Really disappointing experience due entirely to the service. Our server (a shorter, younger guy) had a constant attitude from the moment we sat down. Every time we asked for something -- whether it was basic or reasonable -- he looked visibly annoyed and made faces, which honestly made us uncomfortable and discouraged us from asking for anything at all. On top of that, he repeatedly sipped from a cup hidden under the bar during service, which felt extremely unprofessional and concerning. I'm pretty sure it was alcohol because he turned so red over the course of our dinner and another server even called him out on what he was doing. Overall, his behavior completely ruined what should have been an enjoyable meal. Service like this is unacceptable, especially at a place that clearly wants to be taken seriously. Won't be returning unless management addresses read more

I love this place. I love the cuts of beef and the seasoning that they put on top of it and I love all the side dishes that they have especially the chicken wing and the shrimp. The ambience and interior is whatever is just a regular restaurant. The service is fine. Everyone is friendly and attentive. read more

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This is my favorite go to shabu spot. The meat is quality and the service is always excellent. There could be a light wait, but it passes quick. The miso broth is my top broth and the mokkoji cut is great and the toro. It is a fun experience and inside there are lots of tables and stove tops. I will always return when I can afford to get Shabu again. read more

Mokkoji - Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Still love coming here with friends and family. Staff are so informative and helpful and will explain everything especially if you've never had Shabu before. The lunch specials are great too. We came here recently and got a two person meal and that was more than enough to feed us. Don't miss out on the seafood either because it's fresh and a bonus to create a perfect surf and turf. The veggies are also a great accompaniment to all the meat. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I feel like Mokkoji has lost its luster amidst all of the available hotpot options now. Mokkoji is good, but it's not special anymore. The wait is usually just not worth it, even if the meat quality is good. This location in Irvine has friendly staff and lots of available parking. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

It was pretty busy on a Friday night. The prices have gone up since most of the other menus on the yelp. We ordered cucumbers with chili oil as a side but were kind of confused when they came out pickled. There was no indication on the menu that it would be - flavor was nice but it just wasn't what we were in the mood for. The broth itself was nice. I got the L brisket half marinated and half not. Everything combined was a perfect amount of food. The table is a bit cramped so it was hard to fit 3 people's items on a table meant for 4. Overall, I think for the price this place is just ok. read more

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The food is consistent and deserves four stars. The service, however, is just okay. Some of the staff are friendly and welcoming, while others seem uninterested and not very attentive. A more consistent level of customer service would make the overall dining experience much better. read more

ORDER sukiyaki broth w/ marinated flat iron (5/5) lunch special is back!! it's around $19 for lunch, but unfortunately i don't remember from what time to what time. lunch special comes with the broth of your choice + regular flat iron + green tea or black tea. i always get the sukiyaki broth here and it's my favorite! i highly recommended getting your choice of meat marinated. both teas were good, but i prefer the green tea. SERVICE very quick service. be sure to join the yelp waitlist to beat the wait. AMBIANCE plenty of seats and parking. read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Love this location. I've done both takeout and dine-in many times. The wait is long as the restaurant is pretty small but worth it! Absolutely love the fire crab broth for that nice kick and savor. It costs extra but is so gooood. The protein is always fresh and love the garnish and sauce on top. They also have free refills on veggies and broth too. Definitely one of the better shabu spots in the OC! read more

Mokkoji - Large Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" + Fire Crab Broth (takeout) - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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i've been eyeballing this spot and i'm so glad i ended up trying it!! my bf and i got 32 cuts of the flat iron mokkoji cut and the beef quality is amazing. the marinated meat compliments the ponzu sauce so well and we ended up ordering 10 more slices of the beef. i got the spicy pork broth and really liked it! its pretty salty if you sip the broth on its own but the flavor is so yummy. all the veggies soaked up the broth well and i also asked for a side of vermicelli noodles, which took a bit longer to fully cook. the service was also great! our waiter was very attentive and gave us great recommendations since we were confused on how to order certain items. although i've heard this place gets very packed at lunch and dinner time, we were able to get seated right away at an early dinner time. mokkoji is honestly on par with the shabu shabu that i've tried in japan. i'm already excited for my next visit! read more

Mokkoji - flat iron mokkoji cut 10 pc - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I haven't been to this place in a while. My daughter was craving Japanese hotpot, so we decided to come here. The wait wasn't too bad--just about 10 to 15 minutes. The setup is nice, with each person getting their own individual hotpot. We weren't super hungry, so we ordered 14 pieces of Toro Fatty Belly and 10 pieces of Prime Rib to share, along with rice, mixed vegetables, and noodles. The meal comes with two types of dipping sauces: one soy sauce-based and the other miso-based. I like using the miso-based sauce for meat and the soy-based one for vegetables. The meat quality is excellent--tender and flavorful. The only reason I don't come here more often is the value for the price. It comes out to about $45 per person before tip, which makes it more of an occasional treat than a casual spot. read more

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I love coming here, the quality of the meats is next level. My go-to is the spicy sukiyaki with egg and the 10 piece flat iron Mokkoji cut marinated. The meat is well marinated and tastes tender and flavorful when cooked in the broth. It cooks within seconds. I usually get full with 10 pieces of the meat bc it also comes with a side of veggies and udon as well as rice. Service is always great and it's one of my favorite places in OC. Highly recommend! read more

Mokkoji - Spicy Sukiyaki Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" 10 Pc - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I had such a wonderful experience at Mokkoji Shabu Shabu. Everything was so fresh and delicious from start to finish. The quality of the ingredients really stood out -- the vegetables were crisp and vibrant, and the meats were incredibly tender and flavorful. What truly made it special was the special sauce they put on the shabu-shabu meat. It was incredible. Whatever marinade or seasoning they use elevates the meat to another level. Every slice was packed with flavor and cooked up perfectly in the broth. The broths were excellent too, and the overall presentation and care that goes into each order made the meal feel elevated without being pretentious. Service was friendly and attentive the entire time. If you're looking for the best quality, fresh, and genuinely delicious shabu-shabu experience in the Tustin/Orange area, Mokkoji delivers. I'll be returning soon -- that special sauce alone is worth the trip! Highly recommend. read more

The food was great. We had half marinated and half regular beef. I liked that the marinated beef had an extra garlic flavor but both were good. The garlic shrimp with the crispy shell fried was also great. But the really unique dish was the green tea and tai yaki ice cream with red bean paste. The yuzu drink was also very refreshing. The service was great abd the ambiance was fun. read more

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A nice meal to end a rainy day. We went on a Friday night around 7PM and the wait was around 30 minutes. They have a lot of seating so people were coming in and out pretty quickly. I got a spicy soup base with brisket. I think the soup base can be better. It tastes like water with diluted hot sauce. But other than that, everything was really delicious. The brisket was really well marinated and you can still taste the sweetness and garlic flavor after you cook it in your soup. They also provide rice, veggies, and udon with your order. read more

Mokkoji - Brisket - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Establishment is busy, clean and comfortable. Staff was very professional and attentive. Our server was patient and knowledgeable. We ordered the SH (share) 32 piece set of beef Toro "Fat Belly" with the original broth. This came with vegetables and rice for two people. Food came out promptly. Everything was excellent, very fresh and delicious. They provide two sauces, a soy sauce and a sesame sauce. The sesame sauce has a slight kick to it. Definitely great value. TLDR: Excellent service, excellent food, excellent establishment, great value. Would recommend! read more

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LOVE Mokkoji! It deserves 5/5 but it's a bit on the pricey end.. but I also can't say they've ever disappointed. I do the Spicy Sukiyaki with the flat iron mokkoji cut and add a side of instant noodles. That's usually like $40-45 I think. Parking is easy right upfront, I've maybe waited like 5 mins at most for a table but it's ideal to show up with no more than 4 people, with less you can maybe squeeze into the bar. Service is always super friendly and helpful, and the dining area is always kept clean. Only wish it was a little more affordable so I could justify coming more often! Definitely try Mokkoji out if you like hot pot! read more

On a weekday, when there's a line before the place opens at 11:30a, you know it's a good sign! Also, they have Yelp waitlist available so get on it! We all had the lunch special, which was a good amount of veggies and protein. Went with the OG broth, which was good. The lunch special also included black or green tea, but no refills! Boo. Overall, had a nice lunch! However, with so many hot pots around, we'll venture to try other spots for comparison. read more

This is my go-to Shabu Shabu spot. I always order the large prime rib, which although expensive, tastes tender and delicious. I also love that they'll hook up the vegetables to your liking. read more

Great lunch special on shabu shabu. Plenty of food and great service. You also get a drink with the lunch special which is nice. The marinated meat is a good twist on a typically standard type of meal. The price is right for lunch. They offer extra rice or vegetables free of charge which also nice. Quick and attentive service. read more

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had such a wonderful dining experience here. The service was warm and attentive without ever feeling rushed, and every team member made sure we had everything we needed. The flavors were absolutely outstanding -- from the fresh, beautifully marbled meat to the rich, perfectly balanced broths and the variety of tasty dipping sauces. Everything was served with great attention to detail and at just the right pace. The atmosphere is bright and welcoming, making it easy to relax and truly enjoy the meal. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a delicious and memorable hot-pot experience! read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

An extremely good shabu place to hit! I had the beef toro fatty belly with the spicy miso soup base, and it was very delicious. I think the price point is a tad bit high, but the quality of the food definitely is up to par for the price, so well worth it in my opinion. Very much recommended when it's a cold day! Shabu just hits different on those types of days. Will definitely be coming back here again in the near future. read more

Mokkoji - Beef Toro Fatty Belly - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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I'm the kind of person who never really liked shabu, so I'm glad that this place converted me :,) I love the veggie selection, and the meat is always good quality and almost too generous in the portions. The 10 pc is the smallest quantity offered, and I can usually only finish 5-6 pieces at most. I'll probably try the shareable next time. Great place to go to for a quick and casual meal :) read more

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I love going back to a place 9 years later and my dining experience being exactly the same! It's always a nice experience here. I went to college in Irvine and as your typical broke college kid, I couldn't go to Mokkoji often so I'd come about once or twice a year. But I loved coming here. I recently came back last week and everything was phenomenal per usual. You choose your meat, broth and get a bowl of veggies and cook everything as you go. Love the concept. It's forever going to be my favorite shabu restaurant as bold as that sounds. Meat quality is consistent so are the broths. If you want even more flavor, get one of the marinated options. Sukiyaki and miso broths are my favorite options here. Also, I have to say they have the best goma sauce, you can't compare it to another place! If you like a rich nutty flavor, then you will like the goma sauce here! They mix their rice grains and it adds a nice subtle taste to your typical bowl of rice. My only complaint would be I do wish they served a piece of corn in the veggie platter. But other than that love love love this place! And their prices are better than other shabu restaurants- no one can compete! read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The toro fatty belly with Miso soup broth is my go to here! I put myself on the Yelp waitlist on Saturday night and the wait was around 40 minutes. As we got seated our order was taken promptly and our veggie sides and meat came shortly after. The ponzu and sesame sauce that comes with the meal are so good! You can also ask for hot sauce drops in your sauce if you like it more spicy. The ambiance is spacious and there's table and bar seating! read more

Mokkoji - Toro Fatty Belly - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My FAVORITE SHABU SHABU SO FAR!! The meats are high quality and so fresh. The price is also reasonable and not really expensive. Staffs are friendly, and they do come around and ask how's everything. Mokkoji is unique and amazing in my opinion, and I do wanna come again with friends and family. read more

Mokkoji - Toro Fatty Belly XL and Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut" XL - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This review has been long overdue! I had such a great experience at Mokoji, especially thanks to Thien! He was incredibly friendly, attentive, and did an amazing job explaining the menu and helping us with what to order. He checked in on us throughout the meal and even came by to offer hot drops. He made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Thien is seriously the BEST! :) read more

very quick and organized service! didn't have to wait long for a table and everything was so well made. i got the toro as usual and it was very good! not too fatty of cuts but not too lean. everything was great and i'd def have to come back! not a big restaurant and so many people close together so it made us smell like extra soupy and meaty after haha wish there was better ventilation but overall great experience! read more

Mokkoji is a wonderful experience. A word of advice is put you name down through yelp to help speed up the seating process. The Big Beef plate is delicious and can probably feed 3 people. I suggest just getting 1 drop of the spicy and increase it if needed. The service was great and they were very attentive. I would definitely come back... read more

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This is absolutely one of my go to Shabu places within Irvine. Unfortunately they have some of the worst servers I have ever experienced. On 2/16, we went for an early dinner and right from entering the door the girl working there with grey/blonde looking hair, looked annoyed that we walked in. When we finally sat down the same girl and a skinny short Asian guy continued to have the worst attitude. Bare minimum acknowledgement that we were there and continued to look annoyed every time we asked for something. Like if they are so unhappy to be there, don't work there. It's truly unfortunate that I had to go out of my way to write this negative review, because I really do love the food, but the service needs to do better. On the plus side, the skinner tall Asian girl at the end who finally checked on us was sooo much nicer and offered to get anything else and helped us check out. Kudos to her-wasn't able to catch her name. read more

Overall I enjoy dining here. The food is good with nice meat quality and the dipping sauces, especially the goma with hot drops, are delicious. Subtracted a star because I disappointed this last visit because they were understaffed and took forever to seat us despite plenty of open tables that were waiting to be cleaned. The mixed vegetable plate was also less visually appealing than normal which is probably due to the staffing issue and not really the fault of the kitchen or wait staff. I also requested to pay for my daughter's table and the server said she would give us the bill, later to find out they paid themselves and were not told we requested to pay it. read more

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Came here a couple times with friends, mokkoji is always a safe pick for shabu shabu. the spicy drop is on the spicier side and it goes well with rice. meat quality seems pretty good as well read more

Mokkoji - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

My husband, me and my mother ate here tonight. The place was packed, but the host kindly gave us a table (instead of a bar seats) because my mom was elderly. The waiter was very nice and efficient in taking our order. We ordered 2 Mokkoki flat iron beef shabu, and 1 mix of beef and lamb. The broth and veggies plate came out first, so we proceeded to cook the veggies and udon while waiting for the meat plate to come out. When the meat came, we then cooked the meat in the broth, scooping out the now tender veggies. However when I pulled out the udon from the pot and into my bowl, I found that the udon was tightly wrapped with a strand of long black hair. For reference, my own hair is short, shoulder length, and dark brown. I kind of shrieked a little and called my waiter to show him my bowl with the udon-hair. He took my bowl back, and brought out a new rice bowl, saying just "sorry". That was it. I finished my dinner, but it just didn't feel good anymore. In retrospect, I should have asked them to replace my broth and veggie plate as well, because the hair had basically contaminated everything. When the bill came out, they didn't give any compensation for the incident. I asked the guy at the cashier, telling him the incident, and he reluctantly gave me a $9 discount from the bill. But it was grudgingly. Now, I'm not looking for a free meal, but the way it was handled left a lot to be desired. First, they should have replaced the entire portion, as the hair had contaminated the veggie dish and the broth. Because I didn't think of asking for that and continued eating the food, I now feel really grossed out after dinner. But to do nothing except replacing the rice bowl is definitely not sufficient. I hope from this incident, there will be a protocol for this restaurant for what to do if something like this happens again. I regret that I didnt take a picture of the hair-udon in my bowl, but that was because I panicked and called the waiter instead. That was my mistake. read more

Mokkoji has been a staple for me since moving to Irvine. It's consistently good, service is always fast, and is always there when I want a comforting and warm meal. I always get the spicy sukiyaki with the marinated flat iron. The meat with the veggies makes it a well rounded and satiating meal. There are also free refills for the leafy veggies if you want to eat more! I also always ask for the garlic paste, green onion, and chili paste tray that I add into my soup or on top of my bites. Mokkoji is a long time favorite of mine and a solid choice for shabu shabu! read more

Mokkoji - shared beef set for 2 - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Great food and big smiles by staff We loved it. Been here many times and always satisfied. read more

Really solid Shabu place if you're someone who likes quality meat. We ordered the toro (share set) and maybe bc it's the amount we got that the plate looked amazing. And it tasted great too. I think a lot of people are fan of the meats here. My friend and I got the share for 2 and it comes with drinks/soft drinks, a shrimp appetizer that was delicious, 32 pieces of your choice of meat, and macaron dessert at the end. The prices are mostly based off your choice of meat and broth. I love the veggies that come with udon noodles and rice so you won't feel like you should've gone to an AYCE. And the sauces are great too. While the table seems small, I was surprised that we could comfortably fit all our drinks, condiments, rice and veggie plates, and appetizer and meat plates. The only thing I wasn't completely impressed by was their broth. I feel like it's a bit more thin or watery, but not in a tasteless way but I think I like the more flavorful, thick broths of other places. I got the spicy miso but now I wonder if next time I should get a non spicy broth and add hot drops. I do know other people who like the broths here so I think it's really just preference. Definitely plan on waiting a bit when you're here bc it's quite the waitlist. We waited for about 30 min which didn't feel too bad and makes you just more excited to grub. The inside is smaller than what I've seen for a Shabu place but I like it bc it doesn't feel like a place that wants to seat a bunch of people as fast as possible which can create chaos and an overwhelmed staff. It was money well spent. read more

Mokkoji - Veggies. Comes with udon underneath - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My sister and I came here for lunch on a Sunday and I really enjoyed it! It's convenient that they have a Yelp waitlist online, so we were seated immediately upon arrival! We got the share plate (comes with 32 pieces of meat, good portion for 2 people) of the Flat Iron "Mokkoji Cut", and it was delicious! Make sure to say "yes" to the marinade.. it really makes a difference in the flavor! And you can surprisingly still taste it even after it's cooked in the broth. The share plate is definitely a good deal if you're with another person. We also each got our own veggie set with the share plate. It's nice they actually give free refills on Napa, bok choy & the kale! I got the spicy miso broth. Lots of flavor and wasn't overly spicy. Their ponzu dipping sauce & goma sauce were delicious. Service was excellent. Our servers were attentive and were always checking in on us. Can't wait to come back! read more

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I come here all the time for the vegeterian pot, the food is very fresh, the soup is right on point wrt taste.

Great place for hot pot, hidden gem. Food is always good, the marinade can't be beat for the meat. I love how much veggies they give, service is always good, and kid friendly. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

Today we stopped by this place for a friend's birthday. We placed our order and received the vegetables and broth first. However, even after asking multiple times, it took about 20 minutes before a staff member finally brought us the meat. After we finished eating, I asked an employee if there was anything I could use to mix rice with the broth to make porridge. Instead of explaining, the staff simply asked, "What do you want?" As it was my first time here, I had no idea what options were available, so the response was quite surprising and disappointing. I wasn't expecting perfect service or big smiles, but the attitude and lack of basic courtesy throughout our visit left me very uncomfortable. I don't think I'll be coming back. If you decide to visit, don't expect friendly service. read more