Shabu-Shabu House

This was my first time going to this place with my friend she recommended it and I like the place. It was very cozy. Very nice. We went to right before they were closing, but the food was still fresh. The only thing was that they will not let you share One combo was a lot of food so we had to get the double combo but other than that there was a lot of food left. The place is really nice and great for any occasion.

Second time visited this place~ the same as the first time ~ the meat quality and tiger shrimp were still good. They made some new menu with rice & meat combined dishes. Ponzu sauce with shredded radishes was together best shabu sauce.🫰🫰👍If you need shredded radishes, ask the server to bring them! For dessert, macaron ice cream was 👌 not too sweet!

Great experience! The food was delicious, the store was clean, and the owner was friendly and attentive. We tried the choice set and the prime set; the prime set was especially good and included shrimp. Highly recommend both options!

We really enjoyed eating here. First time eating at a shabu shabu restaurant. Was able to get seated right away. Service staff were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

A revision of a long standing Shabu Shabu restaurant that was closed about a year ago. It is now called Shabu House and although the sign on the wall says "Since 1991" the experience has more differences than similarities. The beef cut with a deli slicer is still present now in the rear of the restaurant in a glass display area. The horseshoe counter has been converted to have seating on both sides, increasing seating but appears to limit staff movement. The food has also been changed with the classic shabu shabu ingredients supplemented with more pan-asian hot pot offerings like fish balls, fish cake and potato and lunch offerings have been changed to include dishes like Korean-style ramen and kimchee fried rice. The shabu shabu comes as a set with three tiers of pricing starting at 30 dollars which includes a vegetable and fish cake assortment and beef with the second tier adding shrimp and a possibly larger serving of beef. The 3rd tier is the most expensive and says it includes Wagyu beef. The serving of meat on the first tier was generous and filled a large tray. It was sliced paper thin and had decent marbling. The transition of the horseshoe allows for more seating but makes the counter feel more cramped. The dish set up is made up of two trays with metal serving bowls. Shoyu, chili sauce, chili oil and ponzu sauce are included at the table as well as minced garlic and spring onions. Goma (sesame sauce) is provided in a small dish with the meal and was used up quickly. No ladles were provided and the grey foam from the cooking meat quickly built up and coated the food. A Chinese spoon was included and at attempt to remove the foam filled up the serving dishes on the vegetable plate over the course of the meal. Service was attentive though seemed to go through waves of availability. On arriving at the restaurant it was unclear if you sat yourself or if the staff were supposed to seat you. Tablets are at every seating for staff free ordering. A tablet was positioned by the door but it was not working. Attempts to flag down staff after waiting for them to notice someone at the door took some time as they were running around bringing food to various stations. Once I go a server's attention I was quickly seated and the food came immediately. Staff came to ask if I needed anything about 6 times over the course of the meal though did not appear to anticipate issues like running out of sauce. Checkout was at a counter at the front of the restaurant and after I was noticed standing at the counter a staff member came over quickly and took care of the bill. Overall it is nice to have a Shabu Shabu Restaurant back in Little Tokyo Village Plaza. The price seems high but this is likely not the restaurant's fault considering the rapid gentrification of Little Tokyo. The service is earnest and friendly though appears to be experiencing some growing pains.

I've been coming to this place once a month. The food is good and fresh. Service is excellent. They are always refilling our waters and soup. It's a clean simple Japanese Korean style shabu.

The food is really delicious. I really liked the beef curry and it had a lot of flavor, I also liked the beef dumplings because you can tell it was made in house and not frozen. I really like the food here and I would definitely come back again!

Unfortunately no were near as good as the old owner. When I asked questions they pretend its just a continuation of old and they put on there walls the year as the old owner established but its new owners hence why they cant serve liquor. The meat is good quality but noodles were OK not like how the old owner had it. The mushroom they provide sucks and the other fishy options with your meals are bad. I had to constantly add there sauces they were seriously watered down not like the original owner. The coffee option were you had that smooth cream and liquid sugar was not on there options list. No sake, no beer. Bottom line these are new owners and just no were near as good as the original owner. Just facts.

This was my first time going to this place with my friend she recommended it and I like the place. It was very cozy. Very nice. We went to right before they were closing, but the food was still fresh. The only thing was that they will not let you share One combo was a lot of food so we had to get the double combo but other than that there was a lot of food left. The place is really nice and great for any occasion.

Second time visited this place~ the same as the first time ~ the meat quality and tiger shrimp were still good. They made some new menu with rice & meat combined dishes. Ponzu sauce with shredded radishes was together best shabu sauce.🫰🫰👍If you need shredded radishes, ask the server to bring them! For dessert, macaron ice cream was 👌 not too sweet!

Great experience! The food was delicious, the store was clean, and the owner was friendly and attentive. We tried the choice set and the prime set; the prime set was especially good and included shrimp. Highly recommend both options!

We really enjoyed eating here. First time eating at a shabu shabu restaurant. Was able to get seated right away. Service staff were very friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

A revision of a long standing Shabu Shabu restaurant that was closed about a year ago. It is now called Shabu House and although the sign on the wall says "Since 1991" the experience has more differences than similarities. The beef cut with a deli slicer is still present now in the rear of the restaurant in a glass display area. The horseshoe counter has been converted to have seating on both sides, increasing seating but appears to limit staff movement. The food has also been changed with the classic shabu shabu ingredients supplemented with more pan-asian hot pot offerings like fish balls, fish cake and potato and lunch offerings have been changed to include dishes like Korean-style ramen and kimchee fried rice. The shabu shabu comes as a set with three tiers of pricing starting at 30 dollars which includes a vegetable and fish cake assortment and beef with the second tier adding shrimp and a possibly larger serving of beef. The 3rd tier is the most expensive and says it includes Wagyu beef. The serving of meat on the first tier was generous and filled a large tray. It was sliced paper thin and had decent marbling. The transition of the horseshoe allows for more seating but makes the counter feel more cramped. The dish set up is made up of two trays with metal serving bowls. Shoyu, chili sauce, chili oil and ponzu sauce are included at the table as well as minced garlic and spring onions. Goma (sesame sauce) is provided in a small dish with the meal and was used up quickly. No ladles were provided and the grey foam from the cooking meat quickly built up and coated the food. A Chinese spoon was included and at attempt to remove the foam filled up the serving dishes on the vegetable plate over the course of the meal. Service was attentive though seemed to go through waves of availability. On arriving at the restaurant it was unclear if you sat yourself or if the staff were supposed to seat you. Tablets are at every seating for staff free ordering. A tablet was positioned by the door but it was not working. Attempts to flag down staff after waiting for them to notice someone at the door took some time as they were running around bringing food to various stations. Once I go a server's attention I was quickly seated and the food came immediately. Staff came to ask if I needed anything about 6 times over the course of the meal though did not appear to anticipate issues like running out of sauce. Checkout was at a counter at the front of the restaurant and after I was noticed standing at the counter a staff member came over quickly and took care of the bill. Overall it is nice to have a Shabu Shabu Restaurant back in Little Tokyo Village Plaza. The price seems high but this is likely not the restaurant's fault considering the rapid gentrification of Little Tokyo. The service is earnest and friendly though appears to be experiencing some growing pains.

I've been coming to this place once a month. The food is good and fresh. Service is excellent. They are always refilling our waters and soup. It's a clean simple Japanese Korean style shabu.

The food is really delicious. I really liked the beef curry and it had a lot of flavor, I also liked the beef dumplings because you can tell it was made in house and not frozen. I really like the food here and I would definitely come back again!

Unfortunately no were near as good as the old owner. When I asked questions they pretend its just a continuation of old and they put on there walls the year as the old owner established but its new owners hence why they cant serve liquor. The meat is good quality but noodles were OK not like how the old owner had it. The mushroom they provide sucks and the other fishy options with your meals are bad. I had to constantly add there sauces they were seriously watered down not like the original owner. The coffee option were you had that smooth cream and liquid sugar was not on there options list. No sake, no beer. Bottom line these are new owners and just no were near as good as the original owner. Just facts.

I had a fantastic experience here, all because of Vivian (the beautiful owner) and their newest employee, Tina! We came on a Monday night and there was no wait. I loved this area, so many places and stores to go to. The quality of the ingredients, especially the fresh meats and vegetables, was top-notch, and the broth was rich and flavorful. This isn't like other shabu places where you get to choose your broth, the broth they provided was a clear broth and all the favor comes from their meat and veggies. The service was excellent, with the staff being both attentive and knowledgeable, guiding us through the menu and making great recommendations. It's a perfect spot for a fun and interactive meal, and I'll definitely be returning! We spent about 60/per person before tip.

Ok I'll admit I'm a fan of this new takeover of this iconic spot. It's been YEARS since I've been here but paid not once but TWO visits this week already- for lunch and dinner. This is now under new ownership and it's now called "Shabu House." I believe it is the Korean couple I saw working there, who really seemed to care about their business - they were attentive and sweet (the woman had the warmest smile when I cashed out and said how good my meal was/that it was my 2nd time...before offering me a sweet/lollipop to go, aww). Solid quality and VALUE no matter what option you choose here - I love a place like this over an AYCE spot, one where there's minimal thinking about what to order + decent-sized portions without the pressure of shabu/hotpot places that are unlimited. $24.99 Lunch Special (until 3pm) came with about 17pcs of meat and a scaled down veggie/extras plate but I still left quite full. For dinner you have 3 sets choices: A- $59.99 ("Wagyu Beef") B- $39.99 ("Prime Angus Beef") C- $29.99 ("Choice Angus Beef") I went with B which was a generous meat serving (I counted about 20 slices) as well as 2 tiger shrimp and a few other plate adds that weren't included with lunch. Set A comes with an extra shrimp and a couple of extra add-ons. Set C does not come with shrimp. Rice included. And they have fresh tins of minced garlic and Daikon radish of course (to add to your soy, ponzu, and sesame sauces) as well as a few spicy add-in options. Man was I full at the end- could barely finish! Service for both my meals was great. Clean interior with 'islands' of individual seats. Reasonable prices for other items on the menu including beer ($4.99 for a small Sapporo) and soju ($12.99) With the weather changing I can absolutely see myself getting hooked with this spot! Late-ish hours (open until 10pm most days, 10:30pm Fri/Sat) + 2 hour validation are also 2 incentives. I'll definitely be back soon.

we came last night no wait, clicked to wait on the yelp waiting list and was on time per usual I did notice alot of walk-ins from tourist little tokyo seems to always be filled with walking tourist the seating is a little tricky as some groups wanted to "face each other" everyone gets your bowl at this spot making it more "automatic" food overall was good meat portions was ok I can't eat big so it was slightly more than enough I got the basic package one thing is to ask for radish and garlic to improve your sauce its free you just have to ask! the seat was a little tricky but ok once you find your setting really felt like japan in there with the personal bowl and details shabu is simple food so if you like no wait pop in here! its nice since they totally redid the room as well so its especially clean

I went here with my friends on a Friday night in Little Tokyo! Honestly I was really excited to see a shabu shabu place in little Tokyo as there are not a lot of options in the area. However, I felt like this meal was not worth my money. The broth is the traditional shabu shabu broth that comprises of kombu and a shiitake mushroom and no additional flavorings. It is important to note that there is only one broth here and it's the traditional one. The way the menu works is that there are different amounts of meat you can get and it's listed as different Set Meals. Honestly for the cost of the meal and amount of meat/quality of meat, money might be better spent at a AYCE hotpot experience. I felt like the price/quantity of food was quite expensive for the quality I got.

Shabu House lives on! This classic establishment has always been my dining room away from home. And now updated and modernized with a Korean comfort food twist: they offer ramyun (ramen) with all the accompanying goodies like cheese and kimchi! Other offerings include appetizers, curry and kimchi fried rice. It's my college dream menu We went for the lunch Shabu Shabu set and it was the perfect amount of food: choice angus beef slices, veggies, tofu, udon, fish cake and rice. I have friends that are going to be so happy that this spot has re-opened! There are plenty of fancy Shabu restaurants in town...so I love that this one has kept it casual but now updated with clean modern interior.

I'm very happy this shabu place has reopened under new ownership and with a fresh remodel. I love the convenience of ordering through an individual iPad right at your seat. The option to make reservations through Yelp is a huge plus--no more waiting in line outside! While the beef quality isn't quite as great as the previous shabu house, it's still decent. The generous variety of side dishes--including veggies, mushrooms, tofu, shrimp, and udon--is a nice touch. The service was great , and I'll definitely be coming back soon.

Under new ownership and ambience is nice and clean. The meat quality is definitely better and peanut sauce still tastes so good. The base of shabu shabu is water base which is the original way to eat it. The veggies were fresh and meat quality was the best. Got the #A wagyu beef and wow delicious, recommend dipping the meat in ponzu and adding garlic to it with the green onions and veggies use the peanut sauce. The service and staff were friendly and nice :) Can't wait to come back!

The best there ever was and I was so upset that they closed, they had the best food, the best service, the most friendly staff overall vibes were great as well

We visited this restaurant on a Tuesday evening and were seated immediately. This place is fantastic. They offer several levels of meat quality, and we got to try each of them. Even the least expensive option was great. Each shabu meat order includes a generous amount of vegetables, but you can also order more if you'd like. The restaurant is spotless, and the staff was attentive, checking on us regularly even though everything is ordered through a tablet. Overall, it was an amazing experience with delicious food, great service, and a clean setting. I can't wait to come back!

Right in the heart of the fun Little Tokyo outdoor mall. This is a great place to stop if you want to have an authentic "Shabu Shabu" experience and it's convenient because it's just off of the street inside the mall. You can get metered parking on the street or there's also a paid lot a few blocks to the east. When I walked in, I thought it would be a bit too warm because it was a hot summer day outside and then inside there are all the boiling pots steaming , but once you sit down it's actually very well ventilated. I had one of the lunch specials, which was a great deal. You get some really delicious beef to put in your shabu shabu plus some tofu, rice, veggies, a nice variety of sauces to mix, and lots of condiments. The service was very fast and super easy. You order everything on a touch screen in front of you at your seating station, and the staff are quick to answer any questions. It's super fresh and delicious. I also ordered the kimchi fried rice, but honestly that wasn't as good as the shabu shabu. A great choice if you happen to be in Little Tokyo and want a fast and healthy Japanese meal as it seems like the lines and wait here are not anywhere as long as some other nearby places at peak hours. We were seated immediately. Fun place to go with a friend.

Fav shabu place in Little Tokyo area. Love the vibe and the food quality is over-the-top. The boss was so kind too!

First time back since the new ownership took over. Meat portions were plenty, and they had good quality meat. Ponzu and sesame sauce were VERY good. Service was great and THANK GOODNESS for the AC and cleanliness. The old shabu shabu house was super hot and dim. This place was bright, clean, cold and modern. I like that we were able to order on each individual ipad., that was very helpful. We will be back!

Meat quality was below par. Everything else was just ok would not come back and quality obviously nowhere close to the previous establishment. Fast service that's about it. Many other better options on the plaza

Finally, after a long wait of opening back up from the renovation. Eating here brings back memory! Shabu2 house still good even the sauce still tastes the same! The ambience is more of a modern restaurant now, but everything else still good, even the customer service is top notch! Will come back for sure!

The quality of meat compare to previous owner , The angus beef are so chewy, feel like eating beef jerky , the quality of Angus beef are bad , would not eat here again, Very disappointed quality of meat ( Angus beef) - it is similar to Lower end all you can eat shabu shbau - - Staffs are very friendly, Place is very clean .

I was pleasantly surprised during my recent visit to Little Tokyo for some shabu-shabu. I hadn't realized the restaurant had changed ownership, and I was initially hesitant to try the new place. The previous owner ran what I considered the best shabu-shabu spot, so my expectations were high. Upon entering, I immediately noticed the revamped layout and the unique table arrangements, which felt quite different from before. Despite the changes, my wife and I decided to give it a shot--and I'm so glad we did. The experience was fantastic! The service was excellent, and the quality of the meat and other ingredients was top-notch. The portions were generous, and the prices were very reasonable, making it a great value. I want to extend my congratulations to the new owner for maintaining the high standards that made this place so beloved, even with the updates. On top of that, the new seating arrangement has really improved the flow, resulting in quicker seating and shorter wait times, which was a nice bonus. Overall, highly recommended! Whether you're a longtime fan of the old spot or a first-time visitor, this new chapter is off to a great start.

Had been over Shabu Shabu House over two decades!! They always provided a premium quality of meats for traditional Shabu Shabu in Japanese Town in Downtown LA!! I brought those babies and family members to there often until the Ownership limited the operating hours on weekends... Services were always excellent and their decorations were always Traditional Japanese style!! Finally, after 32 years the ownership need to let retirement of life!!!

一生中所出現的一切都無法擁有， 只能經歷，深知這一點後，就會懂得， 其實我們從未失去， 只是經過，也不是失敗， 只是經驗～ 終於有機會再來吃二十年前就去過的 shabu shabu house , 那麼多年過去了， 一樣的老闆， 一樣的裝潢， 一樣要排長落落的對伍，可能時間久遠， 再次光臨時感覺卻已不復當年， 不會覺得是值得一等再等的餐館了， 其實店家什麼都沒變， 一樣還是只收現金，一樣品質穩定， 超值的牛肉， 一樣啥都沒加的白水鍋底， 可能是這麼多年來， 東區有更多好吃的 shabu shabu 出現了, 是比較下的問題，吃個火鍋會讓我覺得很多回憶是自己過分美化的， 很多時候相見還不如懷念， 不過別誤會我的意思， 沒有不好吃， 只是再去時才發現不再是多年來記憶裡的味道了，這家應該很多很多人去過， 大家都很喜歡嗎？

We got lucky because it was still early and we availed of the lunch specials. I think the place is super new because they weren't quite familiar with the menu. Do be careful with the lunch specials, the price doesn't necessarily reflect the picture resented on the digital menu.

Loved my first experience here! Waitress was so sweet and helpful. Food was fresh and delicious!

great customer service, very nice employee, and the food was so yummy !! the vibes are so chill. 10/10 would recommend to try this place out when coming to little toyko !! :D

Great food ! This is my 2nd time having it, much better than the first time when I went without knowing how to eat at all. Workers are very friendly, once again my 2nd time going they gave me some tips on eating it much more tastier, sauces to make the soup more lively also love the vibe the lights and the wooden texture in store gives very modern.

The new owners of Shabu Shabu House are very hospitable and want to make your experience enjoyable as possible. The place looks amazing and I love the technology they incorporated into the new restaurant. Sadly I yearn for the old ways. I first tried Shabu Shabu house the first week it opened 39 years ago. I have been loyal customer ever since. My kids grew up eating there. The place restaurant holds a very special place in my heart. The restaurant did so well because the meat was good but more so the ponzu and goma sauce was among the best in LA. Only second to Kagaya/Tensho in taste. And Yoshi and his wife are an incredible hardworking team. I wish the new owners the best and if they ever get the original sauce recipes and use them, I will be back to give them another shot.

So glad that my friend brought me to check out this little hole in the wall in Little Tokyo. Shabu Shabu House is ran by the cutest elderly Japanese ojiisan, and the interior is largely reminiscent of the bar-like, communal seating of restaurants in Japan. I rarely eat Japanese shabu, but I was impressed with how high quality the meat was, and how flavorful everything could be (despite only cooking in boiled water!). For about $31, you can get the large 15 piece meat platter, with your choice between lean or marbled. Every customer is also given a free platter of vegetables, udon, tofu and rice, as well as their house made ponzu and peanut sauce, which you can tailor to your own liking with the complimentary togorashi, scallions and garlic, as well as re-fill upon request. Highly recommend checking out this little gem and supporting a small, Asian owned business, especially if you're looking for something comforting and light for this rainy LA weather! Tips: cash only!

I could not believe how delicious everything was. I would eat here again, no doubt about it. The service was a delight and everyone was so friendly. Recommend 100%.

I'm so sad to hear this place is closing. Been going here for over 20 years. My son started loving this Shabu Shabu since his inception in my stomach. Hopefully, you will share your secret sesame sauce recipe.

I feel as though I was misled here... this is NOT the original Shabu Shabu House, it is an obviously new restaurant serving the same food and using the same name as the Original. They've put "since 1991" on the storefront, and at the time of writing this, yelp even routes to the Original's website complete with the Original menu and photos of the Original (now demolished) interior. In terms of food and ambiance the restaurant is now a hollow shell of its former self, doomed to never measure up to the space it fills. Dull and vacuous to the simplistic perfection, thoughtful care, and artistic expression the previous owners imbued their space with for decades. Unable to understand what made something so "simple" so special. Also on note *normally* unrelated to shabu, the kimchi fried rice is absolutely mid. *Since writing this review, all the old reviews from the previous owners have merged into this yelp profile, furthering the case they are being deliberately misleading

Thanks for all the memories after 32 years! Itadakimasu! Sayonara! Arigatou Gozaimas!!

I took my gf to eat here cus she really wanted to try curry. I wasn't aware that I had to assemble the food myself (I had ordered ramen). Therefore, I had asked the waitress for directions on how to make the food, BUT she instead proceeded to physically make it for me. It was very disrespectful/Innapropiate, considering I was on a date with my gf..

Shabu Shabu House in Little Tokyo has been a cherished spot since childhood. The experience is intimate and feels almost like an omakase, with personal attention and top-notch ingredients. The meats are of exceptional quality, cooked to perfection right at your table. The simple yet flavorful dipping sauces enhance the experience, making each bite memorable. It's a must-visit for anyone looking for authentic shabu-shabu in a cozy and welcoming setting.

Went for dinner shabu shabu a week or so ago and had takeout lunch today. Taking the place of the old beloved Maru shabu shabu house so they've got big shoes to fill. They've renovated the inside for touchscreen ordering at each seat and about doubled the amount of seats inside. Meat was fresh if presliced and possibly thinner. Quality was still good. The vegetable plate is large and goes up in size if you order a larger portion of meat. They give you a small dish of goma sauce but you can keep asking for more. Overall I'd say it not a big drop off from the old store. Prices have gone up but that's everywhere. Bonus that they're open for lunch again. They also have a few more side items in the menu. For lunch I picked up a kimchi fried rice. Was an ok portion for the price. The fried rice has a lot of chunks of beef, but needed a bit more kimchi flavor (or kimchi needs to be more sour for me) and salt. Topped with 2 perfect sunny side up eggs. I'd get it again and may venture to try their curry rice at some point.

This place is unique from any Shabu restuarants I've been to. Love the high chairs and tablets for every customer to place their orders. Most importantly, the quality of the food (ie meats) were excellent!

Food - 2.5 Service - 2.5 Ambiance - $2.5 First time here. Came here with a friend. She recommended this place, because it was so original. Still the same owner from 30+ years ago. My opinion, so so. A bit pricey for the food. But I tried it. Parking - street parking Or the mall has parking. Restaurant does validation. Arrived at 5:30pm, put my name on the list. At 7pm, finished and they were sold out, So, if you want to give this place a try, come early. There are plenty more of other restaurants and shops.

Food is great, the service is amazing as it is still a mom and pop shop. Yes although it is not owned by the same OG owner, the OG owners retired and it looks like the new owners are trying as best they can to continue the legacy. I do feel like the technology of the restaurant and quality of the meat is severely improved from the previous place and with the bigger space, there isn't as long of a wait time. 10/10 would recommend.

Overall, dining at this restaurant was a delight from start to finish. The delicious food, impeccable service, and the place seem sparkling clean. I am very excited about my next visit here. When visiting Japanese Village Plaza, keep this place on your list !

Amazing shabu shabu at a reasonable price. The four of us had the lunch special. Great sauces and vegetables. The choice angus beef was freshly cut and tender. Delicious! Friendly staff and very clean restaurant. Recommend highly to others.

top notch. very friendly staff. quick service. yummy food. restaurant was very clean and the staff was amazing. the seating was cool and neat and organized. would definitely recommend to others!

Food was great and the service was spectacular! The staff gives excellent recommendations, definitely would come back.

Simply one of the best classic shabu shabu spots in LA. No need for broth seasoning, you just need their ponzu & goma. You only get two options on the menu. Course A or B. You can add more meat, but this is not AYCE. It's al a carte. I recommend going before they open to put your name down on the list, walk around a bit in the area, shop or whatever! He will start calling out your name accordingly from the list. This place is where you go in eat and pay and come out. No time for small talk they mean business! You might feel rushed but it's just a fast pace spot. Old school feel, clean and the MEAT!!! That's why you come here.. :)

Had an amazing experience at Shabu Shabu House . The staff was friendly, the atmosphere was welcoming, and the food exceeded my expectations. I'll definitely be back soon!

My all time favorite place growing up. I'm super happy that it's still around and at the same location, with the same owner and the same perfect quality. When I'm in town, it's my must go to place! The beef is super good, the sauce are perfect and it just makes your keep coming back for more.

This place is popping! Also, it's cas only! Came around 7.30pm on Saturday and they got a waitlist going on. This place has limited seating so expect to wait. We were on the second list and it took us around 1.5 hrs before we got seated. Although it says that they close at 8.30pm, the owner actually made sure that we got seated as long as we were around when our names are called. They have a very simple menu too! Either a medium set which is $24.99 or the large set that is $28.99. The set comes with a plate of veggies (napa cannage, carrot sticks, seaweed, some greens), a bowl of rice, a plate of beef, a boiling water pot, and two bowl of sauces (sesame sauce and ponzu). The beef was very tender and juicy! The veggies were fresh. They also gave some udon noodles and rice noodles with two cubes of tofu. If you're looking for a broth that is rich and flavorful, this is not the place. I was too excited to start eating that I didn't taste the soup but I'm pretty sure that it wasn't flavored - simply plain boiling water. However, they also provided soy sauce, minced garlic, chili oil, green onions if you would like to seasoned the water. Definitely a place to stop by if you want quality meat where you can taste the freshness of each ingredients without being distracted by the broth. On a side note, their ponzu sauce was bomb too! Not too sour, just enough tartness and saltiness. A star off because the sesame sauce wasn't as thick as I would like it to be (tasted a little watered down).

I'm so glad I got to go recently, as Yoshi has just announced the lease was not renewed and the restaurant interior is to be demolished. This place is absolutely going to leave a gaping hole in Little Tokyo, and my heart. Thank you for feeding me and my loved ones for almost 14 years I've been going. It was always worth the wait, and I hope we get to taste your delicious ponzu and peanut sauces with your perfectly marbled meat at a new location.

I've been coming to this Little Tokyo staple ever since I was a baby. Other than inflation increases for their prices, this spot has the most quality pieces of beef and the most authentic Japanese shabu shabu experience. The owner of this restaurant is a kind Japanese man who has been running this restaurant for 25+ years. There's always a reason the wait can get to 2+ hours!

*** Tip: bring cash and come very early to sign up on the waiting list as soon as it's out. Visited recently and arrived at opening time (5:30pm). To my surprise there was a waiting list 1.5 pages long already. They had a total of 3 sheets available to sign up, half of that amount was already taken before they even opened. I appreciate the guy (who calls you in to sit) letting us know the wait from this point was 1.5-2 hours. Arrived at 5:30pm and seated around 7:30pm and not any earlier. By the time we were seated names were half way down the 3rd sheet of paper. Food - great just as I remembered it. Regular portion is 10 slices while Large is 15 slices. I love their ponzu sauce - wish I had a bottle for home use. Something to note: You are boiling your food in water. At other shabu shabu places they may have a mild kelp/seaweed type stock. People have a misconception mistaking it for Chinese hot pot where the liquid is super flavorful. This is not that. What makes this delicious are the delicate marbled pieces of beef and your choice of dipping sauces, ponzu and sesame. There are little condiment containers, I put a lot of garlic into my ponzu sauce. Yum! They start preparing for the next round of eaters before the current group leaves. As they get closer to seating a group, he will call whoever's name is written and ask for your entire parties order before hand. Other workers will start slicing the portions of meat arranging them neatly on individual plates, cover it with saran wrap, and place them into the fridge until you are seated. This helps to speed up the process so there is less wait time. As soon as a party leaves, their area is cleaned, a new pot and veggies were placed. He will call groups in and you are hopefully within ears reach or will be passed over. While their rules are strict, it makes sense considering the number of people needing to be served. Parking - think typical downtown, metered parking and paid parking lots. I always park across the street in either the structure or the driveway directly next to it (on the left side) which is another parking area but outdoors. The restaurant is very small and not good for large groups or parties with young kids/infants. All the seating is counter style, the only table I saw was a kids table no one was seated at. Great meal on a cool or rainy day! Next time I'd come earlier and would hangout in the area.

One of the best OG shabu shabu, If i go here everyday I would it's so good. The service is excellent and the meat is cut fresh .

Unsure if they're even still open. Every time I've gone by they're closed. Even if it says otherwise online. No bad review. Just confused

So so happy they're still around. We last dined about two years ago right before the pandemic and did shabu kits pick up about two times. Not much has changed other than the staff is much smaller but the owner is still around. So nostalgic with the cowboy music. The only downside was actually these two young health inspectors a guy and girl that came in and took about forty-five minutes to an hour looking around. Which is fine but it gets to be too much when you see girl waving a flashlight and thernometer around in the fridge, gloveless and with long nails. Shabu Shabu House has been around for well over thirty years now too but it was so odd how the girl kept searching for something wrong with it.

First time back in 3 years since Covid. Happy to report the meat quality has remained consistent -- meaning still Numero Uno in L.A. -- even though the price has gone up. $24.99 for 10pcs, $28.99 for 15pcs, $11 for 10pcs extra, still good value compared to what other restaurants are charging post-Covid. Restroom is now available for customers only. And if you come on the weekend and want to get in right when they open at 5:30, better put your name down no later than 4:00, and pray there are no groups of 8 or 9 in front of you!