Shabu-Shabu House

This Tokyo district gem offers a thrilling DIY wagyu experience. Premium, thinly sliced cuts arrive promptly at your table. Individual grills heat up quickly, ready for your culinary touch. The aroma of perfectly searing, melt-in-your-mouth wagyu is divine. Fast and efficient service ensures a seamless and enjoyable meal. You control the doneness, achieving your ideal tenderness. Beyond the exceptional beef, the atmosphere is modern and lively. Staff are attentive, offering quick assistance when needed. A unique and interactive way to savor top-quality Japanese wagyu. For a delicious and speedy self-cooking adventure, look no further.

Shabu in Little Tokyo is a hidden gem! The ambiance is fun and welcoming, creating the perfect setting for a great experience. The service is outstanding—attentive, friendly, and efficient. The best part? You get to make your own noodle dishes! It’s a unique, hands-on dining experience that’s both delicious and fun!! Highly recommend for anyone looking for something a little different and memorable.

Family wanted Shabu Shabu for lunch. Made our way to Little Tokyo. And we found Shabu Shabu House. Such a delightful experience. This place was something we have never seen before. Your own personal counter space to enjoy your meal. My youngest has not enjoyed Shabu Shabu in the past. But this place has made him a firm believer that Shabu Shabu is amazing. He asked that I place this review to let everyone know to visit this spot for a great meal and a great experience.

had the hot pot and the beef curry rice, it was tasty, although the hot pot broth is just water so it was a bit bland. they do have soy sauce/ponzu sauce and they give you peanut sauce and something else to flavour yourself. the server was very helpful with our questions and allowed us to order from the lunch menu even tho it was past the time. there is only high bar style seating if you write a review they will give you a free mochi ice cream so i did that. i did enjoy the ice cream strawberry flavour

Amazing food and fantastic service!! Super chill place too. Not very busy (when I went) and the staff was great. Ordered the lunch special shabu shabu, filled me up immediately lol. Def recommend

Atmosphere clean, neat tidy, pretty setting. Food amazing. Staff wonderful. Very cozy date setting. Also great for family outing. Def recommend 👌

I really wanted to try this place, but unfortunately, it was a big letdown. First, the broth is literally just water—no flavor at all, which defeats the whole purpose of shabu shabu. Second, the appetizer we ordered never came, and when we asked, the owner told us it was the server’s second day. I understand being new, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for completely missing part of our order. Third, it seems like they’re reusing the old restaurant’s name and reviews to make this place look better than it is. That’s really misleading. Fourth, the pricing is not worth it for what you get—plain broth, missing items, and just an overall disappointing experience. If you’re looking for a good shabu shabu spot, I highly recommend avoiding this place. There are much better options elsewhere.

Highly recommend! We ordered the primes, and my boyfriend ended up ordering extra primes because it was so good, along with ramen. The quality and portion sizes were amazing! I almost couldn’t finish it lol The service was great, and the owner, she was very thoughtful as well. we’re definitely going back!

I haven't been here in YEARS but they changed ownership so a lot has changed but the food is still so great! I love this spot because they do everything very simple including sauce and soups The simplicity of the sauce and soup makes the meat and veggies taste so much better My bf got the set A and I got set B. Each set comes with a vegetable set, rice, sauce and meat Both meats were so freakin tender and juicy. We loved both meats but our favorite was definitely the more expensive one (forgot which set it belonged to). The veggies were super fresh and the shrimps were so yummy My bf was kinda sad that the soups were plain but he added a bunch of soy sauce, togarashi, garlic and green onions to it and turned it into a more savory soup Overall we really enjoyed our experience! Service was good & pretty fast I would highly highly highly recommend to bring a jacket because they got the AC blastin in there

This is NOT the original Shabu Shabu House like before... No No No. The Meat & Sources are not as good as the original Japanese Owner. If this is his son who took over, pls go ask your daddy how to run a real Shabu House. If you are the new owner, pls change the name. You have disgraceful the name of Shabu Shabu House. It's a shame! BTW, the meat quality is normal. They try to just use pure water as the original, but their sources are not good either. Service: No. They hide away the source when I try to use it. And never come to refill them. It's not like I like it, but it makes the water boil bad quality meat taste even worse. Please Please Please, if you buy the business, please also buy their suppliers & recipes. Not just the dam name of Shabu Shabu House only. Or change to Hotpot House or something... I've been to Shabu Shabu House since my college for now 20 years+, please bring back the original. Again, please change the dam name to Newson House or Harris House if your meat & service is like shit.

I don't hate it but I also don't care for it. If you're looking to see if the new version holds up to the original, unfortunately it doesn't. It seems the recipes were not passed down! The great thing is no wait any longer but that's about it. The portions were not as big as before nor compared to other places. The veggie plate was lacking a bit. The meat was certainly eons from what it used to be. The sauces were nothing like they used to be. I can taste the kewpie miso dressing in their goma. Again, not terrible, just not what I want it to be. As a shabu place, it's fine. Not memorable but I wouldn't say no if someone from the group insists on eating it. If I were craving shabu, I would go elsewhere.

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.

FANTASTIC!!! FRESH!!! DELICIOUS!!! Had no idea what I was looking for but stubbled upon a real treat!!! Shabu Shabu House in the Japanese Village is an ultra modern cafe with computer screens at every stool!!! Super SUPER NICE ladies can help you order the perfect food for you. I had the choice angus beef lunch special that came with veggies and udon noodles. You cook your food on the hot plate in front of you!!! Everything was sooooo fresh! I ordered extra Black tiger shrimp - they were HUGE and delicious!!! this is an adventure in eating. Make a trip to the Japan village. You'll be so glad you did.

First-timer here, met a friend for dinner. Went on a Friday night. Heard this place gets packed so happy to know you can reserve a table via Yelp. Several parking options. Restaurant wasn't hard to find. Got to the place and was seated right away. Like the bar dining style but chair wasn't comfortable. No place to hang your coat so go there with almost no bag or a jacket. Had to make sure my jacket didn't fall off my lap the whole time. Order was pretty direct and easy via a self-service tablet ordering available per seat. Besides individual items available, they have 3 sets A, B & C that comes with broth (that seems like just water), 2 types of noodles (udon and glass), veggies and meat. Meat very generous in portion is the best part of my order. The broth was a disappointment. Also got their hot sake which was the perfect amount of bitter and sweet. Loved it. When you're ready for the check, finalize your order on the tablet and they'll have you pay at the counter. Overall OK experience but not that great.

The beef quality is become very bad and very bad low quality meat , we ordered two combo B (prime angus beef) meat quality is not like prime angus , totally not worth the money. the combo has 2 shrimps , one was very good and tender , the other shrimp was not fresh and has a fishy bad taste. The seat is very uncomfortable. No wonder business was very slow we were going during weekend. Services are very bad as well, this the 1st time visiting since the new ownership took over , it's sad , we have been coming to this place for 20 years. This will Be the LAST Time!

Great experience, friendly service and fun environment. Would come back if in the area.

Delicious food, great service! The meat is fresh and the sauce is great. They have two sauces but the one that I love is the peanut sauce.

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.

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

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.

What a rip off.. the shabu is a complete waste of money. It's literally water in a pot.. not broth. No flavor or anything just noodles and meat cooking in unseasoned water. Very disappointed and I've been to several shabu places and never experienced just plain water boiling..

Always visiting this place. After renovation I love it even more. Great portion with amazing quality of meat! Hands down best shabu place in LA. Highly recommend!

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!

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!

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.

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

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.

This is nothing like Yoshi's shabu shabu house. The new owner food is very disappointing. I have been going to the original Shan shabu house for 29 years and it was amazing. Now this new owner is an imposter to the original name. This new ownership turned it into ordinary shabu that you can get it for all other Japanese shabu. the new owner blended the original photo for the prior own with her new photo but it doese not represent any thing that taste close to the original. I will not come back. Very disappointed

Read the reviews and went in with high hopes, but for the price point it was not worth it at all. The meat quality and service were good but that was about it. The veggies were pretty sorry state (soggy and minimal) and given that we were paying $30 for that and water broth was sad. You could go to another AYCE place for a few extra dollars for better options.

This was a nice place with good food, and the servers were extremely kind helping us with our bags too.

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!

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？

Excellent food , meat is very tender. The restaurant is very clean . I believes they remodel it .. now you can reserve online !

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 .

Delicious! Great service! We enjoyed the food and the ambiance. The food was very fresh

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

Very attentive staff and delicious food! The meat and vegetables were both very fresh. Would definitely return next time.

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.

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!

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.

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 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.

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.

The place was clean and had friendly service. Now the food was not too good. Came for the lunch special - beef curry. I waited a while and when they brought the plate to me it was cold. Happily they took back and probably nuked it ( microwaved ). Not professional in my view. Beef curry didn't really have beef , few small chunks of beef with some veggies. They were generous with sauce but didn't ratio with rice given. Had high hopes but disappointed. 14$ for lunch special that was just ok. Could have gone to McDonald's and be more satisfied.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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%.

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.