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SWSH Shabu Shabu
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy, Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
197 reviews for SWSH Shabu Shabu
Review Highlights
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"The green tea white chocolate fondue." In 10 reviews -
"I went with the Angus rib eye beef regular plate." In 6 reviews -
"They also offer Hot drops for those who love spiciness." In 12 reviews
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197 reviews in English
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Review from Bobbie W.
Updated - 5/24/2012
I am officially ADDICTED to SWSH!! I love it and want to eat it every day! Swish swish swish all day, everday! Ever since we met, I've been here at least once a week and I have NEVER had a bad experience. The quality of the meat and freshness of the vegetables is always consistently good!! The service is ALWAYS on-point!
I have been to a ton of shabu places and this is still my FAVORITE. I'm such a fiend...since it's Memorial Day weekend and I won't be around OC this weekend to make my regularly scheduled weekend appearance, I rounded up some friends to eat it tonight. I gotta have my weekly fix!Listed in: Shabu Shabu Fiend
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/30/2011
I wanted my 100th review to be somewhere special and I'm so happy that I came here last night! I had… Read more »
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Review from Anita L.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came here for lunch with my girfriend and was pleasantly surprised by the service and quality of food. The sauces are really flavorful -- yes even though it's just ponzu and goma -- and I like the condiments better than a few other places.... the garlic is fresh and grated nicely, the daikon is fresh and flavorful and not sitting around for so long it's lost its flavor.
The rib eye is not too fatty so don't cook it for too long.
On Mondays and Tuesdays they're running a special if you "like" their facebook page and show them -- I think there is a similar special on Yelp too -- and offers buy one buy the 2nd for 40% off. This pertains to a meal for two people so it's a really good bargain.
The other thing I like is if you order a small and then decided you wanted an upgrade to a large half way through the meal, they allow you to do this.
Go early, otherwise you're going to definitely have to wait. -
Review from Sam L.
Los Angeles, CA
5/16/2012
A good buddy of mine showed me all the different kinds of cuts available here. I ordered the angus beef, the beef just melts in your mouth like butter. This is the biggest difference between this place and other Shabu places I tried.
I highly recommend getting the sukiyaki, pricing is pretty good for the quality of the place. Service was also really excellent.
After eating here, you will really begin to apreciate the quality of meats! -
Review from Thuy T.
One of my favorite Shabu places! Upstairs in Diamond Jamboree Plaza next to The Balcony Grill & Bar.
Customer service: 5 stars! Always have super friendly workers and they always make sure everything is good. If you need something, any of the waiters/waitresses will help you. They don't say the usual - let me get your server. They will help you with a smile and get it done QUICK even if they have a full house!
Wait time - can get pretty long but worth the wait! Stop by 85 degree bakery to kill time. LOVE their pastries.
Cleanliness - very clean. The seats and tables are not sticky and very clean. Restrooms were kept clean all the time.
Food - LOVE the egg dip sauce for the meat. Mostly because I love eggs but the Sukiyaki sauce is sweet and delicious! Veggies are very fresh and they give you plenty. In the water broth for the veggies, I would put in garlic, soy sauce, red chili oil and a drop of hot oil. I always get the Angus Ribeye with Sukiyaki. The sukiyaki is perfect with the udon later too.
They also have Fondue but I haven't tried it yet. Always SUPER full after the Shabu.
Drinks - Love their Sake. They have lots of different options! We ordered the biggest bottle they had and it was very smooth. They have Bud light and Kirin on Tap I believe. We always order the Kirin.
Whenever I am craving for the Egg Dip sauce with my Shabu, I will come here. Great food, wonderful workers and lots of good happy hours!
Monday and Tuesdays ALL day is buy 1 entree get 2nd 40% off.
Happy Hour - 5PM-6:30PM everyday - cheap appetizers, beer and sakes.
They also have a lunch menu that is decently priced!
What are you waiting for?! Stop by and try it out! You might be addicted like I am!Listed in: Places you HAVE to try!, Best Happy Hour!!, Shabu Shabu
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Review from SweetElights ..
Fountain Valley, CA
My new favorite shabu place! What can I say, they have everything I like! Great service and great food = happy eaters. They have hot drops. =)
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Review from Jenny P.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 5/22/2012
I really like their new spicy miso broth. The spiciness goes away after cooking for awhile but its still good.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/29/2012
Been here a few times, I like the Shabu here. The only reason why I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 4… Read more »
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Review from Tammie H.
Laguna Niguel, CA
5/7/2012
This was my first experience with sukiyaki and the staff was so helpful in showing me how its done. They kindly explained the menu, sauces and how to add some additional flavor to the broths. I ordered both just to try them out.
I loved my first experince at Shabu Shabu and will certainly go back again. The atmosphere is very relaxed and friendly. The menu is short, simple and perfect. The food was excellent. The service was great.
I did feel the pricing was a little high, but I wouldn't say that's a good enough excuse not to go back. I'lll probably go back on Monday or Tuesday with a friend.
Overall a very fun lunch experience! -
Review from Kathy N.
Santa Ana, CA
5/7/2012
Wow I really love it here! I love the ambiance of this restaurant and the employees here are very helpful and friendly.
I tried out sukiyaki for the first time and I must say that it was amazing! They're generous with the side of veggies, udon, and the meat portion was just enough to fill me up.
Sadly, I really wish I could be a regular here however this place is too far from where I live! :( -
Review from Michelle L.
Irvine, CA
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'm so torn because if it wasn't for the price, I would actually like this place. Their service rocks, the decor is clean and elegant, and it's a nice shabu shabu place.
My boyfriend and I came in and we were totally lost. Their menu is really weird and different from the other shabu shabu places so we stared at the menu for awhile before someone came along to help us. We asked our server for advice on what to order, and we ended up getting Angus Rib Eye Beef (regular) and a Combination of Kurobuta pork, jidori chicken, and some other meat but I can't remember what it was. We also got 1/2 shabu and 1/2 sukiyaki.
The sukiyaki was WAY TOO SWEET. It was so sweet that the server came and poured more water into it, and it was still way too sweet. And the shabu broth was flavorless until the server came by and threw in garlic, and green onions and everything else. There were a lot of sauces you can dip your stuff into though. The boyfriend added a few drops of their hot drops. Our orders came with a lot of vegetables ranging from carrots, napa cabbage, mushrooms, seaweed and some tofu. I liked the fact that we got udon and this gray colored noodle which had a nice texture to it. The meat was good. It just wasn't enough. Really small. Oh, you also get an order of rice.
It's not really doing it for me. You can get the same elsewhere for a lot less. You will probably get more too. 3/5 -
Review from Doug C.
Irvine, CA
5/3/2012
I have been here since their Grand Opening last year. I have not been to any other Shabu joints since this one opened. This is probably the best Shabu joint I have been to. Their prices are competitive, not cheap, but competitive. What makes this place great is the service and also the quality of meat. Anyone that gives a review about the meat quality is obviously a rookie or does not have a clue. Maybe they should boil their Big Mac and then go wait in that horrendous 85 Degree line.
The service here is great! I have never had a bad experience here. The veggies are also plentiful and they also have flavored saki.
Important thing about Shabu is the meat and this place has very high quality meat. I recommend this place. -
Review from Doannie N.
Fountain Valley, CA
4/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've been to several Shabu places in my lifetime & I have to say that this one is one of the better ones.
They have very delicious fresh meat & they have pretty presentation as well. Their sauces are a little different from Cali Shabs but nonetheless, they are still very good. I like the fact that they have tables for you to sit at with a group of friends. I'm really little so I feel I would need a booster seat to properly be able to see and cook everything in the pot in the middle of the table but that's just me.
They have really good happy hour. 1cent warm sake anyone???
I've been here a few times already & I don't have any complaints.
The food is great, service is great, & the decor is very nice. -
Review from Chris K.
Irvine, CA
5/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good place for shabu shabu.
Came here with some friends for dinner. Service was good and our server was very helpful with the menu options and whatnot.
I really liked their peanut dipping sauce. Didn't care too much for the other one. The meat quality was good and they give a lot of veggies. The sukiyaki broth is an addition $2, but it's worth getting. However, it was a little salty for me. It's cool because they give you a pot where you can have 2 different broths and you can make your own with the different sauces/condiments that they have.
My friend and I got the large short rib option. It was big enough to fill the both of us up. It comes with veggies, meat, udon, and this other noodle made of elephant yam (?). Since we shared, the price wasn't bad, but if you don't, it's around $15-18. And now I'm sitting here feeling really thirsty...Perhaps if you are not into food being too salty, you can dilute the sukiyaki sauce with some water. -
Review from Christina B.
Santa Ana, CA
4/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
I LOOOVE Shabu. This Shabu place rocks from the service to the ambiance to the food. The service is super friendly. Ambiance is SUPER modern and clean. I prefer this place more so than the other Shabu places because it's so modernized and clean here! AND they conveniently have purse hangers if you sit at the bar area. 100 points for the purse hangers. Genius.
I was 100% satisfied with my angus ribeye lunch order. The food is delicious! The veggies are super fresh. The beef is tender. The udon is AHHMAZING and their dipping sauces rock especially the ponzu! AND a little bit of their spice to add into the mix gives it that extra flavorful kick.
Can't wait to come back! I'm getting hungry & craving shabs now.. -
Review from Loller S.
Fountain Valley, CA
5/11/2012
I absolutely love shabu shabu, but while produce/meat quality is an important factor in distinguishing acceptable shabu from delicious shabu, to me the thing that will make one place stand out over the others is the sauces--the sauces can make a place downright addicting.
I knew SWSH existed, but the initial reviews were inconsistent at best, so I avoided it for a while in favor of my go-to. Fast forward to recently, when a friend of my husband's was insistent that SWSH had the best gomae sauce, so I reluctantly agreed to deviate from my go-to and give it a whirl.
To start, the service is perfectly fine, although I got a bit of a vibe that I wasn't trendy enough to be in the presence of the hip waiters and waitresses (it must have been my hair). Presentation and quality of the produce/meat was beautiful, and the perfect rows of sliced meat was novel. The sauces though, did leave something to be desired.
The ponzu was good. Honestly, there's not much more I can say; it was above the quality of the straight out of the bottle stuff, but I've absolutely had better, both locally and out of the general vicinity. The gomae sauce is unfortunately a different story (shabu cred of husband's friend minus two points), in that it was severely tainted with peanuts. Confirmed by one of the waitresses, the peanut aspect far overpowered the sesame flavor, which was rather distracting; if the quality of the produce/meat were lower, perhaps it would be a welcome cover-up, but as this was not the case, I entirely avoided the gomae after my initial taste.
Overall, SWSH is a good place. However, since for a good long while, the only place to get shabu shabu was California Shabu, had SWSH opened a few years ago I'd be a huge fan. Alas, they opened comparably recently, and even though it's a bit further, 100% of the time I'd opt to go Shabu Shabu Bar instead, where everything from the produce/meat quality to the service and ever-important sauces are phenomenal rather than just good. -
Review from Jaimie W.
Costa Mesa, CA
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
My first time having Shabu Shabu was a success! wow! what everyone says about the service is true! the servers are amazing with customer service.We had to wait about 45mins to get a seat but it was well worth it. You can put down your cell number and they will call you when your ready to be seated, so you are able to roam around the plaza to kill time without worring about you spot being given away. The seating is layed out in booths or at a bar. From the bar you are able to see the kitchen through a window. You can see how fresh the meat is because they slice it when you order it. I recommend spliting the large size portion because its a lot of food and the best deal. I had a great experience and I cant wait to return!
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Review from Samuel K.
Claremont, CA
4/18/2012
I was recommended to try SWSH from a friend who is a super foodie. In fact, they told me that this particular restaurant had the very best shabu in Orange County.
Tempted by their bold statement, I decided to give it a try.
Upon arrival, the staff greeted us with smiles. They were friendly, personable and attentive from the very start. They sat us down at the bar facing the flat screen because food and sports is never a bad thing. Half priced appetizers of shrimp tempura and drink specials of beer and sake (from the happy hour menu) held us down as we waited for the shabu pot to come to a boil.
Our main server, Amie was wonderful. She guided me through my shabu experience. I ordered the short-rib regular dinner. Because it was my first time at SWSH, Amie suggested I try the half and half hot pot of sukiyaki and Kombu broth to which I happily obliged. Great decision because when ordering the sukiyaki, it comes with an additional sauce using a raw pasteurized egg (other than the ponzu-soy sauce and sesame sauce).
There was so much variety!!!
The meat was very fresh. A nice ratio of fat to lean that nearly melted in my mouth. The vegetables were also very fresh and perfectly cut. They prepped the food to be proportional to each bite. The soup and noodles at the end were a perfect finish to a lasting meal.
All in all, this restaurant is a fine establishment.
When I go to a restaurant, I want an experience. I want a friendly atmosphere with a staff that cares and is proud about the food they put out. SWSH provided that for me. The ambience was great, the staff was friendly and the food was handled with great love and care. All of these little things done well, made for a positive experience and in my opinion a perfect meal.
I will definitely be back!!! -
Review from Cosmo I.
Irvine, CA
4/18/2012
I've been to Swsh at least 10x already...so to sum it up...I LOVE SWSH!
High quality food! My favorite a combo of angus beef and pork. My husband loves the green tea chocolate fondue.
Excellent service, both from the owners and waitresses. I especially like Jennifer and Cam.
As for the ambience, sleek, modern and clean.
All in all, a great place to hang out and have an excellent meal! -
Review from Deanna W.
Irvine, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I had a great experience at SWSH the other day. The food was great and the customer service I received was just as good. Thankfully the line wasn't huge but I can see how the wait can be long. While we waited for our table they provided us with drinks which was a great touch to the service.
I ordered the Sukiyaki with the combination plate of scallops and rib eye. I have never had Sukiyaki where you cook your own meat and dip it in the egg yoke. The server was very helpful and gave us instructions on how to eat it. Let me tell you, the broth was sweet and delicious. Dipping the meat into the pasteurized egg was the perfect and weird combination. I can't believe I have never had this before. My regular sized combo plate wasn't enough. Next time I will be getting a large or x-large dish. Having Sukiyaki has ruined me forever. Regular Shabu Shabu just won't be enough anymore.
If I had room I will definitely try the green tea fondue! My new favorite Shabu Shabu. Just wish the wait wasn't so long. -
Review from Leesa B.
Huntington Beach, CA
5/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Goma sauce was edible. Ponzu was good. I hate to say this, but I was served too many veggies...I had the vegetarian plate and was served two plates of veggies and I feel bad that I had left overs. Sukiyaki was good, I liked it without the egg. Service was average. Lots of sake. Busy.
Honestly, the goma sauce is what makes it or breaks it for me...and Shabu Shabu Bar in Santa Ana has kick-ass goma sauce. -
Review from Audrey N.
Irvine, CA
5/18/2012
Not bad. Pretty presentation. Servers are scatter brains. We had a group of 4 and like 3 servers. Everyone was confused what's going on.
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Review from Anton E.
Dana Point, CA
4/10/2012
I've been to this place 3x times now, most recently last Monday for dinner. Overall, I really like this place, especially the friendly service. This place also has booths, which is really nice if you have a party of four and don't want to be shouting over everyone at the bar. However, the service at the bar is really good --- probably better than any of the other shabu places I've been to.
I've never had to wait that long to get a seat here, and the food has always been very fresh. The prices are reasonable, and if you bring in a coupon on Monday or Tuesday, you can save some $$$. Honestly, the big draw for me is the location, which is in Diamond Jamboree. Afterward, you can head down to 85 Degrees, or any other of the dessert places.
This restaurant is definitely one of my favorite shabu places right now. Great service, fresh meat, and fresh vegetables. -
Review from Adrian A.
Newport Beach, CA
4/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very fresh shabu ingredients. Veggies looked like they were freshly washed after being picked in a local garden. Meat was not at all like "mystery meat", it was very high quality (unlike another "Chef" establishment in the same center).
Who knew I'd really love the raw egg dipping sauce! So tasty! Also enjoyed the sukiyaki. Fondue finish was great! Plenty of food.
Friendly and attentive staff made this a great experience. Great shabu setup at each table. Nice decor and inviting interior design. Has a cool bar for waiting for a table or just to hang out with friends.
Located in the Diamond Jamboree shopping center and easily one of the best restaurants there!
Highly recommend. -
Review from Vanessa R.
Mission Viejo, CA
4/16/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I have been to SWSH several times since they opened.
One thing that I really like that they offer a lot of different proteins in different serving sizes ( small, large).
The best place to sit would be at the bar. If you sit in a booth, there are only two hot plates (which means people will have to share pans).
One of the major reasons this isn't a 5 star place is that there is VERY limited seating. If the bar and booths are full, you could be waiting for a LONG time.
Also (before I forgot) they take reservations by phone if you call ahead ( learned this the hard way when our group was next, but our booth was given to another group that had called ahead). -
Review from Justin C.
Costa Mesa, CA
4/24/2012
Decent but more expensive than it should be. I tried the spare rib and it was sliced way too thin, like paper. The thinness meant that the meat got cold way too quickly; it couldn't maintain its warm temperature after being dipped in ponzu sauce. The veggies were good and fresh.
Overall, there are much better shabu options in OC for less money.
That being said, the service was excellent- attentive and very friendly. The server made sure we weren't neglected. -
Review from adam b.
5/9/2012
I have been to many Shabu Restaurants and although probably not the best, definitely up there as the meat and veggies were of very high quality. Soup was delicious. Very enjoyable experience.
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Review from Joa K.
3/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
3.75 stars.
This place ain't bad. The service is perfectly fine. The noise level can get pretty high. The vents seem to work well enough. The food is OK by me too. So give and take, under 4 stars but I would probably return someday.
Though I miss eating shabu shabu/sukiyaki sitting around a kotatsu, the large tables and bar area are a nice, clean, and modern take.
I ordered the large rib eye menu item. If you've had shabu shabu or even sukiyaki before, once the water is hot, you know that cooking can be fast and enjoyable. The meat here was decent - the marbling allowed for more tender and soft texture. They give you generous portions of rice, vegetables, and meat so you aren't likely to go hungry. Unless you're a monster....Haha j/k....Anyway, all that soup/broth will fill you up too.
The overall taste and flavors of the noodles and soup are up to the patron - put garlic/onions/green onions or even some of your dipping sauce and vegetables to your desire in your water pot. For the noodles, you get your standard bowl with soup base in it. I normally put some pepper and garlic and mix it around, add some hot water, then the slightly cooked noodles. I feel that this helps avoid any sort of blandness. But, it's up to you really. Some folks use all the veggies, some none at all, some like their noodles unseasoned, some don't, etc.
Maybe I'll come by again soon someday. -
Review from Tony T.
Irvine, CA
4/26/2012
The foods are pricey but not better than other shabu shabu restaurant. I was here last weeked with my daughter. We ordered shabu shabu with a beef plate for my daughter and seafood plate for me. The total bill is around $63 inluding a coke and a small edamame appetizer.
The previous weekend we also ate at Honda Ya Japanese restaurant in Tustin and spent $30 for sushi, udon, yakitori (appetizer) plus tip. If you want an authentic good Japanese restaurant please pay a visit to Honda Ya. -
Review from Peter P.
Stanton, CA
3/26/2012
One of the better shabu places in OC.
The atmosphere is really modern and chill.
The presentation of your meal is fresh, and the meat is even tastier. Definitely high quality meat
I'm infatuated with the egg yolk dip... the sukiyaki is definitely a plus
Valerie is the best and prettiest server hehe -
Review from Leels B.
Irvine, CA
5/7/2012
Delicious! I am on a shabu shabu rampage right now at the moment. The food is good, service is good, quality is very good. The restaurant is very clean as well and I definitely like the set up with booth so you can talk face to face with people rather than talk side to side. They also have a bar area like a normal shabu shabu place where you can eat from your own pot. Food is delicious however, it is a little bit on the pricey side but I guess for the quality its worth it. Definitely worth a try!
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Review from Vanessa H.
Aliso Viejo, CA
Updated - 3/19/2012 4 Check-ins Here
Either sitting at the tables means better service than sitting at the bar, or they have been working out some of the kinks I encountered after coming here close to their opening.
I like that the layout of this restaurant allows for table seating -- a rarity among shabu establishments, as it's not the most efficient use of the space. But from a customer standpoint, I appreciate the option of being able to comfortably eat shabu with more than one other person.
The quality of meat was much better this time around. I got the Angus Ribeye and while it had been dry before, this time was much more tender and easy to cook exactly the way I wanted it. The service was also markedly improved (the wait to be seated and to get food were much more reasonable), and again left me to wonder if I just got the short end of the stick on my previous visit.Listed in: Shabu Shabu in Orange County
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/27/2011
I reserve the right to update my review after more visits. But they still seem to be figuring it… Read more »
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Review from Cindy H.
Los Gatos, CA
4/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I thought this place was ok only because I wasn't impressed with the shabu broth (which was plain hot water). There was no option for all you can eat shabu meat so your meal could easily be 20+ dollars for a single platter of meat/ assorted veggies and udon noodles. I didn't think this was worth the price because I've had a better shabu experience at an all you can eat place in NorCal with a choice of 3 different broths to cook your food in. The flavor here was bland, unless you dipped your food in the accompanying sauces. However, the meet quality was good - I personally didn't believe it was enough for someone who came hungry though.
The decor was very modern for a shabu house - the place is small with a combination of shabu bar and booths that can fit 4 people comfortably. It's a great atmosphere to meet your friends to catch up or even for a first date.
Overall, decent food, nice & friendly service. A bit on the pricey side but it's not bad.
Happy Eating yelpers :D -
Review from Jenn T.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
I was brought to SWSH shabu by the same friend that introduced me to shabu. I started out eating Shabu at California Shabu Shabu, which I loved.
When I was brought here, my friend kept saying, I can't wait until you try the sukiyaki, you're going to love it. I soon learned that sukiyaki was a sweet broth that you could boil your meat and veggies in rather than the plain shabu. I love sweet things. I was obsessed with the sukiyaki. Even though I got the half and half, I only ate the sukiyaki.
As for the rest of the meal, the veggies were fresh, and the meat was pretty good quality, not too fatty. Their soup base is great as well. I also love that they offer brown rice as well as white, that's always a plus for me.
As for price, I think it's pretty standard for shabu, about $20 a person for dinner and $15 for lunch. Though, they tend to have special deals on tehir website, for example they have buy one get one 40% off for Mondays and Tuesdays in March. Just remember to PRINT OUT the coupons!!
All in all, I totally recommend SWSH. (But once again, take this recommendation with a grain of salt because I'm a Persian girl, and I know hardly anything about shabu and such so this might not be the most authentic shabu) -
Review from Eunice K.
4/11/2012 2 photos
FOOD:
-SALMON/BEEF COMBO PLATE - The quality of the salmon here isn't as good as shabu shabu. The beef is sliced really thin, but you can ask for thicker slices if you like.
-SUKIYAKI w/ PASTEURIZED EGG - I can see the appeal of dipping your food in the raw egg, it adds a nice flavor but I prefer the traditional shabu.
-GOMA SUACE - Tasted watered down, the one at Cali shabu is definitely better.
-GREEN TEA FONDUE DESSERT - SOOO good. I would come back to this restaurant just for the dessert and skip out on the shabu. -
Review from Alexandra K.
Irvine, CA
4/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
SWSH has good quality meat, nice portions per price, and very friendly and helpful staff. It's my quick stop for good shabu in Irvine. Otherwise you have to drive to Costa Mesa or Santa Ana...my god I'd drive to Shabu Shabu Bar for their peanut sauce but that's for another review.
During prime time the place is packed, but I haven't felt like I've had to wait ungodly hours to get a table yet. Diamond Jamboree is filled with little stores, 85 Degrees bakery, etc so you can walk around while you wait for your table. Maybe you can walk next door to Plush karaoke and sing some songs; unleash the inner diva before dinnertime.
Make sure you print out your coupon or else it will not be valid. I've yet to do this because...I never print shit. It's 2012. Just iphone validate, people.
Parking may look intimidating but people are always going in and out so you just have to stop DRIVING and wait. Someone will leave. Check out the parking garage behind the place and it will lead you right to the restaurant by elevator. =) -
Review from Alice L.
Huntington Beach, CA
5/5/2012 2 Check-ins Here
One of my new fave spot to go for shabu. There meat quality is the shizzzz (short rib and there prime) !! They also have the option to sukiyaki and its a sweet flavored broth that i personal like and comes with a raw egg dipping sauce but, i think it get a bit too sweet when it come to the udon part. Try out there green tea fondue pretty BOMBBBB ! I also love that there booths there rather then just a bar to be seated at ! =)
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Review from Marissa L.
Irvine, CA
4/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
5 STAR EXPERIENCE! It's funny how customer service can positively or negatively impact how you feel about a place.
1 Star - They let us slide in for a late night dinner when they didn't have to. We must've looked like puppies in a pet store window.
1 Star - I liked the ambiance. The pretty pink cherry blossom tree on a white wall, the masks on shelves on another, the sake bottles displayed on the bar wall with different background lights. It's cute & cozy inside. The only time it got loud...people drinking lots of Sake :). But if you can't stand noise, then don't go to places that serve alcohol.
1 Star - Service was exceptional! Our server had been working here since they opened so she knew her stuff. She was AMAZING! Even one of the two owners was working late night on the weekend. Usually most restaurants have their underlings (ie managers) working so it's a nice sight to meet an actual owner working their establishment.
1 Star - Beautiful meat & veggie spread. I'm no Shabu genius but roomie has been a regular attendee of Shabu joints for years and he was pretty happy with the spread. I asked our server what was the most popular...rib eye meat & rib eye rib meat. I decided to go with both and scallops (4 or 5 pieces I believe) 6 oz. choice for $18.50 which was the cheapest/smallest option. Tons of veggies (which kept their beautiful color until you ate them), 2 kinds of noodles plus a bowl of rice (brown or white). I was concerned that my bottomless pit of a stomach would not find satisfaction but man, I was done by the time I ate it all. Comfortably full.
1 Star - overall tummy happiness! Huge plus down the street from home.
Can't wait to go again and take the hunny. Thanks for the great 1st impression! -
Review from Jennie N.
4/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I really like this place but there was something wrong with the short rib. The gamey odor was so bad it was worst than lamb. I thought I was given bad meat but it didn't smell until it was cooked which puzzled me. I was obviously unhappy because I had to hold my breath every time I took a bite and towards the end, I had a nasty taste in my mouth.
Despite that, they still get 4 stars because everything else was super. I enjoyed my plate of veggies and pretended like it was meat that smelled good :( I loved the goma sauce. The gyoza was crunchy and tasty. My bf had kurobuta pork and that tasted so much better. I should've gotten the ribeye...or just anything but the short rib. If I don't get a stomachache in the next 24 hours, I'll come back sometime. -
Review from Pillin L.
I never knew the difference between shabu shabu and hot pot. Enter my Chinese girlfriend who schooled me on it. Shabu shabu is a Japanese version of hot pot meaning swish swish. While hot pot is cooked in flavored broth, shabu shabu is cooked in water with your choice of flavoring. Although I feel that hot pot is more flavorful, shabu shabu is good in its own sense. You just rely more on the dipping sauce when in hot pot, you can eat your food straight from the pot.
Swsh was my first shabu shabu experience and it surely did set the standard high. The servers were very helpful being that my girlfriend and I were shabu virgins. She walked us through everything from flavoring our broth to how it should be eaten and with which sauces. We were oh so thankful for her help. The veggies and meat were super fresh. We decided to get a medium order or the rib eye and short rib. Both were very good and a hefty portion. Rib eye was meaty and delicious and the short rib was very tender and flavorful. I loved the veggies. It was crisp and the ponzu dipping sauce was delicious. I added two spicy drops to my sauce and it gave it just the right amount of kick. The other sauce was some sort of peanut sauce. I thought it tasted really weird on its own because it was really peanutty, but when I dipped the meat in it, it was a match made in heaven. Sure my mouth is still burnt from 3 days ago, but it was very worth. Next time, I won't shove food in my mouth that just came out of a hot pot of boiling water. Lesson learned. After you're done with your meat and veggies, you get to throw your udon and glass noodles in. They then turn your shabu shabu into udon soup. It's like having 2 meals! I thought the udon was a little too soft and overcooked, but the flavor of the broth was perfect. They add the soup base and you just add whatever is leftover in your pot to it.
The restaurant is small so it can get pretty busy, but for a Friday night, we only waited for 30 minutes. You get the option of putting your phone number down and they'll call you when your table is ready. This is nice if you want to mosey around the DJ plaza.
I'm definitely a fan of Swsh. I love interactive foods so cooking up my own food is right up my sleeve. This is a great place to take a date to linger over a long meal. It's a fun and hip restaurant, and the food definitely speaks for itself.Listed in: DJ Plaza, Shabu Shabu/Hot Pot
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Review from Ria B.
Orange, CA
3/20/2012
Be wary of sketchy management. Let me explain...
My friends and I have shabu'd here before. We each got an email with the coupon promotion of of Buy one get 40% off the 2nd entree. We also saw the coupon on Yelp (http://s3-media3.ak.ye...) so it seemed legit. Off to the restaurant we go.
The four of us sat down to lunch and told our waitress we were here for the 40% offer. We showed the coupon on our phones. She nodded and took our orders.
There are a lot of stipulations on this coupon but we took care to follow them all:
1. Only on Mon. Tue. - - here on Tuesday OK
2. Valid only with coupon - - waitress acknowledged offer OK
3. Expires on 3/31 - - here on 3/20 OK
4. Not valid with any other offer - - none other OK
5. Entree must be equal or lesser value -- We all ordered same $19 Large Ribeye OK
Cut to after lunch, manager says SORRY ONLY ONE DISCOUNT. You are supposed to each bring a printout of the coupon to get the offer. Here's your check. Pay up buddy.
WHAT?? Nothing in your coupon above said "Kindly bring a paper printout of the coupon." Instead the staff took our orders, licking their lips greedily thinking of the money they'd be pocketing from us. Had they told us beforehand, we would have even run back and printed a paper coupon, we were that interested in having shabu lunch with you guys. But clearly there is too much red tape to eat here.
Bye SWSH. Unless you refund my credit card the 40% you owe me, we are not eating here again.
Sincerely,
Frustrated shabu'er
P.S. I'm totally going to Shabu Shabu Bar in Santa Ana on Wednesday and will yell HUMP DAY with all my might! I know the folks over there know how to do a shabu promo right. -
Review from Kristen C.
Irvine, CA
3/28/2012
Love shabs, love this place.
The service is unbeatable. I always get the combination plate because I can't make up my mind. The sukiyaki is amazing, better than the shabu shabu! I always get quick service here even without a reservation. Just beware of the Diamond Jamboree parking lot. You might not get out alive!!
