SHABU-WORKS

Been here many times over the years and it’s been consistent. You can join the Yelp waitlist if you’re within 2 miles which is convenient. While you’re waiting for a table in the waiting area, they have a drink station of water or mango tea. First you pick your soup bases and place your meat order with your server. Then go make your dipping sauces. I love that they have all the hot food, seafood and veggies out for you to grab freely. Drinks and snow ice machine were also unlimited. I had several rounds of cab top blade and pork belly all to myself. Can’t go wrong because you make everything yourself. However, the quality is not as great compared to a la carte places but you do get the value.

Great value for an AYCE hot pot spot! We came for lunch, and for the price, it was definitely worth it. There’s a wide variety of soup bases and meats to choose from. The self-serve station for veggies, noodles, seafood, and sauces was well-stocked throughout our visit, which we really appreciated. And the service was very attentive. To top it off, the dessert bingsoo was a nice, refreshing way to end the meal. Would definitely come back!”

First time here and Kyle took care of us. Had to use 2 burners due to 1 kid having fish allergies. Good food. I like that they have different vegan soup base available. Kids liked the hot food choices. Bonus for the free drinks and " snowcone" dessert bar.

The best hot pot in SD! 🥘🙌🏼 Always seated quickly and served. Very clean with plenty of seating. Great all you can eat options with a large hot bar variety. The pork belly, angus beef belly and wagyu beef are absolutely delicious and definitely the best items on the menu. Followed by the roe fish balls. Always a fun and tasty experience. Have been here twice and will definitely be back, as this location is the best one.

The best hot pot restaurant I’ve ever been to! I’m a huge fan of hot pot and have tried almost every place out there, but this place is truly unmatched. The food is absolutely delicious, with an incredible variety of options—from noodles to meats, veggies, and an amazing selection of sauces. The broths are flavorful and rich. Drinks are included, which is a nice bonus. The atmosphere is fantastic—clean, comfortable, and very inviting. I love this place so much that I decided to get a membership, which offers a small discount. Everyone I’ve introduced to this place agrees—it’s simply the best. Highly recommend!

My go to shabu place in San Diego!! Love the variety of hot foods, vegetables, seafood and noodles. Their meat quality is pretty fresh and service is great as well.

Food here is so fresh and delish! They’re tonkatsu broth is TO DIE FOR! Staff are friendly and very effecient! Would 1000% recommend coming!

I visited this place because my colleague wanted to celebrate my belated birthday. We chose The Mongolian with Spicy Tokyo soup base this time, which was nice but not spicy enough for me. Hopefully, they will add Tom Yum soup base in the future. I completely agree that this place is worth your money, as the food is fresh, the staff is friendly, and the inside is clean. Having hot pot is perfect for winter time!

Great food and service! Our fave soup base were garlic miso tonkotsu and the mongolian. Come in for your birthday and get a free meal :)

By far my favorite AYCE Shabu in San Diego. Truly a gem. The aesthetic of the restaurant is beautiful. Every self service station was always filled and kept clean. Service was beyond amazing. Our service was very attentive as well as everyone else. What I really liked about the place was the wide variety of soup options, veggies, seafood, sauces and unlimited drinks/dessert. My boyfriend and I ordered the sukiyaki (sweet soy broth) and Mongolian broth (spicy broth). Both carried a ton of flavor and paired very well with all the meat choices. Meat was brought out freshly sliced. Every meat selection was very tender and felt like a buttery texture in your mouth. My favorite spot so far!

Shabu works is located off the 15 freeway with a decent sized parking lot. When you walk in, you'll see a vegetable bar, noodle bar, sauce bar with a soda fountain and a bing su station. Once seated, you can order from their list of broths and meats. It does get pretty busy during dinner time but luckily you can add your name to the waitlist before arriving to the restaurant.

I haven't been to Shabu Works in quite a while so I decided to come in on a weekday for dinner. It wasn't too crowded and the waiting was only 20 min. They have a hot bar of buffet foods as well as a self serve station for noodles, tofu veggies and seafood. The sauce bar and shaved ice bingsoo bar were less impressive than I remembered but still delicious. The soft drinks are also free which was cool because most places charge extra for drinks. We were a party of 3 and were allowed to order up to 3 meats per round. We tried a bit of every cut, but to be honest, we couldn't tell what was what. There were definitely some favorites amongst the meat options but I couldn't tell which one it was on the menu. I also noticed that we never got refills on broth and the servers kind of walk past you when you want to order more meat. You really have to be intentional and have them come over. They didn't stop by and offer. Overall, good place to go if you're feeling all you can eat!

For the SD folks or visiting friends, if you're ever in the mood for shabu, this is the place to go. I was very impressed by the sauce bar. Some are house made and super unique. It's build your own make your own. So if you like it more spicy then go ahead load on the chili sauce. They have a mini hot food section. The veggie station. Carbs station. Seafood station. Drinks station. And a bingsu station for dessert! Soup broths are super tasty and flavorful. Also lots of choices to choose from. Meat quality is superb.

My boyfriend and I went to this place for a random dinner one evening during our anniversary trip, and it did not disappoint! Highly recommend that if you're going on a Friday or Saturday night to join the wait list from home. We joined the waitlist 20 minutes prior to arriving, and we were able to get seated within 10 minutes of arriving. It is AYCE, and I will say that the meats were so amazing. They tasted so fresh and tender. We ended up getting the sukiyaki and Mongolian, but the Mongolian was extremely salty... I also wish this place would have a Tom Yum type soup base, think that would give it a 5 star rating! The vegetable selection was a little slim in comparison to other AYCE places, but we were happy with what we got. We loved the sauce bar selection, which included options of different chilis (that's a staple for us at AYCE hot pot). What topped this place off was the bingsu station! I do wish they had like grass jelly or black boba options, but the red bean and condensed milk combo was AMAZING! Overall, we enjoyed our dinner and came out full!

Came here for a Saturday lunch 12:30PM after my sister and friend raved about this place. We were seated right away and found parking easily. Service was attentive and friendly. I loved the buffet style so we can grab our own veggies, seafood, sauces, hot foods, and unlimited soft drinks and teas. Even a bingsu station! For the price (~$37 AYCE per person), it was great quality and I definitely recommend it. Will definitely be coming back :)

Located near sharetea in the lower plaza where chuck-e-cheese & Trader Joe's is. Pretty large place and plenty of seating. Service is good, our waiter was very attentive. Hot pot here is solid. We always get the split pot, our favorite broth's are the Mongolian, sukiyaki, It is AYCE, you order your meat and everything else is self serve, including bingsu (shaved snow). The AYCE price also includes drinks. Free AYCE on your exact birthday with ID as well.

Out of the many hotpot restaurants in San Diego, Shabu-Works is among one of the strongest choices for AYCE shabu. The selection of soup bases is unique, and they have a variety of protein options with meat, seafood, and tofu. We went for the dinner portion (currently $36.95 per person), and we celebrated a birthday, so their meal was free! Ages 12 and under do get a lower price as well as $3 off for seniors. The service was spot on. Our plates were off the table after each round. Our broth was constantly refilled. I'd go for one mild broth and one spicy if you are deciding. We got the Spicy Tokyo and Garlic Miso Tonkatsu. I'd say the Tokyo spice was mainly made with togarashi flakes, those ground chili flakes that you see in Japanese ramen. I liked the Garlic Miso Tonkatsu better as it went well with all my choice of toppings. We didn't have to wait to order more or flag anyone down as it was especially busy in the evening which makes the experience and service unbeatable. I did like the assortment of vegetables and seafood at the bar and their teas. Everyone at the table enjoyed the winter melon tea! It was refreshing after all the savoriness. The bingsu bar had plenty of toppings but hard to reach a side of it because it is blocked off by another counter. Although traditional bingsu is milk based, I'll take anything to cool off the hotpot! I'd go here every once in a while, as hotpot is a big meal, especially when it is AYCE!

This place is absolutely fantastic! The service? Lightning fast and super friendly. The waiters? Totally on the ball. The ambiance? Buzzing and jam-packed with people. No wonder it's so popular! And the food? Simply divine. Tons of meat options, and the wagyu? Out of this world!

Solid AYCE Shabu Shabu / hotpot place! We were able to make a reservation for a group of 6+ people. They originally sat us in two separate tables but offered us the option to wait 5 mins for a single larger table. The staff was friendly and adaptable. There were lots of soup base options and we could pick 2 per pot. Across our entire table, we had the original tonkotsu, Mongolian, and Spicy Tokyo. The Mongolian was my personal favorite (it's not very spicy but had good flavor). The Spicy Tokyo was spicier but had a very strong pepper flavor. he quality of meats were wonderful - we enjoyed all the cuts of beef but the two chucks were probably our favorite. Loved the self-serve bars to grab veggies, noodles, sauces, hot food, drinks, and bingsu dessert. Half mango / half black tea was fruity but not too sweet. Compared to some other hotpot places, the variety of veggies and side items weren't as robust but still decently sufficient. The only downside is that the self-serve area is quite congested and chaotic since they are close together and there are constantly a lot of people up there. Great experience! The quality of meat is the standout.

One of the best Shabu/hotpot places in San Diego. The meat is fairly good and the veggie/seafood bar has a large selection. There's even a second bar with hot food selection. Dinner for 2 is $75.90, plus tip and tax. PS. They started doing some weird membership perk thing, but this review doesn't include any of that.

Options of meat and soup base are really good. The sauce bar and side food bar also has an amazing variety in veggies, hot food, noodles, and seafood.they have soda machine where you can pick a huge variety of different sodas too. It does get pretty hot because of all the soups cooking so make sure to wear something a little breathable. The service and food come fast but the wait can be a little long depending on the hour and day. I highly recommend everyone comes here at least once. It's pretty far for us but we're super excited that they're opening a location in San Marcos.

Super solid AYCE hot pot and one of the best in SD! My friends and I always go for Saturday lunch around 12:30, there's plenty of seats and parking and we get seated right away. Service is really attentive and quick. I enjoyed the richness and flavor of the tonkotsu bone broth and the quality of the meats were good! Many options of meat, veggies, and noodles and I like the buffet style of grabbing your own food. The sauce bar is included and they have a drink station with unlimited sodas and teas, and even a bingsu station! Definitely one of my go to places for hot pot!

UPDATE: This place keeps getting better and better people! I recommend making a reservation or getting here right before they open at 11:30am... I think this is a great business! I remember coming here a long time ago before the pandemic and now they have more broth options like TOMATO BROTH which is my favorite!! I like to add real tomatoes, onions, green onions and jalapeños to the broth. It is sometimes not salty enough for me so I would ask them for salt and then I would squeeze some lemon and add some chili oil to make it more like a TOM YUM BROTH... I am more of a SEAFOOD and VEGGIE person so I like to start off by eating all the veggies first and end with the seafood... I noticed that they now have CURRY and RICE too!!! Wow, I am so impressed with how SHABU WORKS is always trying to add something new. It feels like this business is actually checking out what their competitors are doing and saying I can do that too! The ladies and the guy workers are all very NICE and Hardworking! We always get the very best and friendly service coming here!! Thank you Shabuworks!!! Cheers!!!!

I thought I knew good shabu before coming here, but I was soo wrong. AYCE shabu is the way to go! Being able to try multiple kinds of meats and be able to get unlimited veggies and noodles and seafood is the only way I'll be able to do shabu from now on. Our server did a great job of constantly being available when we were running out of meats, so we barely had to sit there waiting. Highly appreciated that. The two broths my date and I picked were the Garlic Miso Tonkotsu and the Spicy Miso. The spicy miso was both of our favorites as the tonkotsu was nothing special and didn't add anything to the dish. The meats were delicious and fresh with my favorite being the US Wagyu Chuck Tender. Since this was our first time here, we decided to try a lot of the options available. We agreed that most of the seafood and the hot dishes weren't worth it for next time. The shelled seafood didn't soak in the flavor of the broth enough and the hot dishes were our least favorite items out of everything. The snow cone station was a perfect way to end our meal! I loved being able to pick my own toppings and add as much of them as I wanted. Such a fun idea! I will definitely be coming back to enjoy more that they have to offer.

Came in on a Sunday with a party of 3. We were seated right away and asked the type of broth we wanted for our hotpot and were handed a menu with different types of meat to choose from. They had wagyu beef, lamb, etc. There also were different stations to get a variety of food. The stations included a seafood selection of shrimp, scallops, lobster balls, fish balls and calamari to choose from and cook in the hotpot. There also was a noodles, vegetables, cooked food station and a dessert station. We really enjoyed the experience and everything was delicious and fresh. The restaurant is located in Mira Mesa in a shopping center with a big parking lot so parking was easy. Definitely coming back and bringing family and friends. This will be my regular spot for hotpot.

Came here with the family for some delicious Hot Pot and it did not disappoint! The wait can be long but there is a boba spot next door that can help take the time. The restaurant is spacious with lots of tables. The servers are very attentive and were able to keep bringing us out meat orders timely. There is a nice selection of yummy broths and the servers will fill your pot as the broth dwindles down. We ordered the Beef Belly, Chuck Eye, Prime Angus Beef, Wagyu Beef, Wagyu Chuck Tender for meats and for broths the Garlic Miso Tonkotsu and Spicy Miso. Can't wait to be back!

4.5/5 Our Go to all-u-can-eat shabu2 in SD. Great quality cuts of meat, and good selection of sides, and sauces, 5/5 service. Friendly staff, 4.5/5 ambiance. spacious and clean restaurant.

Shabu-Works is a delightful culinary gem, offering a smorgasbord of delectable meats and vegetables for an interactive dining experience. The service was swift and friendly, adding to the nice atmosphere. The winter melon tea was a refreshing delight, perfectly complementing the exquisite flavors of the dishes. The restaurant's spacious interior is an ideal space for a fun gathering with friends and family. With an array of options and a warm ambiance, Shabu-Works is the perfect spot for a convivial and satisfying meal.

Tried this place for the first time and it's definitely one of my favorite shabu shabu places in SD! I came on a Tuesday night, and there wasn't a wait. The servers are attentive and answered questions we had about the broths. We got the tonkotsu pork bone and the Mongolian. Both were super flavorful, definitely recommend those two. There was a sauce bar as well as seafood, veggies, and hot foods. There was also a good amount of meats to choose from. They also had a self serve bingsoo so make sure you have room for dessert! Nice interior and clean. They also have specific deals for each day of the week. Overall ratings Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Ambience 4.5/5

This was our family's first experience trying "Hot Pot" or "Shabu-Shabu" and it did not disappoint. Shabu-Works is located in Mira Mesa, just east of the 15 freeway. If you are going with a party of 8 or more, I HIGHLY recommend making a reservation. They do not take reservations for small parties. Our party of 5 had to wait about 15 minutes. The restaurant itself is not that big and there is a 2-hour time limit per table, so you could potentially be waiting. The seating area...be very careful, the bench seating is not very stable and the benches are extremely wobbly. Once seated, our server greeted us. Being our first time, she carefully reviewed the process for us and made suggestions on how to order. She was very helpful throughout the ordering process. You are limited to 6 meats per round with unlimited rounds. The portion is more than enough. They give a lot of meat. The base soups were great. There is a base broth for everyone's liking. The buffet line was a pleasant surprise. There was a small, but good assortment of hot foods. On our visit, there was white rice, fried rice, fried gyoza, Chicken Katsu, teriyaki chicken and karaage chicken. The un-cooked seafood section had a good variety of items as well, for you to take back to your seat to cook in the hot pot. The cleanliness of the buffet area could us some work. The dessert area was also a mess and was awkwardly positioned next to the guest seating. It can be hard to make your dessert if there is someone seated at that table. Overall, this is a great and fun interactive cooking experience. The price point is a little high, but compared to similar places, it's about average. We went on a Tuesday evening and were surprised that Kids eat free on Tuesday nights. That was a nice surprise. Definitely worth checking out.

Literally LOVE this place! There's something for everyone in my family to eat, so everybody is happy. The quality of the meat is fantastic and the broth is so good. Veggies are always fresh and a good variety of fish balls too. Can't miss the wintermelon tea! The servers are always super nice and constantly check in to make sure our meat orders are in. We don't eat out often but this is def one of our top spots! Shoutout to Xena for being the kindest server!

What is there not to like with AYCE shabu shabu! Although the lunch menu is small it has all the meats I would order anyway. The salad bar was clean and abundant. The sauce bar is probably one of the best I have seen. There is definitely something for everyone. The service provided by Jaunita and Suki were fantastic. They both checked to see if we were doing ok. Just when you think you're done eating the bingsu bar calls you to make your own with an assortment of toppings and sauces. It's a great ending to a great meal! Will definitely be back!!

I enjoyed this spot. We tried the Mongolian broth and the sukiyaki. The Mongolian has good flavor, but definitely has some kick. I enjoyed the appetizer, veggie, seafood, and sauce bar. I liked the variety of mushrooms available. I would rate the quality of the meat as good, not great. The Waygu was my favorite. I also enjoyed the shaved snow bar. It had yummy toppings like mochi, fruity pebbles, and shaved almonds. Overall, a good AYCE shabu-shabu spot.

SO MUCH FUNNNN!! This was my first time trying hot pot in San Diego so I had high expectations!! Interior was roomy and they had all the options necessary for a hotpot place. There is an option where you can get two soups, we got the tomato and the sichuan pepper one and got a bunch of our little sides! The soup tasted so good i was so happy to be there and just have a good time. The wait can build up but you mustn't worry bc service is fast inside + it's mostly self serve. The food is great and if you're with great company then you will have a great time guaranteed!

My new favorite shabu/hot pot place! Dinner is $36.95 (free if you come on your birthday!). AYCE, with buffet of hot pot fillings including veggies, seafood, fishballs, but also sauces, hot dishes, etc. I loved the variety of items! The meat is ordered 3 at a time per pot. Each pot has 2 sections for different soup bases. Dessert is bing-soo shaved ice with toppings, not my favorite dessert but still refreshing to have after a meal of hot soup. Service is pretty attentive here as servers do check in often to see if we wanted to order more meat. I would definitely return because I love the variety of choices :) just know there might be a long wait (waited 1 hour at 7:45 on a Friday), they utilize a yelp waitlist but close the remote waitlist during busy hours. soup base faves - pork bone tonkotsu - light but still had tons of yummy pork flavor - garlic miso tonkotsu - garlic & miso are a great flavor combo - spicy miso - love miso & the spice isnt too spicy - mongolian - I love mongolian seasoning but this one is a bit too salty meat faves - top blade - wagyu chuck tender - wagyu bottom round (more fatty) - nz lamb

It's worth the money! Had dinner with my family (6 of us) after going to the mall. Just in time for dinner... joined the waitlist with a 25-minute wait. But in just 10 min they were able to sit us. The soup base is good. The tonkotsu is a little salty, but after the first two rounds of meat, it is just nice. All the meats are tender, and they have ten choices of meat. Just look at the pics... the meat is very fresh. They have several options for drinks, and they have the shaved ice for dessert. Service is excellent because with this type of AYCE shabu restaurant, you wanted to have a constant flow of meat. And that's exactly what they did. High-five to Kyle, who is very polite and made sure he made his rounds in his area frequently. Great service!

We were there for lunch on Friday around 12. It got busier as it got closer to 1. It was not bad even when it got busier. We didn't need to wait in line to get food from the stations. Service was nice. We first ordered the spicy Tokyo and tonkasu. The server said spicy Tokyo is 8/10 spicy so we thought it would be ok. We got some vegetables in the spicy Tokyo and man! It's way too spicy to use as broth. So we asked to change the broth and they did help us change it (after we asked two different servers). We can order 3 selections of meat at a time. And I think that was not enough considering we had 3 adults and the meat was cut very thin. 3 selections of meat at a time is more like 4 bites after the meats were cooked. I didn't take pictures of the meat because we cooked it as soon as it arrived. The other foods like seafood, vegetables and noodles were decent.

Shabu Works impressed us with its delectable offerings, particularly the US wagyu chuck tender and wagyu bottom round. The meats were expertly sliced, boasting excellent marbling for American wagyu. The unlimited supply and prompt service ensured a seamless dining experience - as soon as our plate was empty, a new order was swiftly placed with no unnecessary waits. The extensive variety of veggies, noodles, seafood, and hot foods provided a well-rounded hot pot experience. While the premade drinks like lychee tea were a hit, some sweeter options veered towards being overly sweet. Shabu Works distinguishes itself by offering an array of sauces, sides, and seasonings, allowing patrons to craft their perfect dipping concoction. The Sha Cha with garlic puree, soy, sesame, and green onion comes highly recommended. The broths, though initially inconsistent with a heavy and salty tonkotsu experience, were promptly rectified when we changed tables. The attentive service played a pivotal role, with the staff consistently checking in and ensuring the quick delivery of meats. Despite an initial delay due to a non-boiling pot, the relocation to another table resolved the issue, and our meal progressed smoothly. Shabu Works' ambiance was on point, maintaining a pleasant atmosphere even during peak hours. The cleanliness of the restaurant, including well-kept restrooms, contributed to a positive dining environment. Although there were occasional lapses in the availability of clean plates at the food stations, the overall experience was highly enjoyable, marked by exceptional food and efficient service.

It was really good. Will go back. It's one of the better HotPots I've been to. And the trend with these places is the wait to get in. But well worth the wait. We got there at 6:20pm, weren't seated until 7:50pm. They close at 9. They ran out of hot stuff on the Buffett but were quick to make up personal sides of gyoza that was probably the best I've ever had. They only take reservations for 6 or more. Just go early for parties of 2-4! So good

My fave place to get shabu tbh!! I love it here. First of all, employees are so great! And so nice. The wait times pick up around 6:30 pm everyday. Inside is good, bathrooms are so so. Love the music they play! I like the pork tonkatsu bone broth and my boyfriend likes the miso tonkatsu. The Mongolian is also good if you're looking for spice. Our fave meats of course are the top 3 on the menu, which i believe is chuck tender, chuck eye and beef belly! Have to get those to get your money's worth, I wouldn't bother with the chicken or fish. Veggies are great and always washed and clean. At dinner, they have seafood and I love to get clams, mussels and crawfish. They also have a hot food area with ready made foods like chicken katsu, curry, fried and regular white rice, chicken teriyaki and gyoza. Drinks are self serve with a great variety of sodas, but I personally like their mango or peach tea. For the sauce, make your own, super good. I like to put ponzu, sesame sauce and oil, lots of minced garlic, chili oil and topped with sesame seeds and green onions. Try it, it's amazing. There's a little bingsu bar for dessert, I've only had it once because I'm always too full to get some! I will always recommend this place.

Place has great service food and ambiance! I'd highly recommend their lunch menu on weekdays as the price is very reasonable for quality food! As for the broth, I really enjoyed their Mongolian more than tonkatsu! I personally think spicy broths go better than tonkatsu or sukiyaki broths! Enjoy!

Always AYCE food and excellent service with great company! As soon as our meat plate is empty, staff asks if refill is needed right away.

Came here for the first time at noon on a rainy weekend. We got a table within 5 min of arrival. The service here is great. This place is clean too. There is a bingsu bar, unlimited drinks, unlimited seafood options, sauce bar, and hot foods. Good quality meat and nice selection. You can order 3 at a time. Many soup base options.

You definitely need to come here hungry. Their all you can eat Shabu shabu is a great deal. There is so much add ins to choose from. You start by ordering your soup base. Then you can order your meats. They have a buffet style area where you can get your veggies, and additional items like fish balls or sausage. The best part was that there's a hot food buffet with chicken karage, dumplings/gyoza, chicken teriyaki, and rice. They also have many drinks you can choose from Since it's serve yourself. The kids really enjoyed the shave ice at the end. Great service and very clean location

Waited for around an hour to be seated on a Saturday night, and I can see why! This is the best hot pot I've tried so far in San Diego. Super large selection at the sauce, veggie, and fish cake bars, and everything is very well stocked! They also have one of the largest selections of appetizers/hot prepared foods I've ever seen at an AYCE hot pot joint. The included perks of this meal, like drinks and dessert, are just great. The meats were good quality as well! Pretty tender, and they didn't skimp on the amount of meat that was brought out each round. The service was really nice as well!! We were checked on periodically, and they always offered to take additional orders. The staff also gave us a heads up when it was the kitchen's last call. Very spacious and clean restaurant as well. I didn't feel too cramped or close to any of our neighbors while eating. 10/10 recommend trying Shabu-Works out, cannot wait to come back!!

Food is on point, can't beat the price! AYCE shabu and it includes drinks and dessert (snow!). Every time I visit my daughter in SD the we make a trip here. The wait can be long but they also have the wait list up can join too. Well worth it!

My best friends and I favorite hot pot place to eat in sd!! We love how it's ayce and everything is self-serve. The options here are endless and we appreciate how you can get your own drinks and the sauce bar is amazing. If it's busy prepare to wait a bit. The staff here is always nice and so far everything has been clean when we went!

AYCE Hot Pot, you can't go wrong with that! From the various meat selections to all the vegetables, seafood and hot foods this place is great for dinner! I really like all the different varieties you can choose from. The quality of the meat is so good--they serve Wagyu! The service is so quick and efficient! They always ask if more meat is needed and they never leave you hanging without taking your next order, which goes to show they care about you! Now let's get to the dipping sauces, the sesame sauce is heaven! One cannot pass up on the sesame sauce, it's the best and compliments very well! It can get very busy on the weekends and wait time can be up to 1-2 hours. Come early and put your name down. It can be loud at times depending on who you sit next to, as there can be large parties.

One of my favorite Shabu places in SD! my favorite broths are the tomato and tonkatsu pork bone. The service here is very quick as the servers bring your meat out within minutes of ordering. The middle portion of the restaurant is a self serve station with warm appetizers, fresh vegetables, seafood, and plenty of types of fish balls. They also have an extensive self serve drink station with a selection of fruity teas-- I recommend the mango green tea. As for their meat selection, you can never go wrong with the beef belly! Their self serve sauce station is always well stocked and has so much variety. If you want to come when it's less crowded I recommend stopping in during lunch hours, otherwise be prepared to wait on the weekends.

I came here for my free bday meal, which they provide, and I was not disappointed! The price is $36.95 per person for dinner. When you walk in, look to the left for a kiosk to waitlist yourself. I can imagine it probably gets super busy during weekends, but on weeknights, we were quickly escorted in. There's free drinks while you wait! The free drinks continue inside, but I wouldn't recommend filling your stomach with sweet liquid at a AYCE place! You choose up to 2 broths. You also ask the server for which meats you want, up to 3 each time. The rest of the ingredients, such as veggies, mushrooms, fish cakes, are self serve! We love a little exercise between stuffing ourselves. The meats were SO GOOD. One of them was exceptionally creamy. I can't remember which, but it was a darker shade of red, maybe the US Wagyu Chuck Tender. A second runner up is the Premium Pork Belly! I don't usually like pork belly, but the ones here tasted so creamy, fresh, and not overly covered in fat! At the end of their meal, lots of people were treating themselves to the free shaved ice! It was a nice addition, but I'd say these are mainly for the kids. Drowning your ice in artificial syrup was the only way to make it taste somewhat good. The service was phenomenal, with servers always walking around to check in on everyone. Check them out for a chill and delicious AYCE dinner!

Always good and good quality value for what you pay. I love the veggies and sukiyaki. Bingsu snow is dank too

It's a shame that in my family, I am the only one who likes Shabu because I don't get to go often. But this place was amazing! I was surprised that on the weekend even at lunch they charge the dinner price but other than that this place is killer!

My 2 daughters and I got so sick! I think we ate something bad, maybe it's the meat or the items on the self service. Right after I finished eating, my stomach hurt so bad and had to go the restroom ! Basically everything I ate was gone! This is the first time I had ever experienced this! The self serve like the white rice, fried rice, potstickers fried to oblivious, etc do NOT look FRESH at all! When we got home, my 2 girls had stomach pains and spent quite a lot of time in the bathroom.

I went for Sunday Lunch with my sister and friends! The selection of meats they have are premium, and different options for veggies & sides. The hot bar was my fave since I had the liberty to get more rice instead of waiting around. The drink station is self service, and the bing su bar was a great touch for dessert. The servers were coming around at great timing to order more meat, and bussing the tables so that it was clear. The ambiance was pretty chill as we came in when it opened. The music was not loud, and we were able to still have a conversation :3 would def come again!

Good variety of soup bases, meats and food bar selection. Kiddos also enjoyed the teriyaki and katsu chicken along with the dessert! Recommend arriving early or making reservations as this place gets packed pretty fast. Even before the door opened, there was a line on Sunday morning! Good for groups as well, as you can grab a couple tables near each other and still be able to mingle and visit with one another. Staff are friendly and location has plenty of parking.

The selection of food for their hotpot is amazing! The meats are quality and the soup bases are delicious. There can be a one wait so be sure to come early. Sometimes service can be a hit difficult because you have to flag down the workers in order to order more.

There is a bit of a wait time to get seated. When we got seated the table that we got was under an AC vent that was leaking and it kept dripping cold water onto 1 of us throughout the whole meal. We notified them of the situation but nothing was done. The induction was not evenly boiling the broth so one side was not boiling and we had to wait a while before the second side started boiling. Meat quality was decent for ayce. Sauce bar and beverage bar were good! Apart from the issue we had with the AC the service was ok.

Food (5/5 stars): All you can eat? Say no more. Shabu-Works in the Scripps Ranch area is an awesome spot for AYCE hot pot. The Garlic Miso Tonkotsu and Spicy Miso broths were highlights. I combined the broths to balance the richness of the tonkotsu and the spice from the miso and it was chef's kiss. I highly recommend the Prime Angus Chuck Eye, Angus Beef Belly, and Premium Pork Belly! Experience (4/5 stars): * Price: a little pricey but worth * Wait Time: minimal on a Wednesday for lunch * Service: awesome and friendly! They checked in on us so often * Parking: there's a parking lot * Ambiance: it's a nice, modern restaurant