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Shabu Shabu Bar
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Nightlife Bars Wine Bars Japanese, Wine Bars [Edit]
1945 E 17th StSte 108
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 954-0332
Announcement
Wed 50% Dinner Deal*
*MUST say "Hump Day" B4 Ordering to get
Buy 1 Dinner Platter, Get 2nd 50% OFF
No Ozeki/Yoko *20% Tip Added w/Deal
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Tue, Fri, Wed
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
528 reviews for Shabu Shabu Bar
Review Highlights
"Goma sauce is unique and very tasty (1 of my favs."
(in 78 reviews)
"If you like spicy, don't forget to ask for hot drops."
(in 37 reviews)
"Don't forget to get the black sesame ice cream."
(in 12 reviews)
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528 reviews in English
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Review from Lisa D.
Westminster, CA
2/19/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I don't give many places 5 stars, but I have always loved shabu shabu and this place has made me addicted! Before coming here, I always went to Sakura in HB. While they have the option of miso broth there, the service is rather inconsistent and it is pretty pricy compared to Shabu Shabu Bar.
When I first came here, I wasn't expecting much because it seemed like any other shabu place from the outside. However, I was surprised because the atmosphere was great! They had a game on and everyone was cheerful and friendly. Their prices are competitive with most other shabu places, but what sets this place apart is their deals on M/Tu and their free sake with check-in!
The food itself is really good. Fresh veggies and meat! If you're a shabu fan, you'll like it. I'm not a big fan of the goma sauce (it smells really good though!), but for some reason I think their ponzu is amazing!! So the ponzu makes up for my lack of liking the goma:)
I want some right now! -
Review from Les S.
This place is so similar to California Shabu, I got them mixed up. I checked in here by accident last week while I was eating at California Shabu in Costa Mesa. I'm not sure how that even happened because the two places aren't that close to each other. Since I accidentally checked into a place I haven't been, I thought I'd give this place a try.
Came here for lunch with a friend yesterday and I ordered the prime beef lunch. I was a bit disappointed by the beef because it was about the same price as the other place but wasn't as tender. In fact, the texture was more like the choice beef at California Shabu. However, the vegetables were slightly fresher and goma sauce had better flavor. You also get to grind the sesame seeds here with a mortar & pestle before they pour the sauce. This place also has hot drops but will put them in both the broth and dipping sauces if you like. That's a definite plus in my book because I like flavored broth. At the end of your meal, or when you start cooking your udon noodles, the server will ask if you want your broth prepared to make udon noodles.
For dessert we ordered the black sesame seed ice cream. I liked the flavor here better but costs twice more than California Shabu.
Service was far better here. I don't think it was just our server. I got the impression everyone here is pretty friendly and accommodating.
Even though this place has more positives, the meat quality at California Shabu evens out the playing field a bit. Meat is a big factor for a shabu place. However, if I had to choose I will most likely choose this place because of the service.
Yelp check-in offer changes from week to week so be sure to look at the offer carefully. I tried to use my check-in offer from last week but noticed it had already expired. -
Review from Jen T.
2/18/2012
$10 to split a plate , you have got to be shitting me ... that was my first thought when opening the menu.
Upon entering I was greeted by the best host ever! Whoever was the person greeting the guest kudos to you ! I have never felt someone was so grateful for my patronage ....AND THEN.... it went down the hill. I didn't like my waiter . He didn't explain to us what the tongs with the filter was for until I looked at another customer scooping out the foam from their food. I didn't know what to put into my soup in terms of the sauces, a recommendation would have been nice.
Furthermore, at the end I saw a waitress attend to a group of customers diligently . She took the contents of their shabu pots and put them into individual bowls. ( they give you noodles , having the noodles in individual bowls makes it like an udon soup ).My waiter was M.I.A , he was too busy talking to a customer who was buying a lot of drinks. At this point I was irritated, I don't like half ass service.My bf flagged the waitress down to have our noodles transferred into individual bowls.
Food isn't bad , me and bf got the rib eye plate that comes with 9 slices of beef. .
- comes with a choice of brown or white rice
- vegetable plate: mushroom , cabbage , other leafy things I don't know the name of, carrots , udon noodles , vermicelli noodles
Price : around $15-16
Agedashi tofu
- I liked it , my bf thinks the one at Honda-ya is better in terms of the sauce they use
Overall
- I won't come back ,service matters to me when (my bf) is paying a lot
- majority of the plates you can't share without a fee ( $10 split fee)
- great host -
Review from Mark C.
Garden Grove, CA
Updated - 2/13/2012 5 Check-ins Here
I want to Thank everyone that works at the Shabu Shabu Bar. I simply enjoy coming here. Great atmosphere, great sake, great food, great staff. I have not one complaint. I now come on a consistent basis, at least sometimes twice a week. I always get the large Rib eye, and I think the value for the quality Of the product along with the consistency of the presentation is well worth it.
Sometimes the wait can be a bother, but I usually drinking sake with my peers so it passes the time.
I look forward to returning next week as I already ate here Friday and Saturday.
A special thanks goes to Greg and Randy for their hospitality and consistent follow up on the quality of the service and quality of the food. As one former restaurant manager to another, fantastic job guys.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/4/2011
Great little place to chill and eat, price a little high, but worth it. I will be back...
Food is top… Read more »
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Review from Belinda S.
Irvine, CA
Great service, but food is just so-so.
Management seems to seat their friends first so be prepared to wait it out.Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 2/12/2012
Hi Belinda, thanks for giving us a try. Sorry, our food… More » -
Review from Hanna P.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm just not a fan of going to a shabu place that only serves water. I feel like I can make that at home and buy kobe beef with the same price some of these shabu places are charging for you to cook your meat in water.
With that being said, I came to Shabu Shabu Bar just to try it out bc of so many coveted reviews. The wait, was HORRIBLE! I walked in and literally for 5 minutes I was walking around trying to figure out if there was a hostess or a waiting list to sign up or something! I even asked some people around and they even had no idea what was going on. Finally, out from the back a girl pops out and gets our name down. Uh thanks.
Waiting at the bar, the hostess was sitting people and for some reason, she ended up sitting us before some of the other people who were waiting way much more longer than we did. Reluctantly, we sat down and i mean couldn't complain bc we got a seat. I definitely could tell the other people were mad!
I ordered the rib eye and realized there was no flavor to my broth! I literally added half the capsacin bottle and almost the whole soy sauce bottle just to get something out of my broth! I don't like the idea of boiling my meat in just plain water. Even while adding all that, it still wasn't enough! Even adding the garlic and daikon and green onions, it still just tasted like water.
The thing that really turned me off was their sauces. Their goma sauce had a really weird consistency almost like the slime from a raw egg. It just tasted really off compared to many other shabu places I've eaten. It turned me off so much I couldn't dip anything in there. And I prefer the goma sauce over the ponzu sauce. The ponzu sauce tasted funky to me as well. It had too much orange in there. Ponzu sauce is supposed to be a hint of citrus like lemon or lime and the orange after taste wasn't doing it for me.
The waiters were really nice though. They were cool to talk to and I do like how they make you a little noodle soup at the end. But basically, it was just my sauces and my broth with noodles and to be honest, it was nothing that great. But thanks for making it for me! -
Review from Mimi N.
Highland, CA
2/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been here so many time and has never been disappointed! I could seriously eat this everyday! Great friendly service. The sauces are excellent and I really love the soup!
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Review from Donna T.
Bellflower, CA
2/20/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I really love this place because the shabu is awesome and the sauces are amazing! The food deserves five stars...but the service is a hit and miss.Thats why i'm giving this place 3 stars. We keep getting this waiter who is kinda rude and inpatient. For the most part everyone else there are very friendly and helpful...but we keep getting served by this a**hole. But I'm willing to put up with him because I love the food so much.
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Review from Akio S.
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
Been here a couple times now. I think the Shabu here is average. I got the ribeye meat the last time and it was just OK. It was a little rubbery and had a texture that made it seem like it had been sitting in a freezer for awhile. The ponzu is good but I'm not a fan of the goma. Like someone else said it was a weird consistency similar to a slime.
One of the bright spots was the service. The waitress was really nice and the manager was very accommodating. They definitely deserve two thumbs up for the service. -
Review from Pearl T.
Orange, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
My husband & I came here for "date night" and it is a very good place for a date. The night started with a very friendly greeting from the host, and drinks while you wait. It's a very hip little place once you get passed the strip mall entrance.
Once seated, you are greeted by your personal wait staff on the other side of the shabu shabu "bar". The entire restaurant consists of 2 U-shaped bars to enjoy the dining experience. It all starts by grinding your own sesame. It is truly an experience as opposed to simply a meal. The people are very friendly and have a great sense of humor (Geomar was great!)
I thoroughly enjoyed my time there and plan to revisit. My husband has had other forms of "hot pot" in the past and wasn't a big fan, but he left there saying that he likes shabu shabu, at least at this restaurant.
Be ready for a long wait, but this gives you plenty of time to chat while waiting, and the experience is well worth it. -
Review from Tiffany H.
Irvine, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Solid 4.5 stars for me!
I was enticed by the buy 1 get 1 50% off deal (Daily Yelp Promotions - explained in detail below!)
This place is pretty damn good. It gives Ayame a run in my shabu world.
But, I think what makes them stand out is their sauces. Their sesame one is DELICIOUS. And you get to crush your own blend of sesame seeds with a pestle. And the ponzu isn't too sour like California's. Shabu Shabu Bar also has the hot drops. woo.
AND what sweetened the deal even more, was the yelp check-in for 12 free sake shots. SHABULICIOUS FTW. They have a few different kind of sakes including fruity ones like the shabulicious one I mentioned..which is a pink fruity tasting one. They had one that was like orange bang. But had a gross vodka-y aftertaste. But, they do have traditional dry sakes. The Shabulicious didn't even taste like alchy. Never knew I could enjoy sake so much!
Service was great. When you ask for the noodle base, they even do it FOR you. Awesome. But I think what puts Ayame #1 for me is that Ayame has rice cake & tsumire + it's closer to me. But, Shabu Shabu is a heavy contender in my book. TRY IT! Make sure to check out yelp for different promotions everyday.Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 2/4/2012
Thanks Tiffany :) We appreciate the kudos and wished we… More » -
Review from Vance C.
Irvine, CA
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hands down: Top 5 best restaurants I've ever been to
Food, decor, vibe, all perfect. Prices range from about 18-25$ per person, 30 min wait on a busy day, nice TVs.
You dont have to love Shabu Shabu in order to love this place. The meat was absolutely delicious, the soup at the end was perfect. The combo of vegetables with the soup at the end, helped to top of the perfect food.
The vibe was great. Very trendy inside. Everyone inside are having a blast and the servers are all very helpful. Shabu can be a bit confusing to eat at first, but the manager was very sociable, and even helped make our food the perfect blend of taste.
Only slight downside is that the restaurant is not the best if you're in a large group and want to talk to everyone. The restaurant is set up to sit down in a straight line, so it can be difficult to talk to all of your friends.
Great price+Trendy+Amazing food= 5 stars easy. -
Review from Kate N.
Tustin, CA
2/10/2012
My new obsession is Shabu Shabu! i've had it 3 times last week... at 3 different places (irvine, garden grove, santa ana) LOL. sick, huh? Honestly, it tastes the same every where. What really stood out to me about Shabu Bar was the excellent customer service. My friend and I were greeted by... (darn it, i don't remember his name. i called him Randy but his name wasn't Randy). He was exceptionally nice and friendly, kind of a jokester too. hahah.
Anyhooz, the wait was a little rediculous. What bothered me most was when i looked around and realized some people were done with their meals, yet still remained in the their seats... to CHAT! wth! if youre done, get up and leave!!
Oh one more thing, the peanut sauce was ok..kinda slimy for my taste :/
Overall, pretttay good meal. :) -
Review from Tracy n.
Fountain Valley, CA
Updated - 1/20/2012 1 photo
Nordstrom-like management turns a sour experience into a sweet one.
After my initial review, the management contacted me right away. I received an apology and he guaranteed that type of incident won't happen again. I was happy to see that they do care then I was contacted again for an complimentary dinner so they could some how make it up to us. I could tell that one customer's experience really mattered. He let me know that this kind of service is unacceptable and wanted to make it up to us.
Some people may say that the employees is a reflection upon the management . Rather, I tend to think that a business is a reflection upon management . If you look carefully through all these reviews then you will constantly see people talking about Randy and see how he gets back to the customers. He responds to you in a timely manner and treats you as an individual. The way I was treated after my experience, actually made me feel like I wanted to delete my initial review BUT I decided to do an update instead to express the validity of my overall experience. I need to give credit where it is due and the management here far exceeds my expectations for any kind of restaurant.
4 stars by Yelp definition means that "Yay! I'm a fan" and thanks to Randy's exceptional service he has made me one.
Advice:
To me, food quality at different Shabu Shabu restaurants doesn't range much. You need to look for a short wait time and service. At other shabu shabu restaurants management is hardly seen. Here at Shabu Shabu Bar, you can see Randy greeting customers and walking around. If you have ANY PROBLEM just simply ask for him and just let him know, he will take matters in his own hands and fix it. He is very approachable and through my experience of communicating with him then I know that he was sincere with his words. If you have any type of problems then just look for the tall guy walking around because he is there to take care of you.
With management like this, who is willing put down their egos and correct their mistakes then you know that the business/service here is either 1) staying the same and continue being exceptional or 2) just even get better.
I prefer the latter =)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/17/2012
Horrible experience with a drunk waiter and false advertising.
I rarely give a 1 star but after… Read more »
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Review from Isay A.
Irvine, CA
2/8/2012
I had the sukiyaki ribeye, while my boyfriend had the shabu shabu combination plate. It was delicious!
The meat slices were tender. The plate looks small, but the slices are a good size and will fill you up. The sukiyaki broth was tasty, and the vegetables were fresh. The sesame seed sauce (goma sauce) was also good. It has a strong flavor so be careful not to dip it in there too much! (Unless you love it that much, like me)
We also had the sesame seed mochi (kurogoma) for dessert. It's not sweet, but very tasty and savory!
The waiter we had was very accommodating. Friendly, humorous, all around great service. -
Review from Adam A.
San Diego, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
My new shabu spot hands down. I get up to the area about twice a month so it makes it a nice detour from business.
Yes, there is a wait period, but thats expected, the eating process takes time. What I really like here is the mini lounge area they have where you can order drinks and eat appetizers while you wait.
They have every cut of meat, from real japanese wagyu (special order) all they way down to ribeye cuts that are all flavorful. Accompanied by a assortment of sauces and attentive service basically right in front of you the whole time.
In the end was it worth the detour on trips from SD? Absolutely, and will be looking forward to our next visit later this month. -
Review from Hurf D.
Redondo Beach, CA
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
Amazing. Best experience and food and booze. Go now.
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Review from Peter P.
Hands down my favorite shabu shabu place ever! SSB is a great place to go for a casual dinner with friends or to take your special someone for date night. The food tastes delicious, is prepared fresh and is super affordable. Thinking about going? Here's what you need to know:
+Amazing customer service. Servers are genuinely friendly and helpful (shoutout to Jennifer!). They will actually skim your pot for you to take out the floating residue and prepare a tasty udon noodle soup for you after you are done with your rice. Make sure to tip accordingly!
+Quality meat selection. While I'm perfectly content with rib eye beef, they also have wagyu, kobe and prime for all you ballers out there. Chicken, seafood or all veggies is also available.
+Bomb sauces. Botj their goma and ponzu sauce are excellent. You grind your own sesame seeds for the goma sauce which is a really nice touch. They have hot drops if you want a real spicy kick.
+Yelp love! The owners are really cool guys and loves hooking up Yelpers. There are constant Yelp check-in deals and promotions viewable on the Yelp page, i.e. for free sake or BOGO 50% off on certain days.
+Clean restaurant and design with 2 separate shabu shabu bars. There is a waiting area with couches and a television in case there is a wait. If there is a wait, the line generally moves pretty quickly and they let you order drinks while you wait!
All of these things made more one of the most pleasurable dining experience in recent memory. Nothing but love for SSB! :)Listed in: What's for dinner in OC?
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Review from Jessica H.
Irvine, CA
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food
I like the beef here the best out of ALL the shabu shabu places I been to. I think the veggies were really fresh. The only thing that I don't like about this place is the sauce. There is something wrong the the sesame sauce, I have been to MANY shabu shabu's and all of them has this stronger taste of peanut or sesame, but this place has their's is....sweet with VERY little flavor at all.
Service:
This is interesting. I didn't like it much. I felt like I had to keep asking the servers for my sauce, green onions, daikon, and garlic. I didn't feel like I was being served that well. Then I said something about where I am from...the server said something about how we say shit about that place? I feel its important to make the customer feel like they are entertained, but let's keep it PG?
Overall, the food was great. The service bought it down.Listed in: Shabu Shabu! Gotta Love it!
Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 1/17/2012
Happy New Year Jessica.. I'm glad you enjoyed our meat and… More » -
Review from Michael C.
Buena Park, CA
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Best Shabu Shabu hands down!
Me and my lady have been sampling Shabu all over the area (downtown fullerton, cerritos) and this restaurant takes the crown hands down.
If you go on the weekends remember these times: 5:30p, 7p, and 8:30p. If you don't show up at those times, have fun waiting! This place gets packed! And it usually takes an hour and a half for someone to leave.
The staff is very friendly (most of the time). And the owner walks around and works alongside his staff making sure everything is tip top.
Me and my lady usually get a regular and large rib eye which runs us about $50 total with tax and tip.
The sauces are the best and the vegetables are very, very fresh!
Try this place out!Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 2/7/2012
Thanks Michael :) You're too kind! We appreciate your… More » -
Review from Mona L.
Buena Park, CA
2/5/2012
Wait time: not so bad, called ahead of time to make reservations
Food: delicious! had the black pork dinner platter for abt $15, came with fresh veggies, and noodles
Service: it was sat. night so it was busy, but our waitress was doing her best attending to everyone. wasn't a huge problem
Dessert: their sesame seed ice cream was surprisingly reallllly good!! :):):)
one downside, drank their lychee flavor infused sake, and it wasn't very good. tasted like Robitussin :( -
Review from Bernice C.
Irvine, CA
1/12/2012
Good place for a dull date because you're either busy cooking your food or eating.
I am a shabu shabu newbie, and if you are too....make sure you bring someone knowledgeable before you feast. I was playing follow the leader the whole time. She was throwing in ingredients, and squirting sauce in the hot pot left and right. I was half expecting her to yell "BAM!" like Emeril Lagasse every time she threw something in. If you want to "kick it up a notch;" ask for some drips of hot oil, but don't get greedy. I had the prime beef, and it was pretty good. I have tried two other shabu places, and I like the peanut sauce here best. Also different from other places, I got to grind my own sesame seeds which was a thrill because I have always had a small desire to become a Chinese herbalist.
Shout out to our waiter, Derrick. Attentive, with a pinch of humor with my shabu shabu, the best side you can ask to go with your entree. -
Review from Daliya H.
Paramount, CA
2/1/2012 3 Check-ins Here
This is my favorite Shabu Shabu restaurant. A group of friends and I came here for dinner a couple of times and each experience has been wonderful. The employees are super friendly and helpful.
If you check into yelp you get free shots or a discount on your order (different promotions each night)
I ordered the ribeye = delicious, also the goma sauce is yummy!! If you like spicy food add a couple of hot drops.Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 2/4/2012
Thanks Daliya ;D We really appreciate the kind words and… More » -
Review from Qui C.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
I haven't been to many shabu shabu places. Something about boiling water just doesnt appeal to me like hot pot does. But I've been hearing alot about this particular shabu shabu bar lately and decided to give it a go. And I was pleasantly surprised and satisfied.
It is really a bar style dining. I still don't know how I feel about that because I like to face people when I'm talk to them but it was a unique experience nonetheless. The servers were very attentive. We did the check-in and got the free sake shots. Very cool! I liked the Shocker out of all of them. There's a tang similar to Gaterade Lime flavor that was better than the rest.
We got the Ribeye dinner set for $16 each person and it was more than enough. I was stuffed to the max at the end.
Our favorite server is Jennifer! She's so sweet and made sure we were well taken care of. She even brought out black sesame ice cream for one person in our party's birthday. The manager, Randy, is definitely the guy that Yelpers make him out to be. Randy is awesome! Give it a ago and try this place. We're glad we did. -
Review from Kate M.
Newport Beach, CA
1/12/2012
Great food but the service was horrible. We were told that the wait would be 20 mins but it ended up being 2 hours while the host sat her friends but said they called in to reserve. When I spoke to one of their friends, they said they just called and made their reservations about 20 minutes ago.
Wish I had friends that worked there.Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 1/12/2012
Happy 2012 Kate, despite the terrible service you received… More » -
Review from Cynthia Y.
Culver City, CA
5 stars for the food & manager! Deducting a star for our sucky waiter...
So, I brought my boyfriend here last night on a Saturday evening. We drove all the way from El Monte. I haven't been here in over a year because I no longer live in the OC. I was eager to bring my boyfriend here because the last time I came, I really enjoyed it. I'm a little disappointed in the service we received from our waiter.
We arrived at around 6:30, dinner peak hour. Randy(?) the manager greeted us and he looked concern when he said the wait was about 45 minutes haha which was sweet. He took our number and let us know that he'd call when our seats would be ready. The place was packed!
We were finally seated after about an hour. It took about 5 minutes for our server/waiter to greet us.. I understood at first cause it was busy, but throughout our dinner, he was super slow and he only had one side of the bar to serve. I saw the other waitress busting her butt over the other side and plus another side of the other bar. We saw she was a lot more attentive to her customers. I think we saw our guy probably 3 times, to take our order (someone else brought us our food), when we flagged him down to get a spoon, and when Randy asked him to bring our check, which took about 10 minutes!! Even Randy saw how slow he was and said, "wow did he not bring you your check yet? I'm gonna kick him!" and even offered us dessert on him. We saw Randy more than our server.
Please note that the food here is amazing and top quality! Randy was awesome. But sorry, it was frustrating how slow our server was..Listed in: Top Restaurants, My Favorite Japanese Eats
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/29/2010
I think Shabu Shabu Bar is the best Shabu place in Orange County!
I've been to a few Shabu places in… Read more »
Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 1/9/2012
Happy New Year Cynthia! Thank you so much for thinking of… More » -
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Review from Ronald M.
Millbrae, CA
2/13/2012
My girlfriend took me here for my 21st birthday, and I know she had been yelping places to go for a few weeks so we had pretty high expectations. And they were definitely met. We went around 545 on a thursday night, and it was not busy, but thats probably because it was before the dinner rush. We were sat by our host and our waitress was very helpful, she asked if it was our first time and since it was, she explained to us what was different from other shabu shabu places. We first started out by crushing the sesame seeds to bring out the flavor in our sauce.
The soup was a water base but the sauce made up for it. The meat here tastes a lot better than my favorite shabu place back up north. When we were almost done with our meat, our waitress offered to make a noodle soup for us. The noodle soup was reallly good, even though it was just a water base. I think the veggies and meat's juices came out and just made the noodle soup taste good.
The waitress found out it was my 21st birthday so she offered me a free sake shot or ice cream but, sillllly me, i forgot my ID. soo i got the green tea ice cream. it wasnt anything spatacular or anything.
OH and one of the reasons my gf wanted to take me here was becasue if you check in you get 12 free sake shots, so next time we come I am not forgetting my ID and we are going to try that out!
we will be backk! -
Review from Malin T.
Irvine, CA
1/30/2012
When we entered there were only a few customers but soon every seat was taken with a fairly large queue at the entrance, so be sure to be there as soon as it opens or you'll be waiting for the 2nd seating cycle between 12:30-1:00.
The place is clean and typical of a shabu house, nothing bad but nothing special. Customer service is the same, nothing spectacular but not bad either.
The veggies are the typical assortment you find at the majority of shabu places. I like that they have hot drops available on request but wish they had additional spicy sauces like Sriracha or chili paste. Dipping sauces, ponzu, goma and peanut were tasty but the thick, slimy consistency was a turn off. A friend told me the sauce wasn't like that when she went so I'll have to give it another try. -
Review from Susan R.
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
1/28/2012
I regularly go to Shabu Shabu Bar for lunch since it is near my work, but tonight was my first venture there for dinner since it'sa bit of a drive from home. The stakes were high because it was for my husband's birthday AND it was my parents first time shabu-ing.
We got there when they opened at 5:30 p.m. and got in line (yes, there was a line of people waiting for them to open). We had the good fortune to have Cynthia as our server - she was extremely friendly and very helpful to our shabu trainees, making sure our water glasses were full and all our needs were met throughout the evening. The food was delicious (from ribeye to prime beef to shrimp and scallops...plus all the yummy veggies) and we just had an overall great experience.
It was capped off with a birthday shot of fuji apple infused sake for the birthday boy which was a perfect ending to a great meal. We are all stuffed and say that "we will never eat again"....until tomorrow morning. -
Review from Jun P.
Carson, CA
1/13/2012
When you feel the need to Shabu, there's only 1 place you need to go, Shabu Shabu Bar. The friendly staff and atmosphere add to the full enjoyment of your visit and not to mention, the amazing food! Their sauce is unbelieveable.
Ever since we introduced our friends to this place, they all have made this into a weekly thing. 1 friend comes once a month from SF!!! The vibe is chill and after your meal, you can have a drink or 2 in the lounge area and watch tv.
Whether you want Shabu for lunch or dinner, this is definitely the place to go.
Hands down the best Shabu!!!! -
Review from Zavanna P.
Garden Grove, CA
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ok so I wasn't that impressed. I mean it had pretty cool decorations but man was it small! I understand space is limited but for a place like this, they really needed more space. The waiting area was just ridiculously small (i guess to compensate for the U shaped bars) My best friend and I literally had to stand waiting by the entrance door until we were called to sit down and eat at the bar. The greeter was real nice and polite so that's always GOOD!
+Food= well the food was okay. Not jumping for joy but also not crying that the meal was bleh... i'd give it a 3/5 stars
+Service= well the greeter 5/5 stars! Polite & apologized for the long wait (of course I know he cannot control how fast/slow the other customers will eat) The waitress 1/5. Although I understand it gets busy, she only came by ONCE to check on us or ask if we needed anything. The cook (or assistant waiter) was an excellent 4/5! He came around almost all the time refilling our drinks and asking us if we needed more of something & explained to me how shabu shabu works (it was my 1st time there) i knew he wasnt supposed to be OUR waiter because when we got the bill it had the waitresses name, not his.
+Decoration/Ambiance= 4/5 I was really feeling the vibe BUT again space space space!!! It's hard to enjoy or say "it was worth the wait" when you pressed up against the front door =(
+Cleanliness= outside the bar (waiting area etc.) 4/5 not bad. Sitting at the bar and it being a U shaped bar so the waiters are inside and you see the sink and everything else exposed was NOT appealing. Especially with the leftover half eaten noodles & veggies sitting there in the sink where they wash their hands. It was completely EXPOSED just laying there, I wish I took a picture because the whole time I was eating, my view was of the sink with the leftover foods compiled that the other customers had eaten. Id suggest putting it in a bag in the back OR dumping them in the back kitchen all together and leaving that sink clean and free and used just for washing hands. The dirty dishes were there too :( thats a horrible NO NO for me!!! so for that i gave it a 1/5.
OVERALL= i might go back, when its less crazy and hectic. we did go around lunch hour so obviously it would be long wait BUT i dont know. i usually give 2nd chances and my experience wasnt all that bad but i wish i enjoyed it a bit moreComment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 1/2/2012
Happy New Year Zavanna! Thanks for all the helpful… More » -
Review from Natassia S.
Las Vegas, NV
This place is awesome!! everything from the service, the atmosphere, n the food. Definitely a place to check out if your ever in Santa Ana. I got the large order of the sirloin steak n it was alot, and believe me I love meat. U need to add the drop of extra hot oil in your sauces cause that just makes everything taste ono (better).
I recommend getting there early with everyone cause it gets busy quick. Definitely #1 on my list of hot pot shabu shabu!!Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 1/8/2012
Happy New Year Natassia! Thanks for the wonderful kudos :)… More » -
Review from Pamela S.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 2/1/2012 8 Check-ins Here
Cynthia makes the best soup and Geomar makes you feel like a celebrity! ;)
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/23/2012
This is my favorite place for shabu shabu! Their sesame sauce is amazing as well as the service. The… Read more »
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Review from Joshua M.
Santa Ana, CA
2/4/2012
This is one of my favorite restaurants in orange county. I actually went out and bought my own shabu pot after going here a couple of times.
The staff is super friendly and casual. The food is delicious. The atmosphere, well, its an acquired taste unless you're into the club scene, but it doesn't detract from the food. Try it! -
Review from connie c.
Anaheim, CA
1/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Plenty of food and great service.
I thought at first cooking shabu shabu on plain water might not have enough flavor but the sauce gave enough flavor to the meat and the vegetables. Plus the udon cooked in the broth at the end was great. -
Review from Devyn T.
Irvine, CA
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great managerial service. The food was tasty, very crowded. Enjoyed the atmosphere, great music, somewhat ample waiting room/bar area with television to drink and have appetizers while waiting for a seat. Sometimes the staff get overwhelmed and tend to neglect, so I'd recommend just getting on their case. Expect a 20 minute wait to get your meats during busy hours. If you order an appetizer, expect to get it after the person next to you who sat down after you.
If you're unsure about the meat, there actually is a difference in flavor between the rib-eye and the prime rib-eye (prime is better, more flavorful and tender). The pork meat is mediocre. Regular portion is enough for the average person. This is also one of the few progressive restaurants that serve not only white rice but BROWN rice too. When you're almost done with your meal, the staff make a noodle soup for you with your remaining ingredients. BEWARE of the spice drop - one too many can be fatal (I exaggerate only a little).
Definitely let the staff know if it's your first time so they can help you out. My friend and I sat there staring at other folks (there are quite a few regulars) and felt silly, so save yourself a little time and blushing.
Overall, it's a really fun place to go with friends or a date. Groups are welcome but given the seating arrangement around a bar area and high chairs, it's hard to get larger groups together in a setting where everyone can converse. They only take reservations for groups of 6+. Shabu Shabu Bar also does check-in deals!!!Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 12/28/2011
Happy Holidays Devyn! Thanks for giving us a try and… More » -
Review from Mel L.
Irvine, CA
1/13/2012
You'll like this place if you crave for something healthy and warm in the cold days.
Grind your own sesame seeds: you'll have a little traditional hand grinder to make sesame seeds powders, that's very fun to do and the freshly grounded sesame seeds smells wonderful.
Portion is good for most people: a 250-lb guy would get filled by the amount of meat and veggie. On top of the veggie and meat, you'll have brown/white rice AND a bowl of udon soup.
The staff is very friendly. There are a lot of regular customers, and the staff would chat and DRINK with the customers.
The only reason why I took off 1 star is that there are so many regulars, and the staff spend more time serving them, so other first-timers or new customers comparatively get ignored a little bit. -
Review from Jaime L.
Huntington Beach, CA
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
12 free shots for a Yelp check in? Say whaaa? Good thing it tasted more like rasberry kool-aid than shots otherwise after 36 (there were three of us, for those doing the math) we would've been on the floor!
Very clean set-up, large bar and super friendly staff make this a great location to get your shabu fix.
The veggies were fresh and the best presented that I've seen to date.
I had the ribeye and shrimp combo and asked for extra rice noodle instead of the udon and unlike the other spot, was happily obliged.
Like the other place, they let you grind your own sesame seeds for a fresher taste on the goma.
The veggies were crisp, and like I said beautifully presented. The shrimp was excellent as well. I wasn't too keen on the meat. Not very flavorful. Probably my least favorite meat of the shabu places I've been to. So far the winner in that department is Ka Shabu in downtown HB.
It's kinda hard to hear your friends when you're here. I had to make friends with the little kid next to me, because my friends would talk and I couldn't hear them.
But a great place and great meal nonetheless!Comment from Randy S. of Shabu Shabu Bar 12/23/2011
Happy Holidays Jaime, thanks for the positive feedback! … More » -
Review from Luu H.
Irvine, CA
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good food. Nice staff. Lots of fun. Remember to get the soup base at the end and don't overdo your broth (I don't add anything to the water).
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Review from Laura S.
Orange County, CA
11/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
444 reviews currently ... what hasn't been said? I'll just highlight what you need to know.
-The place is super clean.
-The servers are friendly and will help you out if you need it.
-You grind your own sesame seeds here.
-There are some awesome yelp check in deals.
-You'll have to connect to their free wi-fi to redeem these deals as the reception is horribly crappy inside.
-Their vegetables are the best I've had at shabu.Listed in: It's All Yelps Fault!
