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Shabu-Zen

4.1 (1k reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago

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SHABU-ZEN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Shabu-Zen

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Our go to for hot pot. Fast and friendly service. Great quality of meat and fresh vegetables

A10
Paul Francis M.

This was out of my comfort zone and I was told I would enjoy it so took the opportunity to continue to try new things. I quickly learned how to use chopsticks as I cooked my own food. I enjoyed my lunch which was the A10 with Beef and Lamb with a chicken broth. Also had a green tea shake which was perfect for afterwards. This is a place I will most certainly come back to as everything was absolutely delicious!

Ploy N.

Tasty hotpot with a variety of ingredients. The quality was good but the portion was on the smaller end for the prices. We still had a good time though!

Rarely do I leave a review before leaving the restaurant but this place was AMAZING. We are visiting for SoCal and craving Shabu. This place was exactly what we were looking for. I HIGHLY recommend the Mongolian spicy broth, short rib beef, and seared scallops. I would come back again.

Sauteed Beef Tongue
Malina N.

My family and I have been eating at @shabuzenboston (instagfor years and it hits the spot everytime‼ the herbal broth is one of our favorites and the quality of their meats is the best we've had in hot pot We haven't been able to find short rib better than here! The appetizers can honestly stand on their own too. We can't get enough of their sautéed beef tongue and the berkshire sausage that you dip in a honey mustard sauce Although Shabu-Zen is on the pricier side for hotpot, the quality of their ingredients is what makes it a spot we go to every time for special occassions and family dinners out! Definitely give it a try and let me know what you think!

Menu
Lina T.

I came to Shabu-Zen on a Saturday night during my last trip to Boston. It was a chilly, rainy night perfect for some hot pot! My friend and I did not make reservations ahead of time, but we were luckily seated immediately. I really liked the table setup, the bowls of hot pot broth were in grooves built into the table which minimizes the chances of spilling or burning yourself. We ordered the Surf & Turf to get a mix of meats as well as seafood. We picked beef for our meat, the other options were chicken or pork. Every main course comes with an assorted of veggies and an option of udon, vermicelli or rice. We picked udon noodles. There are alot of broth flavoring options, I picked Japanese Miso and my friend picked Chinese Sichuan Spicy. I enjoyed the Japanese Miso, the beef really soaked up the flavor. My friend's broth was super spicy, it was delicious... but not sure I would've been able to eat an entire bowl of it. The sides we ordered was an assortment of tofu and mushrooms, the plates were packed full of food! Overall, I can see why this spot was so packed. There is alot of seating inside and would be great for large parties as well. The staff were attentive, food came out quickly, they did not skimp on anything we ordered... as mentioned earlier, plates were packed! I would definitely make the trip back out here if I am in Boston again :)

Good air ventilation during morning hours
Maria G.

4 stars is the correct Yelp rating! Love the food and quality. Interior is very nice. That said, price adds up quickly. I got two regular combo entrees and a couple of side add-ons. Everything else beyond the default menu items costs extra. If you want another broth base, then you pay extra. I had the default chicken and vegetarian broth, which were great! The regular entree came with a small side of assorted vegetables and a side. I picked a rice and udon noodles. The portion size didn't appear impressive, but I was nonetheless satiated. The service was friendly. I like that they open early at 11 AM. Indoor ventilation was great in the early morning. I do hope to be back some time soon. Great cocktail/wine selection!

Meal

Fabulous staff, fast service, and great quality food. Awesome place, can't believe it's not more popular

Katalina P.

One of my favorite shabu places in Boston for the past few years. My go to is the surf & turf, which is seafood + choice of meet with the kimchi broth. I always get the beef. It usually gets busy during dinner time but if you have a small party, the "booth" area clears up quicker. The only down side this time vs previous visits is the price. Just the broth was $8! I remember it being $4 a year ago or two. The surf & turf was $32. The food is good but I would try other places for that price.

Jireh H.

So the story begins with three chefs partially tired of the repeated exposure to the current cuisine that they needed something different to break the cycle. What do they decide on? Something Eastern and nothing close to the mainstay of Boston that they continue to dish out everyday. Considering the fact that it is "winter" and cold, what calls out more than a good old hotpot to beat out the bone chill?' And here they were, away from the "frigid" ordering something spicy and spicier. Ingredients - fresh as they were - appeared on the table awaiting these tres amigos to do what they already do everyday. Cook it up they say, we did. Serve it up they say, we sure did. Plate it onto our little side plates like it meant something, we sure did and giggled. WTF are we doing...we are eating these all ourselves. We were just mocking around at this point. It's good food and it's a great way to chill. From our table, I spotted our next dining spot that I had to drag the other two to. Why? They were so stuck in our present cuisine that this was not in their forte. But it's my culture. It's my life. It's Chinatown - where I pilgrimage to regardless of what city and age I am in even if my passport isn't remotely close to it. Three generations apart...I still remember my roots and every exposure to every regional cuisine around it. Whenever I do any form of "hotpot", I look at their name and perceive what region they claim to be from - regardless of whatever fine details they deliver after. Shabu is a Japanese take on this particular "swish-swish" movement but not enough respect to what and where it came from. Here it is again with reference to the three chefs mentioned in the beginning. It doesn't matter...whatever we create, there will always be a copycat that copies the how and never the "why". So here is why the 4 star review takes place. You are in Chinatown and your name is of Japanese descent. Your preparation is not Japanese either. Neither are your broths. It is confusing for me because I care about the details. I would ding this place harder based on what I just said. But 4 stars it stays. What won that particular day is I was able to talk about culture for once to these other two. I stick out like a sore thumb in a Western Kitchen because of my skin and for once, my skin and what was delivered came through. I wished this place did the same. But no...while the ingredients were good, the service was fine, there was NOTHING to brag about this place - even if it was right in the middle of Chinatown.

Spicy Edamame
Rebecca H.

We had a very hard time finding a place to eat without a reservation in Chinatown on a Saturday night at prime dinner eating time. Fortunately, you can add yourself to the waitlist and get an estimate of how long you will have to wait at this place which sealed the deal for us. There are a bunch of tea places in the vicinity to help kill time in the meantime. We were seated at the main U in the center of the restaurant. Full disclosure: we've only had hot pot once before and everything was done for us so we had absolutely no fucking idea what on earth to do. A little common sense and a little creeping eyes to other patrons guided the way. We ordered a vegetarian delight platter to share with two broths and ramen noodles as an accompaniment and miso broth. We also ordered vegetable gyoza and spicy edamame appetizers as well as an extra side of tofu. They have vegetarian options in every part of the menu. Everything was incredible. The whole experience was really fun and unique. The gyoza were tasty and the spicy edamame was probably the best edamame I've ever had in my life. The vegetable delight is a massive platter with a wide variety of vegetables, many of which my white ass couldn't even identify. I might recommend not wearing a sweater because I was absolutely roasting along with the veggies in the broth. Speaking of broth, probably the best part of the entire thing was the delicious broth which, after finishing the solid contents of the meal, I essentially drank until the absolute last second when they pried the pot out of my hands. I was so full but almost ordered more vegetables to stuff down my throat because I didn't want the meal to end. I couldn't recommend this place enough.

a blackboard wall with writing on it
Sy Y.

This establishment is located conveniently with a private parking space. If you get here at the right time then you may just luck out and get free parking. I enjoy this place due to its delicious food and quality ingredients. They also offer private room type of sitting if you reserve in advance. On any weekends or holidays, expect to wait when you arrive. They do not take reservations on most days but food is worth the wait compared to few other shabu places in the area.

Christy H.

I've been to this hotpot spot a couple times and I've always had a great experience. There tends to be a wait every time, so I call ahead (wait is usually 30-45 minutes). The staff are also very welcoming and friendly! The soup base is delicious - my family and I usually go for half/half a mild/spicy base, which in this case was the miso and kimchi! It was SO good paired with the noodles/udon we ordered. The diced beef here is so so tasty and tender. Also ordered the ribeye beef which was good as well. My favourite meatballs here have to be the tobiko stuffed meatballs - THEY ARE AMAZING, very savoury, so so yummy! They didn't have a couple items on the menu, but no biggie - still had a very enjoyable meal! Oysters were pretty good as well - they were on the smaller side, but still pretty fresh and tasty! Definitely recommend if you're looking for a lunch/dinner spot in Chinatown, Boston. Great for groups!

Dining area

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Shabu Zen is in the top 5 of my favorite restaurants in the world. I go there every chance I get.

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Fav hot pot spot the service is always good. Service is always super prompt, meat and veggies fresh and they have great drinks!

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Page 3 of 26

Shabu-Zen Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Shabu-Zen

What type of soup base is used in their broths (ex: chicken, pork, veggie, etc.)?

Their house broths include chicken, pork and veggie that you can choose from without additional charges. They also have many other different broths with an additional charge ($4-5). I had the Sichuan spicy broth and it was, I believe, based on pork… Read more

Is this an all-you-can-eat or not?

Much better quality than all-you-can-eat. You will have to look elsewhere.

Do they take reservations??--edit: i called them and they do not

THEY DO NOT TAKE RESERVATIONS

View All 5 Questions

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Liuyishou Hotpot

Liuyishou Hotpot

4.0(352 reviews)
0.1 miChinatown
$$$

Came here for a lunch outing with my work team and we had a great time. The space wasn't too busy…read moregiven the time on a weekday so staff were pretty attentive and food came out quickly. They take your jacket to a safe location if requested which was great - no risk of getting any soup splash stains or smelling like hotpot after! You just order on an iPad to request more things which I personally love. Food was delicious and there was a great variety of dishes. We came when it was all you can eat meat which was perfect for a large group. Dipping sauce station was also great and then the drink variety was delicious as well. Overall, this was a delicious option for hotpot in the Chinatown area. I don't think I would come if it were a la carte for every item, but for all you can eat meat, it was great!

I arrived during the bustling afternoon crowd and was pleasantly surprised to be seated almost…read moreimmediately. The hostess provided a plastic covering for my purse and explained that the smell from the hotpot can cling to fabric. I genuinely appreciated that level of thoughtfulness. She also took time to explain the specials and suggested ordering a combo since it would cost less, which felt honest rather than sales-driven. The ingredients were fresh and delicious, and the toppings bar had so many options that you can really customize your experience. I went solo this time but this is definitely the kind of place that would be perfect for groups. What truly stood out to me, though, was the service. I accidentally threw something important away before leaving and didn't realize until I was gone. When I called they looked through the trash but couldn't find it.They allowed me to come back and search through the trash and even provided gloves. That level of patience and kindness is rare and meant a lot. Between the fresh food, helpful staff, and exceptional service, this was a 10/10 experience. I would absolutely recommend.

Photos
Liuyishou Hotpot
Liuyishou Hotpot
Liuyishou Hotpot - Deluxe Beef Platter, Tofo combo, Dried Ballonflower; Follow me @RimyEats on Instagram

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Deluxe Beef Platter, Tofo combo, Dried Ballonflower; Follow me @RimyEats on Instagram

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

Happy Lamb Hot Pot

4.1(371 reviews)
0.1 miChinatown
$$$
Large group friendly
Casual dining

Here in Boston to celebrate our sons 25th birthday. He had seen and heard about "Hot Pot" and the…read moreantler to give it a try. Naturally I used Yelp! To find a good place to go and Happy Lamb for the bill. We arrived early, doors still closed but the vestibule was available for us to sit while waiting. In the vestibule they have their menu posted so we browsed while waiting and had decided on what we wanted. Doors open and immediately sat at a table with flat burners. Decor is Asian themed with plenty of seating. Space is well utilized. Menu given and order taken. Once the hot soup portion was done and our protein picked out off to the buffet portion of this experience. They have three large shelves coolers with multiple shelves filled with veggies, noodles, and fish to add to your hot pot experience. They also offered hot apps and fried rice. Our two broths in one pot arrived and the fun began. Different flavor combinations as well as texture. My husband had a little bit of a hard time because we were given two spoons for both broths. I had the slotted one and he had the regular spoon so he had a hard time fishing out his add ons. Once we realized this was an issue we were given more spoons. Service was great, clarified items for us and was there when ever we needed. We made the mistake of reading too fast and thought we ordered beef tongue when it was beef TRIPE! It was gray and not appetizing. Tasted it and it wasn't bad. We really enjoyed and will be back.

Honestly the food was good and service was decent until the very end of our meal…read more We were told after around 70-80 mins or so that our "time is almost up" - that we were limited to 90 minutes. We weren't made aware of this when we came in, but not a big deal. We asked if the 90 minutes was to order or to leave, and the staff said to order. We then placed a final order and they took it. 10 mins later, a waitress comes by and abruptly says our time is up, we can't finish our food because there are other people waiting for tables, and starts clearing our plates and dumping everything into the broth pot. The 2 plates of beef and fish they just brought out went straight into the pile, wasted. Why take the order if you'll give us 2 mins from when you give it to us to cook and swallow everything? We were just shocked more than anything, and left with a bad taste in our mouths. The worst parts were we realized the family sitting next to us were there before us and still there when we basically got kicked out. Second, the staff lied because there was no line outside and 3-4 large tables open as we were leaving. Truly a disappointing experience - will not be going back to this location.

Photos
Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Menu Front

Menu Front

Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Menu Back

Menu Back

Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Happy Hour (Limited Time)

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Q Restaurant

Q Restaurant

4.2(1.5k reviews)
0.1 miChinatown
$$$

Came for the dishes instead of hotpot this time and they did not disappoint. All the plating was…read moregreat and the waiters were attentive making sure we had everything. One dish I would recommend is Xi'an Cold Rice noodles, it's an appetizer but was on par for a dish. The proportion was on the larger side and it had a perfect spice, all I have to say was it was delicious and for $9.95 you cannot go wrong. The dan dan noodles were good, but I would say the cold noodles were better. The golden buns were also great, a classic dish that is always loved with a great crisp. We did get the wrong sushi roll, unsure if they misheard us or if they thought we pointed to a different one but I'm glad they did because the Thunder Roll was delicious. I think it was the yellowtail that was on top that tied everything together, it was just really good. Overall a great place for dishes if you haven't tried it before you won't be disappointed.

This place continues to be one of the top sushi/ hot pot/ Chinese restaurants in Chinatown…read more Some quick impressions: - Great, diverse menu, so there is something for everyone. - wine is fairly priced. We had a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon for less than $40 b As an operations guy, my suggestion to management would be to suggest two things: 1. The salmon sashimi I had was a bit cold. It may be because I was at the 5:30 seating, but it taste better cool, but not cold. 2. Not sure where the bottles of wine are stored, but our cab was warm. Analogous to the sushi, red wine is better cool to room temperature vs warm. Again, I am a big fan of this place. Just want to provide balanced feedback to make an awesome place even more ...awesome?

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Q Restaurant
Q Restaurant
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Clay Pot Cafe - Yellow eel clay pot rice

Clay Pot Cafe

4.0(540 reviews)
0.0 miChinatown
$$

Bringing colleagues to Clay Pot Cafe, and it was excellent as always. One colleague exclaimed,…read more"I've been missing out on all the claypot rice煲仔飯 I've had before!" Minced Beef Claypot Rice免治牛煲仔飯: Surprisingly, the minced beef was served in a thickened meat sauce. The sauce was smooth, the rice grains were distinct, and after mixing, the egg and meat aromas were rich. The scallions were fragrant without any unpleasant odor, which was a surprise. However, the seasoning was a bit bland, so I added three extra spoonfuls of soy sauce. Spare Rib Claypot Rice排骨煲仔飯: The spare ribs were carefully selected, all easy-to-eat small ribs with a rich meaty flavor. My Sichuan colleague added a lethal amount of chili, which made me, a Cantonese, dizzy, but I have to admit it tasted good. Pork Pattie w. Salted Fish Claypot Rice鹹魚肉餅煲仔飯: I forgot to take a picture, but I didn't see any salted fish, while the patty had a distinct musty aroma from the fish--did it dissolve in the claypot? The pork patty was tender and smooth, simply divine. Hong Kong-style Iced Milk Tea港式凍奶茶: It tasted authentic, but as always, it was a bit bland. They were out of eel today; hopefully, I'll be able to get some next time!

煲仔饭 or clay pot rice Cantonese style is what we're talking about and it's one of the best in the…read moreeast coast. Service is basically no frill straight to the point and it helps if you speak Cantonese. It's a very small store in Ol' Chinatown Boston. Comfort food with elbow to elbow sittings and feels like dining in Hong Kong.

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Clay Pot Cafe - Inside

Inside

Clay Pot Cafe - Large Chinese Sausage and Bacon Claypot Rice

Large Chinese Sausage and Bacon Claypot Rice

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12. Chinese Sausage and Bacon Clay Pot Rice

Shabu-Zen - japanese - Updated May 2026

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