Shabu En Hot Pot

Shabu En Hot Pot was such a great experience from start to finish. Their AYCE menu doesn’t try to overwhelm you with endless choices; instead, it offers a well-assembled assortment of fresh, high-quality ingredients that truly stand out. Everything we tried tasted clean and flavorful, and you can tell they put real care into what they serve. The service was another major highlight. Our server, Anthony, was incredibly attentive, informative, and genuinely welcoming. He checked on us often without ever feeling intrusive and made sure we had everything we needed throughout our meal. His friendliness and knowledge added so much to the overall experience. The duck broth was absolutely on point—rich, savory, and full of depth. And the green tea was exceptional. They serve a high-quality loose-leaf blend in a beautiful cast iron teapot, which was such a lovely touch and really elevated the meal. It’s small details like that that show how much attention they put into creating an enjoyable dining atmosphere. We left full, happy, and already talking about what we want to try next time. We would like to suggest adding a tomato based soup base, because it is one of our favorites and very popular at other hot pot establishments. We’ll definitely be returning!

Went there with my husband for our lunch and really enjoyed it. It’s a hot pot restaurant- buffet style. You order your own base broth, I ordered the signature one it’s just basic broth, nothing special, but my husband ordered the Mala Sichuan that was really tasty. They have tons of different meats, veggies, pasta and sauce area that you can build your own sauce. So it cost $22.99 for each individual on weekdays, drinks are charge separately.

( updated ) I came here to eat for the second time, everything was as good as the first time I experienced, the food, the staff, everything was good. This second time I would like to thank the staff who served my table, her name is LUNLA , she did a great job, always asking if we needed anything ☺️ ( by the way , the lights are here very quality for take pictures loll ) ——————— ( the first review) I would like to thank the waiters here, they always do their job well, and especially give compliments to the boy who served my table (if I remember correctly, his name is LAC, a cute guy with glasses . He is a quick-witted and always smiling person👏), and I thank the person who cleared the dishes for my table too 👍 Although I went on the weekend in the evening, the restaurant was quite crowded but the waiters always took care of us and asked if we needed anything. Food, service quality, space, all are great. Fresh food, always refilled, variety of sauces, fresh and delicious meat. Highly recommend !!!!!!

I came here with a large party on a busy Friday night. Definitely get reservations if possible just so you’ll be seated quicker. There were so many seating areas and the place is nicely decorated. It was very clean and organized inside. They have a large variety of drinks and toppings to put into the hotpot itself as well! Many workers will come by and clean up trash or pick up empty platters whenever they spot one (great service). I had the tom yum broth, to me, I never had a tom yum that tasted like this but it was good nonetheless. They have very many types of meat, broth, and even desserts for after hotpot. I recommend the shaved ice with mango jelly and condensed milk. It was so good! They also actively have workers on standby to help manage and clean the topping area for guests. Overall a great experience! I ended up so full I could barely walk.

Shabu-en is so clean and hygienic and a step above Shabu Zone in how organized the buffet bar is. The dining area is insanely spacious and the booths are extremely comfortable. Dinner price is fairly steep per person and there are no lunch prices on the weekends sadly. The NZ Lamb, American Wagyu and beef tendon are all pretty good quality. Honestly the meat is sliced super thin and you’ll find yourself reordering fairly frequently. I’ve only tried the signature and tonkotsu base broths but the sukiyaki and soondubu look enticing. Their cocktails are very unique and I love that you can also get shaved ice from the buffet line.

am thoroughly impressed with this restaurant! Very clean and large space! The service was super friendly and very efficient! Totally worth it in my opinion, everything they had was a good quality! I highly recommend and would come back

Our server, Luena was sweet, courteous, professional, and friendly, the selection of foods and the quality were amazing . Will definitely be back for more! First impressions are: Clean, well lit, and airy! Beautiful decor and the clean restrooms!

We has been coming here since it first open until now. Their quality has maintained pretty steady throughout the time. Clean and friendly restaurants. Besides the dishes including in the AYCE menu, they offer Lobster and Oysters orders for additional charges.

The food is good, love the atmosphere, service is good too. Thank you so much. I like the tofu fish cake much.

Food was amazing! Heider's service was impeccable. This place is our favorite hot pot spot and we will definitely be coming back again!

it's our 2nd time here at Shabu En, and its just as good as the first time . Amazing , high quality all you can eat foods , lots of other options from the market place table , and our server Heider was outstanding , he was very quick and responsive. we will definitely be back again !!!

This was my first time at Shabu En, but I can definitely say it will not be my last! The meats came out quick and were great quality, and the vegetables and seafood tasted incredibly fresh. There were lots of broth options to choose from and I was pleasantly surprised that both my broth and the vegetarian broth were so flavorful. The interior was very clean and organized. The hostess and waiters were kind and efficient. My favorite part had to be the dessert though. There was a shaved milk area with toppings like mochi, popping boba, passion fruit syrup, and more. There was also Korean banchan, Vietnamese coffee, and a wide variety of sauces. Shabu en is my new favorite shabu spot in town and I'm definitely coming back!

Really enjoyed the ambience here- everything looked super clean including all of the shellfish options, the salads and kimchi were a hit and they even offer snow ice and Vietnamese coffee. The sauce bar was also great. They also let you switch out your broths and the lunch was affordable for AYCE. I thought the lunch beef choices didn't blow me away but still very good. Service was friendly and prompt. We did have a pretty small table between the two of us and felt it was slower to tidy it up considering how tight it was but otherwise, fun space!

I've been a long time fan of Shabu En and have enjoyed every dining experience, but unfortunately yesterday was a let down. We were sat around 8:30 after waiting for about 15 mins. Our server only came to check up on us twice: the first time to get us started with our broths and meats order, and the second time to just get our next round of meat. We were awaiting a third round but after eating paired with the bad service, we were just wanting to pay and leave. Our waters and broths were never refilled despite them obviously being very low. I understand being a server and also have worked in an AYCE environment, tables should be frequently checked on despite observing their eating pace; there are so many factors that go in to ensure a pleasant dining experience and yesterday, they fell short. I noticed our server in the corner of my eye, chatting with his coworkers on the side. As an AYCE establishment, this incompetence should not have happened and I am very disappointed.

If last 2 times my rating for this hotpot place is 5 stars then today I will rate only 3. We went there at 1330, it's pretty much still as busy time, after about 10 mins waiting, my table is ready, we sat at the corner table which visualize a whole space in front of us. Busy yes, I understand. Then I am waiting for someone come to ask what would we like for the soup? Whatever in the menus or at least to say hi...but no one is asking...for another 10 mins. My husband already done getting all the plates with seafood and veggies, but no one has been asking us anything even I saw at least some servers has passed my table for at least 10 times to serve other table with party of 4-6 in front of us. My patience is a bit reaching to my limit, I saw the guy in black shirt named Micheal walked by and I stopped him. I asked do you know who is my server? He said give him a bit of time and he will find out. He came back in a bit and say he didn't know but he will help to get my order now. I placed my order with him and go get some more veggies and sauces. When I came back, the server is still not there to accommodate us. Pretty much I don't care no more since it's almost 1400. Then in a bit later, a young guy I think it's my server who has crossed my table many times from the start, who has not looking at us for a long time finally came and say hi, i asked if he is our table server and he said yes. I didn't want to say anything else since i know it's busy but I would appreciate if he can be a bit more considerate to the table he has assigned to. Later I orders drinks and other stuffs, he did come couple times and asked what would we like. I decided still giving 25% tip since he did said sorry for us to wait long and he has come by couple times, and he is young and might need to have more experiences. However, at the ended I have noticed he didn't mention or invite us to buy a gift card to participate into the raffle winning things which the restaurant's promotion has been going on. He came to the table next to us and mentioned with that 2 customers how many gift cards he has been selling and stuffs. But not to us. A bit feel ignore and uncomfortable. I came to the host and asked for more details. So this is my experience and yes it makes me disappointed more than upset. Not about waiting long time but it's about being ignored and not acknowledged as others customers and I am a very good tipper. I hope this will not happen often to others. So I decided to write this review.

Came back for my birthday this month with friends who haven't tried this place and they love it. Good food and service as usual. Beside meat they also have seafood options

As far as AYCE hotpot experiences go, Shabu En is one of the best! The atmosphere, service and food are all top notch, and the soup options are super diverse. I got the mala sichuan broth, which wasn't too flavorful/spicy at first - but I asked for extra spice, which made it perfect! I paired this with a simple and classic sesame oil, soy sauce, and garlic dipping sauce with a bit of cilantro on top. Just thinking about this is making my mouth water again! And if you're not into spice or are just looking for a different flavor, the broths are from all different countries and have something for everyone! They also have a vegetarian broth! The meat options are great, they're not stingy about letting you pile up your trays (some tables had stacks taller than I was, walking by)! The beef is thinly sliced and perfect for that fast cook and tender bite. The buffet bar also has a super wide range of options. There's also Vietnamese coffee, shaved ice, and cheesecake cones! What more can you ask for?

I am thoroughly impressed with this restaurant! Very clean and large space! The service was super friendly and very efficient! Totally worth it in my opinion, everything they had was a good quality! I highly recommend and would come back

There are so many AYCE hot pot places around Houston that most of them are "just another hot pot place." However, I finally got to try Shabu En recently, and it definitely beat my expectations in every way. The interior of the restaurant is nice and clean, and the service is amazing. Out of all the hot pot places that I've tried around town, Shabu En is now at the top of my list. They have a wide variety of broth bases, meats, seafoods, vegetables, side dishes, noodles, sauces and condiments, and more. Everything was super fresh and high quality, especially the meats. There are 9 different broths to choose from as is, but you can also get a mix of the broths. I went with a mix of the spicy seafood broth and sukiyaki broth, and that combination tasted amazing. There are 15 different cuts of meats to choose from. I tried almost all the different cuts of beef, and favorites are the ribeye, short ribs, and beef belly. They even have a dessert bar with different toppings, jellies, and syrups, which you can customize your own shaved ice dessert as well as delicious cheesecake in a cone. I made myself a Vietnamese Che Da styled shaved ice dessert. They also have delicious strong Vietnamese coffee which you can customize yourself to your likings. Shabu En is now my most favorite AYCE hot pot place in Houston, and I will definitely be back for more.

Came here early on a weekday for dinner and it wasn't too packed. I love that you can switch broths because I started with the duck broth which tasted kinda like a really light pho broth? I decided to switch to the spicy tonkotsu for the rest of the meal and enjoyed that more. My wife started on the sukiyaki and said it was a little too sweet and ended on the signature which she enjoyed more. Note the fancy meats are on the bottom of the menu so you should start there. Big plus is that you can order as many as you want at one time. I'm used to places saying you can only order 4-5 servings at one time which I hate. Service was really attentive and accommodating. I left stuffed and enjoyed my meal

Went to Shabu en for a friend's birthday! It's been awhile since I've had hotpot and this is actually perfect timing since the weather is getting a lot cooler now. This is an all you can eat hotpot place and has been one of my favorites in town. I got the sukiyaki broth and the from yum broth mixed together this time to try. The tom yum flavor could've been more stronger but I liked my broth still. Every time I make my dipping sauce, I just put random things in and pray it works out, and the one I made this time was pretty fire. They have an extensive variety of veggies, seafood, noodles, and other items that you can add to your boiling pot. My favorites were the fish cakes, lobster balls, and quail eggs. Their meat quality is pretty good as well, I really like their rib eye. They have a pretty goated dessert station that is self serve once you are done. They have a build your own bingsoo bowl with various toppings and sauces, cheesecake bites, and a coffee station. The bingsoo is actually really good here, it's a must have for dessert. I like adding lychee poppijg boba, mini mochi, and red bean. The cheesecake bites are a pass, they're very dense.

I had been wanting to try this place, and I finally got the chance to try! I went with my friend this past weekend. I could only have seafood and chicken so I opted for the vegetarian option. The seafood didn't interest me enough to get the meat option. They offered vegetarian ham and vegetarian shrimp, but it would be nice to have more variety of vegetarian meat. The shitake mushroom soup is very good, I would dare say the star of the show for me. Another thing I liked were the ricecakes with cheese. There were also lesser vegetables and less fresh than I thought it would be. Eggs were in pretty bad shape and weirdly put next to the sauces. There was also a whole Korean section, and there were a lot of cold Korean dishes like Kim chew and radish. It was good tasting but I've never really seen other hot pot places with a whole section focused on Korean food! The waiter was very nice and helpful. The restaurant was nice but I was seated near the dish bin cart so I kept hearing the dishes being put in. Overall, I did enjoy and will go back again but could've been better. It was nice that they give water to people waiting for a seat outside.

Probably our 10th visit (or more)! Our server, Jian, took great care of us. Happy Thanksgiving!

Best shabu in Houston! Our server, Jian, was very helpful and attentive! Definitely will be coming back

Crisp greens, mushrooms, and tofu soak up all the spicy, savory goodness. Healthy and indulgent.

Just tried Shabu en and it was a game-changer! The flavorful of hot pot broth was incredible. The portion was generous, and the service was top-notch. Highly recommend!

First time going to hot pot alone and I will be going back sometime soon! Food was amazing and fresh. Place was clean. Jason was my waiter and he was very knowledgeable and answered all of my questions right in the beginning. I asked him which broth was highly recommended/his fave and he suggested the duck broth (which I was already thinking about anyway) and it was so good!! Price is also great - $33 AYCE. Highly recommend this restaurant!

In my opinion, most hot pot places taste the same, but Shabu En is special in its own way. If you're indecisive like me, you can switch out broths and get a sample of them! My group and I ordered several beef options. A unique feature about Shabu En is that they have vegan meat and vegan seafood; my vegetarian friend was a bit underwhelmed by it, but it is worth a try for non-meat eaters. The serving size is quite small, though, and was served in a bowl rather than a large plate for the meats. I ADORE their dessert station, which consists of shaved ice, several toppings, along with Vietnamese coffee and Cheesecake ice cream - you can't find that just anywhere. I like to indulge in the sauces when I eat hotpot, so you know I took my sweet time perfecting my dip at the sauce bar; personally, I follow the premade recipes and recommend the Miso peanut! I've tried the Soondubu broth in the past, and recently, I tried the Duck and Tom Yum. - Duck (3/5): Two of my friends immediately requested to switch their broths after trying it; it smelled and tasted just like Pho. I like it when hotpot soup can add flavor to the proteins and vegetables when I dip them in, but the broth was merely there to cook the food, and didn't enhance the taste at all. Dunking my meats and veggies in my sauce was the saving grace, or else my meal would've been plain... Not terrible, but there are better options. - Tom Yum (5/5): By far my favorite. A bit of a sweet aftertaste, but there was a spicy and sour kick; unlike the Duck broth, the Tom Yum broth had no problem coating the proteins and veggies in flavor, and I could honestly get away without using sauce to enhance the taste. I wouldn't come often because I view hotpot as more of a special treat (and it's expensive), but coming to Shabu En is such a luxurious experience, and I would recommend that others visit!

Robust selection of broth. Self serve vegetable, seafood, and side dish. Land meat is ordered through the server. Very busy lunch crowd for a Saturday. Well-lit, comfortable chairs, noise level is reasonable for conversational volume. Adult drink bar available.

One of my favorite hotpot places! I get the mala Sichuan mixed with the tonkotsu, which adds the perfect spice level that I want without being too numbing. They have a good variety of beef options but only one lamb option. Their meat slices are thin and fresh. My favorite slices are the beef belly and the wagyu. We came at a busy Friday lunch time so we had to wait a little bit for the first round of meats and soup but afterwards, service was super quick. I like that everyone gets their own pot and how bright the inside is, it feels very clean and more "upscale".

Such a delicious spot for all-you-can-eat shabu! The cuts of meat are absolutely delicious and taste very high-quality, my favorite being beef belly. The soups are also delicious, and I like to go for the Shabu En Signature broth. You can also mix broths if you prefer a combination of flavors, and the servers are happy to refill your broth however you like. The price is amazing for lunch, and you still get plenty of meat, noodle and vegetable options to choose from. Even the bingsu dessert bar is included, and it's a great dessert to end off shabu with! The servers were friendly and visited us frequently, and the atmosphere in the restaurant is beautiful! It has a clean, modern and bright interior with a luxurious aesthetic, and this is a great restaurant for bigger parties. Shabu En has become part of my shabu restaurant rotation!

I originally ordered the tom yum broth, and I was highly disappointed in the flavor. The broth was diluted and sour only. It lacked the saltiness and sweetness of the tom yum flavor. I asked the server to switch the broth to tonkotsu, and it was much better. We arrived around 4pm so before the dinner crowd arrived. It was not busy at all so I expected the service to be excellent. After the server took our order, I couldn't find the server to switch my broth or order meats. Meat orders only come in 4-6 pieces and are very small and thinly sliced. That means you will have to order constantly. Vegetables and other hot pot items are buffet style. Items didn't look appealing. Vegetables were not that fresh. Bok choys were brown. Meat quality wasn't great.

Probably THE BEST hotpot place i've been to. The broth is super flavorful - i couldn't stop sipping on it. The ingredients were also super duper fresh and you can tell they're good quality. Highly recommend this place if you're looking for a solid hotpot place.

What a great all you can eat hotpot place!! I am intrigued by the interior of the place. It's very clean and well taken care of. By looking at the food choices, I'm in love! They offer all kinds of meat and vegetables for any hotpot lovers desire! The staff are very nice and are very professional, this has to be one of my top hot pot places to come visit in Houston!

I refused to come to Shabu En during its soft opening, even though it was free. I purposely waited a year later to experience the real deal. It's been blasted on social media by popular influencers. I decided to come today was because my friend was treating me for my belated birthday. I can tell this place is over a year old. Not to be picky but the plates were not clean. I can tolerate that because it's in Chinatown. The food at the buffet line was mediocre. Fresh vegetables were cut to uneven shapes. It's okay if they are going to the boiling pots. I'm not a meat eater. Came here during lunchtime was no benefit. Because vegan seafood and vegan meats are offered during dinner time. My friend ordered some meat trays and left early. I ended up forcing myself to eat the meat. I initially wanted just fish and vegetables in my signature broth. The sauce bar was a mess. I suddenly lost my sense of belonging. Wake up, this is Chinatown. Desserts were ok. Again, I'm not a sweet person. Bingsu was pretty light. I prefer no toppings. Then, there was a whipped cheesecake served in sugar cones called cheesecake bites. Based on today's experience, I would try the dinner before I could recommend anyone to eat at Shabu En.

This was absolutely amazing, great food. I can't wait to come back. Jeanie was a great server.

Fun family lunch with just the girls. My sister-in-law came into town for the weekend and we decided to do a girls only lunch. Just the four of us celebrating life and reflecting on our families. My SIL has been talking about Shabu En for a while, so it was nice to finally make it happen. It is one of her favorites and I can see why. So many choices! Pick a broth then fill your plate with salads, vegetables, mushrooms, mushrooms and more mushrooms, dumplings and noodles. Visit the spice bar. Add trays of meats, chicken and lamb. Vegan options are also available. Our host through this adventure was Katie. She was great! Guiding our family through this food journey. Water glasses were kept full. So was the hot pot broth. Some of the favorites at our table were the chicken and the chive dumplings, the quail eggs (I actually filled a small bowl for everyone to try), and the cucumber salad. Loved the spice bar. Added peanut sauce, black sesame and some sesame oil to the hot pot to enhance the umami flavor. Veggies, veggies and more veggies. So many great choices for veggies. Seaweed. Radishes. Napa cabbage. Baby bok choy. Kaboucha squash. Carrots. Lotus root. Broccoli. And a mushroom bar. The list just goes on and on and on. Be sure to load up on mushrooms. Wood Ear Mushrooms. Shiitake Mushroom Shimeji Mushrooms. Enoki Mushrooms. Enoki mushrooms are just healthy and so perfect for hot pots! Finish your meal with a bowl of shaved ice and a mini tiramisù. Toppings like boba, condensed milk and mango jellies included. Yum!! A great place to meet family or friends. Lots of parking (although I had to splash through puddles from the grocery store). Would like to check it out for lunch. Thanks again to Katie for the wonderful service and doing split checks.

Great place. Great food. Great value for money. Definitely a place to go back to with family and friends.

Walking in, the decor and layout of the restaurant feels fancy, definitely a great place for special events and hangouts! Everyone receives their own hot pot which may make things easier for some. We went during lunch and found that the ingredients were fresh. I appreciated the thoughtfulness of having fans installed near the ingredients to prevent potential insects and flies from landing on the food. Each table also receives a small water bowl with lemon/lime in it to rinse your fingers after peeling seafood to remove the sea smell. Our waitress also provided us disposable gloves for peeling the shrimp which I thought was very considerate! While the soup was less flavorful than expected, the meats we ordered seemed fresh (and not super fatty). The service was fast and good, and there's shaved ice dessert and DIY toppings to end your meal with. Overall the places was clean, service was good, and food was fresh. Do note that if you want full access to the meat menu, plan to go for dinner and pay dinner price instead of lunch.

Very popular place, service is good, food is fresh, ambiance is friendly. Good for family and friends come together!

We came here at 6 pm on Friday for dinner . We had a 20-30 min wait so we sat down at 630 ish. While we wait, they had sweet potatoes and water for us to snack on. There isn't a lot of chairs but they text you when they have your table ready so you can go back to your car or walk around the plaza. Cody was an amazing waiter. He was very patience with us and checked on us many times. My dad didn't like his initial soup, so he changed it out to a different one quickly. The food was amazingly put together. Each person have their own soup bowl. The "Buffett" is where all the veggies, sauces, seafood, and desserts were at. The meats comes to the table laid out in a small tray so it's easy to use your own chopsticks to grab what slices of meat you want without cross contaminating other meats. The quality of all the ingredients was amazing. We accidentally ordered too many types of meats but Cody was able to help us narrow it down. It turns out we are a huge fan of lamb and #10 from the menu. Also, I really liked how they had shaved ice as a dessert option, it was a good treat to cool down as a break from the soups. Note, they also have hot coffee by the dessert. It's easy to miss it. The table and chairs were clean and stable, they had someone come by to pick up the empty meat trays and trays we took back from the raw ingredient buffet. But I would like a bit more table space for more comfort as a personal preference. The place felt very modern and light. The noise level was appropriate . Parking is free and out front. Make sure your car is clean or uninviting looking. There is security in the parking lot but you can't be too careful. The sign will say 2 hour limit but that's all you need. Their ayce limit is also 2 hours.

Had such a great experience here! Our waiter was very nice and offered great recommendations on cuts of meat and broth. I had the spicy tonkatsu and it was full of spicy rich flavor. I also enjoyed that they had a variety of proteins, particularly cuts of beef and also beef tendon! It was so delicious and soft. At the end of dinner you can enjoy desserts with shaved ice and choking your own toppings. Overall had a great experience and will definitely be back soon

Swish Swish Shabu Shabu! Stopped in for lunch on MLK day. The reviews said show up early so we did. The pricing was dinner only and they let you know at the front. Aesthetically the restaurant is gorgeous and clean. Various types of broth - tried the soondubu based off reviews but ended up preferring the spicy tonkatsu better. More flavoring. There were varieties of meat and everything was nice, marbled, tender and delicious. The cuts are a little bigger and thicker than Shabu Zone (my go to spot) which added more texture and overall flavor profile. The food bar offered veggies like cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, spinach, watercress, cilantro, bean sprouts, tomatoes, radish, potatoes, onions, corn + more There was also a variety of mushrooms - fungus, white, enoki, oyster +, baby corn +. The seafood section contained crab, shrimp, squid, octopus, fish, mussels, clams, along with shrimp balls, lobster balls, fish balls, fish cakes , dumplings, Chinese sausage, rice cakes, + There was also a variety of tofus, and noodles (egg, vermicelli, udon, ramen, konjac, wide glass, hand pulled) They also had some pre-made salads - cucumber, chives, and a mixed one. They were refreshing. They offered radish kimchi and cabbage kimchi. There was also a sauce / dipping bar. The food was delicious and service was stellar. Our server, Lily was fabulous even as business picked up. Their dessert options were fruit, tres leches mini cupcakes and a snow ice/ bing su style dessert. Overall it was a nice lunch and a delicious experience.

I have been so excited to try Shabu en. The interior is so clean. There are many soup options to try- duck, mala, tom yum, soondubu, etc. I started the night with the duck broth, but don't feel pressured by your first choice- you can switch your broths throughout your meal! I didn't love the broth that much, so I switched to the soondobu. One of my friends got the Mala which I also really enjoyed. Like many other all you can eat shabu places, there is a buffet full of seafood, fish balls, mushrooms, veggies, and more. The bar at Shabu En is very clean. My favorites were the cheese rice cakes!!! There's also a huge selection of sauce ingredients, so you can really customize your sauce of choice. I think the hilight of Shabu En is the meat selection. We got almost every cut on the menu, and each slice was delicious and rich. Our favorites were #7, 9, and 10. Another hilight of Shabu En is the shaved ice bar! They use flaky shaved ice and it's so delicious. There's also a viet coffee station and tres leches. (Also, the offer free japanese yam in the lobby for those waiting for their table!) Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience here. I think it is my new favorite and go to shabu place in Houston. Very clean, great service (we had a question about which meat we got, and they immediately sent a person over to explain the cuts), and amazing food.

Shabu En is so good that it's the only food spot my boyfriend and I visited during our two-day trip. It was so good that we had to get it the next day because we couldn't stop thinking about it, and we haven't been able to stop thinking about Shabu En since we've returned home. S/O to Zoie (?)! She was the best waitress ever. So knowledgeable, kind, and sweet -- she even had an amazing recommendation to get the tonkatsu broth and a side of the soondubu paste. Mix in some of the soondubu paste into your broth, and it gives it such a nice light kick. The ingredients at Shabu En are SO delicious, and I love that they have so many broth options. Not only is it such a clean restaurant but their staff is so efficient. All of our dirty plates would get cleared and cleaned within seconds and minutes, and staff is incredibly attentive. Seriously, my boyfriend and I were so impressed. Whoever is running this restaurant knows what they're doing. I also love that they have so many deals on alcohol because my boyfriend and I definitely had to take advantage of their soju flight deal. Ingredients are so clean and high quality, and you can switch out your broth if you don't like it free of charge! The restaurant itself is beautiful, and the dessert options are phenomenal. Love their cheesecake bites and holy crap... their bingsu machine is insane. My boyfriend and I couldn't get enough of their super creamy and light shaved ice + condensed milk + boba + red bean. I also highly recommend getting their Vietnamese coffee!! It's phenomenal. We can't wait to come back again. This is top 5 most memorable and amazing AND AFFORDABLE restaurants in Houston--EVER.

What can I say! They don't disappoint! After a few visits, I've returned to bring some protips! If you come for lunch, come early as possible as in 11:30 or earlier. This place gets packed for lunch, and when it does, the service wanes a bit. I try a new broth each time I am here. So far the only disappointing one has been the signature broth, which has an anchovy base. Now, I'm all about building flavors with adding various meats, mushrooms, and especially seafood, but this broth just doesn't have much flavor even after all that. It's a bit sad, since a signature item is usually really good! Perhaps it would be good for someone who prefers a bland base. As of writing this review, they have two new broths to try--the spicy seafood and the duck. You must ask for a slotted ladle if you desire one. They won't provide it otherwise. You can swap out your broth or mix and match two flavors. I love this option! You have control of the temperature of your broth. Turn it down when you're not actively cooking or waiting for the broth to heat up. Don't skip out on dessert! That shaved milk ice is delicious! Also don't don't for to check in on Yelp for a free fountain drink! You may also ask for a complimentary corn drink.

Winter in Houston (which means, any time it gets below 60 degrees) is hot pot season! We gathered a group of friends to visit Shabu En for the first time, taking advantage of the online reservation system to secure a table for 8. Though we had to wait briefly upon arrival to be seated, we were promptly taken back into the dining area with our server orienting us to the menu and soup choices. I opted for the Shabu En signature, which was a light yet flavorful dashi broth - our server's personal recommendation was a mix of the tonkatsu and soondubu soups, which was also really delicious! You really can't go wrong with any of the soup choices and I like that you can swap them out as you want with no extra charge. While we waited for our meats to hit the table, we perused the beautiful and clean buffet area to snag a first round of goodies - luscious whole shrimp, bouncy lobster balls, sweet kabocha, and crispy tofu rolls made it onto my plate, alongside freshly prepared radish and cabbage kimchi. Our personal induction stoves quickly brought our soups to a gentle boil, perfect for a serene and stepwise shabu shabu experience - meats first, then seafood, veggies, and carbs. Our server was efficient and replaced our trays of lamb, pork belly, and beef faster than we could eat them ourselves. As we neared full stomach capacity, we took a break to sample the limited but tasty dessert options, including fresh Asian-style shave ice (try it topped with condensed milk and passionfruit syrup!) and mini tres leches muffins. At $32 per adult for dinner/weekend pricing, I think Shabu En is reasonably priced for the quality, ambiance, and service you receive. It compares most closely to Shabu Zone in terms of food offerings and price; Happy Lamb is slightly cheaper while Liuyishou and Mikiya could be considered more premium options. Having so many choices for hot pot is definitely a problem I don't mind - I only wish our winter in Houston were longer so I could try more places!

"Friendly service. I'm not a fan of chopsticks with needles on both ends--it's confusing to tell which end to use."

The staff was really friendly and checked on us often, and the overall vibe of the restaurant felt clean and inviting. Prices were reasonable for the quality, and we definitely left full and satisfied.

So incredibly disappointed. My husband and I walked into Shabu En tonight and was immediately greeted by a guy that told me we are no longer accepting guests as of 9:00pm. I asked him what the current time was to which he replied 9:01pm. They close at 10pm yall. This used to be my favorite shabu spot but I will not be returning.

Overall it was a clean, nice environment, with friendly service, and pretty good food. Dinner buffet is $32.99pp now. The cuts of meat are nice (most being a type of wagyu) however either they are either slicing them too thin or the meat is old as almost all the meats crumble apart when trying to pick them up. They have a great variety of foods available including cafe sua da, shaved ice, noodles, seafood, and veggies. I wish they had a bit more cooked foods like fried rice or eggrolls. Would be nice for any kids eating with the family. Broths were decent. I liked the spicy seafood.

The food was fresh, flavorful, and served with great attention to detail. The broth options were rich and delicious, and the variety of meats, seafood, and veggies made it easy for everyone to find something they loved. A special shoutout to Zach, who made our visit exceptional. He was friendly, attentive, and always made sure our table had everything we needed.

Went back for lunch recently. All of the good mushrooms are no longer available and they have limited even more of the meat options. I guess it was bound to happen, but still disappointing. Dinner is probably the best option if you want access to the full menu.

Had an amazing dinner at this place!!!! The hot broth definitely warmed me up during that cold night!!!! Service was quick and attentive! We thought we would have waited for an hour for our table but it got turned over super quickly!

Took the day off Wednesday before Thanksgiving and decided to give this place a try! No wait at 12pm and it got a little more filled but not full by the time I left around. The cleaning staff is on top on cleaning! Both the buffet and my table. Service was top notch as well! Hailey was always checking up whenever I was running low on meat so I never waited for meat. This place had mala soup which I enjoy the numbing spice while other hot pot places would only have regular spicy! Meat quality is good, I was not able to try the dinner items but the beef selection at lunch is more than perfect for me. Not the best selection of veggie and seafood at the buffet but it had my go to fish tofu and bokchoy. My main AYCE hotpot is shabu zone but i can see myself alternating if i want the mala soup here.

Fantastic AYCE Japanese-style hot pot restaurant with great quality a la carte meats and buffet foods. Highlights are the wagyu meats, beef belly, and pork gyoza. Duck broth and tonkotsu broth are pretty flavorful, and there is a big variety of sauces. Nice that they have vegan options as well! Service was very attentive, especially with our large party of 16. Vibe is elevated casual, and very spacious for all group sizes.

My new favorite AYCE hot pot in the city. Newer, clean and spacious with plenty of seating even for large parties! Like any place in Chinatown, parking can be a hit-or-miss especially on weekends. Luckily, I went on a weekday so there was no wait. Land meats must be ordered. Seafood, vegetables, and all the other fix-ins can be grabbed at the buffet table. Lots of variety and everything was fresh. Each person can also get their own broth/small pot vs sharing a big pot with other people. Would also try the Japanese wagyu at some point: good way to try different cuts while not overwhelming yourself. Also want to give a shoutout to our waiter Tyler. Very personable, answered all questions we had, brought out our orders very quickly (says a lot because we had a party for 10+ people), and periodically checked up on us. This place gained a new regular and I give high praise when a restaurant can also handle large parties well.