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Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House | Philly

4.5 (1.8k reviews)
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 weeks ago

Waitlist - Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House | Philly

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Inside
Zachary D.

Where to start... Unfortunately I was quite disappointed with the overall experience here at this branch of Chubby Cattle. First, the location was poorly identifiable as there were differently labeled signs outside the restaurant. Second, the restaurant overall gave you the feel that it was supposed to feel newish and upscale, but as you dined and looked around you could tell this place needed a real makeover. Bathroom was dirty and had a very weird design/esthetic. And the whole restaurant had a greasy feel to it like it genuinely needed a full deep clean. The sauce bar was poorly stocked and even considering the amount of staff on hand should've never required us to request a restock of sauces over 30 minutes into our meal. The sauce bar was directly beside the hot curry and ground wagyu station both of which sat in beaten up bins that felt like they would fall apart if you opened them or if pushed 1 inch too far would fall into holes in the counter. The drink bar had warm milk tea, warm thai tea, warm coconut milk?, and a small vareity of pespi products all from which you had the thinnest paper cups to use to enjoy. Make note that they became soggy and nervous to use after about 10-15 minutes of holding any liquid. For food, hey all you can eat wagyu is pretty cool and was great. But it took about 25 minutes of your allotted 1.5hours to get your side veggies, approx 30minutes to get your soup and about 35-40 minutes before you get your meat. Sure part of this time is ordering what you want to eat, but also note that the smartpad they leave you to order will limit the amount of meat you can order. For example, per order you may only be allowed to order 1-2 servings of a specific cut of meat which was not clearly specified upon choosing your tier. That and some of the dishes in your tier may be limited to 1 of 4 options per person per visit! It was also upsetting to see that several items such as enoki mushrooms were completely out of stock and unavailable for order. There were a minimum of three servers for the small space and aside from Jilliane the rest of the serving staff allowed calls to run for several minutes creating an annoying ringing sound throughout the restaurant and allowed for multiple orders for more meat to pile up for quite a while. I watched and noted many staff wander while orders piled up stopping to socialize or have extended water breaks. Personally would not recommend and am not likely to return to a Chubby Cattle (at least this branch) for a long while. Shoutout out to our main server Jilliane who was great and attentive. If possible to give a half star for her help i would.

Jonathan C.

Out of all the Chubby Cattle locations I've been to, the Philly location was unfortunately a disappointment. The beef was the highlight it was very fresh and good quality. However, the quality of most of the other ingredients was pretty poor and noticeably below what I've experienced at other Chubby Cattle locations. For the price and based on my previous experiences with Chubby Cattle, I expected much better overall quality and consistency. Hopefully this location improves because I've had much better experiences with the brand elsewhere.

Freddy C.

Chubby Cattle in Philadelphia Chinatown was a great experience for an all you can eat wagyu hotpot. We chose the basic menu, and even that tier felt like a solid upgrade from a typical hotpot place. The wagyu brisket had really nice marbling and held up well in the broth. It was flavorful, tender, and didn't break apart as easily as lower quality cuts sometimes do. A standout for me was the wagyu ground meat served over rice. It felt almost like a little wagyu donburi moment within a hotpot meal, and it was surprisingly satisfying. There were plenty of meat choices to rotate through and a good amount of vegetables, mushrooms, and other add-ins to build a balanced pot and not feel overwhelmed by just meat. Overall, the ingredients tasted fresh, the service was consistent, and the value for the basic tier was better than expected. I would come back, especially to try the higher menu tiers next time. It's a good spot if you're craving hotpot in Chinatown and want wagyu options without committing to a super premium buffet. great ambiance and feels very romantic!

hot pot
William W.

Went here yesterday, got the gold package. Service is excellent and they bring out your orders very quickly. I really didnt see the increase in quality of the suppose japanese A5 wagyu meats. The crab and seafood platter, you get only one, and the amount they give you in almost nothing. If I came here again would not spend more the lowest tier, the upcharge is not worth it. Total with tip was 100$

Mia H.

I came here for lunch with friends and thought that the meal was alright. Having tried the Chubby group in LA and NYC, this spot was very underwhelming. The interior of the restaurant is smaller than I expected, the side bar was also a bit limited, and service was spotty/slow (a couple of our items didn't arrive, so we had to ask for them multiple times). We did their silver tier and it was alright. The meat quality was a bit gamey and after a while, it didn't taste very good. Their seafood and veggies weren't bad quality though. Their sides were alright. Overall, I thought it was a pretty subpar hotpot spot, and especially with it being part of the Chubby group, I was disappointed.

Daniel L.

Selected the silver menus ($55/person). come here when you're ready to EAT. Quality of the meat is great. Many tender cuts. Recommend getting udon noodles to add! Vegetable plater was beautifully arranged with a wide selection. Would recommend to focus mostly on the meat rather than the sides. We tried most of them and they are solid, crispy, good flavors, well battered (shrimp tempura, karage chicken, sweet potato fries). Great service, our waiter was helpful, attentive, and checked up at the right intervals.

Long D.

Chubby Cattle Philly was really good. The meat quality was top tier and everything tasted super fresh. Broths were solid and easy to customize. Love the unlimited wagyu curry! Must get the fried mini buns!!! Service was great too -- friendly and helpful the whole time. Would definitely go back.

Julie P.

Went here with my family and overall had a delightful meal! There was a good variety of meat and service was fairly fast. I just wish the portions they gave out was bigger so we wouldn't have to keep reordering so often. Some plates just had 2 slices of meat at a time. Also wish they had more veggie options. Our favorite broth was the sukiyaki one. Unfortunately although house broth was one of the recommended broths it tasted very bland. I could tell the meats were high quality though and everything tasted really clean.

Meat
Mervi T.

Chubby Cattle is easily one of my new favorite spots for hot pot. The quality of the meat is outstanding with every cut tasting fresh and rich. The broth is incredibly flavorful and comforting and it pairs perfectly with all the sides which are plentiful and delicious. I also really appreciated the service. Everyone was friendly and the food came out quickly which made the whole experience even better. However, our drinks did take awhile to come out which was the only slow dish

Kenny L.

We got the diamond tier menu and honestly it is very pricey, but it was definitely worth the experience for me. I've had shabu in Japan and I felt that this was just as good or even better. The only issue for me was I think there was a slight water leak as it was very near me. The best parts of the menu are definitely all the premium ones we got, we did try the non premiums and they were still good. All the premium meats had this beautiful marbling and it was amazing to eat each piece. I think I liked the Japanese wagyu over the Australian just a bit more, but do definitely try Australian! I generally don't get a lot of seafood at shabu, but the platter had really good scallop and fish. We had a few orders of those and they were fresh and soft every time. Our favorite bite was actually the wagyu nigiri, maybe because it was our first bite of food after a flight and we haven't eaten all day. We ordered it a few more times and it was a joy every time.

Ayce
Maggie P.

Update as of ayce A5 waygu opening! Delicious and well worth the price to try at least once. There are three levels or tiers that you can pay for with note selections of meat as you increase. I got the middle tier and that was more than enough for me. Keep in mind that since it's A5 waygu it's hard to eat alot because it's so fatty. Overall a good experience and not packed when I went! Service was decent and ambiance was typical of an ayce place w/o all the noise.

Stumbled across The Chubby Cattle Shabu on a walk. The inside is well lit, clean and organized with good music. Only one wait staff working during my experience and it was busy. Must order via a iPad which provides a menu. Menu offers member vs non member pricing and is tiered. Food was good, however unsure if I would frequent the restaurant. Note that serving size is quite large for one person and there is no to go. It is an all you can eat. Recommend visiting once for the experience.

Beef stew
Penprapha B.

Fun meal. Service was quick and exceptional. We ordered silver wagyu set which includes seafood. Australian beef was great. Didn't try any snacks or cold bites.

Ayce silver wagyu set

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Reviews are largely positive. Many highlight the high-quality wagyu beef, attentive and friendly service, and a modern, clean atmosphere.

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2 months ago

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7 months ago

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9 months ago

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2 months ago

Ambience was great. Loved the hotpot very flavorful. Drinks were sweet and delicious.

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2 months ago

The food was very fresh and the service was excellent. This is one of my new favorites in China town.

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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2 months ago

Great service and drinks! Staff were extremely nice and accommodating! I would recommend

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2 months ago

Great service! Nice staff. Food was good and drinks were strong. Reasonably priced. I would recommend

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3 years ago

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6 months ago

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6 months ago

Great food! Highly recommend. Best hot pot in town. Got the spicy miso and silver wagyu.

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Page 1 of 46

Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House | Philly Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House | Philly

Does this restaurant serve alcohol?

Yes they do.

My friends and I have been trying to make a reservation for two weeks now, but I've been put to voicemail every time... does chubby cattle still take reservations?

I was there about a 2 months ago or less. I walked in with no line on a weekday. I did see that you could join the waitlist on google and you can join the waitlist on yelp. I don't see the option for resys. But I know I did book a resy in the past.

The website says "Coming Soon." Error?

Can we make reservation for tomorrow 7:30 pm? 2 people.

You'd have to go on their website to make a reservation or call them.

They recently have AYCE. What's in that menu?

For the hot pot there is wagyu beef, kurobuta pork, lamb, variety of fish and shellfish, many kinds of veggies, tofu and noodles. There is also sushi and sashimi available with different types of rolls and a limited selection of nigiri and sashimi… 

Can I bring my own whiskey?

Yes

Is there free parking?

No free parking. You can either street park or there is a paid parking lot across the street.

Rough estimate for 2 people?

We had dinner for 4 during the "happy hour". It came to about $120. So maybe half or a little less.

Open on Christmas?

Yes! Regular hours

Will the restaurant be open on Thanksgiving?

Yes, it will be open on Thanksgiving

What's the respective costs for blue, orange, and black plates on the conveyer belt?

IIRC, It was $1.99/$2.99/$3.99/$5.99 for Orange/Blue/Black/Special

Is there a happy hour?

Yes on the conveyer belt .. Monday-Thursday

Are reservations required?

They don't take reservations . There can be a long wait on sundays at brunch or Friday and Saturday night so be prepared to check in and walk around Chinatown for an hour or two if that's when you go.

Do they serve alcohol? Or is it BYOB?

The serve beer but you can bring in your own wine!

How large of a party can sit together?

I've dined here with 7 adults and 4 kids at one table.

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Kissho House

Kissho House

4.5(44 reviews)
0.7 mi•Rittenhouse Square

Great spot for a variety of Japanese cuisine even if you're not sushi focused. The decor was very…read morenice and not too noisy. Service was on point and we felt adequately attended to. Started with cocktails and sake. Great and reasonably priced. Tried the grilled octopus - wasabi with seaweed app. Really good. And the charcoal skewers - the pork collar and the ribs. Both were good but I recommend the pork collar. We got both the maki roll combo and the nigiri combo. Really good assortment. All were good meat and not too much added rice. Ended with the passion fruit - mango cake dessert. Not too sweet or tart. Good combo. Great way to end the dinner. I recommend. Will dine here again.

We didn't opt for the Omakase at Kisshou house, but I am happy to report that the a la carte way of…read moreeating here was delicious as well! We hung out at the bar with Sam, who was a very sweet bartender and person to represent the restaurant. He helped my partner treat herself to a safe flight while making me a passionfruit mocktail that fit my taste palette perfectly. On our tasting menu, we tried the mushrooms, roaster cauliflower, lamb chops, eel roll and nigiri, both types of toro, as well as a few other bites. Everything was delicious. It's great to find another spot to try some asian cuisine in the city where you can walk in and know that the staff is a warm bunch to hang out with.

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Kissho House
Kissho House - Gyu Don

Gyu Don

Kissho House - Miso and soup

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Miso and soup

Double Knot - Scallop

Double Knot

4.3(1.6k reviews)
0.5 mi•Avenue of the Arts South
•$$

Bang for your buck: 9/10 Quality: 10/10…read moreService: 10/10 Ambiance/Location: 8/10 Overall: 10/10 Quite possibly one of the best meals I've ever had. The food was out of this world. Our server couldn't have been more knowledgable and attentive. She helped us round out our dining selections and made sure we knew when happy hour last call was, which was certainly appreciated! Looking forward to going to Philly again so I can dine here again! It's a must on your Philly itinerary!

As a lover of food, I always try to be honest in my reviews, and this is easily one of my favorite…read morerestaurants in Philly and one of my favorite Shulson restaurants. The entire experience is a solid 9.5/10 for me. The service, ambiance, food, everything. From the hosts to the servers to the managers, everyone is always so attentive and hospitable. The downstairs is so romantic, cozy and intimate. My only complaint is that the lighting is SO dim that if you don't have 20/20 vision, good luck reading the menu. Now the FOOD. Everything is just good. The quality, the seasoning, the flavors, all of it. My go to orders are their double knot sushi, beef skewers, and their Wagyu, which is honestly one of my favorite Wagyus I've ever had. Their drinks are great, too, especially their lychee martini. I genuinely don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. This is one of those restaurants that just gets it right, and I will always recommend it!

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Double Knot - Inside bar area

Inside bar area

Double Knot - Robatayaki Skewers

Robatayaki Skewers

Double Knot - Inside

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Inside

Terakawa Ramen - Terakawa Ramen

Terakawa Ramen

4.3(2.1k reviews)
0.1 mi•Chinatown
•$$

When searching for the best ramen in Philadelphia, not only did the reviews lead us here, but the…read moresuggestions from the locals did as well. We started off with a few appetizers. The edamame was standard, and the takoyaki and pan-fried dumplings didn't taste homemade. Rather they both reminded me of what you would pick up at the frozen section at the food market. Nevertheless, they were passable. After all, we were here for the ramen. I opted in for their Terakawa special. The broth was flavourful, and the chashu was the most tender and juicy chashu I've ever had. As for the girlfriend, she opted in for their spicy ramen which was also spectacular. I absolutely loved her wavy noodles. I would have loved to have swapped out my straight noodles for her wavy noodles. They have a nice bounce and slightly chewy texture. Their marinated eggs were to die for. We put in a few extra orders for these. Overall, a great experience. The staff seemed to be right on the ball, and this small and cozy restaurant definitely makes you feel transported to Japan.

Came here for a Friday night dinner because I was craving Japanese takeout. I pass by Terakawa…read moreRamen all the time, so I figured it was finally time to give it a try! When I arrived, the restaurant was very busy, and the space itself was pretty small. Thankfully, they have a self-service kiosk to join the dine-in waitlist and another kiosk specifically for takeout orders. The ordering process was simple and straightforward, but unfortunately, the wait was quite long. Despite ordering relatively simple dishes, my food took about 30 minutes to prepare. There also wasn't anywhere to sit or wait inside, so I ended up standing outside for the entire 30 minutes. For my appetizer, I ordered the mini chicken curry, which was pretty good! The curry had that classic Japanese curry flavor I was looking for, and I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of chicken included, especially for an appetizer-sized portion. For my entree, I went with the gyudon, which was also pretty solid. The beef was a little fattier than I expected, and I felt that the rice-to-meat ratio was slightly off, with significantly more rice than beef. However, the overall flavor was good, and it definitely satisfied my craving for a Japanese rice bowl. Overall, I enjoyed the food and would definitely consider coming back to try their ramen, especially since that's what they're known for. My biggest complaint was the takeout experience. Hopefully, they can improve their efficiency with takeout orders or find a way to better accommodate customers waiting for their food. The food itself was satisfying, but a 30-minute wait for a couple of simple dishes felt a bit excessive.

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Terakawa Ramen
Terakawa Ramen - Charsiu onigiri

Charsiu onigiri

Terakawa Ramen - Mayu so good

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Mayu so good

Sagami - Chirashi

Sagami

4.3(741 reviews)
4.3 mi
•$$$

If you're looking for really good sushi and Japanese food, I recommend this place. I saw Japanese…read morecustomers dining there. It's a good sign that that they serve legit food. Enoki and egg soup is my favorite appetizer. Light broth with umami and perfect saltiness. My second favorite appetizer is agedashi tofu. So silky like pudding with light teriyaki broth. Beef roll up with scallions: beef is tender with some kind of sweet teriyaki sauce. It's pretty good. Eggplant filled with ground chicken. It looks appealing but unfortunately a bit too greasy. The sushi here is very special. The sushi rice is silky and moist. The fish piece is bigger than the rice. The eel is a must try here. It's very big compared to the rice underneath it. It very flavorful too. Mt entree is steamed salmon with seafood broth. I recommend squirting the lemon to the broth to make it taste like yuzu sauce as it lightens the whole dish and makes it less fishy.

This restaurant is my husband's and my go to spot for Japanese food, and it never disappoints! The…read moreambiance makes you feel like you're in Japan, cozy, warm, and inviting. Our absolute favorite is the chirashi bowl, so fresh and delicious. We always eat it wrapped in nori (seaweed), which makes it even better. The shrimp tempura udon is another must: light and flavorful broth, chewy noodles, and perfectly fried shrimp that are fresh and a great size. Honestly, everything here is amazing! you really can't go wrong. The service is excellent, very attentive and friendly. It does get busy on weekends, so I recommend calling ahead for a reservation. Perfect spot for a date night or a family dinner if you're looking for something truly authentic.

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Sagami
Sagami - Chirashi

Chirashi

Sagami - New tea pot

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New tea pot

Morimoto

Morimoto

4.3(2.2k reviews)
0.4 mi
•$$$$

We chose it because it's one of Chef Morimoto's restaurants, and as an Iron Chef fan, it was worth…read morechecking out. We were seated at the sushi bar, which ended up being one of the best parts of the night. We got to watch the sushi chefs prepare dishes up close and even chat with them a bit, which made the experience feel more personal and fun. I would recommend requesting this if you are a party of one or two. The restaurant itself has a very clean, sleek look, with mostly white decor. It feels modern and upscale without being cold. The space is large enough that it doesn't feel crowded, but still intimate enough for a nice dinner. Our server was fantastic and gave great recommendations for cocktails, sake, and dishes. I tried a sake flight and ended up not enjoying it, and he kindly brought me something else with no issue and didn't charge for the flight, which I really appreciated. The sushi was fresh, and every dish we had was seasoned perfectly. They have seasonal tasting menus if you are more adventurous. The dishes are beautifully plated. Overall, this was a great experience and I'd definitely recommend Morimoto for a higher-end dinner in Philly, especially if you're a fan of TV chefs or just want a memorable sushi experience.

What happened to the real Morimoto?…read more I came here years ago and had an exciting, innovative meal. Today the menu still has those classic old Nobu-inspired dishes from the 1990s - crispy rice with spicy tuna, hamachi carpaccio, miso cod - but there's not much of anything novel. Worse, we made the mistake of ordering a sushi assortment. There were five kinds of fish: cooked shrimp, fluke, salmon, tuna, and yellowtail, just like at any corner sushi joint. The server called the yellowtail kampachi, but it lacked the usual springiness of amberjack; it was just regular hamachi as far as I could tell. And apart from a tiny unidentifiable topping on the fluke, there was nothing special about this fish at all, nor was the rice particularly good. Apart from an inside-out spicy salmon roll, nothing about this said Morimoto. The service was okay (though our main dishes took forever to arrive), and the prices weren't over the top. The decor is a time capsule, just like the menu. Morimoto is phoning it in - could the chef answer the call himself?

Photos
Morimoto - The coolest

The coolest

Morimoto - Hirame sashimi

Hirame sashimi

Morimoto - Ootoro sushi

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Ootoro sushi

Sakana Omakasè Sushi - Toro Handroll

Sakana Omakasè Sushi

4.4(216 reviews)
1.1 mi•Fabric Row, Queen Village
•$$$$

An absolutely incredible experience. I can see why this restaurant books up quickly as soon as the…read moredate becomes available. We were lucky to secure 2 seats via online reservation for the 2nd seating at 8pm. Arriving 5 minutes before opening, we were directed to have a seat at one of the surrounding tables. We watched both servers efficiently clean up after the first seating. Afterwards, we were shown our seats where Chef "K" arrived and quickly went to work. We watched this chef and the head chef/owner Sam create our first courses which were exquisite. Not only were they presented beautifully but were absolutely delicious as well. Next came the first courses of nigiri. Piece by piece, we watched in excitement and anticipation. Each piece was fresh, crafted perfectly with the right amount of perfectly seasoned sushi rice. Then came a break in between the first and second courses of nigiri with a seafood dashi soup which consists of scallops, tofu, seaweed and dashi. A warm and refreshing way to break up the nigiri courses. The second wave of nigiri came, and these were just as incredible as the first courses. We loved the fact the ones that came with a topping or sauce didn't take away from the natural taste of the fish, rather it enhanced it and elevated it. Finishing off our course with the signature uni bowl which consist of wagyu beef, scallops, salmon roe, Japanese Hokkaido sea urchin, yuzu jelly and squid ink foam. This was a wow-factor dish that blew us both away. Stunning presentation and tasted even better. Finally, for dessert a roasted green tea ice cream which just brings everything together. Some side notes, I loved the attention to detail from both chefs. They're right on it if they see your gari (pickled ginger) is low and will happily refill it. I loved the place wasn't too stiff and you're able to make small conversation with the chef. And the service was top notch and not overbearing. Overall, this is some of the best sushi I've ever had and if I'm back in Philadelphia, I would happily return. A 10/10 experience.

Went on a Tuesday so it was a much more intimate experience as there were only a couple of us. The…read moreomakase is 19 courses and the establishment is BYOB. The sushi chef was very friendly and chatted with everyone throughout the at course. If you get up to use the restroom he will wait until you get back before making your nigiri- just a nice subtle touch. The fish was very fresh, basically melting in your mouth. The uni was wonderfully sweet, so fkd those unsure about it, definitely give it a try!

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Sakana Omakasè Sushi
Sakana Omakasè Sushi
Sakana Omakasè Sushi - Signature Uni Bowl
 - Wagyu beef
 - Scallop
 - Shiso leaf
 - Salmon roe
 - Japanese Hokkaido sea urchin
 - Yuzu jelly
 - Squid ink foam

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Signature Uni Bowl - Wagyu beef - Scallop - Shiso leaf - Salmon roe - Japanese Hokkaido sea urchin - Yuzu jelly - Squid ink foam

Chubby Nori

Chubby Nori

4.7(173 reviews)
0.0 mi•Chinatown

first time here and it was AMAZING food was so fresh and…read morecame out so quick 10/10 will be back

Service was okay by the staff that took the order but what disappointed me was the lack of…read morecommunications and enthusiasm sushi chefs had at the counter. They didn't speak a single word to us or to each other and just placed the items on the counter with zero explanations or anything the entire dining experience. Never sat at a sushi counter and not hear them speak at all. Food: Started with Chawanmushi. Bland, just tasted like steamed eggs and hot water. No umami in their dashi broth and probably the worst one I've had in any of the Japanese restaurants I've tried. Next was salmon cup and one of my cup didn't even have avocado and everything was unevenly spread and was a slob of mess. Spicy tuna hand roll was the worst spicy tuna I've had. No flavor and was basically a chunk frozen ground tuna (tuna was cold and flavorless) wrapped in nori. Scallop hand roll had too much cucumber and just made my scallops taste like water. Miso butter cod the cod was cooked ok but had no miso flavor and felt like it was just cooked cod with a block of butter. Toro mushroom, toro's quality was pretty good. Execution for the toro was horrible. They just cut one huge slab and called it a day. Either really lazy or really bad cutting technique which made the tendon really hard to chew and I had to take the toro with my hand and pull them apart. No way I'm chewing that tendon and nori and not choke on them. Uni was the best thing I had and kind of saved my night a little but you don't really need any cooking or cutting technique for this so if the Uni was bad, there would be a serious problem. Overall, felt pretty ripped off because of their execution they had for hand rolls not even sushi and it wasn't the fish quality.

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Chubby Nori - Bar Area

Bar Area

Chubby Nori - Miso cod hand roll

Miso cod hand roll

Chubby Nori - Spicy Tuna Hand Roll

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Spicy Tuna Hand Roll

Royal Sushi & Izakaya - 9/13/24

Royal Sushi & Izakaya

4.4(438 reviews)
1.3 mi•Queen Village, Fabric Row
•$$

Royal Izakaya deserves all the hype. I've been many times and I've never had a bad meal. It's one…read moreof my favorite places to take people who haven't been, whether they're Philly locals or visiting from out of town. And there are A LOT of really good restaurants to choose from in Philly right now. The city has absolutely boomed into a foodie town. Dare I say it, I think we're eating better than Brooklyn right now. Which makes it mean even more when I say Royal Izakaya remains one of my favorites. Best sushi I've had in North America, no question. And I don't say that lightly. The quality of the fish, the preparation, the balance of flavors, the consistency, all of it is remarkable. There are very few restaurants I return to again and again with the same level of enthusiasm. Royal Izakaya is one of them.

Back to Royal for izakaya. Still good vibe and decent drink selections. It's a bit too dark to even…read moresee the menu or dishes, might be better if there's a small lamp on the table. Service was prompt and friendly. Didn't see much skewer options, and the small dish options are lacking a bit varieties. Overall pretty good, but the sauce and flavor profiles are very similar, nothing wowed us. Sushi/sashimi fish cut is pretty fresh, but portion size is small. Wagyu steak didn't have much taste and was tough to chew.

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Royal Sushi & Izakaya - Pickup window

Pickup window

Royal Sushi & Izakaya - Wagyu tartare with caviar

Wagyu tartare with caviar

Royal Sushi & Izakaya - Wagyu Zabuton Steak (hard to chew...)

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Wagyu Zabuton Steak (hard to chew...)

Yanaga Kappo Izakaya - Hamachi ceviche

Yanaga Kappo Izakaya

4.5(57 reviews)
0.9 mi•Northern Liberties

Third time here and this place is so good! Make sure to get…read morethe mazzemen and add rice to it when you are done! I came here the first time and it was great and got chirashi mazzemen and a roll Second time I got some new items and wasn't a fan Back for a third time and stuck with my originals and loved it! Will be back sooner than later now that I love it again! Staff is kind here and I love the chill and fun atmosphere!

A little unsure how I feel about this place but here it goes. Cute little neighborhood spot with a…read moredivey hipster atmosphere. Came for HH after seeing what a large variety they had on the menu for the 2 hour special. Few hits and more misses, but maybe I was expecting more traditional than a fusion take on Japanese cuisine. Great cocktails and good selection of drinks. Service was on point and friendly. The food was just okay sadly, though we only tried a few things as we weren't too hungry, a lot of them missed the mark. The mini spicy chirashi was decent, but unfortunately everything else we had was subpar. I may have a pretty high standard for sushi as I'm from NY so maybe I'm being a little too critical but they just didn't work for me, maybe I just didn't order the right things. Anyway it's just my opinion and what do I know, maybe find out for yourself if this place is worthy of all the high ratings. Stay hip mother suckers

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Yanaga Kappo Izakaya
Yanaga Kappo Izakaya - Crab roll

Crab roll

Yanaga Kappo Izakaya - Outdoor entrance area

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Outdoor entrance area

Chubby Cattle Wagyu Shabu House | Philly - hotpot - Updated October 2026

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