okay food, but terrible service. We had a reservation but were seated 20 minutes late. the service was frustratingly slow, and it was incredibly hard to attract the waiters’ attention (despite being sitted at the bar, so they really could not miss us). It’s not really an « all you can eat », but rather a « how slow can they possibly serve you so you eat as little as possible » in the 90 minutes you are seated. I guess the service is severely understaffed, but a little bit more friendliness would have helped compensate for the wait. Also, the atmosphere is fairly basic, especially given the price of the menu. We won’t come back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
H
Fantastic for the price. Also did I mention, Jimmy is the man? By far some of the best customer service I have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Duncan Alexander
Delicious, wonderful all you can eat beef n lamb cooked in spicy broth. What more can you want?Jimmy is the man! 5/5 service. Really a wonderful place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: American Wagyu Short Plate, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, American Wagyu Brisket
Claudia K M
Although Matsuyama Shabu House had excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere, my overall experience was not good due to significant wait times.Even though we chose an all-you-can-eat meal, we had to wait for another set for a frustrating 20 minutes just to get the attention to order. Moreover, it took an additional 30 minutes to receive the food after we ordered it.The lack of prompt service left me disappointed and disheartened, especially for those who enjoy the dining experience.We also noticed that the amount and quality of the food on the serving plate were not up to the standard menu. We were surprised by the services, and the quantity and quality of the services were not satisfactory. They were unable to serve us according to our demands, and we had to leave as the waiting time for the food was too long. In the 90 minutes time frame, we got the first set and second set and the other of third set took total of 40 minutes which we can't wait any longer.Despite the enjoyable food and ambiance, Matsuyama Shabu House failed to provide a seamless and timely dining experience. I am unsure if this is due to a lack of staff on the floor or in the kitchen.
Matsuyama Shabu House in Japantown has the potential to be a delightful Wagyu hot pot destination. However, a height-based pricing for children could detract from the overall value. Despite this, I visited with my family on a Sunday afternoon and was able to secure reservations online through Yelp and got everything we wanted within the limited time slot before lunch closure. The pricing at Matsuyama Shabu House is where things get particularly interesting. While the all-you-can-eat model is typical for hot pot establishments, the most disappointing aspect is how they handle pricing for children. Instead of age, they charge children based on height. My 8-year-old daughter, exceeding 43 inches, was charged the full adult price! This seems unfair and makes the restaurant a much less attractive option for families. Also, the restaurant's steep prices demand exceptional quality that, unfortunately, the meats served do not consistently deliver. This discrepancy between cost and quality places the establishment at a disadvantage in the competitive food scene of San Francisco. Additionally, while the quality of some ingredients is evident, the portions, even within the all-you-can-eat model, can seem slightly smaller than in other establishments. This left us feeling like we didn't quite get our money's worth after paying a premium price. The staff at Matsuyama Shabu House are genuinely a bright spot. They're very attentive, explaining the process for first-timers and providing a unique, interactive experience. The variety of broths is good, ensuring even picky eaters will find something enticing. Fans of Wagyu hot pot will enjoy the food and service here. Be aware that their prices are a bit higher than average, especially for the quality of ingredients served. If you have tall children like me, expect to pay adult prices.
Marny N.
If you've been to Shabu House or Shabu Club in SF before, then Matsuyama Shabu House will likely be a disappointment. At $68 for AYCE (Fri-Sun) for their Premium Domestic Wagyu, you can get much better meat/broth quality at the above mentioned places for almost half the price. Veggies (esp the enoki) were limp/not fresh and the cucumber salad we got looked like it had been sitting in the fridge for a while (look at my pic compared to the other cucumber salad pics lol). The service, however, was friendly and attentive given how busy it was. Overall, while the service was solid, I've had much better shabu at better price points elsewhere.
Xiomara A.
Not kid friendly. I made a reservation for my daughter & I. They only have two sit down tables which we were declined to sit at "those table aren't ready". The advertisement indicates kid friendly, they even have a measuring board to measure the child's height.
Dustin T.
Mid. We spent most of the time waiting for our food than eating. They wouldn't let us order unless everyone at our table finished their food so we were limited by the slowest eater. So we just spent time sitting there and waiting! The waygu was just okay, definitely had better else where for cheaper. It was hardly "AYCE" considering how slow it took for them to get us our food. By the time was up, we were still hungry! Also, we made a reservation, but were given bar seats. They said tables were already reserved, but a group after us (sitting at the bar) was literally given a table when they asked! $58 was NOT worth the mediocre meat, limited meat selections and slow, poor service. So much better, cheaper hotpot places in SF.
Alec K.
Went to Matsuyama for a late Valentines dinner this weekend and everything about the experience was wonderful!!! My girl and I each got the AYCE A5 wagyu menu and this is one of the few times in my life where a $100 meal felt like a bargain. The menu was filled with so many unique items and everything was top quality! I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a fancy and fun date night experience!!!
Sharon B.
I was excited to try this spot since it just opened and I love shabu shabu. I enjoyed that they had bar seating since I'm used to sitting so far away across the table from the other person in shabu shabu or hot pot restaurants. The service was really friendly and attentive to cleaning out our finished plates. However I did think that some food took a while to come out, specifically the sides. I guess I'm used to most of the sides and meats and rice coming early on but the rice came like 20minutes after the broth and meats came, and the potato croquettes took even longer. I also wished I picked a different broth - the Tonkatsu Broth was so flavorless, it literally just tasted like boiled water. My partner got the Tom Yum broth which was much more flavorful with sour and spicy notes with fresh coconut water. I personally wasn't a fan of the wagyu or A5 wagyu - maybe it's a personal preference, but I didn't find it as buttery or flavorful as I've tasted in other places. My favorite meat was the lamb though, it was really fresh and gamey. Overall I enjoyed the service and ambiance of this restaurant, but I've definitely had better quality and more flavorful shabu shabu elsewhere.
The server was sweet but their menu is very rigid. They basically have 3 choices and nothing pescatarian or vegetarian friendly. I wish they included something inclusive because the food looked great. Or even A la Carte additions to the basic menu.
Valerie McKiernan
This was a super fun experience. Food was good, team was very nice.Vegetarian options: Not very many optionsDietary restrictions: Team was knowledgeable on what options they had for certain dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: American Wagyu Short Plate, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, Takoyaki
Srey Y.
Holy delicious. Think AYCE and think fancy. This was FAYCE and I loved everything about it. They serve wagyu and what is outstanding is their variety of sauces paired with the soup base. Just wow. Incredible options even for the base AYCE. you have a variety of meats to choose from while also having a variety of apps. They definitely know people tend to over order so limit to your orders per round to ensure the highest quality of your meal and I wasn't mad. Now I'm craving to go back for more!
Marissa Chinn
SAVE THIS for your next Date Night!! Don't be scared of the price, because the quality of each course is sooo worth it! That Glazed Mackerel app was one I have never had before and got me wanting more! Honestly though, every dish stood out in its own way and it'll be hard to find this quality or hospitality without going to Japan.A5 Japanese Wagyu Prix Fixe (11 Courses)$188 for 2 peopleAppetizer* Garlic Edamame* Seared Sugar - Glazed Mackerel* Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi* Tuna Wagyu Seaweed Wraps* Japanese A5 Ribeye SashimiSoup Base (Choose 2)* Golden Chicken Broth* Wagyu Spicy BrothMeat Selection* A5 Wagyu Brisket* A5 Wagyu Chuck Roll* A5 Ribeye CapTraditional Shabu Side Dishes* Assorted Vegetable Platter* Ishiyaki Negi BibimbapDessert of the DayParking: Park in the Japantown parking garage. Very cheap hourly rates for SF.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Sugar Glazed Mackerel, Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi, Japanese A5 Ribeye Sashimi, American Wagyu Short Plate, Seared A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi 2, Kurobuta Pork Cheek, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, American Wagyu Brisket, Garlic Edamame
Marissa C.
SAVE THIS for your next Date Night!! Don't be scared of the price, because the quality of each course is sooo worth it! That Glazed Mackerel app was one I have never had before and got me wanting more! Honestly though, every dish stood out in its own way and it'll be hard to find this quality or hospitality without going to Japan. A5 Japanese Wagyu Prix Fixe (11 Courses) $188 for 2 people Appetizer * Garlic Edamame * Seared Sugar - Glazed Mackerel * Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi * Tuna Wagyu Seaweed Wraps * Japanese A5 Ribeye Sashimi Soup Base (Choose 2) * Golden Chicken Broth * Wagyu Spicy Broth Meat Selection * A5 Wagyu Brisket * A5 Wagyu Chuck Roll * A5 Ribeye Cap Traditional Shabu Side Dishes * Assorted Vegetable Platter * Ishiyaki Negi Bibimbap Dessert of the Day
okay food, but terrible service. We had a reservation but were seated 20 minutes late. the service was frustratingly slow, and it was incredibly hard to attract the waiters’ attention (despite being sitted at the bar, so they really could not miss us). It’s not really an « all you can eat », but rather a « how slow can they possibly serve you so you eat as little as possible » in the 90 minutes you are seated. I guess the service is severely understaffed, but a little bit more friendliness would have helped compensate for the wait. Also, the atmosphere is fairly basic, especially given the price of the menu. We won’t come back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Fantastic for the price. Also did I mention, Jimmy is the man? By far some of the best customer service I have ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious, wonderful all you can eat beef n lamb cooked in spicy broth. What more can you want?Jimmy is the man! 5/5 service. Really a wonderful place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: American Wagyu Short Plate, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, American Wagyu Brisket
Although Matsuyama Shabu House had excellent food and a welcoming atmosphere, my overall experience was not good due to significant wait times.Even though we chose an all-you-can-eat meal, we had to wait for another set for a frustrating 20 minutes just to get the attention to order. Moreover, it took an additional 30 minutes to receive the food after we ordered it.The lack of prompt service left me disappointed and disheartened, especially for those who enjoy the dining experience.We also noticed that the amount and quality of the food on the serving plate were not up to the standard menu. We were surprised by the services, and the quantity and quality of the services were not satisfactory. They were unable to serve us according to our demands, and we had to leave as the waiting time for the food was too long. In the 90 minutes time frame, we got the first set and second set and the other of third set took total of 40 minutes which we can't wait any longer.Despite the enjoyable food and ambiance, Matsuyama Shabu House failed to provide a seamless and timely dining experience. I am unsure if this is due to a lack of staff on the floor or in the kitchen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Gyoza, Takoyaki, Garlic Edamame
Matsuyama Shabu House in Japantown has the potential to be a delightful Wagyu hot pot destination. However, a height-based pricing for children could detract from the overall value. Despite this, I visited with my family on a Sunday afternoon and was able to secure reservations online through Yelp and got everything we wanted within the limited time slot before lunch closure. The pricing at Matsuyama Shabu House is where things get particularly interesting. While the all-you-can-eat model is typical for hot pot establishments, the most disappointing aspect is how they handle pricing for children. Instead of age, they charge children based on height. My 8-year-old daughter, exceeding 43 inches, was charged the full adult price! This seems unfair and makes the restaurant a much less attractive option for families. Also, the restaurant's steep prices demand exceptional quality that, unfortunately, the meats served do not consistently deliver. This discrepancy between cost and quality places the establishment at a disadvantage in the competitive food scene of San Francisco. Additionally, while the quality of some ingredients is evident, the portions, even within the all-you-can-eat model, can seem slightly smaller than in other establishments. This left us feeling like we didn't quite get our money's worth after paying a premium price. The staff at Matsuyama Shabu House are genuinely a bright spot. They're very attentive, explaining the process for first-timers and providing a unique, interactive experience. The variety of broths is good, ensuring even picky eaters will find something enticing. Fans of Wagyu hot pot will enjoy the food and service here. Be aware that their prices are a bit higher than average, especially for the quality of ingredients served. If you have tall children like me, expect to pay adult prices.
If you've been to Shabu House or Shabu Club in SF before, then Matsuyama Shabu House will likely be a disappointment. At $68 for AYCE (Fri-Sun) for their Premium Domestic Wagyu, you can get much better meat/broth quality at the above mentioned places for almost half the price. Veggies (esp the enoki) were limp/not fresh and the cucumber salad we got looked like it had been sitting in the fridge for a while (look at my pic compared to the other cucumber salad pics lol). The service, however, was friendly and attentive given how busy it was. Overall, while the service was solid, I've had much better shabu at better price points elsewhere.
Not kid friendly. I made a reservation for my daughter & I. They only have two sit down tables which we were declined to sit at "those table aren't ready". The advertisement indicates kid friendly, they even have a measuring board to measure the child's height.
Mid. We spent most of the time waiting for our food than eating. They wouldn't let us order unless everyone at our table finished their food so we were limited by the slowest eater. So we just spent time sitting there and waiting! The waygu was just okay, definitely had better else where for cheaper. It was hardly "AYCE" considering how slow it took for them to get us our food. By the time was up, we were still hungry! Also, we made a reservation, but were given bar seats. They said tables were already reserved, but a group after us (sitting at the bar) was literally given a table when they asked! $58 was NOT worth the mediocre meat, limited meat selections and slow, poor service. So much better, cheaper hotpot places in SF.
Went to Matsuyama for a late Valentines dinner this weekend and everything about the experience was wonderful!!! My girl and I each got the AYCE A5 wagyu menu and this is one of the few times in my life where a $100 meal felt like a bargain. The menu was filled with so many unique items and everything was top quality! I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a fancy and fun date night experience!!!
I was excited to try this spot since it just opened and I love shabu shabu. I enjoyed that they had bar seating since I'm used to sitting so far away across the table from the other person in shabu shabu or hot pot restaurants. The service was really friendly and attentive to cleaning out our finished plates. However I did think that some food took a while to come out, specifically the sides. I guess I'm used to most of the sides and meats and rice coming early on but the rice came like 20minutes after the broth and meats came, and the potato croquettes took even longer. I also wished I picked a different broth - the Tonkatsu Broth was so flavorless, it literally just tasted like boiled water. My partner got the Tom Yum broth which was much more flavorful with sour and spicy notes with fresh coconut water. I personally wasn't a fan of the wagyu or A5 wagyu - maybe it's a personal preference, but I didn't find it as buttery or flavorful as I've tasted in other places. My favorite meat was the lamb though, it was really fresh and gamey. Overall I enjoyed the service and ambiance of this restaurant, but I've definitely had better quality and more flavorful shabu shabu elsewhere.
Restaurantji Recommends
The server was sweet but their menu is very rigid. They basically have 3 choices and nothing pescatarian or vegetarian friendly. I wish they included something inclusive because the food looked great. Or even A la Carte additions to the basic menu.
This was a super fun experience. Food was good, team was very nice.Vegetarian options: Not very many optionsDietary restrictions: Team was knowledgeable on what options they had for certain dietary restrictions.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: American Wagyu Short Plate, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, Takoyaki
Holy delicious. Think AYCE and think fancy. This was FAYCE and I loved everything about it. They serve wagyu and what is outstanding is their variety of sauces paired with the soup base. Just wow. Incredible options even for the base AYCE. you have a variety of meats to choose from while also having a variety of apps. They definitely know people tend to over order so limit to your orders per round to ensure the highest quality of your meal and I wasn't mad. Now I'm craving to go back for more!
SAVE THIS for your next Date Night!! Don't be scared of the price, because the quality of each course is sooo worth it! That Glazed Mackerel app was one I have never had before and got me wanting more! Honestly though, every dish stood out in its own way and it'll be hard to find this quality or hospitality without going to Japan.A5 Japanese Wagyu Prix Fixe (11 Courses)$188 for 2 peopleAppetizer* Garlic Edamame* Seared Sugar - Glazed Mackerel* Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi* Tuna Wagyu Seaweed Wraps* Japanese A5 Ribeye SashimiSoup Base (Choose 2)* Golden Chicken Broth* Wagyu Spicy BrothMeat Selection* A5 Wagyu Brisket* A5 Wagyu Chuck Roll* A5 Ribeye CapTraditional Shabu Side Dishes* Assorted Vegetable Platter* Ishiyaki Negi BibimbapDessert of the DayParking: Park in the Japantown parking garage. Very cheap hourly rates for SF.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seared Sugar Glazed Mackerel, Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi, Japanese A5 Ribeye Sashimi, American Wagyu Short Plate, Seared A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi 2, Kurobuta Pork Cheek, American Wagyu Chuck Roll, American Wagyu Brisket, Garlic Edamame
SAVE THIS for your next Date Night!! Don't be scared of the price, because the quality of each course is sooo worth it! That Glazed Mackerel app was one I have never had before and got me wanting more! Honestly though, every dish stood out in its own way and it'll be hard to find this quality or hospitality without going to Japan. A5 Japanese Wagyu Prix Fixe (11 Courses) $188 for 2 people Appetizer * Garlic Edamame * Seared Sugar - Glazed Mackerel * Seared Japanese A5 Ribeye Cap Sushi * Tuna Wagyu Seaweed Wraps * Japanese A5 Ribeye Sashimi Soup Base (Choose 2) * Golden Chicken Broth * Wagyu Spicy Broth Meat Selection * A5 Wagyu Brisket * A5 Wagyu Chuck Roll * A5 Ribeye Cap Traditional Shabu Side Dishes * Assorted Vegetable Platter * Ishiyaki Negi Bibimbap Dessert of the Day