Alex C.
Yelp
9/21/2024
The Chubby Group operates and manages multiple Wagyu beef all you can eat concept restaurants around the US. Most notably is X Pot inside the Venetian resort complex in Las Vegas. Mikiya is its sister chain of Shabu restaurants on a lesser theatrical scale.
Location: as I do reside in San Francisco, the drive to Santa Clara is roughly 1 hour. The general area itself (San Jose proper, Cupertino, Milpitas) is known to have an influx of Asian grocers, shops and restaurants.
Reservations: only through Yelp and time slots open up 7 days prior. This is a very busy restaurant, and so staff may not answer the phone immediately and so messages can be left and a call back will be provided. Once you arrive to the restaurant, check in with the host to be seated.
The restaurant: we waited roughly 10 minutes for our table to be ready and then seated. The interior design is very modern, with a glass display of Wagyu beef slabs right as you enter the restaurant. An area that is fully lit in neon lights (think of night market vibes) that houses a chilled bar for condiments, sides, vegetables, sauce bar, beverage station, ice cream freezers, and glass refrigerator of prepped cuts of Wagyu beef.
Our table: a friendly server greeted us and provided ordering instructions. We opted for the highest tiered option, diamond ($100 a person) which includes unlimited cuts of wagyu beef, seafood, and appetizers. Beverages are self service and we only have 90 minutes to eat.
The food: one really has to come here, or any all you can eat establishments fully hungry. Here is what we ate:
-Half pot of: tomato & house broth.
-Australian Wagyu beef: we ordered all 5 cuts. We were able to order 4 rounds within the 90 minute time limit.
-Seafood platter: snow crab, oysters, scallops, shrimp and abalone.
-Appetizers: we ordered everything; foi gras on toast, bone marrow with toast, Wagyu tar tar with toast, langoustine, and Wagyu nigiri.
Beverages: soda dispenser, Asam milk tea, Calpico, and fruit juices.
Dessert: Haagen-Dazs (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Ducle de Leche).
Rating: I would like to give my experience a 5 star rating, however 1 star off came from several factors. While we were aware of the 90 minute time limit, it is hard to keep track of time if one has to rush while eating or if one is enjoying the meal and loses track of time. There was no tablet for self ordering, and so we relied heavily on the staff to take our order and serve them as quickly as possible. If there was some kind of digital notification so that a table would dine accordingly, that would be so helpful. On our 4th round of ordering, that was roughly 15 minutes before our end of service, but that it took roughly 10 minutes for our final items to arrive. A member of staff, though politely, asked us to vacate the premises as our 90 minutes have lapsed. It would have been nice if we were able to finish our dessert versus being abruptly asked to leave.
Overall: an all you can eat Wagyu Shabu experience worth experiencing. Come hungry and you will definitely leave happy.