Shabu-Shabu In Tokyo - 4 Spots To Enjoy This Delicious Hot Pot Dish!

Shabu-Shabu - A Classic Japanese Dish

Have you heard of shabu-shabu? For this dish, diners briefly cook sliced pieces of meat and other ingredients by swishing them back and forth in a simmering hot pot. After the ingredient is cooked just enough, it is then dipped in a goma (sesame seed) sauce or ponzu sauce, and then eaten.

The broth in the hot pot differs depending on the restaurant. There are many types you can try, including konbu seaweed stock, soy milk stock, a sukiyaki-flavored broth and even spicy kimchi (chige) stock.

Other ingredients, such as vegetables and seafood, are also part of typical shabu-shabu. You can customize this dish by adding whatever amount you'd like to the hot pot.

In this article we introduce four shops in Tokyo where you can enjoy shabu-shabu!

1. Shabusen Ginza - Try the Delicious Sesame Sauce

Picture from Enjoy Shabu-Shabu and Red Bean Rice Porridge at Ginza Shabusen

Shabusen, in Ginza, Tokyo, is a popular restaurant specializing in shabu-shabu. It is known for its exquisite goma (sesame seed) sauce.

This unique sauce includes more than ten different kinds of spices. There's also a light and refreshing ponzu sauce (made from citrus fruit and vinegar) you can try.

Also, Shabusen has a reasonably-priced menu. We recommend two items available during lunch: the Shabu-Shabu Service Lunch (1,728 yen with tax) at the Ginza B2 shop, and the Kirifuri Kogen Pork Premium (120 grams, 1,620 yen with tax) at the Ginza 2F shop.

There are Shabusen locations on both the second basement floor and the second floor of the Ginza Core building.

The basement location has counter seating and the second-floor shop has table seating. Each counter seat is equipped with an individual hot pot.

Please note that the Ginza second basement floor (B2F) location and the second floor (2F) shop have different menus.

SHABUSEN
Address: Tokyo, Chuo, Ginza 5-8-20, Ginza Core B2F, 2F Google Map
Access: 5 minutes on foot from exit A3 & A5 of Ginza Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, Hibiya Line)
Official Homepage: https://www.zakuro.co.jp/syabusen/index.html (Japanese)

2. Matsugen Ebisu - A Soba Shop Serving Shabu-Shabu

Picture from "MatsuGen Ebisu": Soba & Japanese Cuisine from Selected Ingredients

Matsugen is a soba restaurant with branches in both Ebisu and Azabu Juban. However, the Ebisu branch also offers shabu-shabu on its evening menu.

The Kinkaton Pork Shabu-Shabu Course (4,250 yen including tax) is a luxurious course allowing diners to try kinkaton pork, a rare and tasty variety of pork.
The set comes with extras including sashimi, udon, and even dessert, so you can enjoy trying many different kinds of Japanese food.

There is also the Zabuton Shabu-Shabu Course (6,000 yen including tax) that uses beef from the chuck rib eye (zabuton). This option also comes with sashimi, udon, and dessert. Orders can be placed starting with groups of at least two customers.

MATSUGEN EBISU
Address: Tokyo, Shibuya, Hiro 1-3, Hagiwara Building 1-1F Google Map
Access: 5 minutes on foot from Ebisu Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, JR Yamanote Line)
Official Homepage: http://www.matsugen.net (Japanese)

3. Seryna Roppongi - Kobe Beef and Crab Shabu-Shabu

Picture from Six Japanese Restaurants in Roppongi With English Menus

Seryna is a restaurant where you can indulge in both Kobe beef shabu-shabu and crab shabu-shabu. The shop has a relaxing atmosphere with modern Japanese-style interior.

The Kobe Beef Shabu-Shabu costs 21,600 yen including tax. Only about 0.9% (*1) of Japan's wagyu beef production is suitable to become Kobe beef. Only the highest-quality selections of meat from this rare beef are used for this shabu-shabu.

The Crab Shabu-Shabu (10,800 yen including tax) uses crab with thick meat.

For those who'd like to enjoy shabu-shabu at lower prices, we recommend the Beef and Crab Shabu-Shabu Lunch (6,480 yen including tax) and the Beef Shabu-Shabu Lunch (5,400 yen including tax) on the lunch menu.

The shabu-shabu courses come with four different sauces: a thick and rich goma sauce, a spicy sauce, a salt-based sauce, and a refreshing ponzu sauce.

*1 Statistic from Hyogo Prefectural Livestock Technology Center documents, 2013.

SERYNA
Address: Tokyo, Minato, Roppongi 3-12-2 Google Map
Access: 3 minutes on foot from Roppongi Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Oedo Line)
Official Homepage: https://www.seryna.co.jp/seryna/roppongi/

4. Hanasaka Ji-San - Halal Certified Shabu-Shabu

Picture from The First Halal Hot Pot Restaurant, "Hanasaka Jī-san" In Shibuya

Hanasaka Ji-san is a halal-certified restaurant where you can enjoy shabu-shabu with beef from Miyazaki prefecture.

We suggest the Halal Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Course (4,000 yen and up, including tax). All the ingredients, including the spices, seasonings, and variety of alcohol, are all used in accordance with halal regulations, so Muslim visitors can enjoy shabu-shabu.

The large menu also includes Halal Washoku with Halal Shabu-Shabu (4,500 yen and up, including tax), and The Superior Halal Welcome Dinner (18,500 yen and up, including tax), a set that offers steak, sushi, and six kinds of tempura.

HANASAKA JI-SAN
Address: Tokyo, Shibuya, Sakuragaokacho 3-22, Sakura Building B1F Google Map
Access: 1 minute on foot from Shibuya Station (Toyoko Line, Hanzomon Line, Denentoshi Line, Fukutoshin Line, Inokashira Line, Ginza Line, JR Line).
Official Homepage: http://hanasakaji-san.jp/halal/

Shabu-shabu is a dish that allows you to enjoy entirely different flavors depending on where you dine. We encourage you to find a restaurant with a version of this Japanese dish that is to your liking!