Very friendly and attentive staff! My wife got the Tonkatsu broth and a splash of the Spicy Miso broth. It's fairly spicy but manageable. She wished they had just regular Miso broth that could be added to provide more salt but less spice. Next time she would get the same but get even more Tonkatsu to provide more saltiness. I tried the sweet Sukiyaki broth with a splash of Spicy Miso broth to it. It was fine. Next time I would get what my wife got. But I'd ask for a little side bowl of some Sukiyaki to dip my vegetables in after I cook them, and to pour a bit on my rice. You can customize your vegetables by substituting in onions and mushrooms for other items you don't care for. We each got the large 10oz Prime Beef Ribeye. In hindsight, my wife only needed a Regular 7oz. They provide a variety of additional mix-ins like garlic, green onion, daikon radish, soy sauce, chili oil, ponzu sauce, peanut sauce. Ambience is modern and inviting.
Thiyada T.
Cal shabu has never disappointed me. It's the best Shabu in OC. High quality prime steak, delicious sukiyaki broth. The restaurant is nice and clean. Gtrat service!
Steven W.
What started out as trying a new shabu place has turned into one of my regular favorites. Not only do they provide a traditional Japanese shabu experience, the customer service here is extraordinary. The sukiyaki and spicy miso broth add an amazing flavor to their great cuts of meats. Joe and Bao give you and experience every time and treat you like you're eating dinner at a small family gathering. Please make sure you come by and give them a try
Jeffrey L.
This location is great. The location was clean. The portions were incredible. I got the King Kong prime rib, and nearly laughed out loud when I saw how much they give me. The staff was ON IT. Anytime I was short on something, they were there. I did come just before dinner, so there was a fair amount of prepping going on. Might not do that again. The very nice woman helping me was not very focused due to stacking dishes and getting things ready for a rush. No biggie. The experience left me extremely happy.
Sheila Paikai ..
The quality of their food is awesome and the staff is so helpful. Learned how to mix sauces and tried something different called jelly fish. Definitely gonna be back for more this time with the BF.
Mike P.
Daunte is an amazing sweet awesome dude. Makes you feel like you are family and really takes care of you. Heidi is generous and always looks after us to make sure our meal is perfect. Emaly is such great humor and makes us laugh. She helped us improve our shabu experience!!!!!
The Dave Cave
Great food. Excellent staff! We were traveling in the area and stopped in. Never heard of Shabu, but the staff was so kind to explain the whole process. Lots of different options. Great for families with different tastes. Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
VB
Great service, it was my first time trying shabu and they were very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot, Dipping Sauces
Koa Smith
Great service that was quick and helpful and kind. Everything was fresh.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Miso Broth
Michelle K.
Dante is thee best! Every time we come it's so fun and he's so attentive! We come here for the environment and we love it. Not only is the food amazing, customer service is point. Bad reviews made is because they don't understand Asian culture...when the owner includes you and knows you by name it's an honor in our culture.
Good service and tasty Shabu. I had the Choice Beef Ribeye. I paid extra for the spicy miso broth. Had a good and pleasant dinner here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Miso Broth
Emma P.
I enjoy Japanese shabu from time to time whether its a la carte or ayce, but my favorite place for shabu has to be here. Maybe its the taste of the food or the service that is usually friendly, but I always have a good time. A regular size meal will you fill you up! I usually do seafood shabu with salmon and shrimp. The shrimp I received last time was big and plump. I just get the regular broth and add sauces and condiments to flavor it up and it tastes fine. I usually get brown rice, which is cooked well here; it's nice and fluffy. Their peanut/sesame dipping sauce is a lot better than most places in my opinion. They also have an assortment of ice cream flavors to end your meal with. Hot or cold sake as well as beer is available for those who want to drink. Tasty shabu, friendly workers, and a good time sounds like win-win to me. I am literally craving for it again while writing this review even though I had it just yesterday!
Maika T.
I am a regular customer here. I have been eating here for more than 18 years and every visits were good until last night. The waiter was drunk and he made too much noise, laughed and acted like a little kid. He apologized to me and my husband for being so loud then continued doing so. It was such a torture time for us while seating there but since we already ordered foods. We just can not leave; during a dinner time. We had to witnessed his pathetic behavior and his pitchy voice. I do not know his name but the guy in black, wearing a Gucci bracelet or something. He just killed the precious time that we had last night. Totally, disrespectful and lack of professionalism. The worst customer service ever!!!
L T
I went there for the first time in 21 years with a friend from when I was stationed there. The design and seating arrangement have not changed at all. It tastes good too! Triple the price! It was nostalgic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Mariah C.
I haven't been to Cal Shabu for years. I happened to be in the area, so I decided to pop in around the lunch hour. Was greeted and seated quickly, the guy cutting the meat, thankfully not the cheese :) was very friendly and knowledgeable. The server had our menu in hand, sauces and veggies on the table faster than you have just read this paragraph. I decided on the Choice Beef Ribeye Prime and did not disappoint. The sauces were on point and the brown rice was soft. Unlike other Shabu places, the brown rice always seems undercooked.My only gripe is, I wish they provided more vegetables such as broccoli, Bok Choy or even Spinach.My ravenous appetite was defiantly satisfied. As Arnold would say...."I'll be back!"RANDOM FACT: Shabu-shabu, also spelled syabu-syabu
Very friendly and attentive staff! My wife got the Tonkatsu broth and a splash of the Spicy Miso broth. It's fairly spicy but manageable. She wished they had just regular Miso broth that could be added to provide more salt but less spice. Next time she would get the same but get even more Tonkatsu to provide more saltiness. I tried the sweet Sukiyaki broth with a splash of Spicy Miso broth to it. It was fine. Next time I would get what my wife got. But I'd ask for a little side bowl of some Sukiyaki to dip my vegetables in after I cook them, and to pour a bit on my rice. You can customize your vegetables by substituting in onions and mushrooms for other items you don't care for. We each got the large 10oz Prime Beef Ribeye. In hindsight, my wife only needed a Regular 7oz. They provide a variety of additional mix-ins like garlic, green onion, daikon radish, soy sauce, chili oil, ponzu sauce, peanut sauce. Ambience is modern and inviting.
Cal shabu has never disappointed me. It's the best Shabu in OC. High quality prime steak, delicious sukiyaki broth. The restaurant is nice and clean. Gtrat service!
What started out as trying a new shabu place has turned into one of my regular favorites. Not only do they provide a traditional Japanese shabu experience, the customer service here is extraordinary. The sukiyaki and spicy miso broth add an amazing flavor to their great cuts of meats. Joe and Bao give you and experience every time and treat you like you're eating dinner at a small family gathering. Please make sure you come by and give them a try
This location is great. The location was clean. The portions were incredible. I got the King Kong prime rib, and nearly laughed out loud when I saw how much they give me. The staff was ON IT. Anytime I was short on something, they were there. I did come just before dinner, so there was a fair amount of prepping going on. Might not do that again. The very nice woman helping me was not very focused due to stacking dishes and getting things ready for a rush. No biggie. The experience left me extremely happy.
The quality of their food is awesome and the staff is so helpful. Learned how to mix sauces and tried something different called jelly fish. Definitely gonna be back for more this time with the BF.
Daunte is an amazing sweet awesome dude. Makes you feel like you are family and really takes care of you. Heidi is generous and always looks after us to make sure our meal is perfect. Emaly is such great humor and makes us laugh. She helped us improve our shabu experience!!!!!
Great food. Excellent staff! We were traveling in the area and stopped in. Never heard of Shabu, but the staff was so kind to explain the whole process. Lots of different options. Great for families with different tastes. Definitely recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great service, it was my first time trying shabu and they were very friendly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot, Dipping Sauces
Great service that was quick and helpful and kind. Everything was fresh.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Miso Broth
Dante is thee best! Every time we come it's so fun and he's so attentive! We come here for the environment and we love it. Not only is the food amazing, customer service is point. Bad reviews made is because they don't understand Asian culture...when the owner includes you and knows you by name it's an honor in our culture.
Restaurantji Recommends
Good service and tasty Shabu. I had the Choice Beef Ribeye. I paid extra for the spicy miso broth. Had a good and pleasant dinner here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Miso Broth
I enjoy Japanese shabu from time to time whether its a la carte or ayce, but my favorite place for shabu has to be here. Maybe its the taste of the food or the service that is usually friendly, but I always have a good time. A regular size meal will you fill you up! I usually do seafood shabu with salmon and shrimp. The shrimp I received last time was big and plump. I just get the regular broth and add sauces and condiments to flavor it up and it tastes fine. I usually get brown rice, which is cooked well here; it's nice and fluffy. Their peanut/sesame dipping sauce is a lot better than most places in my opinion. They also have an assortment of ice cream flavors to end your meal with. Hot or cold sake as well as beer is available for those who want to drink. Tasty shabu, friendly workers, and a good time sounds like win-win to me. I am literally craving for it again while writing this review even though I had it just yesterday!
I am a regular customer here. I have been eating here for more than 18 years and every visits were good until last night. The waiter was drunk and he made too much noise, laughed and acted like a little kid. He apologized to me and my husband for being so loud then continued doing so. It was such a torture time for us while seating there but since we already ordered foods. We just can not leave; during a dinner time. We had to witnessed his pathetic behavior and his pitchy voice. I do not know his name but the guy in black, wearing a Gucci bracelet or something. He just killed the precious time that we had last night. Totally, disrespectful and lack of professionalism. The worst customer service ever!!!
I went there for the first time in 21 years with a friend from when I was stationed there. The design and seating arrangement have not changed at all. It tastes good too! Triple the price! It was nostalgic.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
I haven't been to Cal Shabu for years. I happened to be in the area, so I decided to pop in around the lunch hour. Was greeted and seated quickly, the guy cutting the meat, thankfully not the cheese :) was very friendly and knowledgeable. The server had our menu in hand, sauces and veggies on the table faster than you have just read this paragraph. I decided on the Choice Beef Ribeye Prime and did not disappoint. The sauces were on point and the brown rice was soft. Unlike other Shabu places, the brown rice always seems undercooked.My only gripe is, I wish they provided more vegetables such as broccoli, Bok Choy or even Spinach.My ravenous appetite was defiantly satisfied. As Arnold would say...."I'll be back!"RANDOM FACT: Shabu-shabu, also spelled syabu-syabu