This was our first time and we really enjoyed the food, service and entire experience! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
May K.
I liked the unique concept of this restaurant where you can order a hot pot meal or a grill meal or half and half. I opted to try the half and half. I upgraded to a miso broth for an additional charge. The quantity of the food was adequate but the overall price of the meal was a too steep. Also, if you want more broth because yours boiled away during the meal, they will charge you again which I thought was unfair. Skip the appetizer fries of $8, it's totally not worth it. The cheese and meet are only on the top layer leaving 90% of the fries plain. Finally, their chairs are too low for the table. I feel like I needed to sit on something to prop me up and I'm not a short person. Overall, for the same price, I could go to an AYCE hot pot place or an AYCE bbq place and get the same quality of meat and broth but in unlimited quantity.
Yi Z.
Extremely unprofessional sitting service. With many empty tables but they kept all customers waiting while 2 people wiping the table. I think this business won't last for too long with such ineffective management with such table turnover rate d/t staffing issue. Owner may wants to consider to hire a manager.
Thuy Binh
love the broth. good meat. nice serviceVegetarian options: vegetarian broth is great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot, Shabu Shabu, Grill
Matthew L.
My family came here to eat about an hour before they closed. It was quiet and there were only 2 other parties there about to finish up. The overall quality was decent and this restaurant is one of those that you come to once and never look back. This is the kinda place where it takes around an 1 hour to fully enjoy and cook the food. Keep that in mind when coming here! I would rate this a 3.2/5 Service 4/5 Service was good and the server was very attentive. But to be fair we were the only party there. Our server was very kind to go through the menu with us and explained how it worked. Although the menu was very confusing. It took my family and I a bit of time to figure it all out. Not to mention the menu was online and only a small portion of it could be seen at a time. So that just added to the overall confusion. Food came out really quickly around 5 minutes from when we sat down which is a plus! Food 3/5 We got two halves order and one grill. I got the signature combo with A5 wagyu, beef tongue, and prime short rib. I went into high hopes, however the beef younger was chewy. Usually beef tongue is chewing, so most places shave it thin. I think it would be a lot better shaved thin so it's not chewy. The short rib was tender, it needs to be cooked until you see a crust. That way the fat has time to render and it becomes less chewy. The A5 wagyu was pretty good! Besides the short rib, none of the meat has any salt/seasoning. I know that they do this to make sure you get to experience the high quality meat, however it just tasted bland. Just a touch of salt would enhance the flavor of the beef . The sauces that they give you are also on the lighter side. We received a peanut sauce and a sweet soy sauce. They were okay, but lacked saltiness. The only thing that had decent salt level was the fresh wasabi, which was a nice touch. I think complimentary kimchi or an acidic sauce would make the meat even better. All the meats are very rich and coat your pallet with fat. It gets a little too much towards halfway through, so something acidic would help immensely. Ambiance/setting/ cleanliness 2/5 The overall theme and ambience was really nice. Very modern and comforting design with wood bench and table. They were uncomfortable especially sitting for an hour. A very hard surface and the bench edge kinda cuts into your leg. The floor was sticky where we were sitting. I would give this place higher, however the bathroom was very nasty. They have not cleaned it for a long time. You can tell a lot about the cleanliness of a place by their bathroom. Worth it at its give price? (No) This is one of those places that are a novelty, it was okay but was not a hearty meal. It is far too decadent and leaves you feeling bad after eating there. For the almost $60(plus tip) per person, they could have been more meat or another complimentary side dish. The meat was way too rich, and there was no acidity to balance it out. Overall it's an okay eat if you're in the area, however I would much rather eat something else if I had the same budget as this meal.
Alyssa W
I love coming here! The food is great, and the staff is always so friendly and attentive. My favorite KBBQ place! They get busy on weekends though so I recommend going during the week.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Grill, Hot Pot, Wagyu, American Wagyu, Halves, Beef, Beef Belly, Shabu Shabu
Michelle L.
Went there on a Thursday afternoon and the service was excellent! Spicy miso broth was well seasoned. Server named Sean helped me decide on my meat!
Sally K.
I have been a regular here since it opened, and I can honestly say, it is one of my favorite restaurants in OC. The food is incredible, the service is always accommodating and welcoming. The music choice has really picked up lately, and it's been bumping in there . Recommendation: Chinese Spicy Broth, American Wagyu. Can't go wrong with either boil or halves. 5 stars!
Teresa R.
What happened to my favorite shabu shabu local joint? It's a Friday night, the restaurant was empty and the manager and staff were more concerned with cleaning than waiting on patrons??? It's way too expensive to come here and be ignored...I'll just drive to Irvine next time.
Chane Zarif
Went to a cool-looking restaurant, but they didn't explain how things worked. Staff didn't care when I asked, just shrugged and smirked. Food and place were okay, but bad service ruined the vibe. Wouldn't recommend for a nice night out. Terrible staff. Terrible customer service!
Upon entering the restaurant, the unique style intrigued me, but the lack of service information added an unnecessary layer of confusion. The staff failed to explain how things worked, leaving customers to figure it out on their own.Despite the decent food quality and a pleasant ambiance, the frustrating service overshadowed the positive aspects. When I approached the staff about the confusion, their response was a nonchalant shrug and a smirk, displaying a lack of concern for customer satisfaction.While the establishment has potential, the overall experience was marred by poor service, making it a less-than-ideal choice for those seeking a genuinely enjoyable evening out.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Cho Chotiros
I love this place ❤️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chane Z.
Worst experience ever! service deserves a -10/10. Went to a cool-looking restaurant, but they didn't explain how things worked. Staff didn't care when I asked, just shrugged and smirked. Food and place were okay, but bad service ruined the vibe. Wouldn't recommend for a nice night out to anyone!
Sherman K.
Upon entering the restaurant, the unique style intrigued me, but the lack of service information added an unnecessary layer of confusion. The staff failed to explain how things worked, leaving customers to figure it out on their own. Despite the decent food quality and a pleasant ambiance, the frustrating service overshadowed the positive aspects. When I approached the staff about the confusion, their response was a nonchalant shrug and a smirk, displaying a lack of concern for customer satisfaction. While the establishment has potential, the overall experience was marred by poor service, making it a less-than-ideal choice for those seeking a genuinely enjoyable evening out.
Monica C.
Very solid shabu and BBQ spot in Lake Forest! The space had plenty of tables and we were seated immediately on a week night. We had the option of sitting at a table or bar, and we opted for a table. My husband and I loved the fact that we could have both shabu hot pot and BBQ as options to cook our meats. The meat was high quality and it also came with a decently sized bowl of vegetables and noodles that made us plenty full. The price was a bit steep but for the convenience and quality of food, we didn't mind at all!
This was our first time and we really enjoyed the food, service and entire experience! We will be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I liked the unique concept of this restaurant where you can order a hot pot meal or a grill meal or half and half. I opted to try the half and half. I upgraded to a miso broth for an additional charge. The quantity of the food was adequate but the overall price of the meal was a too steep. Also, if you want more broth because yours boiled away during the meal, they will charge you again which I thought was unfair. Skip the appetizer fries of $8, it's totally not worth it. The cheese and meet are only on the top layer leaving 90% of the fries plain. Finally, their chairs are too low for the table. I feel like I needed to sit on something to prop me up and I'm not a short person. Overall, for the same price, I could go to an AYCE hot pot place or an AYCE bbq place and get the same quality of meat and broth but in unlimited quantity.
Extremely unprofessional sitting service. With many empty tables but they kept all customers waiting while 2 people wiping the table. I think this business won't last for too long with such ineffective management with such table turnover rate d/t staffing issue. Owner may wants to consider to hire a manager.
love the broth. good meat. nice serviceVegetarian options: vegetarian broth is great
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot, Shabu Shabu, Grill
My family came here to eat about an hour before they closed. It was quiet and there were only 2 other parties there about to finish up. The overall quality was decent and this restaurant is one of those that you come to once and never look back. This is the kinda place where it takes around an 1 hour to fully enjoy and cook the food. Keep that in mind when coming here! I would rate this a 3.2/5 Service 4/5 Service was good and the server was very attentive. But to be fair we were the only party there. Our server was very kind to go through the menu with us and explained how it worked. Although the menu was very confusing. It took my family and I a bit of time to figure it all out. Not to mention the menu was online and only a small portion of it could be seen at a time. So that just added to the overall confusion. Food came out really quickly around 5 minutes from when we sat down which is a plus! Food 3/5 We got two halves order and one grill. I got the signature combo with A5 wagyu, beef tongue, and prime short rib. I went into high hopes, however the beef younger was chewy. Usually beef tongue is chewing, so most places shave it thin. I think it would be a lot better shaved thin so it's not chewy. The short rib was tender, it needs to be cooked until you see a crust. That way the fat has time to render and it becomes less chewy. The A5 wagyu was pretty good! Besides the short rib, none of the meat has any salt/seasoning. I know that they do this to make sure you get to experience the high quality meat, however it just tasted bland. Just a touch of salt would enhance the flavor of the beef . The sauces that they give you are also on the lighter side. We received a peanut sauce and a sweet soy sauce. They were okay, but lacked saltiness. The only thing that had decent salt level was the fresh wasabi, which was a nice touch. I think complimentary kimchi or an acidic sauce would make the meat even better. All the meats are very rich and coat your pallet with fat. It gets a little too much towards halfway through, so something acidic would help immensely. Ambiance/setting/ cleanliness 2/5 The overall theme and ambience was really nice. Very modern and comforting design with wood bench and table. They were uncomfortable especially sitting for an hour. A very hard surface and the bench edge kinda cuts into your leg. The floor was sticky where we were sitting. I would give this place higher, however the bathroom was very nasty. They have not cleaned it for a long time. You can tell a lot about the cleanliness of a place by their bathroom. Worth it at its give price? (No) This is one of those places that are a novelty, it was okay but was not a hearty meal. It is far too decadent and leaves you feeling bad after eating there. For the almost $60(plus tip) per person, they could have been more meat or another complimentary side dish. The meat was way too rich, and there was no acidity to balance it out. Overall it's an okay eat if you're in the area, however I would much rather eat something else if I had the same budget as this meal.
I love coming here! The food is great, and the staff is always so friendly and attentive. My favorite KBBQ place! They get busy on weekends though so I recommend going during the week.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Miyazaki A5 Wagyu Grill, Hot Pot, Wagyu, American Wagyu, Halves, Beef, Beef Belly, Shabu Shabu
Went there on a Thursday afternoon and the service was excellent! Spicy miso broth was well seasoned. Server named Sean helped me decide on my meat!
I have been a regular here since it opened, and I can honestly say, it is one of my favorite restaurants in OC. The food is incredible, the service is always accommodating and welcoming. The music choice has really picked up lately, and it's been bumping in there . Recommendation: Chinese Spicy Broth, American Wagyu. Can't go wrong with either boil or halves. 5 stars!
What happened to my favorite shabu shabu local joint? It's a Friday night, the restaurant was empty and the manager and staff were more concerned with cleaning than waiting on patrons??? It's way too expensive to come here and be ignored...I'll just drive to Irvine next time.
Went to a cool-looking restaurant, but they didn't explain how things worked. Staff didn't care when I asked, just shrugged and smirked. Food and place were okay, but bad service ruined the vibe. Wouldn't recommend for a nice night out. Terrible staff. Terrible customer service!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Upon entering the restaurant, the unique style intrigued me, but the lack of service information added an unnecessary layer of confusion. The staff failed to explain how things worked, leaving customers to figure it out on their own.Despite the decent food quality and a pleasant ambiance, the frustrating service overshadowed the positive aspects. When I approached the staff about the confusion, their response was a nonchalant shrug and a smirk, displaying a lack of concern for customer satisfaction.While the establishment has potential, the overall experience was marred by poor service, making it a less-than-ideal choice for those seeking a genuinely enjoyable evening out.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
I love this place ❤️
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Worst experience ever! service deserves a -10/10. Went to a cool-looking restaurant, but they didn't explain how things worked. Staff didn't care when I asked, just shrugged and smirked. Food and place were okay, but bad service ruined the vibe. Wouldn't recommend for a nice night out to anyone!
Upon entering the restaurant, the unique style intrigued me, but the lack of service information added an unnecessary layer of confusion. The staff failed to explain how things worked, leaving customers to figure it out on their own. Despite the decent food quality and a pleasant ambiance, the frustrating service overshadowed the positive aspects. When I approached the staff about the confusion, their response was a nonchalant shrug and a smirk, displaying a lack of concern for customer satisfaction. While the establishment has potential, the overall experience was marred by poor service, making it a less-than-ideal choice for those seeking a genuinely enjoyable evening out.
Very solid shabu and BBQ spot in Lake Forest! The space had plenty of tables and we were seated immediately on a week night. We had the option of sitting at a table or bar, and we opted for a table. My husband and I loved the fact that we could have both shabu hot pot and BBQ as options to cook our meats. The meat was high quality and it also came with a decently sized bowl of vegetables and noodles that made us plenty full. The price was a bit steep but for the convenience and quality of food, we didn't mind at all!