Where to find Shabu Shabu
 

I was in LA this past weekend and went to Koji's Japan Restaurant and tried Shabu Shabu for the first time. I got an order of thinly sliced raw chicken and pork then a platter of veggies, noodles, and raw salmon, a real mix of everything! Each person had their own boiling pot of water infront of them in the table and cooked their own food, then after had an array of different sauces to dip in. It was delicious and only $30 a person. My brother said this type of restaurant is very hard to find and there are only a few scattered in San Fran, LA, San Diego, NYC and elsewhere. Does anyone know of a Shabu Shabu restaurant on the east coast, perhaps near Richmond, VA? Thank you in advance.

.....

"hotpot" is another term for basically the same thing. Typically the chinese/korean joints that have it advertise hotpot....

But hotpot and "shabu shabu" are very different. In traditional shabu shabu we use very thinly sliced beef which we "swish" around in a boiling pot of water flavoured with "kombu" and dip into a few different kinds of sauces (usually soya based sour sauce and a sesame flavoured one with some condiments like minced ginger, green onions, etc). Then, vegetables are placed into the pot along with tofu and eaten the same way. Finally, the broth is used to make a rice porridge and/or as the soup for "kishi-men" noodles (like Japanese fettuccini). At home we would cook this ourselves but at the fancier restaurants in Japan a hostess does the cooking for you.

While I do not know of any in Virginia I know there are some in NYC. I will try to find them....

[QUOTE=luxury] In traditional shabu shabu we use very thinly sliced beef which we "swish" around in a boiling pot of water flavoured with "kombu" and dip into a few different kinds of sauces (usually soya based sour sauce and a sesame flavoured one with some condiments like minced ginger, green onions, etc). Then, vegetables are placed into the pot along with tofu and eaten the same way. Finally, the broth is used to make a rice porridge and/or as the soup for "kishi-men" noodles (like Japanese fettuccini).[QUOTE]


This is exactly what we had with 2 kinds of sauces like you've described. We cooked this ourselves which is what I enjoyed so much. We have a ton of Kobe and Japanese Steakhouses in Richmond where someone cooks at your table which I enjoy but I prefer cooking at my own pace and doing it myself. The only thing close to this in Virginia is probably the Melting Pot but I prefer Japanese food. Thanks for your help, I'll have to make a trip to NYC soon.

Off the top of my head, there's Lan and Shabu-Tatsu in the East Village (disclaimer: have never been to Lan, haven't been to Shabu-Tatsu in years).

Ok.. I've had hotpot in China and shabu shabu in the LA area and I didn't think there was a ton of difference. Suppose it's subtle but essentally, it was take a piece of meat or veggies, dip it into the boiling hot water for a short time and eat up.

In New York you have Shabu-Shabu on 70th street (close to 2nd). it's a Japanese family that runs it.

Shabu-Shabu 70 (212) 861-5635 - 314 E 70th St # 1, New York, NY -

Swish in New York City is great for Shabu Shabu. My wife and I were there a few months ago and really enjoyed it.

This is IMO, but I don't find the draw to pay $30 for boil-your-self meat. Yes, I've tried shabu shabu, and I felt totally ripped off.

But yes, plenty of shabu shabu places around California.

Several in BOS also, mostly in Chinatown although I just saw a sign for one in the financial district.

Isn't this vaguely similar to what's called STEAMBOAT in Singapore?

... great little place in Shinjuku called Momo Para... all you can eat Shabu-Shabu for ~2,500 yen per person... saw one in Taipei the last time I was there as well...

Fugakyu in Brookline (Coolidge Corner) does an excellent Shabu Shahu in addition to being one of the best sushi restaurants in Boston.

Shabu Shabu at thirty dollars is a rip off, unless they provide you with lobster. The best Shabu Shabu i've had stateside has to be in honolulu, the Shabu shabu house- it's about 8-10 bucks per person and is fantastic!
i've seen some all you can eat shabu shabu places in taipei for like 150 NT- which is like 4-5 bucks- that's almost too cheeap... almost
chris

Mr Shabu-Shabu in Plano TX. I think a couple of posters in FT have eaten there. I just drove by it last week. I need to try it out the next time I'm in the area.

DFW FT gathering? Hello??!! (Its it your turn to organize one? Hint, hint!)

Shabu Zen in Boston's Chinatown is fantastic. The beef is amazing and they even have expensive varieties including Kobe. Their broths are great (Chinese Spicy, Kim Chi and others) and they have really yummy mango and strawberry smoothies! If you're in the Boston area, it's worth a visit for a non-traditional meal.
http://www.shabuzen.com/

In Chicago, there's CoCoRo Shabu de Fondue at 668 N Wells, 312-943-2220. I haven't been there for a couple of years (the restaurant is probably 10 years old), but here's a link to the review on one of the local Chicago city guides:
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/d...0,753299.venue

You can get Shabu Shabu on the NCL Norwegian Jewel.

Not much help in Richmond, I know.

Still, good to know I guess. :D
(I had never heard of it before that ship... thought "Shabu" was the whale at SeaWorld.

Mark

You can order shabu shabu from room service and enjoy it on the deck of your bungalow at Bora Bora Nui.

I didn't have it there, so can't speak to quality. However IIRC it was 12000 CFP per person :eek:

There is a pretty nifty little Shabu Shabu place on Sawtelle Blvd in W. Los Angeles between Santa Monica Blvd and Olympic. Name is 212 (refers to the boiling point not the address). Food is good, clean and cheap. In the middle of the "Little Tokyo" of the westside.

I entirely agree. The Shabu Shabu house here in Honolulu is AMAZING and cheap. Gotta love the extra beef that they pile on for a small additional fee. ^

That reminds me, anyone know of a good Shabu Shabu house in Orlando or close to WDW?

Just had a great Shabu Shabu dining experience in Las Vegas at "Swish" on West Sahara. Mrs. Kaukau and I were taken there by MrpAlert, our resident Las Vegas FT friend. Thanks, MrpAlert!!! See you in April!

I've dined there once and by far one of the best shabu shabu places in LA. Highly recommended. ^

I only paid about $20 IIRC.

If I remember correctly, they offered it as well at the Intercontinental Bora Bora.

There's a place in Denver that I've read about (favorably) but haven't tried. I believe it is called J Shabu and it is on Havana/Yale near the Denver/Aurora border.

Second this, also on the account of my wife and myself as well! :cool: