Shabu Ya

I called during lunch and again during dinner hours and no one answered. Is this business closed? Sad day, if it is…
Shabu Ya is located on the second floor of Solair. The entrance for the validated free underground parking is on Oxford Ave.
The restaurant is small and always empty. This is unfortunate because the food is quite good. The appetizers are definitely worth trying. The grilled Kobe beef tongue and fried rice are surprisingly delicious.
For the main course, I always get the prime rib-​eye beef. I’ve tried the Kobe beef and don’t find the price difference to be worth it. Each shabu shabu meal comes with a bowl of rice and a plate of fresh veggies which include enoki mushroom, cabbage, carrots, tofu, udon noodles, etc. I especially love the ponzu and goma (sesame seed) dipping sauces they have, it tastes better than other restaurants’ for some reason. Of course, you can dress up the sauces yourself with green onions, minced garlic, daikon, and togarashi (the spicy red seasoning).
For dessert, you have a choice of vanilla, green tea, or red bean ice cream. The green tea is definitely my favorite. I wish Chef Eric would just mass produce it so I could stock up tubs of it at home.
Because of the slow traffic, this restaurant is a great place to host events. I actually had my birthday dinner here back in May and they accommodated all twenty-​two (or so) of us quite nicely. They also have a «private room» separated from the main restaurant but it only seats about six to seven people.
Check in on Unilocal and you’ll also get 10% off your bill!

SHABU YA IS CLOSED. The bottom line is that it was a difficult decision he had to make but you can thank the new management at the building. It really was a labor of love that Chef Eric was serving. He kept his standards high and that is why he had a loyal following of diners/​friends. So a big THANKS to Shabu Ya and were gonna miss you.

Very good food, though the service was on the slower side. Delicious albacore!

Shabu Ya is not a restaurant you will ever pass by in K-​town, unless you live there or happen to go there for a haircut. It’s located in the same building as Solair Apartments and right next to Hair Day salon. It’s also on the second floor. Basically, you have to know that it exists or else you probably won’t ever visit the restaurant.
I’ve tried shabu shabu at a few places in LA: Shabu Shabu House, Kagaya and Shabuyo in Little Tokyo and Yojie in downtown. Shabu Ya probably has the best beef out of all these places. When I went there for the first time, a lady (either the store manager or the owner) was shocked. «How did you find this place?» she asked. I told her that it was through Unilocal and that I’ve been to the salon next door for a few haircuts before. The lady was very nice and attentive.
She made sure to hide in the kitchen when my friend and I were eating to give us some privacy-​after all, the restaurant was empty except for the two of us. She came back at the right time to help us refill our sauces and water. After we were done eating, she proudly told us that they serve Grade A Prime Beef, which, as I experienced myself, literally melts in your mouth. One thing I also noticed about the restaurant, since I was comparing it to Shabu Shabu House for the most part, is that it’s very clean. The lady told us that that’s another area where she is really proud of. She tells the workers to make sure the restaurant is very clean. «I tell them to scrub the toilets every day, even when no one used them.»
We started off with the raw oysters. Normally, I have them with lemon and cocktail sauce but Shabu Ya serves them with their own ponzu sauce with spring onions. It was different from the sweet cocktail sauce that I normally eat my oysters with but it was a good «different.»
The beef came shortly after we finished our oysters. From what I remember, the shabu shabu set was around $ 15. At $ 15 for a lunch in a nice and clean environment with «meltable» beef and validated, free parking, it’s a good deal.
My second experience in Shabu Ya was just as good except they ran out of oysters by the time I got there for dinner.
With two good experiences down the belt, I’d revisit this place.
Happy eating,
Joey Wong

Interesting U bar setup. The old style Japanese wooden work stool/​bench was hard on the ass, and I felt like falling off during the entire dinner, until I rotated my bench 90 degrees so I was like sitting on a horse. I like how the chef personally comes out to clean out the brown foam from our shabu broths and will cook your sukiyaki in the pot in front of you. You don’t get to see that at most restaurants.
Rib eye was super thinly sliced and delicious eaten rare. Beef sashimi topped with scallions and garlic was pretty good. Crab cakes were good too. Overall quality is worth the visit.
A little attitude on accepting the 10% Unilocal check-​in discount, partially because we had a party of 20 and she already printed the receipts… well, can’t you be a little more grateful?
For whatever reason, the waitress/​manager kept throwing away my chopsticks holder. She obviously doesn’t know enough about the Asian way.
This Japanese restaurant’s food is delicious but everything here else needs improvement.

No kidding, this place was dead on a Friday night. There was 2 other couples that showed up for dinner service, besides my party of two. I felt bad that they only had 6 customers for their Friday night service. The owner, a white lady, seemed cool enough. She explained the proper way to use Shabu Shabu (we already knew, but didn’t want to ruin her mojo, so we let her talk).
The standard Shabu fare, the only major difference was that it came with «mochi.» I never saw mochi in its original form, but it was a hard square shaped item. Once you cook it down for about 10 minutes, it turns into the mochi blob most folks are familiar with. Idont know what to think when i ate it, it was tasteless and chewy Almost like a chewy tofu.
The bad part was parking, I had to circle the entire block twice before i found the entrance, which was up a steep incline ramp. They validated, which was cool, but was a hassle to get to because there’s nothing else around them other than a sushi and coffee shop. It was pretty much a dead shopping center, with high rise condos above it.
I would return, but only if I’m in the immediate vicinity.

The owner must be in it for the love of Shabu Shabu because he sure doesn’t care about the customers and the money they bring in.
They open and close whenever they feel like it. Even when they are open, they have untrained staff (usually only one person) working so you can’t order half the stuff on the menu. It seems as if the only person that knows how to cook sukiyaki is the owner and he is never there.
I really loved my first experience here and loved the food but it is too bad the restaurant is poorly managed.
I really don’t get how this place is making money when they are only open one hour a day. The owner must be a billionaire.

I was really excited when I heard a shabu place was opening near my house. There aren’t any shabu places in Los Feliz and driving to jtown seems like a drag sometimes so Ktown sounded very welcoming. After reading all the great Unilocal reviews, I decided to give it a shot. I had such high expectations for this place but sadly, I don’t think I’ll be coming back.
The quality of the food was great. The meat was marbled and tender and the veggies were fresh and well displayed. The service was what really turned me off. I had asked to sub my noodles for more veggies and asked for a side of taro. The waitress seemed really confused and didn’t even know what I was asking for. I see her go and ask someone about my request but didn’t come back and say anything to me. Later, she brings all the sauces, condiments, rice, everything one by one. She brings everyone’s rice but mine. I sat and waited patiently for 20 minutes and had to ask her where mine was. She tells me they’re still cooking it and doesn’t seem apologetic at all. It’s fine if you’re still cooking the rice but I feel like I should’ve been warned and not feel like I’d been forgotten. She brings out my vegetarian dish and it has the exact same veggies as the other orders that come with meat. I’ve been to lots of shabu places and vegetarian orders always come with veggies other than the regular veggie plate. She didn’t bring out my taro either.
The sauces were ok and I like that they give you your own dish of garlic/​green onions/​daikon but it feels so limited. Like other reviewers said, the place is really quiet and you feel bad talking in a normal voice. If the food was amazing, the terrible service wouldn’t have bothered me but I was really disappointed. I would be willing to go back to give it another shot, I just hope that girl isn’t there. She wasn’t very friendly or helpful and just gave me a bad vibe overall.

Haven’t written a review in a while…
So our ortho office had our christmas party here. They were very kind to let us come during their closed hours.
The shabu shabu: I can’t really tell you how shabu shabu should be like but the meat quality was excellent. Shabu Shabu is hard to go wrong with because it’s just water and you boil your own veges, meats and etc.
The sukiyaki: This I can tell you was very delicious. It was a little too sweet to my taste but the work the chef puts into making the sukiyaki dish is amazing. I couldn’t see the whole process but he grills the pork and then pours the sukiyaki base to make the sukiyaki have more flavor.
In the very empty solair building I think shabu-​ya deserves more recognition! :)

The first time I discovered Shabu-​Ya, I had a rockin’ good old time and so did my taste buds. My buddy got the combo shabu and I got the sukiyaki. The chef prepared my sukiyaki for me and it was such a treat to see the process behind it. He was extremely personable and the wait staff was attentive as well. It seemed like a new place — and wasn’t too crowded. In my heart, i vowed that Shabu-​ya would become my new favorite place .
Which is why I decided to host my small birthday party this year in the private room at Shabu-​ya (seats up to 8, it’s tight… more comfortable with 6). Unfortunately, the second time around, they had run out of… manpower. They were out of seafood and had not prepped for the sukiyaki — the main reason i had decided to hold my party there… and unfortunately, the room was way too crowded for our party of 8. Regardless, our waitress (the only one on site) hustled to make us feel comfortable and welcome and in the end, we still enjoyed the shabu and had a nice night.
The reason why it’s a ³⁄₅ stars is the fact that the chef didn’t acknowledge the lack of options of the menu and our presence that much. He knew it was a birthday party, there were not that many other parties out there and while we needed no apology, there was nothing to really make up for the fact that the main reason we were there (sukiyaki) was missing. In a sense, it didn’t really feel like he cared that we were there.
Too much of a discrepency between the first and 2^nd time. still the food is good. Hopefully things stabilize.

This is a really great Shabu spot right above the purple line Wilshire and Western station.
The service is super. The girls they have working are really friendly and attentive. When we first got there, there was only one other couple in the restaurant, but another family came in and one more group of friends. So basically, it isn’t too crowded and you can get seated immediately.
My bf and I ordered the medium prime rib and it was delish! It comes with a good large portion of fresh yummy vegetables. I kind of totally love enoki and i ordered extra and the portion i got was huuuuuge. Also, as another reviewer mentioned their ponzu is so good!

It’s hard to judge Shabu Shabu restaurants nowadays since Shabu Shabu Bar is clearly my favorite.
To be completely honest, the meal wasn’t bad at Shabu Ya, it was actually decent. The meat was fresh and had nice marbling; and they also had a nice selection of veggies. But it felt so depressing eating here. I’m use to restaurants being loud and having an upbeat atmosphere. Shabu Ya felt like a library or some sort where no one is allowed to talk. The waitress while being super polite and attentive, didn’t even crack one smile. She just had a sad gloomy look on her the whole time.
I was also a bit sad when the waitress told me that they didn’t serve brown rice or have the spicy hot drops but only the spicy oil.
If I rated California Shabu Shabu a 4, then Shabu Ya clearly is 3 stars.

WHO LOVES SHABU? ME! ME!
I usually go to shabu shabu house or shin sen gumi for my shabu fix during lunch since it is pretty cheap there.
But for even HIGHER QUALITY beef, I would «splurge» on shabu ya! This is really the place to go where you get the best value for quality.
High quality USDA prime ribeye and yummy house made ponzu. The ponzu is very comparable with shabu shabu house, topped with daikon, garlic and green onions. I consider myself pretty picky with my ponzu. What’s even better? No wait!
I ordered the LARGE 12oz USDA PRIME RIBEYE for $ 27 (Medium is $ 22 for 8oz) They have a ton of options including sukiyaki, seafood, pork and chicken. They also have a lot of appetisers which I didn’t get to try.
Sound pricey? Think about it this way, at shabu shabu house, you are paying $ 18 for USDA choice and less veggies for dinner, and i’m pretty sure less than 12oz since the meat is thinner. At Shin sen gumi, you are paying $ 12 for 6oz of USDA choice for lunch. So per oz it’s really not a big difference! At kagaya you are paying over $ 40 for USDA prime! ALSO at seoul garden, you are paying $ 25 a plate for poor quality meat, although i also love korean hot pot!!!
The beef is sliced in front of you only after your order. The plate of vegetable is a lot bigger than shabu shabu house, with generous amount of cabbage, enoki and shitaki mushroom, mochi, tofu, carrots and garland chrysanthemum. The meat is noticeably of a higher quality. Rice, udon and vermecelli are also included. I got pretty full from the large. So if you don’t mind spending an extra $ 8 for higher quality and quantity for dinner, definitely check out this space. Time = money, so save your time and come here instead!
The icing on the cake (or should I say icecream on the shabu) is complimentary and some of the best ice cream I’ve ever had! I think I could come here just to get their ice cream! Perfect consistency and the green tea flavour wasn’t bland or too sweet. YUM!
***
Tip: Check in and get 10% off! Park at solair retail parking spaces and remember to get your validation. They do have a private room for up to 8 people which would make a great birthday venue!
Favourites: USDA prime! nice atmosphere and no wait. lots of variety without sacrificing quality
Do not want: A little slow… kind of a splurge on shabu. All booth seats (aside from private room)
Last words: $ 2.25 per oz of USDA prime, do your maths when comparing with other shabu restaurants!

Really good shabu shabu and worth every penny!
Get the sukiyaki if you’re craving shabu shabu with lots of flavor. The broth is delicious and you can add it to a bowl of rice if you’re looking to really fill your stomach.
I’d suggest the rib eye shabu for anyone who’s just wanting to try. The meat is definitely one of the better qualities I’ve tried. The medium is a good single portion since there’s a huge plate of veggies with meal.
The appetizer oysters, shrimp, and grilled beef tongue are very fresh and cooked to perfection. The beef tongue has lots of flavor — really recommend it.
Complimentary ice cream to follow after your meal, too.

Delightful experience. Came here on a quiet weeknight and Eric humbly schooled me in Shabu101 (before I ruined most of the DELICIOUS Kobe beef by over-​scorching it in the broth, thank goodness). The food was amazing, I can’t wait to go back for his famous sukiyaki. Another Koreatown gem I’m glad I took a chance on.

Great time here.
Go when eric is cooking. Ask him about for the sensual story about how he gets the green tea ice cream. Make sure your drinking when he tells you. Food is good plus sometimes you get to meet a celeb when your here. I met the drummer from the group fun when i was there.

I celebrated my birthday here this year, and it was an amazing experience! My group was fairly large, 17 people on a Friday night, and the staff was very accommodating. The service was fantastic, the food was amazing and everyone loved it. My boyfriend and I shared the combo platter which is $ 27 and includes lamb, pork, rib-​eye and chicken, which is a great deal, and all delicious! The lamb is definitely my favorite, I recommended it to most in my party and they all loved it too, but all the meats are great. The vegetarians in my group ordered the Veggie Sensation and they thought it was filling and great as well.
To top it off, we all got freshly made red bean ice cream at the end of the meal, and the chef was kind enough to gift me a bottle of amazing sake and threw in an amazing free appetizer for my birthday! I’ve never had a better birthday restaurant experience. This place is definitely one of my new neighborhood favorites.

I came here with a small group for my birthday.
We took advantage of the private room that will hold up to 8 people. EVERYTHING from the food, ambiance and service was impeccable. This is the BEST Sukiyaki place I have ever been to. Worth a try for sure. We had a wonderful evening and enjoyed ourselves. This is a hidden GEM inside a small strip mall across the street from the Wiltern. Parking can be confusing, but its absolutely worth a visit

Yaup.
Second time around, and I swear this is the best shabu shabu/​sukiyaki place ever. EVER.
Jon and I wanted to eat at a place that would allow for me to eat a lot of veggies and for him to enjoy his meat. Le compromise: Shabu-​Ya. He ordered the beef sukiyaki and I ordered the Vegetable Zensation. I admit, it was probably the best decision of my life (and possibly his) to come here: D
Vegetable Zensation: only comes in large. But you get a HUGE platter of a lot of vegetables which include nappa cabbage (6 huge cut stacks), sliced carrots, green onions, asparagus, mushrooms, daikon slices, udon noodles, white noodles, and 3 pieces of mochi! YES MOCHI! :D I admit I was very very full at the end but VERY satisfied :3
But onwards to the main star: sukiyaki, OMGOD. FOODGASMIC! It was very cool watching Eric assemble the sukiyaki in front of us, and how slowly but surely he added the ingredients and what not. He was also explaining that with the sukiyaki sauce and the fat that was added in the beginning of the cooking process, it doesn’t matter how long you stew the beef for because the slices will always remain tender. That’s good to know because Jon likes to pile all of his ingredients together first and eat slowly throughout. :) I loved that the sukiyaki base was sweet without being overpowering and very savory.. I betcha it was that fat added in the beginning. NOM!!!
And ending the meal with ice cream? Man– best use of my money EVER!
Notes:
* the fat that was added to the sukiyaki remains hanging around, so it should be saved for last! mix it with your rice at the very end of your meal = yummy in your tummy!
* ask for some udon soup base! :) Eric was super nice and offered me some soup base in a separate bowl and at the end of my meal, i very briefly cooked the udon noodles, dropped them all in my bowl, added some of the soup base of my shabu shabu and BAM! Best udon ever. It was sweet and salty all at the same time :) I’m craving it… T_​T
WILL BE COMING AGAIN! in like. a week LOL!

3.5 stars
The meat is really good but you pay a pretty penny for it. My friend got the large lamb shabu ($ 22) and I tried the ribeye sukiyaki ($ 28). The sukiyaki was good but it did take a while to make. The chef gave me some extra mochi to add to the soup and it was delicious! I’m not sure if it was worth the price I paid but I really enjoyed the sweet broth and the tender meat.
They don’t have a liquor license yet but they will once they hold their grand opening. I hope business picks up for them too. Even though we went on Friday night, we were alone in the restaurant almost the entire meal. Also, they pots are stationed a little bit far so you really need to reach for your food.