Shabumi
Hot pot restaurant · San Diego ·

Shabumi

Hot pot restaurant · San Diego ·

All-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and hot pot with DIY cooking

kbbq and hot pot combo
all you can eat
self serve bar
friendly staff
attentive service
quality meat
hot pot
korean bbq
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by Shabumi
Shabumi by Shabumi/Facebook
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null
Shabumi by null

Information

5667 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111 Get directions

$30–50

See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Trendy

Information

Static Map

5667 Balboa Ave, San Diego, CA 92111 Get directions

+1 858 268 3311
shabumi.store
@shabumibbqmi

$30–50 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Trendy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups
•Touristy

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

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391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Best Restaurants for Korean Food and Barbecue in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"Located in Clairemont Mesa, this modern-looking Korean restaurant offers each guest individual built-in Korean barbeque grills and shabu-style hot pots. Customers can choose their own DIY meal they want instead of the entire table committing to a Korean barbecue or hot pot. A little-known secret is that diners can share meals family-style. The single-tier, all-you-can-eat option includes premium meats, like New York strip, seafood, and plenty of vegetables at the salad bar. It also comes with a side order of doenjang-jjigae, gyeran-jjim(steamed egg), rice, or spicy tofu soup." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/best-korean-restaurants-food-barbecue-san-diego
Shabumi
Shabumi
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

Where to Find Hot Pot Restaurants in San Diego | Eater San Diego

"The Korean-style hot pot is an all-you-can-eat affair where you can choose up to three meats at a time along with a buffet of veggies and seafood. The original house soup base with seaweed and anchovy broth is popular. For a discount, go for lunch or the meatless buffet bar only." - Helen I. Hwang

https://sandiego.eater.com/maps/chinese-hot-pot-restaurant-japanese-shabu-shabu-korean-taiwanese-san-diego
Shabumi/Facebook
Shabumi

Candice C.

Google
Visited Shabumi for the first time yesterday and had an excellent meal. Service was great as was the food! My son and I both chose Hot Pot, my husband chose Kbbq. You are allowed to share which is awesome. The kbbq was delicious. All meats and veggies were fresh, sauce bar was excellent as well.. loved the garlic w serranos. Will definitely return!

Cero G.

Google
One of the coolest experiences! First time having both, Korean bbq and hot pot at the same table ! We first did the Korean bbq we got several meats. My top two was the galbi and the spicy bulgogi. Then we did the hot hot pot. You get to choose the broth you want, and then get noodles, meats, veggies, & more from the salad bar. My favorite combo was the glass noodles with the top blade steak. Second was the ramen noodles with the seafood protein( lobster, shrimp, crab, & crawfish). They also have alcohol drinks I haven’t seen before ! Finished off with some Korean ice cream ! Service was great and the restaurant was clean which is always a plus !

Rachel R.

Google
If you're looking for a fun and delicious dining experience, this Korean BBQ and hot pot spot is a must-visit. The quality of the meat was top-notch—tender, flavorful, and perfectly marinated. We especially loved the beef belly for the BBQ, and the seafood selection for the hot pot was super fresh. The broth options were rich and flavorful, and there were tons of veggies, noodles, and dipping sauces to mix and match. Everything was well-organized and clean, and the staff were attentive, friendly, and quick to help with anything we needed. Highly recommend for a date night, family dinner, or group outing. We’ll definitely be coming back!

Ms. B.

Google
If you want to make reservations for a large party you have to call at least a day ahead . I love this place. You can have your soup and bbq too. The staff eagerly serves you with precision and politeness . You can make your food exactly to your tastes. What a great place for vegans , gluten free, and meat eaters .

VT

Google
What do you do when you want KBBQ but your wife wants hot pot shabu shabu? You come to Shabumi where each member of your party gets to choose between bbq or hot pot. This was our 2nd time here and my wife loves getting to have affordable hotpot while I get to eat bbq. The bbq meats are definitely cut thicker than the shabu shabu. The only downside is if you keep ordering the same meat over and over again, the quality of it worsens. So the first couple orders are tender and great quality, over time more tough and chewy. My wife loves the recommended kombu broth and adds hot sesame chili oil and green onion from the bar to it. The self serve protein seafood veggies sides bar is pretty extensive. Parking can get a little tight at times in the crowded lot but never had any problems.

Martin F.

Google
Honestly couldn't say much about the place to leave a higher review but it was on my bucket list and came in for my birthday. Table of three me my mother and daughter. They wanted to charge my daughter for a whole buffet when we simply just wanted to get rice for her - my daughter is 5 years of age. So we left. If you travel east down Balboa you'll find convoy just a 5 minute drive. You'll find way better options when it comes to hot pot with a better atmosphere & service

Todd J.

Google
This place is great. Didn't try the hotpot, but the bbq was amazing. It was my first time at a place like this. Our server, Debbie, was fantastic. She noticed that we were new to this because we were just cooking and eating the meat plain. She grabbed a bunch of sauces and veggies from the salad/sides bar and went to town showing us how it is supposed to be done. The flavor combinations were fantastic. They were all very helpful and the place had a great vibe. I will definitely be coming back.

Maxine

Google
I am all about the service and the cleanliness of the restaurant which they do a good job of here! Each table has a button by it on the wall, the staff always comes within 1 minute of me pressing the button, they are really polite and helpful, they always make sure that we are doing alright! They have a good selection of vegetables, meat and sauces! They also have some pre-cooked food but most of it has been sitting there for a while, the noodles are all stuck together. The quality of meat is great! They have a meat slicing machine, you can see how they cut your meat and it is fresh! You can see their good service from the last picture, there was an elderly couple outside waiting for their seat, the staff brought out a heat lamp to keep them warm while they were waiting, it was really sweet of them! However I still think this place is a little too pricey that’s why I gave them 4 stars instead of 5.

Jace Y.

Yelp
Clean easy access and fresh food the parking was open and very close to the spot., Meat was very fresh and vegetables was also fresh
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Dan A.

Yelp
Stopped in for lunch and enjoyed an early bird pricing (until 3pm) I was greeted by friendly young staff and a clean restaurant. The dining room is spacious and well layed out. You can choose from different brothe and a basic or premium meat selection. I was happy to enjoy the basic option with house broth. The best part of Shabumi is the self serve cold bar which offers not only noodles and veggies, but also a full spread of Banchan ( Korean BBQ sides) This is the first shabu shabu restaurant Ive been to that had the all Korean BBQ sides that I love. The fish cakes, the sauces, seafood. I wouldn't settle for a regular shabu place that does not offer this, from now on. I was macking so hard, they offered me a stylish bib. It was black and disposable. Since I was returning to work, I appreciated it. Just writing this review makes my mouth water. Don't hesitate to eat here, you won't regret it.
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Katherine K.

Yelp
I love how your whole party doesn't have to choose shabu vs kbbq but everyone gets their own individual bowl/grill. Soo smart!! Service was awesome with very friendly and attentive workers. The self-serve bar was filled with fresh and tasty ingredients. I especially liked the japchae and marinated fish cake. Some of the labels were incorrect, but it was easy to figure out if you knew the items already. Funny enough, my entire party didn't notice the sauces bar behind as we were distracted with getting our fill from the bar. I got the Miso broth shabu. It was pretty bland before any additions. My party said the same thing about the other broths they had. I tried a variety of meats with Prime Top Blade as my #1 and Black Angus Eye of Round as my #2. I actually wasn't impressed by any of the other meats I tried. The quality of meat overall was mostly average. I really wish they had more variety especially for the price. Besides that, I was very happy with my visit and would come again!
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Leilani M.

Yelp
I've been coming here for years & I refuse to go anywhere else for shabu shabu. Their incredible & proactive service, fresh ingredients, always brings us back. Can't wait until next time.
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Melanie M.

Yelp
My friend and I came here on a Monday and there was barely anybody there. We got hot pot and ordered meat right away. While we waited, we went to the self serve bar to get noodles, vegetables, sauce, etc. My fire kept going off so that was annoying. Service was good. About $50 after tax & tip which is expensive.
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Luigi C.

Yelp
First off, I love that everyone in your party can choose whether they want kbbq or hotpot. Some places won't allow that. We got hotpot and kbbq and we shared everything!! That's unheard of at other establishments. Service was great but the only thing we were not used to was the broth for hotpot . Usually it comes pre seasoned, but here we had to make it our own. I guess some people like that.
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Sarai Z.

Yelp
First time trying hot pot and I am IN LOVE. The food was fantastic!!!! so flavorful so good, you can change your level of spiciness. You can add more seasonings if you want to. There is so many options. It's buffet style so you grab your food and you bring it back to your table. The only thing they bring you is your drinks and your meats. You're allowed to order three meats at a time. The service was excellent. Everyone was super friendly and helpful. The ambience was cute. It had like a Korean barbecue feel which you can also have Korean barbecue if you want to or hot pot. I really like that concept because sometimes family members don't want to have hot pot but some want to have Korean barbecue and everyone has their own grill. I love the whole concept. Just keep in mind. The price is higher on weekends and on holidays. It is a set rate because it's all you can eat. Come hungry!! I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
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Allison L.

Yelp
Been wanting to try this place for a while- I like the idea of each person having their personal grill or hot pot at the same table! We came on a Friday around 5PM and it wasn't too busy yet but it was pretty packed when we left. We got seated right away and all chose the shabu. It was fun picking my own veggies, sides and sauces and the meats all tasted good quality. Service was pretty good and they cleared tables and checked on us constantly. I got the beef bone broth and it was more bland than I expected as they're usually more rich. Not my top choice for shabu, was about $42 per person which is pretty pricey but good to try!
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Anthony M.

Yelp
Still the best kbbq/hot pot spot in San Diego. The service today was the best I've encountered at a kbbq restaurant. The waiters came by every few minutes to ask if we needed anything. They're so sweet and attentive that the service alone would be a reason to come back :). Thank you once again for the very pleasant experience!!
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Areli S.

Yelp
Food is really good- the servers are nice and quick to help. I loved that they didn't have a long wait- we walked right in and were greeted with a smile! The staff is accommodating and the place is big and clean ! Loved the tendon and all the choices of meat they had!
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Patrick B.

Yelp
Been here a few times before and recently stopped by with family. I chose the hotpot with the house soup base. It comes with a few less options for the meats and are thinner cut, so you can swish swish and cook the meats quicker. Unfortunately a fault of my own, I included too many noodles which thickened the soup quite a bit, with the consistency of a gravy, but flavorful! The rest of my party went with the KBBQ side which included a lot more premium meat options, thicker and fattier cuts. Their salad and sauce bar is awesome, as it's self serve and spacious, granting you lots of extra things for you to flavor or bolster your soup as well as having banchan staples. Although I do prefer some of the banchon at other establishments flavor and texture wise. Service was very good, servers were very attentive and friendly. Bringing out cuts of meats, gathering used plate, topping off pots with more soup and changing grills quickly. Overall it's a great casual spot for both lunch and dinner if you can't decide between soup or KBBQ, or sample both if you party has bigger eyes than their stomachs.
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Ketsana H.

Yelp
Best bbq and friendly server Come here every week Recommend is the best Gooddddddddddfdffff
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Cathy G.

Yelp
Another excellent meal for my return trip. It was very quiet today and the waitress was so sweet. She suggested which meats to try, what items to heat up on the grill. She seemed genuinely pleased when I said I'd skip the steamed rice in favor of their japchae. I was very happy and vow to return sooner. Unfortunately, tending the grill kept me busy and I failed to take any pictures.
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LINA M.

Yelp
This is my 2nd time here. The 1st time was a whole different experience since it was during Covid. So I'm basing it off this experience which was pretty good. The waiter was really nice and attentive. They have an all day HH for drinks 50% off which is pretty cool. They have the option of either hot pot or kbbq for $40/person for dinner which I think is pretty steep compared to OC or other nearby spots. I say pretty steep because the flavorings/options could be better for that price. My party of 3 did a combination of hot pot and kbbq. There was a small selection of meats for kbbq and an even smaller selection of meats for hot pot that you had to order with a waiter. Everything else such as seafood, vegetables, noodles, or condiments were out in an open self serve bar. I got the house special broth and it was pretty plain but no worries I just used condiments from the bar to spruce it up and it tasted just fine. We only did 1 round of meats and getting up for the bar before getting full. Pretty fun concept to have the best of both worlds.
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Cirwan S.

Yelp
One of the coolest experiences! First time having both, Korean bbq and hot pot at the same table ! We first did the Korean bbq we got several meats. My top two was the galbi and the spicy bulgogi. Then we did the hot hot pot. You get to choose the broth you want, and then get noodles, meats, veggies, & more from the salad bar. My favorite combo was the glass noodles with the top blade steak. Second was the ramen noodles with the seafood protein( lobster, shrimp, crab, & crawfish). They also have alcohol drinks I haven't seen before ! Finished off with some Korean ice cream ! Service was great and the restaurant was clean which is always a plus !
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Michael G.

Yelp
We love coming here because at 1 table we can have either the All you can eat Korean BBQ or the All You Can Eat Hot pot Style . They have a great selection for your Broth to choose from for your Hot Pot , and a good quality meats for your Korean bbq to grill . My wife and I always choose their Hot Pot while my Son chooses the BBQ grill. This is all you can eat Buffet. You order your meat all you-can eat from your server and they also have a section where you can stand up and get your veggies, some meat, noodles, Seafood, your sides and condiments. This place is Fun, you cook your own Hot Pot or Grill your BBQ. Great spot for Family and Friends to enjoy a Hotpot or Korean BBQ and hang out together.
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Eric F.

Yelp
Been here quite a few times and surprised I haven't written review yet. Like many reviews state, the big stand out for this place is they give you option of kbbq or hot pot. The service was good and the quality of meats and veggies is fresh and tender. Usually a wait but thy have a waitlist and we have never waited more than 45 minutes. Definitely worth the wait and reasonably priced.
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Kim C.

Yelp
Can't decide between AYCE hotpot or Yakiniku? Hit this place up! One person can get hotpot and the other person can get yakiniku and share. PRICES for BBQ & Hotpot Lunch $29.99 (Monday to Friday, 12-3 PM) Children 5-12 years old - shared with adult $12 child's own $16 Dinner $39.99 Children 5-12 years old - shared with adult $17 child's own $21 If your child doesn't eat that much sharing is fine. But if they eat a decent amount the few extra dollars is worth it. They get their own pot or grill. My kids like the miso soup and I like the beef bone soup. You order the raw meat from the server. If you order BBQ you get unlimited rice, spicy tofu soup, beef pain soup, and steamed egg. **If you only want BBQ I would go somewhere else that just focuses on Yakiniku BBQ. There are cheaper Yakiniku BBQ places. If someone in your party wants hotpot and bbq this is a great place! Another perk of getting BBQ is you have your own grill. It may be small but you can be your own cook which the kids love :) There are different seafood, vegetables, noodles and appetizers available for you to grab on your own. PARKING Free, own lot and good amount of parking. SERVICE Courteous and attentive. There's a button to call the server over. My whole family enjoys coming here. It's usually me that wants hot pot and yakiniku. It's the only place I know that offers both of the options.
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Shaianne P.

Yelp
I was pretty skeptical at first, especially because when seated, there was a bug in my salt/sauce tin for my KBBQ. I do understand this can happen anywhere and is more frequent but just initial impression, it rubbed my appetite the wrong way (hence the -1 star). HOWEVER, I did like that this place can provide you with KBBQ/HotPot all in one. When I came with my boyfriend, he actually wanted hotpot where I was craving KBBQ. I think this place does a great job at handling both types of foods - the warmers are pretty small but it's fitting for each person at the table. Meats were pretty okay, I only wish there were more options for KBBQ lovers like myself - only steamed egg, a tofu option and rice. Versus a whole selection for the hotpot lovers. Staff were pretty attentive, especially when it comes to changing grills if you're eating KBBQ! Wouldn't mind coming again... hopefully there isn't a bug next time.
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Jenny Y.

Yelp
I love the fact that you can either choose to do bbq or hotpot. But I am disappointed that you can't do both. You have to chose one vs the other. For an AYCE place, I'm not sure what benefit the restaurant has for not offering both at the same time. The food quality is good. The meat and accompaniments were all fresh. The hot food bar is surprisingly delicious. Usually with these types of places, the hot food is just a filler until you cook the food so restaurants aren't motivated to make it good. It is however, a bit pricier than other AYCE in the area. But if you have people in the party who want bbq and others who wants hot pot, this is the place for you. The only reason I can't give it 5 stars is that the ventilation system isn't great. The black smoke from next table kept wafting into our faces instead of being sucked into a vent like other KBBQ places. I really hope they invest in a better vent system.
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Elvin D.

Yelp
Love the idea of AYCE Shabu Shabu and AYCE Korean BBQ in the same place. The selection of meat is decent but the sides are limited for the KBBQ not like the other spots. The Shabu option is ok, you get 1 broth and it costs extra to change. I got the sukiyaki and it was really sweet so be aware! The meats from the Shabu were nice and thin sliced and cooked quick! The Shabu toppings bar was stocked pretty well. The price is a little above average $42, I like the fact you can share with someone that gets KBBQ if you get the shabu. Nothing I tried really wowed me. Plenty of seating not good for bigger groups of 5-6 ppl. I give it 3.5 stars in honesty.
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Katrina F.

Yelp
Maybe I came at the wrong time (towards the end of the day), but this place was just okay to me. The sauce bar was sticky -- the bottles, the serving spoons, everything. The veggie/AYCE bar didn't look very appealing. The veggies were fine, but the other offerings didn't look very fresh and seemed like they've been sitting out since opening. I got the hot pot, and the chicken broth wasn't as flavorful as I hoped. The meat that they offer is also just okay. Maybe my standards are really high because I typically go to hot pot spots that aren't AYCE so the quality is better.
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Dary P.

Yelp
Weekends tend to be busier but weekdays, you can get seats right away. It's great when you can't decide if you want kbbq or hotpot so what do you do? Come here for the best of both worlds. The staff is very attentive. You don't feel rush. They will come by and ask to change your grills. There's a button if you need to ask them for something. Great selection of proteins for both. There's also a bar full of veggies, seafood, meat skewers, and noodles. There's also a hot bar and sauce bar. Great for a group outing. Located in a shopping center, there's never any problem with parking. Also, they offer a discount on their alcohol all day. There's also lunch menu and happy hour menu.
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Lin J.

Yelp
Ohhh EmmmmGeee. How did I not know about this place sooner!! The best of both worlds. Korean BBQ and Hot pot. Did I mention AYCE!! We ordered both and shared. The items on the hot pot bar were delicious and such a great variety. They also have all the ban chan and seafood options. I think my mom ate about 10lbs worth of clams
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Natasha P.

Yelp
This place is amazing! If you're dining with someone else you don't have to pick hot pot or kbbq. You can have one of each! We got the hot pot and I loved all the sides and sauces that were available. Sadly, the bone/pork broth is pretty flavorless. The service is definitely more than 5 stars! Our server helped explain some items on the menu and the staff was very attentive on refills/cleaning our table. My other favorite thing about this place is you can order 3 meats per person instead of the whole table.

Nick A.

Yelp
Went today for the first time and was excited to try the place out. Walked through the front door at a time tonight when it wasn't busy at all, 5 tables max in the restaurant. The server inside walked by us without acknowledging us. A simple "i'll be right with you" or at least a smile would be nice. We stood at the door for a solid 2 minutes before we decided to walk out. As someone who works in the service industry that was not only weird of your employee to do but also very rude.

Alana H.

Yelp
I'm not too sure what has happened over the years, but the quality of Shabumi's "serve yourself" items has gone down significantly. The past few times we've been the quality has been inconsistent -- however, their meat quality has been fairly decent. I also might add that the set up when you have one hotpot and one kbbq at the same time is awkward, it's an uncomfortable set up and makes for an awkward eating experience. Service has been inconsistent as well -- sometimes helpful and attentive and other times you get forgotten about and have to keep asking for more meat or refills of water. All in all I would say Shabumi has become a hit or miss with service and food quality. Other local options for the shabu/kbbq combo within a close radius make it not worth your time or money (not to mention how the battle in their parking lot is a joke).
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Regine A.

Yelp
What makes Shabumi stand out from other hot pot spots is that they offer AYCE KBBQ AND AYCE hot pot. My husband opted for hot pot, I got KBBQ. The options are endless here. Large variety of protein and vegetable options. The servers were very attentive and made sure we had a great experience. The restaurant is very clean and spacious. I love the sauce bar. Favorite go to proteins are beef belly and brisket. I love how the portions aren't huge. Helps with food waste and give customers the chance to try other options.
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Vinni T.

Yelp
What do you do when you want KBBQ but your wife wants hot pot shabu shabu? You come to Shabumi where each member of your party gets to choose between bbq or hot pot. This was our 2nd time here and my wife loves getting to have affordable hotpot while I get to eat bbq. The bbq meats are definitely cut thicker than the shabu shabu. The only downside is if you keep ordering the same meat over and over again, the quality of it worsens. So the first couple orders are tender and great quality, over time more tough and chewy. My wife loves the recommended kombu broth and adds hot sesame chili oil and green onion from the bar to it. The self serve protein seafood veggies sides bar is pretty extensive. Parking can get a little tight at times in the crowded lot but never had any problems.
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Katarina R.

Yelp
10/10 everything Is a bit on the pricy side of food but it's worth for the every now and then craving, for hot pot this is my #1 place recommendation
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Bert L.

Yelp
Food was great! Good selection of self serve items! Service was amazing! Plus got my dose of kpop demon hunters soundtrack for the day Would recommend!!
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Anita C.

Yelp
We came here yesterday after searching on Yelp for some shabu eats because bf's dad was craving shabu and we were down in SD for Father's Day. At first we thought this was both shabu and kbbq, but turns out it is only your choice of one or the other. No worries! We were so hungry, and it was really hard to choose! But all 3 of us went with the shabu option because we wanted to be able to eat lots of veggies too. Okay, onto the service. We arrived close to 2pm - maybe it was after the lunch rush, but we were seated right away. Service was always very quick - they have a call button and the servers were always fast to cater to our needs. They would remember our orders and bring our meats to us very quickly. Each person is allowed 3 meats each time. And of course, veggies and condiments are self serve - weekend menu came with seafood and japchae items as well. All were very delish. I wish I took more photos of the food and the self serve stations but we were seriously way too hungry and well, we had other priorities. AKA filling our tummies full of AYCE food haha. I do want to come back and try their kbbq option as the meat from the grill from other tables smelled really good as well. Definitely a good find on my boyfriend's part - and a huge thank you to the staff for an amazing first experience for us. Can't wait for our next visit back here!
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Jade N.

Yelp
Parking- lots of free parking in the lot Ambience- great for groups of 4-6 folks, we walked in on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Food- it's all you can eat Korean bbq OR hot pot! One or the other so it super cool of you come here with at least a partner so you guys can share or split. Otherwise , the whole party gets to choose whatever they like and they get their own personal pot/cooker. Such a fun and good tasty experience. Service is also super attentive and they constantly come around with water refills and changing your pot or grills. 10/10 would highly recommend!
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Janice A.

Yelp
I would give this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the service miscommunication. Also the tofu soup didn't taste good. Not worth the wait that I experienced it would've complimented the main dish. This place was recommended to have a family meal for our visit and our experience was good everyone left with happy faces. Can't go wrong with ayce and choose either shabu shabu or bbq. Would I try this place again? YES!
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Abby W.

Yelp
Considering this was my first hot pot experience, I may just not be doing it right. I was unsure what to order and I think I may just not be a fan of the sukiyaki broth that I selected to cook my food. The menu said it's a soy sauce based broth and considering that I'm someone who loves dousing my Asian food in soy sauce, I thought it would be a good choice. It ended up being too sweet though and I think I would have done better with the beef bone or chicken soup base. I asked the waiter for recommendations on the type of meat I should try as I don't like fatty meats and ended up liking the eye of round the most. It was fun picking out different noodle types from the salad bar to complete my meal. While they do offer just the salad/noodle bar and a couple vegetarian soup bases, my vegetarian boyfriend wasn't super impressed.
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Bo Y.

Yelp
First time in, great customer service. We were explained the menu and how everything works clearly and we were very satisfied with the quality of food and customer service. Love how they had lots of options at the food and sauce bar and side dishes. I cannot stress enough how great the service was. Very attentive, very aware, and very friendly, would 100% recommend.
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Ha L.

Yelp
This place was meh, pretty disappointed in it. First time trying and our party of 3 did a mixture of kbbq and hotpot. Both hotpot broths were ok. The original had a bit more flavor, the beef bone soup base could best be described as hot water. Service was attentive at the table and we were constantly being asked if we wanted to order more meats. The salad bar had limited items and stuff that I wanted was constantly unfilled and not available. Small tables that were so close to each other the backs of our chairs were touching the next tables.
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Sheri M.

Yelp
We had our Thanksgiving Dinner here, our daughter chose this place. Service was top notch, there is even a button to call the wait staff. Food was good...Hubby and I chose Shabu Shabu and at least we didn't enjoy it because the food was so hot and the broth had no flavor but we made do. The K BBQ was a much better choice, our daughter had this. Her meats were super tender and flavorful. The floor is typical of a K BBQ joint...slippery, so be careful when walking. We'll probably skip this place when we return to SD
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Sebastian C.

Yelp
My friends and I went here this afternoon for the second time and I forgot how good it was! We went as soon as they opened to prevent there being any wait time for seating or getting our orders. Everything in the restaurant was clean and the tables were already prepared upon arrival. We quickly ordered our drinks and food before heading over to the sides & sauce bar. Having AYCE meat, sauce, and sides is great value for the price despite the prices raising a few dollars in the last few months.
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Maria C.

Yelp
5 stars for AYCE 5 stars for easy parking 5 stars for service There were 4 of us that came for an early Saturday dinner. We placed our name on the waitlist table out front and we were called back within 5 mins. We sat at a table near the front door which is next to windows that had the blazing sun coming in and also the cold breeze when the doors opened/closed. The menu was pretty extensive and for $40 AYCE you can get a good amount of food! You can choose KBBQ or hot pot. If you have 2 or more ppl, I recommend someone in your party to get at least 1 of each so you can try each others food There is a salad bar area with meats for hot pot. Sauce area and sides. The employees came around like clockwork. Kudos to this team for coming around often to check on our party. We ordered the one per person meats first (NY, Ribeye, and Short Rib). What we didn't know is how huge there were. There are straight up whole meats from Vons or local grocery store. They were almost as big as your grill. You need to season them well and there wasn't enough salt or pepper on the table. These 3 meats filled you up so suggest ordering the smaller meats first. The cuts were also too thick. The scissors provided were super dull and my fingers were hurting trying to cut the meats. There were no knives so we stuck with our chop sticks and scissors. After the 3 steaks I was pretty full and tired from cooking and cutting my meats. We did try other meats like bulgogi, galbi, pork belly, and others. All the meats started tasting the same after a while so get different sauces. The concept is amazing and the amount of food you get is a great deal. But cooking my own food with dull utensils... pass. Thus the 3 stars... PS - 2 hour limit for dining.
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Diane K.

Yelp
Definitely got our money's worth! My husband and I came here for our April date day/my birthday celebration. We absolutely love the food, service and ambiance. The servers were very friendly. The food was delicious. And there is just so much food. I love the fact that each dinner can choose their own experience-hot pot or BBQ. Did I mention how much food you get?! Definitely going to be our go-to spot.
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Mai H.

Yelp
Came for dinner earlier this evening (Saturday). There were 6 parties ahead of us but the wait wasn't long. I think it could also be that some parties had put their name on the waiting list but decided to leave. The meats here aren't quality, but I like the concept of the restaurant. You can dine with others in your party and choose shabu while someone else chooses to have bbq, or vice versa. I can't think of any other restaurant in SD that offers this concept. Meats and drinks are ordered with the server; everything else is self-served: veggies, seafood, noodles, hot food items, sauce bar, etc.. the quality of the meats aren't the best, but weren't horrible. The hubby got the BBQMi and I got the Shabumi and we both got to try both, so that was pretty cool. Idk if I would return. I'm indifferent.
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Joanna G.

Yelp
Came here for dinner with my family. Called in and they said the wait was going to be about 45 min-1 hr, but when we got there we ended up only waiting probably less than 15 minutes. It was the perfect place to go to since we were on the fence about getting hot pot or kbbq. Service was great. The workers were very accommodating for our party which I appreciated. I like that they have the individual pots/grills for you and I also like the sauce bar that they have. Beef belly was really good. They don't have too much of the typical banchan that kbbq usually has, but they do have fish cakes and japchae.
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Matthew P.

Yelp
Food was good but the service was much better. Our first time at hot pot. It was busy for a Saturday evening (around 7 pm) but still got seated within 30 minutes. Inside was busy and a bit noisy and generally clean for kbbq. Food details- meat was good quality; fish balls for hot pot was average (there were 6 different types but they all tasted the same); japchae was average and lacked sweet / salty flavor. Definitely recommend because you have your own cooking grill.
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Robert K.

Yelp
This place gets busy. It has a typical Korean BBQ semi modern feel. It's a combo all you can eat Korean bbq and hot pot place. Call buttons at each table, and the staff is prompt and makes sure you get any meats you need quickly. Meat quality is better than your average AYCE place, sauces are good, and the choices to add to hot pot plentiful. A better value for lunch at $30 a person, but I felt satisfied at the $40 dinner price. If you go with someone, consider having one person get the hot pot and the other the bbq so you get to try everything. Bottom line: solid, but not blow you away.
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Tiffany P.

Yelp
I've seen more and more shabu & kbbq places open up, but what makes Shabumi different is that every person has their own personal burner in front of their seat! If you're eating with someone else, one person can order kbbq and the other can order shabu aka y'all get the best of the both worlds! Also, each person can order up to 3 different types of meat at a time. Selection of meat was great, sides are like a buffet style including the sauces, and only a few items you would ask the waiter for (e.g., rice, steamed egg, soup). Highly recommend this place!
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Lisa M.

Yelp
Such a cool spot to eat at with friends and family, and what's even more cool is that you can choose to eat either hot pot or Korean bbq. Each person gets their own stove top so you cook your own food :) I chose hot pot and was very happy with the selection of meats, veggies, seafood, noodles, and sauces to choose from. My soup was extra tasty after adding a variety of different sauces into it. Prices are pretty standard and cost more on the weekends. I went on a Saturday around lunchtime and the wait was a little under 5 minutes. Located in a shopping center so there is plenty of parking. I will be coming back again soon :)
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Mayra W.

Yelp
I come here way more often than I would like to admit... and every time the service and food is great. Definitely one of my favorite places to come to.
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Marty B.

Yelp
My friend and I have been to this place twice. She always wants KBBQ, I always want hotpot. In theory, this would be the best place for us to go. The pros: The meat selection and veggies are great. I'm happy with the choices you have for both the BBQ side and hotpot side. The cons: For the KBBQ, there are not as many options for sides as there are at primarily KBBQ restaurants. It'd be great to have more KBBQ style sides to choose from. For the hotpot, the broths are extremely lackluster, flavorless, and it's very difficult to get them seasoned appropriately. I've tried the sukiyaki, tomato, and chicken broth. The sukiyaki is way too sweet. The tomato "broth" is essentially unseasoned boiled tomato and blended in water then thrown in a pot. The chicken broth was the best option, however it was still very watery. Imagine a gallon of water and one and a half spoons of chicken bullion- if that. Everything in the restaurant tastes diluted, especially the sauces used for the hotpot. Ex; the ponzu and vinegar seems like they're cut with water to make it go farther. It takes twice the amount of everything to even remotely taste seasoned. My only saving grace for flavor the second time around was the spicy soup sauce, however I don't prefer my hotpot spicy. But, I'd rather have my broth seasoned than to be watered down. I've been to quite a few hotpot places and if you're looking for just hotpot- don't come here. Kanpai BBQ & Shabu and Liuyishou have MUCH more flavorful broths, non-diluted sauce bars, a better dining experience, and actually worth $40 a person. It's nice to have the option of soup or KBBQ, but the broth is the most important part of hotpot. So it's really a bummer this place is not very tasty.