06/04/08

Great Shabu Shabu

by violet101

We went there for a lunch and had a good time and a great meal. Have the person behind the counter create the dipping sauce for you. It made the food so much more tastier!

• Pros: Fun Shabu Shabu Experience

Things boil over at this popular shabu-shabu eatery where guests cook their own meat, seafood and veggies.

by Mar Yvette

In Short
Walking into this bustling corner restaurant on Sawtelle is like experiencing a little slice of Tokyo by way of L.A. Japanese patrons from 18 to 80 sit atop bar stools lining the enormous circular countertop, while small bubbling pots of water percolate invitingly. The shabu-shabu menu features noodles, meat, seafood and vegetables (all available in higher priced organic varieties)that guests can cook in the simmering pots of broth that are customized with spicy oil, tangy ponzu or sesame sauce.

11/18/07

Care for some $20 cabbage???

by marpop

After realizing Asahi Ramen was closed, we decided to give this cool-looking corner shabu-shabu a try. The ambiance is great -- the wraparound counter-seating (each equipped with its own boiler) allows for great people-watching. But a fun setting only goes so far. I eat at a lot of pricey restaurants, but looking at the menu, I could not believe the prices. I mean, $18 for a plate of uncooked veggies and tofu??! Give me a break!! Even worse, the so-called veggies were actually a handful of cabbage leaves and a single SMALL piece of squash !! What a freakin' joke! Oh, and if you want meat or seafood? Expect the price to double! Everything is presented to you raw and uncooked (that's what the boiling pots of water are for) and while that is a fun way to actually participate in your meal, it really is not worth the price. My advice: wait for Asahi on a day it's open and save your cash. This is the last time I spend almost a hundred bucks on cabbage!

• Pros: Great setting, nice service
• Cons: Prices are ridiculous for what you get

07/27/07

Best Shabu Shabu in LA

by mechemist

This is the absolutely best Shabu Shabu in LA! The food is fresh, the sauces are absolutely addicting, and the service is great. We have been going nearly every week for quite a while and have never had a bad meal. The servers are very friendly and will make your sauce for you if you ask. If you go for the first time, don't be shy and ask them the best way to do everything. We always see them helping newcomers. Have some dessert also - quite a treat!

• Pros: Great food, friendly service

04/12/07

Not overly pricy.

by loftyjoy

Good place for a nice hot shabu shabu without breaking the bank!

Service is so-so, but not a bad place to bring a date!

• Pros: good place for shabu, not overly pricy. valet parking in the back.
• Cons: service is just ok.. not a place to bring a big party or kids.

01/22/07

Standard shabu shabu

by cartrinh

I eat here all the time because I love shabu shabu and because it is close to my place. It's expensive so I only come during lunch. Dinner is a rip off. It's just your typical shabu shabu. Nothing fancy.

11/15/06

I didn't like it

by dmenkes

Perhaps I'm jaded as I'd never tried shabu shabu, but to pay $27/person for boiled water and cabbage seems a trifle odd. Their large Felix the Cat painting in the back was interesting, as well as the overal extreme cleanliness, almost sterile atmosphere. It was very quiet and we felt a bit awkward as we didn't know exactly what to do, other than start boiling everything in front of us. Perhaps if I came back with someone who was proficient in the ways of shabu-shabu, I might have a better time. But I'm not very anxious to spend that kind of money on "poor people" food again.

• Pros: neat inside
• Cons: sterile, expensive

05/18/06

A Slick, Urban Take on Shabu-Shabu

by debaoki

Shabu-shabu (named roughly after the sound that's made when you swish around meat, seafood or veggies in hot broth or water) is a lesser-known branch of Japanese cuisine, but it's a fun, tummy-warming meal. Mizu 212 ("mizu" = "water") takes this traditional dish and serves it up in an airy, modern setting that's almost date-worthy. Order a platter of thinly sliced raw beef, mushrooms, tofu or veggies, and slip them into the bowl of boiling hot water or broth (kept hot hot hot by a burner inside your tabletop). Swish it around until it's cooked for a few seconds (or minutes if you prefer) then retrieve it, dip it in the accompanying sauces and enjoy with a bowl of hot white rice. After you're done, the broth/water in the pot makes for a satisfying meal-ending soup.

• Pros: fun to cook, airy, modern decor, cool neighborhood
• Cons: can be pricey, street parking, sometimes crowded

03/17/06

Best shabu shabu

by babeehanul

The cleanest shabu shabu place in L.A. I really like the minimalist/urban decor and the picture of felix the cat. They carry a variety of Japanese sake (cold and hot) as well as beer. I prefer this place over any other shabu shabu restaurant in Little Tokyo (they need a makeover and too crowded) and the quality is much better than Koji's (Hollywood/Highland). There's a parking lot in the back of the plaza. I'm a fan of shabu shabu so I've tried a few places but I always come back to Mizu 212~

• Pros: Clean, Parking lot, Sauces!
• Cons: Small Meat Portions

11/12/05

DIY---Cook It Yourself!!

by patata0680

That's fun...Shabu Shabu, so you can make your own food. The portions aren't that big but not that bad either...The setting is really nice and the food is tasty. Worth a try!

• Pros: shabu shabu, setting
• Cons: parking