By Cami Yee
I first discovered the wonders of Shabu Shabu in November with my best friend, Reiko. As a certified shabu shabu lover, Reiko was determined to make me try it for the first time, and she succeeded. Ever since we dined at MoMo, the shabu restaurant in Japan, I have been enchanted by the delicious flavors and endless combinations of meat, vegetables, and other toppings.
Ever since then, I wanted to get shabu shabu, but was nervous that the taste wouldn’t be the same in America. I browsed endlessly for different restaurants, looking around the entirety of the Bay Area’s diverse pockets of culinary excellence. We then stumbled upon Shabuya.
A large restaurant in Milpitas, Shabuya posed as the perfect solution to my apprehensive mindset to shabu shabu in America. The restaurant was around 20 minutes away from Campbell and was easily accessible by car. All of the staff were extremely friendly and available. The part I was most excited about was the unlimited all-you-can-eat style of the restaurant, which was extremely generous for the price of $29.99. However, there is a 90 minute time limit. Reiko and I went with our siblings and another family friend. As a group of 5 people, we ate 31 plates of meat in an hour– our high score! We also got an assortment of vegetables, noodles, and other snacks.
Not only was the price affordable for the amount of food we got, but the taste of the meats and broth was so delectable. I got Tonkotsu broth, pork, and a mountain of Napa cabbage. My bowl was simmering with warmth and I could not put my chopsticks down. Additionally, Shabuya allows each person to have their own individual bowls which is perfect for a unique and customizable experience. In addition to meats and vegetables, there were also appetizers such as soy-glazed karaage chicken and fried gyoza, which were also unlimited.
Overall, Shabuya was such a great experience and I definitely recommend you visit sometime with your friends and family. It has become one of my favorite restaurants and we have already visited twice since December! It is a perfect spot which has the most delicious food and can accommodate large parties with room to spare. There is also an Asian food plaza five minutes away which has dessert places like Fantasia, Somi Somi, and more. Not too Shabby, Shabuya!
