1. Wawaji

0

Monterey Park, CA

Cancel

Open app

Search

Wawaji

4.8 (50 reviews)
Closed • 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 12:00 AM (Next day)

Wawaji Photos

Business Info

WAWAJI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Wawaji

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

spicy soup with mushroom
Vicky R.

Amazing Spicy Frog & Fish Buffet! Fiery, numbing-spicy broth paired with a mild center pot for balance. Super fresh, tender frog legs, and all-you-can-eat value is unbeatable. Great flavor, clean setup, and quick service--total win for hot pot lovers!

Delicious hotpot with tender frog, fresh fish, and flavorful broth. Great spot for groups!

Frog and fish broth with various unlimited sides
Nick C.

1st time here. We showed up on a Friday at 6:10pm. Not very busy just yet so we were seated quickly. If you sign up for their rewards it's free and you get a discount. They will ask you for which broth you want. We selected the frog and fish broth (delicious flavor) Then you will need to scan the menu with your phone to order your food. Drinks and fruit are unlimited and you have 90 minutes for AYCE. It's a bit pricy to come regularly at $112 w/tip for 2 people but its a nice treat for once in a while. Broth was really good though

inside
Becky C.

I used to come here a lot before when it was hot pot hot pot. The entire place looks remodeled and serve different types of food and overall vibe now. The good: - FREE DRINKS - FREE Fruit! good variety and fresh - we got the no spicy hot pot soup and it was pretty good but I feel like they are known for spicy The bad: - I think they are known for frog in hot pot based on name and other reviews but its not on menu and when we asked waiter they said that is something we need to ask for. - they have you mark up a menu and bring food out but a lot of our orders were kinda wrong and they gave us too much of somethings we didnt order (they did not charge waste fee or anything but I felt bad wasting the food because none of us could eat it) - they only have one type of noodle on menu but when you ask waiter there is another type! I think they should just put everything they have on the menu mostly because I was disappointed when ordering that I didn't see the frog and everything.

Hot pot

It's very delicious.China Chongqing style. If you like hot pot, you can go. Every food you can eat.

Claudia L.

A great new hot pot spot in town that's definitely worth checking out. The flavors are inspired by southwestern cuisine, so it can be bold and spicy, but there are plenty of milder options if you prefer--just like us. We loved that you can customize the spice level and still enjoy all the depth of flavor. The variety of small dishes was impressive, and everything we tried was well seasoned and thoughtfully prepared. The quality of the meat and fish really stood out--fresh, tender, and perfectly suited for hot pot. While many people come here specifically for the frog, it's not our thing, so we skipped it. That said, the fish options were absolutely on point and more than made up for it. Overall, a flavorful and satisfying experience, and we'd definitely come back.

Hotpot
Ray Z.

Came here for hot pot and left seriously impressed. This spot is especially known for their frog hot pot, and now I completely understand why. The frog was incredibly fresh, tender, and soaked up all the flavor from the broth -- not gamey at all, just perfectly cooked and packed with taste. The broth itself was rich and comforting with just the right amount of spice, and the ingredients were high quality across the board. Portions were generous, service was attentive, and the atmosphere was lively without feeling chaotic. If you're into hot pot and want to try something a little different from the usual meats, the frog here is a must order. Definitely coming back.

Too my parent here often, always empty stomach in full stomach out
Charles L.

Too my parent here often, always empty stomach in full stomach out, strongly recommended

Jenny S.

The frog meat is fresh and price is reasonable. The ayce has many food options to choose from. They also have unlimited fruit and drinks. Overall it's pretty tasty.

Hotpot little spicy
Apple X.

Absolutely delicious! The spicy bullfrog hot pot was rich, bold, and incredibly flavorful. The broth was perfectly tasty and spicy, and the bullfrog meat was tender, fresh, Every bite soaked up the spicy.this is a must-try.

Enjoy unlimited servings of bullfrog, fish, beef, lamb, and yellow tripe. The décor evokes the authentic atmosphere of Chongqing. Prices are very reasonable, especially during lunch hours (11:00 AM to 2:00 PM).

Really nice and friendly staff! Food was great!   Price really reasonable!  Will be back bring more and more friends.
Louis M.

Really good food and great service as well! Definitely will bring family and friends back!

Shiyi W.

Nice food,if you like spicy food.come here, loved the vibe here, came multiple times with my friends.

See all

Reviews are largely positive. People highlight the fresh, flavorful food, especially the frog hot pot specialty. Many enjoy the unlimited sides and drinks and friendly, attentive service.

Read the full review summary in the app

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Yule S.
138
301
5718

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 2
Oh no 2

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

20 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ray Z.
103
137
128

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Susan A.
96
61
31

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of SH L.
1
23
14

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of S F.
2
5
6

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 4
Love this 8
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Alex L.
100
39
0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 2

Wawaji Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Wawaji

Review Highlights - Wawaji

“If you're into hot pot and want to try something a little different from the usual meats, the frog here is a must order.”

Mentioned in 8 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Hot Pot 89,374 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Nabemono Shabu Shabu - Menu June 2019

Nabemono Shabu Shabu

4.3(549 reviews)
2.4 mi
•$$

Went here for the first time on Saturday with my girlfriend. I love Shabu, and this place didn't…read moredisappoint! The server was really nice and offered alternatives when they didn't have something my gf wanted. I appreciated his service and hospitality. Seating was fast and food was great as well! Will be coming back. P.S the tofu appetizer is great too

I had a hard time choosing where to go for dinner with my family. I wanted shabu shabu, but I…read moredidn't want AYCE. Nabemono came up, and I ended up choosing it over others. I read reviews which expressed frustration over the service, and I felt like that helped manage my expectations. I know it's a very tough time for restaurants, and I hope they are able to smooth things over soon. We were greeted when entered and we waited a bit to get seated. We were seated at a very large table, which felt funny since it was just three of us. It took some time to get menus. I walked up to grab them, but staff said they would bring it over. Once we ordered, food was quick to come out. Refill requests initially were promptly responded to, but as the first round of customers ended their meals, the service was backed up. It took some time to get refills and the check. Luckily we weren't in a hurry. The menu isn't entirely clear, so we had a couple ordering hiccups. Generally, easy problems to resolve. My family and I enjoyed the food. The vegetables, meat, and sauces tasted good. I really liked their goma dare (sesame sauce), which is my favorite part of shabu shabu. The brown rice portion was substantial, but the rice was reheated and dry. The ramen portion, while tasty was small, like ~1/3 of the rice portion. I personally, like to eat the carb throughout the meal, which means ordering more. The space is large with a lot of hard surfaces. I wouldn't say it is a quiet space--it is good for groups. We also sat closer to the door, so my elder family members were a bit cold while we waited. However, once the burners were going, it didn't feel as cold. The three of us ate for ~90 without tip, which can make sense for folks who don't want to pay $55pp for AYCE dinner. However, I think AYCE lunches at other restaurants during the week are a better value and can have smoother service. Just like many things in this world, my experience isn't black and white. There were things I liked and things that could be improved. I think it's worth a shot for others to try, as long as they can be open minded about the experience and patient.

Photos
Nabemono Shabu Shabu - Menu June 2019

Menu June 2019

Nabemono Shabu Shabu
Nabemono Shabu Shabu - Certified Angus Beef Short Rib

See all

Certified Angus Beef Short Rib

Tasty Pot - A pot of happiness!

Tasty Pot

3.9(355 reviews)
2.3 mi
•$$

Tasty Pot has changed to malatang hot pot style. You put all the ingredients you want in a big bowl…read moreand then they'll charge you by the pound. Price was reasonable at 13.99/lb. We came in around 5:30 pm on a weekend. A lot of the ingredients were in low supply and the veggies didn't look fresh. We had to ask them to refill the beef because the container was completely empty. When we went to get our sauces, they had a limited selection compared to other hot pot/malatang places. They didn't have any sesame sauce available then, even though there was a label for it. The soup bases were alright. The tom yum flavor has a bit of a kick and the healthy bone soup was decent.

I have always come to Tasty Pot after my other favorite hot pot joint closed. It felt like not long…read moreago they rebranded, and this summer they were closed for construction again. Once they reopened, they changed their business model. Now you can choose your own soup base and ingredients, and they charge you by the weight of the food. Then they cook it for you and bring it to your table. The ambience hasn't changed much except that they now have stations where you can choose your ingredients. There are lots of options, and they have some pre-made items as well. I also like that they offer complimentary green tea. To me, that's not how I prefer my hot pot, as I like having a fire to keep my food warm. However, it's also nice to be able to choose exactly what you want in your hot pot.

Photos
Tasty Pot - 12 different hotpot's to choose from

12 different hotpot's to choose from

Tasty Pot - The best hot pots are the ones that you don't need to share with anyone!!!

The best hot pots are the ones that you don't need to share with anyone!!!

Tasty Pot - Tasty Pot

See all

Tasty Pot

Happy AYCE Hot Pot - Perfect combination in summer time !

Happy AYCE Hot Pot

3.9(2.5k reviews)
3.4 mi
•$$
All you can eat
Free parking

We came to Happy AYCE Hot Pot for a late dinner. We arrived pretty close to closing time, so we…read morecompletely understood that the staff probably wanted to finish up and go home. They were very polite and simply asked us to settle the bill first, but they still let us sit, relax, and enjoy our dinner until closing time. They even told us that staying a little later would not be a problem. We really appreciated their patience, kindness, and flexibility. Thank you to the staff for making us feel welcome even though we arrived late. Great service and a very pleasant experience!

Classic AYCE hot pot Lunch $24.99 / Dinner $29.99…read more Pay $5 on top of hot pot price for unlimited dim sum. This was such a good deal! I got the classic ayce hot pot and mostly got the beef, lamb and pork belly for meats. There is a premium ayce option for $5-6 more but I was pretty satisfied with just the classic selections. I would rather pay the extra $5 to get dim sum, which was also not bad! I liked the siu mai, shrimp har gow (fave), and steam juicy dumplings. My bf liked the steamed chicken feet and garlic tripe as well (the tripe was p spicy). You order the dim sum with your server as the dim sum is made to order, which I preferred bc it comes out steaming hot. The buffet bar also has a variety of items from fried appetizers to veggie side dishes, fried rice, noodles and more!

Photos
Happy AYCE Hot Pot - China National Basketball team dinning at Happy Ayce Hot Pot

China National Basketball team dinning at Happy Ayce Hot Pot

Happy AYCE Hot Pot - Happy AYCE hot pot was named as one of the top 10 hot pot places in metro LA by LA TIMES on Feb.17 2024!

Happy AYCE hot pot was named as one of the top 10 hot pot places in metro LA by LA TIMES on Feb.17 2024!

Happy AYCE Hot Pot - Happy AYCE hot pot was named as one of the top 10 hot pot in metro LA by LA TIMES on Feb.17 2024

See all

Happy AYCE hot pot was named as one of the top 10 hot pot in metro LA by LA TIMES on Feb.17 2024

Hot Pot Hot Pot - Little Fat Sheep

Hot Pot Hot Pot

3.9(1.1k reviews)
0.0 mi
•$$

Disappointed to hear that this place closed. Wish we could be there for the last day atleast. Went…read morehere over the years and each time I've enjoyed it a lot. I hope to see this restaurant open some other time, even if it's in a different place. From what I remember the soup was great, and the other foods we placed in them were almost nice. I didn't mind most of the things most people had problems with, namely, the "presentation." Honestly didn't really care because I really only enjoyed the food. The owner was also nice and chill, along with the rest of staff, hope they're doing well.

I hadn't been to this place in like 12 years prior to this dinner. I remember liking it a lot in…read morethe past. I do feel that this place needs to up their game. Other places have passed them by in some respects First there is no sauce bar here. Just four small containers of sauces you can use. Ironically none of those sauces are soy sauce. A darker possible peanut sauce, a sesame sauce, a pinkish possibly fermented tofu sauce and the standard chili oil. I wanted more as far as the sauce goes and I thought a sauce bar was pretty standard these days Second there is no AYCE bar with small snacks. Kind of interesting When ordering the meat, I guess they wanted to save a plate so the sliced meats just came in plastic containers. That loses some points with me on presentation Other than that everything is fine. They charge a little less for the broth than a lot of places do, so that's nice Got vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, noodles and a couple of meats. Overall it's a fine experience, mostly Ok to Good. But the lack of some things makes it more second tier for me and it would not be a go to hot pot place for me

Photos
Hot Pot Hot Pot - Sliced beef

Sliced beef

Hot Pot Hot Pot - Spinach

Spinach

Hot Pot Hot Pot - Doughy bread

See all

Doughy bread

Shabuya - Alhambra

Shabuya - Alhambra

4.2(897 reviews)
1.6 mi
•$$$
All you can eat
Casual dining

Today after the rain was a good time for some hot pot! Shabuya never disappoints. They keep the…read morebuffet area very tidy and the servers were constantly checking on us asking if we wanted more meat. They were always very courteous. But times must be rough for some people because the table next to us finished their meal (judging by the stacks of empty plates and a few untouched ones) because they started telling a server that they were not served real beef. They demanded to speak to a supervisor and declared that they were going to write a bad review and never coming back again. Were they looking for a free meal? Because clearly they had no problem with the meat during the meal. But the staff managed to de-escalate the situation. I hope these people don't come back. Who needs customers like these? So after the dinner and show, we warmed our bellies and headed home. Until next time, Shabuya.

Pretty good!! Was here when it first opened. Returned a few times after. The most recent visit was…read morenice. The wait wasn't long on the weekend. Dinner/weekend price was decent for the quality. They even included one Wagyu in the meat selections. We ordered a variety of meats. They allowed up to 5 orders each time. The seafoods, veggies, and sauces were self serve. The buffet area could be a bit more organized and clean. It was also difficult to reach for some of the items. I haven't had Sukiyaki broth in a while. It was so good lol I like how the meats here were thinly sliced. Did I mention that they even offered lamb. Yum! Soft drinks not included in the price. They do offer free barley tea =] Service to place orders was a bit slow. Meats were delivered quickly. Will be back =]

Photos
Shabuya - Alhambra - Veggie, Seafood, Sauces Bar

Veggie, Seafood, Sauces Bar

Shabuya - Alhambra - Nice to MEAT you !

Nice to MEAT you !

Shabuya - Alhambra - Interior

See all

Interior

吃货 H.P & BBQ - IG: socalhkfoodies

吃货 H.P & BBQ

4.7(405 reviews)
2.6 mi
•$$$

Delicious restaurant for combined Chinese barbecue and hot pot with a variety of meat and veggies…read moreas well as well seasoned skewers. The skewers were kind of gamey and hard to chew, with the rest was delicious and the flavoring was on point . Parking was accessible with a free lot in the back and also plenty of sidewalk. Parking in the front. Service was phenomenal and the lady who owned the restaurant was very sweet. Although my mandarin was terrible, the restaurant lady was very kind did not make me feel embarrassed at all. Thanks to this restaurant for a delicious and unique combo!

Rating: 8/10 Bf and…read moreI have been to H.P & BBQ about four times now, and we always get the all-you-can-eat skewers! Usually comes out to around $50 per person for us. They stay open really late, and it hasn't been too busy whenever we've gone. There's also a hot pot option, a self-serve sauce section, and drinks are included through the soda machine. You order through a QR code and can keep adding more as you go. The skewers are small and usually come a few per order, so we order multiple rounds. However, food comes out pretty slowly, usually around 15-20 minutes per round, so definitely plan ahead when ordering. Sometimes items don't arrive, and we've had to reorder them a few times. We usually get the lamb skewers, chicken skin, beef skewers, pig intestine, fish tofu, quail eggs, and squid claw! Bf especially loves the pig intestine, and I love the fish tofu and quail eggs. The beef skewers are good but can be pretty fatty, so after a while the fatty pieces get a little too rich for me. The restaurant has a casual, family-run feel, but it's not the most polished or welcoming place. Service could definitely be better, and we really come for the food. I was a little surprised when I went the first time because when you order the skewers, a staff member brings them to your table without a plate, just holding the ends of the sticks with their hands. Overall, we enjoy the skewers and come back about once every three to four months when we're really craving them. Not somewhere I'd go for the service or ambiance, and definitely give yourself time since the food comes out slowly. But for a late-night meal with lots of skewer options, this is a spot we keep coming back to!

Photos
吃货 H.P & BBQ - Inside

Inside

吃货 H.P & BBQ - IG: socalhkfoodies

IG: socalhkfoodies

吃货 H.P & BBQ - Oyster and beef

See all

Oyster and beef

Wawaji - hotpot - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...