If you like Hot Pot, then I will send you to Shabu Work, Mira Mesa Blvd. Now, as Foodies (San Diego Foodies and Carlsbad Foodies) we have reviewed many…. I mean MANY Hot Pot Restaurants.
I am always comparing them to the one I went to in San Francisco, and nothing until now has even come close!
They have isles and isles of choices, ‘choice’ items and ingredients that are free to add to your meal.
I have read reviews of other hot pot places on Yelp, and they always compare where they have eaten to the salad bar at this place, and no one ever measures up. That includes all kinds of amazing vegetables, shrimp, delicious cooked bbq chicken, noodles, sauces, salads including macaroni salad! lol Drinks, Desserts … and more. We really like the pickled garlic and there is a cooked chicken with sauce on the salad bar, that is out of this world great. It even looks great in the picture (don’t ya think)?
It’s an ‘all you can eat’ place. And it’s actually equal in terms of flavor: the things on the salad bar compared to the food you actually cook (animals and veggies). Sorry. These days I’m not eating beef or chicken any more. And a shrimp with a head on (because, that is where all the flavor is) totally grosses me out. lol It hurts my heart. And yet I love shrimp.
For me, the times they are a changin’….. and while I can teach you how to cook everything you ever dreamed of, I draw the line and have started teaching more veggies and the protein as more of a ‘side’. I’m teaching about reading labels, what oils your body can’t process and how to pick your fruits and veggies fresh!
I think it’s because that’s how I eat these days. I mean that is Kobe beef! And I have no interest in it. It’s almost like I’m losing my mind or …… changing my lifestyle.
Sheri says, bite after bite, trying new after new ingredient: “The food is so fresh”. Steven agrees. “The shrimp is pretty good. And all the ingredients are very authentic.” He talks about the size of the peanut being a real ‘tell’ that it is imported, because of its’ smaller size.
Steven says: “I also like the company. It’s a very social thing …. these events. I like that”. Well I thank you Steven for recognizing the community we are and have been creating here since 2008. Even during covid, we were all connected. So cool! And we were doing smaller group restaurant reviews with spaced out seating.
I will add that I have never met nicer people than in our group of Foodies. It’s always a pleasure to have everyone at the table talking about their favorite places to eat, favorite recipes, favorite travels. We have a nicely diversified group of members and I always learn something when we do these reviews. I especially like the Potlucks, to learn what people like to cook (and cook well). I am also interested in what you like to eat, if you want to reach out!
One more thing about this restaurant: Even the smell of the food around you (as you sit there at the end, licking your fingers because they’re so tasty) …. tells you, YOU have eaten well!
What a really satisfying Food experience (and I have never said that about a hot pot place in San Diego before).
I was talking to Sheri. Sorry Sheri. I caught you mouth full in a picture! lol She notices the people eating there are mostly Asian. To me that is a good sign.
For example if I go in to a Chinese restaurant and there are people that are Chinese eating there, I think: “I’ve really scored”! I think it’s because they can make the food at home themselves and yet they come to this restaurant.
Common denominator? Good food! And I’m a curious type of person, always looking to see what people order! Always asking what’s good.
So 5 stars for this dining experience. We thank the chef and sous chefs for doing such a good job prepping all those ingredients and will definitely be back!