The 5 Best Shabu Shabu Spots in Houston 

Shabu House is a reasonably priced shabu shabu restaurant that sticks with the traditional classic broth flavors but is still a delicious dining experience. A potential perk for those who dislike germ sharing is that each hot plate is private. 

At least, that’s what we’ve been told. From our observations at Shabu House, you can choose from broth, sauce, and protein. 

The menu listed the different available combos to choose from, which our waiter took no time to explain to us. So we ended up getting the original pork broth, garlic and sesame oil sauce, and supreme Angus beef. 

By the way, we noted that even though it states combo on the menu, all of the hot pots appeared to include the same selection of vegetables and noodles. 

We could choose from vegetables such as Chinese bok choy, radishes, sweet potatoes, tofu, tomatoes, thin/long mushrooms, cabbage, and two kinds of noodles. We suggest starting with the mushrooms, radish, and bok choy to give the soup broth a fuller taste. 

From what we gathered, the garlic and sesame oil sauce was completely devoid of any sort of salt, so it was a little tasteless. As for the quality of meat, the beef was a little stiff and in paper-thin slices. 

Garlic, crushed pepper oil, green onions, and scallions are also included with the shabu shabu table set. We used these condiments to add flavor to the broth. 

We liked how their hot plate wasn’t difficult to use—despite the buttons being in Chinese. We were able to control the temperature and turn it off without having to ask the waiter. 

One thing we didn’t like was how it was difficult to attract the attention of the waiter in order to get the most basic of necessities, such as water and vegetable refills.

Shabu Zone is known in the community for being a spotless shabu shabu buffet. 

Yes, there are also easily accessible parking spaces, so there is no need to drive around the local streets for parking. 

From the moment we walked into Shabu Zone, we noted how their buffet tables were stocked with fresh ingredients. The buffet features an abundance of sauces, noodles, seafood, and veggies. 

Although we did not see any beef or pork, they are available upon request from the wait staff.They also have vegetarian options in terms of broth selections. 

The staff doesn’t assist you to a table, rather you have to find one yourself. We were able to find a table quickly, though, because they had an abundance of open tables when we went. 

Do note each person gets their own individual hot plate and order of meat to start. What we liked was the fact that as they are a buffet, the price you pay means unlimited servings of shabu shabu—as much as you can eat anyways.

We chose an array of fresh seafood from their selection and asked for beef, which was top-notch in quality of slices and taste. The pork-based broth was salty, so we requested to switch to their vegetable one. 

We also had to ask for refills on our water and broth every time we ran out, but other than that, service was acceptable. We did like being able to make our own unique dipping sauce from the extensive selection at the sauce bar to use to bring more flavor to the shabu shabu broth. 

By the way, in case you have room for dessert, their dessert options are limited to ice cream at the buffet. 

Almost everyone that we spoke to raved to us about the service and high-quality tasting meats at Shabu². Many also advised us that although there is parking in their back lot, to keep in mind that the wait time may be greater at night if planning on dining there. 

To start off, if you like things on the spicier side, be sure to request hot sauce, as they did not have any available with the standard shabu shabu set. Also, if going with a crowd, the portion sizes of the broth were large enough to feed three people. 

There is an additional charge for the broth and any side dishes if you plan on sharing with more than two individuals. 

Although it was cramped inside Shabu², the service we received was swift and effective. 

One of the things we liked was how we didn’t have to choose one specific broth flavor. Rather they allowed us to choose two. 

We ordered the beef belly and sashimi-grade salmon, along with sukiyaki broth and spicy paste. 

Our shabu shabu came with udon noodles and a colorful variety of vegetables. We also got a bowl of rice. 

As a result of using superior ingredients, Shabu Squared’s hotpot is more expensive than average. Yet, the wagyu cuts of meat are plentiful and mix well with their flavorful broth.

Go Shabu not only has a beautiful interior and spotless restrooms but a variety of buffet options for the shabu shabu. At least, that’s what we’ve heard.

We liked how easy it was to find parking in front of their building as they did not have a private lot in the back. Furthermore, we liked how friendly our server was and helpful to us while explaining the different menu options as well as what was available at the buffet.

Regarding their selection of meat and produce, we liked the thick quality cuts of their beef and pork. However, some pieces of cabbage we noticed were wilted. 

They also had a wide variety of fresh fruits, which tasted as sweet as they looked.

What we most liked, though, about Go Shabu is their unique selection of broths. They have spicy broth, curry broth, tomato broth, and many more. 

But we wouldn’t recommend getting the tomato broth as it was acidic and bitter. By the way, once you choose a broth, there’s no going back—if you don’t like it, you have to pay extra for a new one.

Aside from ramen, they also have rice noodles and egg noodles available. Yet, they had a limited selection of dipping sauces for their shabu shabu. 

We did, however, like their sake as they have a variety of flavors available. We tried the apple and lychee sake which had a delicious sweetness and robust flavor to it. 

Hot Pot City does not serve just hot pot, but they also serve Japanese-style shabu shabu. At least, that’s what we were told.

When we went to Hotpot city, we liked how the staff was friendly and helpful throughout our entire dining experience. We also liked how the staff knew their menu in and out and were able to explain to us not only the ingredients in different broths but also which vegetables would be the best combinations to use for maximum flavor. 

The freshness quality of the vegetables for the shabu shabu was average at best. Some of the carrots had small black spots on them, and some of the bok choy leaves were soiled. 

We didn’t like how the shabu shabu broth had a sour aftertaste after every bite. As for the taste quality of meat, the pork and seafood we ordered had a very lackluster flavor when cooked. 

However, we did like their Thai broth as it was rich and tasty. It paired well with the well-seasoned lamb skewers we ordered on the side and the firm egg noodles. 

We also tried their Mongolian-flavored broth. While it was flavorful, the broth was a little too salty for our tastes.