Other than the weird early 2000s pop music, it was a very nice experience. The meat and veggies were fresh and delicious. The broths were flavorful and well spiced. Unfortunately, I finished everything so fast that I didn't have a chance to take a photo of the well prepared food. Perfect place to take your friends, loved ones, and significant other! Very very nice Japanese hot pot!Vegetarian options: Made to order
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki, Brisket, Beef Toro, Spicy Miso, Miso Broth for Hot Pot
Faith
Great vibe, food, service, & company! Ordered the spicy miso broth w/ large marinated flat iron Angus beef, was delish, veggies are unlimited but there's room for improvement on the selection, recommendation is to order XL on the meat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki, Spicy Miso
Park N.
Worst service ever. The server forgot our orders 2x Save ur money and go somewhere else
Fooey24
Great lil hot pot spot and kinda tiny though but other then that it was a fun experience. The food was delicious and same with the marinated meat.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot
Lex Inter
It was one of my best experience at a restaurant. The manager and the server were always asking to see what we need. The broth and meat tastes amazing. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki
Rex J.
I legit come here 3 times a week because it's amazing and the service is top notch.I've gotten to know Jenny in particular and also Nick of recent since I always see them here. They have some of the best customer service. I'll be honest, the service really helps amplify my desire to come. Shabu by nature has a lot of moving parts so they've taught me different shabu combinations and are always super attentive.I would say it's my favorite restaurant in OC to date and I will continue come!
Andrew K.
Just left one of the best shabu meals I've ever had in Orange County. Mokkoji beats out Shabuya, Tabu Shabu, DaDa and Cal Shabu (all local competitor restaurants worthy in their own right). Small, modest, but CHILL. It's not often you sit at a restaurant and you immediately feel the entire staff functions not just as a team but also as a family. The customer service was gracious and down to hang. Special shout out to Jenny and Steven who walked us through the menu and treated us to a chefs kiss of an experienceWhereas some hot pot places focus more on a cafeteria vibe, offering paper thin meat slices and unexplained meal ingredients - think loud and hectic serve yourself concepts who'd rather leave their customers to wander the Shabu wilderness with the hit or miss experience of a build-your-own meal - Mokkoji emphasizes quality over quantity with its food. The meal came with a full spread of veggies; enoki mushrooms, carrot, pumpkin, kale, cabbage, bok choy, tofu, and with complimentary extra bok choy and cabbage for the veggie lovers. The Goma was on point, it had a slightly sweeter taste, which I personally enjoyed. The meat, although not as thick of a slice as it could have been, was selected and marinated perfectly - texturally small but tastefully prepared. The marinade itself getting just barely beaten out by it's very delicious broth counterpart. A lot of larger places will focus on getting you a hot bowl of mass produced and often watered down soup hoping to hide behind their sauces and soju, not so on Mokkoji's watch. My idea of savory has been unexpectedly updated by this small, unassuming strip mall concept, punching well above its weight class. And if all of that wasn't enough, our full meal for two with a few beers on the side amounted to roughly $70. And yes I consider that a steal for the quality of the meal. 5 stars well deserved.
Han P.
This review is for 1/5/24 around 8:55pm! We joined the waitlist around 8ish. Got a text that said to check in by 8:45pm. It was my bf first time here so i wanted him to experience a nice shabu (: We asked to sit outside which wasn't too cold either, it felt nice with the portable heater and by the fountain (: What we ordered 1. We both ordered spicy miso as our soup base MY FAV2. My bf ordered the NY meat L added on more udon3. I ordered the Toro (L) added on quail eggs and a side order of the flat iron cut. Each meat was marinaded! 4. Garlic edamame to share & ofc a strawberry yogurt soju to share ! 5. We also ended ordering a regular size order of toro to fill us up! If you prefer a nice fatty meat with your broth i highly recommend the toro cut! Soo delicious! The flat iron cut was less fatty but still so enjoyable . The soju was too smooth haha we unfortunately couldn't finish it because we were so full! The ny cut is more meatier and less fatty! I recommend everyone to get the meats marinated. We also haded 1 hot drop each to our sauce and damn! They weren't joking when the waiter said it was spicy! Overall we enjoyed a nice shabu dinner on a nice chilly evening! Each meal comes with a rice bowl and complimentary veggies! Def will be coming back again ! Shoutout to our server for being super helpful, welcoming and attentive! Sorry i forgot to ask your name LOL
Chu Y.
Don't get me wrong, this place tastes really good but this location specifically gave my friend and I a really bad stomachache/headache. We both got the same thing: spicy pork broth with toro "fatty belly". After we finished, my friend's stomach started hurting really bad and I got a huge headache that lasted hours. I'm not sure if this was a bad batch of food, but it was not enjoyable afterwards. I have been to the Irvine location and that one did not give me any issues.
Erin Y.
Service was great, food came really quickly and we never needed to go out of our way to get help.The place is not too big so there is a longer wait at night but definitely worth it. As far as soup base, the pork bone is great but there is a $5 upcharge. Does get a bit pricey for the upgrades but it does taste great.
Mokkoji is consistently my favorite hot pot restaurant in OC! I especially love the Costa Mesa location with its outdoor seating. I definitely recommend joining the waitlist ahead of time because there is limited seating and the wait gets long on weekends. My favorite broth is the sukiyaki which comes with a side of raw egg or spicy pork. I also usually go for the toro with extra marinade- the quality of the meat makes it way better than AYCE hot pot. Definitely recommend getting the share plate as it's plenty for two people. There is also a new policy with a "share charge" if you try to split something smaller than a share plate- which I personally think is not worth it. I do like how you get your own pot and refills on veggies. Overall, such a great shabu spot!
N Hang
We went to Mokkoji Garden Grove and the food was so good. But this time, we ordered the same, flat iron Mokkoji cut and original broth. The flat iron Mokkoji cut is good but the broth is like water, we asked several times but had the same answer: the broth is like that! I wonder why they call it broth? It's water! They did not even ask us if we needed some drop of spicy like they did with others. Guys what's going on? You've ruined my friend's birthday! So disappointed!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Flat Iron 'Mokkoji Cut' Angus Beef
Bally L.
My favorite spot to get Shabu Shabu in Orange County! I've been to their locations around the area-- Irvine, Garden Grove, and Costa Mesa. My go-to order is the spicy miso soup and the fatty toro belly. My friend and I order the share size and that's more than enough food for two. You get your own individual soup and a controllable stove top warmer. It also comes with a side of rice, udon, and veggies (carrots, greens, mushrooms, tofu). They allow free refills on certain veggies. The cooked meat plus their ponzu sauce is delicious! The spicy miso broth after it's been seasoned by everything else you've cooked is extremely rich and home-y. Depending on if you come during peak meal times (lunch/dinner), there may be a wait. Mokkoji is the perfect spot for cold weather if you're craving hot pot or something soupy in general.
Bee B.
My pics aren't the greatest lol--- and I also didn't even bother taking pictures of the pork belly plate we ordered either. So hungry. Oops! First time trying this place and our experience was pretty positive overall. Enjoyed ourselves very much. Arrived and was told 30 min wait for inside and no wait for outside seating. We sat outside and they turned on the heaters for us. We ordered the 3 option combo: brisket, shrimp, salmon and an extra plate of pork belly, spicy miso broth. We got meats marinated and it was delicious and extremely flavorful. The quality of meat was excellent, tender, and juicy. It came with two sauces and a bowl of preset udon, veggies, and tofu for each person. Our food came out in a timely manner and staff were attentive. They had many people working and helping/ doing different things, so things moved rather quickly and efficiently. Everyone was really nice tbh and I don't have anything negative to say. I'll definitely come back and hopefully get a table inside next time!We were kind of confused and had questions like solving a math problem (haha) with the chart they had, but our server was patient, although I'm sure he was "WTF" in his mind, but understanding and explained to us. So sorry--- first timer here.
I Kan
The high quality of meat and the services were so nice . Thank you for making our 1st time visit great.
Other than the weird early 2000s pop music, it was a very nice experience. The meat and veggies were fresh and delicious. The broths were flavorful and well spiced. Unfortunately, I finished everything so fast that I didn't have a chance to take a photo of the well prepared food. Perfect place to take your friends, loved ones, and significant other! Very very nice Japanese hot pot!Vegetarian options: Made to order
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki, Brisket, Beef Toro, Spicy Miso, Miso Broth for Hot Pot
Great vibe, food, service, & company! Ordered the spicy miso broth w/ large marinated flat iron Angus beef, was delish, veggies are unlimited but there's room for improvement on the selection, recommendation is to order XL on the meat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki, Spicy Miso
Worst service ever. The server forgot our orders 2x Save ur money and go somewhere else
Great lil hot pot spot and kinda tiny though but other then that it was a fun experience. The food was delicious and same with the marinated meat.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot
It was one of my best experience at a restaurant. The manager and the server were always asking to see what we need. The broth and meat tastes amazing. ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Sukiyaki
I legit come here 3 times a week because it's amazing and the service is top notch.I've gotten to know Jenny in particular and also Nick of recent since I always see them here. They have some of the best customer service. I'll be honest, the service really helps amplify my desire to come. Shabu by nature has a lot of moving parts so they've taught me different shabu combinations and are always super attentive.I would say it's my favorite restaurant in OC to date and I will continue come!
Just left one of the best shabu meals I've ever had in Orange County. Mokkoji beats out Shabuya, Tabu Shabu, DaDa and Cal Shabu (all local competitor restaurants worthy in their own right). Small, modest, but CHILL. It's not often you sit at a restaurant and you immediately feel the entire staff functions not just as a team but also as a family. The customer service was gracious and down to hang. Special shout out to Jenny and Steven who walked us through the menu and treated us to a chefs kiss of an experienceWhereas some hot pot places focus more on a cafeteria vibe, offering paper thin meat slices and unexplained meal ingredients - think loud and hectic serve yourself concepts who'd rather leave their customers to wander the Shabu wilderness with the hit or miss experience of a build-your-own meal - Mokkoji emphasizes quality over quantity with its food. The meal came with a full spread of veggies; enoki mushrooms, carrot, pumpkin, kale, cabbage, bok choy, tofu, and with complimentary extra bok choy and cabbage for the veggie lovers. The Goma was on point, it had a slightly sweeter taste, which I personally enjoyed. The meat, although not as thick of a slice as it could have been, was selected and marinated perfectly - texturally small but tastefully prepared. The marinade itself getting just barely beaten out by it's very delicious broth counterpart. A lot of larger places will focus on getting you a hot bowl of mass produced and often watered down soup hoping to hide behind their sauces and soju, not so on Mokkoji's watch. My idea of savory has been unexpectedly updated by this small, unassuming strip mall concept, punching well above its weight class. And if all of that wasn't enough, our full meal for two with a few beers on the side amounted to roughly $70. And yes I consider that a steal for the quality of the meal. 5 stars well deserved.
This review is for 1/5/24 around 8:55pm! We joined the waitlist around 8ish. Got a text that said to check in by 8:45pm. It was my bf first time here so i wanted him to experience a nice shabu (: We asked to sit outside which wasn't too cold either, it felt nice with the portable heater and by the fountain (: What we ordered 1. We both ordered spicy miso as our soup base MY FAV2. My bf ordered the NY meat L added on more udon3. I ordered the Toro (L) added on quail eggs and a side order of the flat iron cut. Each meat was marinaded! 4. Garlic edamame to share & ofc a strawberry yogurt soju to share ! 5. We also ended ordering a regular size order of toro to fill us up! If you prefer a nice fatty meat with your broth i highly recommend the toro cut! Soo delicious! The flat iron cut was less fatty but still so enjoyable . The soju was too smooth haha we unfortunately couldn't finish it because we were so full! The ny cut is more meatier and less fatty! I recommend everyone to get the meats marinated. We also haded 1 hot drop each to our sauce and damn! They weren't joking when the waiter said it was spicy! Overall we enjoyed a nice shabu dinner on a nice chilly evening! Each meal comes with a rice bowl and complimentary veggies! Def will be coming back again ! Shoutout to our server for being super helpful, welcoming and attentive! Sorry i forgot to ask your name LOL
Don't get me wrong, this place tastes really good but this location specifically gave my friend and I a really bad stomachache/headache. We both got the same thing: spicy pork broth with toro "fatty belly". After we finished, my friend's stomach started hurting really bad and I got a huge headache that lasted hours. I'm not sure if this was a bad batch of food, but it was not enjoyable afterwards. I have been to the Irvine location and that one did not give me any issues.
Service was great, food came really quickly and we never needed to go out of our way to get help.The place is not too big so there is a longer wait at night but definitely worth it. As far as soup base, the pork bone is great but there is a $5 upcharge. Does get a bit pricey for the upgrades but it does taste great.
Restaurantji Recommends
Mokkoji is consistently my favorite hot pot restaurant in OC! I especially love the Costa Mesa location with its outdoor seating. I definitely recommend joining the waitlist ahead of time because there is limited seating and the wait gets long on weekends. My favorite broth is the sukiyaki which comes with a side of raw egg or spicy pork. I also usually go for the toro with extra marinade- the quality of the meat makes it way better than AYCE hot pot. Definitely recommend getting the share plate as it's plenty for two people. There is also a new policy with a "share charge" if you try to split something smaller than a share plate- which I personally think is not worth it. I do like how you get your own pot and refills on veggies. Overall, such a great shabu spot!
We went to Mokkoji Garden Grove and the food was so good. But this time, we ordered the same, flat iron Mokkoji cut and original broth. The flat iron Mokkoji cut is good but the broth is like water, we asked several times but had the same answer: the broth is like that! I wonder why they call it broth? It's water! They did not even ask us if we needed some drop of spicy like they did with others. Guys what's going on? You've ruined my friend's birthday! So disappointed!
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Flat Iron 'Mokkoji Cut' Angus Beef
My favorite spot to get Shabu Shabu in Orange County! I've been to their locations around the area-- Irvine, Garden Grove, and Costa Mesa. My go-to order is the spicy miso soup and the fatty toro belly. My friend and I order the share size and that's more than enough food for two. You get your own individual soup and a controllable stove top warmer. It also comes with a side of rice, udon, and veggies (carrots, greens, mushrooms, tofu). They allow free refills on certain veggies. The cooked meat plus their ponzu sauce is delicious! The spicy miso broth after it's been seasoned by everything else you've cooked is extremely rich and home-y. Depending on if you come during peak meal times (lunch/dinner), there may be a wait. Mokkoji is the perfect spot for cold weather if you're craving hot pot or something soupy in general.
My pics aren't the greatest lol--- and I also didn't even bother taking pictures of the pork belly plate we ordered either. So hungry. Oops! First time trying this place and our experience was pretty positive overall. Enjoyed ourselves very much. Arrived and was told 30 min wait for inside and no wait for outside seating. We sat outside and they turned on the heaters for us. We ordered the 3 option combo: brisket, shrimp, salmon and an extra plate of pork belly, spicy miso broth. We got meats marinated and it was delicious and extremely flavorful. The quality of meat was excellent, tender, and juicy. It came with two sauces and a bowl of preset udon, veggies, and tofu for each person. Our food came out in a timely manner and staff were attentive. They had many people working and helping/ doing different things, so things moved rather quickly and efficiently. Everyone was really nice tbh and I don't have anything negative to say. I'll definitely come back and hopefully get a table inside next time!We were kind of confused and had questions like solving a math problem (haha) with the chart they had, but our server was patient, although I'm sure he was "WTF" in his mind, but understanding and explained to us. So sorry--- first timer here.
The high quality of meat and the services were so nice . Thank you for making our 1st time visit great.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5