tonkotsu on the left, red miso (mild) on the right - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Food is great here, especially the meat. I'm giving it 4 stars because I didn't care too much for the sauce; the sesame sauce and the ponzu sauce tasted a bit off. If I added other seasonings, like the chili oil or the shichimi togarashi or chopped onions or graded garlic/ginger, it could've been better, but they didn't have it. Maybe I should've asked, but I didn't. I do recommend this place but I don't think I'm gonna come back here, only if I am around the area and craving hotpot. read more

Debated between 3.5-4 stars. I honestly want to give it 4 stars due to COVID and I think the server deserved a 5 star. But I just cant justify paying $37 for Wagyu when the quality didn't match up to the price and only being allowed 1 meat per person at a time. .:: What's Boiling ::. Long story short: LOVE the broth, disappointed in meat quality (wagyu) /ingredients (ie fish tofu/fish ball with roe etc). 90 min AYCE *Unlimited Ultimate $46.75 (AKA VIP BETCH): unlimited access including American Wagyu, Seafood, Sapporo, Asahi, & Hot Sake *Unlimited Supreme $36.75 (AKA MID TIER BETCH): access to premier selection aka errrthang + American Wagyu, seafood *Unlimited Premier $33.75 (AKA BASIC BETCH): access to basic meats, NO WAGYU NO SEAFOOD We went with Unlimited Supreme Split pot (can choose 2 Dashi Stocks) Ultimate Ebi Daiginjo Tonkatsu Shinku (Scarlet): a good balance of a bit sour hint but with a savory smooth tonkatsu silk. Ultimate Umami Gyo Tonkatsu Dashi Kuro (Black garlic oil): my favorite out of the two, because it pairs really well with the meat and it compliments without being too strong but not too bland.. and one can NEVER go wrong with black garlic oil Meat: -American Wagyu Kobe Beef: a bit disappointed as we paid the extra price solely for this. There was 0 marbling on this meat and it was really tough. (To compare, I've had A5 from Mokuku and it melted in my mouth) -Prime Black Angus Beef Belly: Actually liked this more than the Kobe beef, as it was more fatty and WAY less tough -Kurobuta Berkshire Pork: a bit tough as well Seafood: -shrimp: typical, but appreciate they peel the shell for you -fish ball with roe: nooooo bueno. almost little filling compared to the other ones I've had before and the quality just disappoints Meat Ball: -Fish ball: typical -Fish tofu: a bit disappointed in the quality ETC: -Fresh tofu, bean curd stick, udon: all typical standard ingredients Sauces: -gomadare sesame sauce: for some reason I was not a fan as it gave me a whip as if you were eating horseradish which is off putting to some. -ponzu: A bit more of a sour note but I liked this one more than the Sesame sauce -green onions + spicy radish also provided FREE HOT SAKE WITH YELP CHECK IN .:: Service/ Ambiance/ Parking ::. The young man helping us on 5/12/2021 around 6:00pm was SUPER friendly and helpful!!! (haha i talk like i'm 50 calling people young man now). Food came in a mannerly time. What kind of annoyed me was the limit of 1 order of meat and 4 misc items per person. The other waitress was more strict and only allowed us to order 1 meat at a time per person while the waiter was more lenient and got us everything we didn't get in round 1. And I understand if the restaurant is busy or if we weren't clearing our dishes (in which we were pretty quickly). But it was just me and my friend and another party that was almost done with their meal and just drinking. It's only hard because I only eat meat and not vegetables, so to keep having to order constantly on the paper was just a lot of waiting. The place is nicely decor'ed and I have to say it's very clean cut. The place was pretty empty on a Wednesday night. Parking was easy on a weekday night, found parking a couple steps away from the restaurant. Free parking! .:: COVID EXPERIENCE ::. -staff wears mask -paper menu still / not digital menu -staff wears gloves -we were told to choose our own seat which is good so I can choose the more isolated one -not contactless payment, still have to sign receipts read more

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I was so excited when they opened up in San Mateo after trying their south bay location. But, the quality of the meat and soup wasn't what I expected. It was definitely not as good!! For $37 you get access to their waygu and premium lean angus beef. The meat quality is the same as other places like IPOT. What disappointed me was their broths. It just didn't taste as good as their south bay location. We got their Tonakatsu Dashi and Scarlet broth and towards the middle, it got way too salty. Meaning when you cook your veggies, you taste all the sodium. Would I come back? probably not. I would rather go to Little Lamb in San Mateo even though it's not AYCE. read more

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My boyfriend and I walked by and took a chance to eat at this restaurant for dinner on a Friday night. I thought that the service was really good! The servers were very attentive and speedy at giving us what we ordered. They had a variety of options to choose from. I really enjoyed the American Wagyu Kobe beef a lot! We got two broths: Gyokai Tonkatsu Kuro and the Kyoto Shiro Miso Silk Dashi. Out of the two, I really the Gyokai Tonkatsu Kuro, it had the perfect balance between saltiness and garlic. Eating the udon that they have with this broth was amazing! The place is pretty quiet, and the booths feel pretty private, which was very nice and added to the ambiance of the restaurant. Would definitely come here again and bring some friends as well! read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Gyokai Tonkatsu Kuro & Kyoto Shiro Miso Silk Dashi - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Pros: + Great service, friendly staff + Variety of broths + All You Can Eat for 90 minutes Cons: - No enoki or oyster mushrooms What We Ordered: + Delicate Umami Dashi Broth, 4/5 + Aromatic Gyokai Tonkatsu w/ Spicy Sesame Oil Broth, 5/5 + Beef Toro (50% fatty IMO), 5/5 + American Wagyu Kobe Beef (tender and lean), 4/5 + Premium Lean Angus (very lean), 4/5 + Woodear Mushrooms (thick cut and crispy), 4/5 + Shitake Mushrooms, 5/5 + Spinach, 5/5 + Bok Choy, 5/5 + Napa Cabbage + Udon, 5/5 If you ask for garlic and green onions, they will bring it to you. When I first tasted the Delicate Umami Dashi, I thought it might be too gentle. Once we started eating from the Tonkatsu w/ Spicy Sesame Oil, it was REALLY nice to have such a contrasting broth. Towards the end of the meal, the Tonkatsu w/ Spicy Sesame Oil Broth was becoming too salty, so I would cook it in that one first and do a quick dip in the Delicate Umami Dashi. Perfection! If you prefer fattier meats, go for the Beef Toro. I get a little sensitive with too much fat, so I opted for the American Wagyu Kobe, which was tender and leaner. I do, however, wish the American Wagyu Kobe was more marbled and had some fat to it. The Premium Lean Angus Beef was truly lean. I'm glad I tried it but I won't order that again next time. Supreme AYCE for $37-$38 included the American Wagyu Kobe. Worth it! Will be back! read more

===TL;DR=== - Shabu Shabu style, not hotpot. Don't get it twisted - Free premium HOT sake w/ Yelp check-in - Indoor dining - 3 tiers of 90 mins AYCE: - Unlimited ultimate: $46.75 - Everything on the menu + booze - Unlimited supreme: $36.75 - Everything + Wagyu + seafood (aka supreme selection) - Unlimited premier: $33.75 - Everything BESIDES supreme selection - Split pots: - Ultimate ebi daijinjo tonkotsu shinku - Nagoya spicy red miso dashi - 1 order of meat per person per round - No to-go for AYCE option - Complimentary edamame - Pitcher of Sapporo b/c they ran out of Asahi Rang the service bell upon arrival since no one was at the front, comes in handy. Indoor dining & they made sure to leave spaces between yours and other parties. Oddly enough, although we're distanced but their tables don't have those plastic shields to separate your parties entirely. Not sure if that's in progress or that's just how it is. Fairly simple Shabu Shabu menu. I went with the Unlimited Supreme option for AYCE which includes wagyu & seafood. Honestly felt like I can go with the Unlimited Premier and stick with the Angus Beef Belly. Didn't care much for the American Wagyu Kobe Beef... not sure what it is but just not as soft as I like it. Funny enough, the fish ball w/ roe is apart of the supreme selection & the quality of those wasn't good either. Tried out the infamous "Scarlet" broth, limited 10 orders per day. Made with house made shrimp oil, definitely a potent taste. I like the spicy miso more, actually have a kick when you drink it but the spiciness is subtle when you use it to Shabu. The Shabu is accompanied with ponzu & sesame sauce, green onions & spicy radishes are recommended to add to your ponzu. Not sure what kind of ponzu it is but it gives off a sour citrusy taste, not what I would prefer. I added some spicy oil to save the sauce. Overall, I liked their beef belly & spicy miso broth. The rest wasn't that impressive. Shabu wise, I'd still prefer Shabu Club & Kafuya in SF. Looking at the menu, they also serve taichi bowls... seems like many people likes those. This place gets a passing from me. read more

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We didn't know what to eat on a Friday night and decided to try this new hot pot restaurant located in the prime location of downtown San Mateo! I made a reservation for 5:30 PM thinking it would be busy. Upon arrival, it wasn't super packed. We were seated immediately and provided a paper menu to write our selections on. There aren't that many AYCE hot pot places around (besides Seapot), so we were pretty excited. We decided to go with the premium AYCE option with includes seafood and wagyu for $36/person. They also have a $30/person AYCE option without the premium selections of seafood and wagyu as well as a $46/person option which includes all you can drink Sapporo/Asahi beer. :) As I'm a huge fan of wagyu and this was our first time here, we had to try the premium selection! There were 4 non spicy broths to choose from as well as 2 spicy broths. You get a choice of 2 broths in a split pot. We chose the ultimate tonkotsu and the spicy ultimate tonkotsu. The difference is one has chili oil but of course. At a medium spicy, I didn't taste the heat of the chili oil so I may go for extra spicy next time! Each person is served a small dish of ponzu and goma dipping sauces along with some chopped scallions and minced garlic. There is also spicy powder and chili oil at each table. The ponzu was a little more on the tangy side, but we still preferred it over the goma sesame sauce. There was a great selection of meats (you get to choose 1 meat per person) and seafood, fish/meat balls, along with veggies (4 selections per person) for each "round" of AYCE. We got the wagyu and definitely expected it to be more tender with a "melt in your mouth" factor, but the wagyu was too chewy for our liking. It turns out the beef belly was tastier so we kept it with that. We also tried the lean angus beef, but you really need some fat to coat the protein for hot pot to make it flavorful! :) Veggies were fresh and portions were great. Service was great. There were a few moments were our server forgot an item or mixed up an item, but she was quick to address and resolve the issue upon us letting her know. Around 6:30 PM, the restaurant started picking up. Do make a reservation if you plan on having a later dinner. I would definitely recommend this place along with Mumu Hot Pot in Foster City! Don't forget to get your free hot sake by checking in on Yelp! ;) read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Ultimate tonkotsu broth and spicy ultimate tonkotsu broth - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The host greeted us warmly and my party and I came right before dinnertime so there wasn't much of a wait. The service by the waiters and waitresses was alright, but I wish they came by to accommodate us more often, though it did get a little busy. We weren't sure which soups to get but the waitress recommended the ultimate gyokai tonkotsu kuro and the ultimate umami gyokai tonkotsu dashi so we tried out those two. I thought it was pretty flavorful and I thoroughly enjoyed it but the one downside was that it was too salty. We selected a bunch of different meats, seafood, and vegetables, but I felt like we were unable to make the most out of the AYCE because it was hard to get ahold of the waiter. We got the American Wagyu Kobe beef, lean Angus beef, quail eggs, black Angus beef belly, lamb, and also the pork. For seafood, we chose cuttlefish, fish tofu, fish balls, and cuttlefish balls. My favorite part was the vegetables. There were so many options! I especially enjoyed the lotus root and black wood ear. I love the udon here as well. The overall experience was good, but the service fee they charged was a bit high for just a good experience. It was good, but it definitely could've been better. 3.5 stars would be a more accurate rating. read more

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Taichi Pot San Mateo is finally open for indoor dining (limited seating) for time being! The best hotpot in town! We used drive to Santa Clara to enjoy their hotpot , but glad we can have it more often closer to our home. They have the best dashi broth, all made in-house. Their sesame sauce is to die for! Premium quality meats and all you can eat, sign me up. They have wide variety of vegetables so vegetarian are welcome as well! They can divide the pot to 2-3 sections. Always great seeing the staff and managers being friendly and attentive. We will be back with friends! read more

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Been to Taichi during the pandemic in Santa Clara, and this one's way better! But don't get me wrong, both locations are wonderful. No wait for Friday dinner! Service was incredibly fast, and broth was super flavorful. Super friendly employees here and love the Supreme option with Wagyu and Beef Belly. Trust, that's the only way to do it. Recommend the Tonkotsu with black garlic oil and spicy sesame oil. Will come back again! read more

I love donburis and the fact that a place opened up nearby and I was able to order for delivery... heck yeah, sign me up. My boyfriend and I didn't know what to eat one day for lunch, but then I remember I had this place bookmarked and I went for it.. I ordered their Smoked berkshire katsudon and their washu gyudon set. Both bowls arrived relatively quick and the food looked good to eat, but I felt like the flavors were lacking. Maybe I had too high of expectations, but I felt like it could've been better especially given the price for one bowl. Maybe I'll try them again in the future... not sure for now. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

I loved the contrast between the rich Tom Yum Goong soup and the lighter fish soup. Both soups were flavorful and the ability to choose according to your preference was a real boon. The meat was nicely marbled, cut to the right size, tender and cooked in seconds. My favorite was switching between the wagyu and brisket because the brisket was full of delicious fatty flavor while the wagyu had a more balanced beefy flavor. Among the vegetables, my favorite was the spring chrysanthemum because the bitter vegetable absorbed the soup well. The tofu skin also absorbed the broth and added flavor. I was surprised by how much I liked the sesame sauce, as I usually only use "ponzu vinegar" when eating hot pot. The mix of orange vinegar and sesame paste was fantastic, with the acidity of the orange vinegar pairing well with the creaminess and earthiness of the sesame paste. Service was friendly and quick. The food was fantastic. Not a huge variety of dishes and the food was high quality. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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First time, and yes I am coming back and giving this fine establishment 5 s! Food, beautifully arranged. Fresh sliced meat just melts in your mouth. We enjoyed the lamb, but the beef cuts had nice marbling. Sides were fresh. Price was extremely fair. I also enjoyed the wood setting, quiet and warm. Staff were kind and attentive, always checking in on us. read more

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The restaurant Taichi was originally going to bring a Shabu Shabu restaurant to San Mateo (branching out from their original location in Santa Clara), but then Covid happened and plans changed! So now, instead of hot pot, Taichi is offering something a little more takeout-friendly: donburi, or Japanese rice bowls! My picks from the short-and-sweet three-item menu were the Fuwatoro Oyakodon and the Smoked Berkshire Katsudon. The oyakodon (literally "parent-and-child") was made with chicken thighs and scrambled eggs along with onions, all served over Koshikari rice. The chicken in the bowl was super tender, and the sweet and savory Warishita sauce paired nicely with the deep flavor of the caramelized onions. Next, the Smoked Berkshire Katsudon came with slices of fried pork katsu that was then dredged in egg, topped with melted provolone cheese, and served along with more caramelized onions over rice. The katsu was less than impressive to me, as the crust had lost its crispiness, and the meat wasn't particularly tender. Though the menu said that the Berkshire pork was "smoked," there wasn't much of a distinct smokey flavor at all, and while I thought that adding the melted cheese would add an unctuousness to the dish, I could barely tell that it was there. Along with both of these bowls, we got a little ramekin of Shichimi Flakes, the classic red spice mixture, as well as Sansho Pepper, a ground pepper with a numbing spiciness, and both of these added a nice kick to the relatively simple flavors of the donburi bowls! read more

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One of our favorite shabu places!! The food is good. There's a few broth flavors to choose from. We do a split between the sukiyaki and black garlic broth. Both delicious. The quality of the meat is excellent. The service is always great. We get seated right away and they are quick to get the food out. The only thing that isn't ideal is that they have a limit on how much meat you can order. I believe it's two meats each round but the amount they give you isn't a lot so you end up with more veggies and sides. read more

For one of my several birthday dinners two months ago, I was surprised and brought here on a Friday evening. Located on E 4th street in downtown San Mateo(near El Camino Real), parking can be really easy or a pain in the rear, depending on the day and time. We had a reservation and once seated, it was an easy choice to go with the Ultimate All You Can Eat option, which includes unlimited Sapporo draft beer and hot sake. The others(not me of course) paid $50 bucks a person so not terrible, but given the quality of the beef(which they call American Wagyu), I would argue just a decent deal overall. Another tip to call out, a table of 4 can only share one pot, which can contain only two different broths. One more tip, you technically have 90 mins to enjoy this all you can eat feast, so plan accordingly. Service was solid. read more

Best servers ever aka Haruki & Stephen!!! All I can say. Lol they have the best quality meat- we got the AYCE that supplies wagyu & alcohol. I had many rounds of wagyu & hot sake. Their hot sake here is quality compared to a wide variety in the East bay. Hahaha I should know because not only I am a sake connoisseur but alcohol connoisseur at that. Although my partner and I came kind of late (an hour before closing) We had great service and conversation. The servers knew all about anime and so did I!!!! All around a fantastic experience. read more

Taichi Pot Shabu Shabu - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California