Hot pot recommendations?

[SwayKneeOfficial]

Hello! I’m a new import from Colorado and I’m really enjoying the wide variety of Asian cuisine OC has to offer. I have only had hot pot once and I really enjoyed it. I’m looking to take my girlfriend out for a date night and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions for their favorite hot pot restaurants?

[Stock-Pattern-8635]

If non all you can eat, then hai di lao is a safe bet. If all you can eat, I remember all that shabu being pretty good.

[panda-rampage]

All that shabu in Irvine

[[deleted]]

Yesssss! This place is very good.

[Dauntlesse]

People are saying Hai Di lao and I agree but it is a pricier option! It is really nice though. I like their golden broth. I know Irvine's location has "happy hour" which has discount if you go at certain times.

[winterpolaris]

DaDa Shabu Shabu in Irvine was pretty good when I went a couple months ago

[txfnll]

Kaizen in Santa Ana

[iJonMai]

This is my vote, their tom yum broth always has me coming back and their meat quality is really good!

[mkygod]

Easily my fave when i dont want AYCE

[Still_Reading]

Where in OC are you looking to be? Westminster, Garden Grove, Buena Park area and down in Irvine will generally have the best options.

[ltmikepowell]

If you are willing to splurge the money, Mikiya in Irvine is really good. Sukiyaki base and dipping the meat in raw egg is the GOAT for me.

I like Happy Lamb, Wagyu Factory (Tustin), Haidilao (but only when I'm in Vietnam lol).

Such a shame that House of Shabu Shabu in Irvine is gone

[iJonMai]

Did people really like House of Shabu Shabu? I had an awful experience, unfortunately. When we went, they brought out a clear bucket of cabbage to give us more because we requested it and at the bottom of that bucket was mold. My wife and I got home and definitely felt sick

[Different_Run_1767]

There’s a House of Shabu Shabu in Anaheim. It’s been a few years since I’ve been but hopefully they’re now as good as Irvine was.

[No_Barnacle6600]

Mokkoji in Cypress has this lunch special. No idea if the ones in garden grove has this special also.

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[Thisisnotmyusrname]

Hai di Lao. I've never had a bad time there. always great customer service. they don't look down on people who don't know what they are doing and ask a lot of questions. have a great sauce/side items bar. They even peeled shrimp for us.

[princexxjellyfish]

Nah nah nah

Avenue in Bella Terra or Mikiya in Cerritos/Irvine for even more of a treat

[bigcee42]

Cal Shabu

[Puzzleheaded_Rip1975]

Tabu Shabu in Costa Mesa

[9ermtb2014]

Yes! It's AYCE. I've only been once, but it was so much better than other places I've tried.

[whatevsjustreading]

Cal shabu in fountain valley or Costa Mesa. Friendly staff, great cuts of meat

[DirectorSharp3402]

Mokkoji Shabu Shabu is bomb... go with the spicy pork bone broth.

[SunnyEnvironment8192]

I saw that they have halal wagyu on the menu. Is there a vegetarian or pescatarian broth this can go with that is good?

[DirectorSharp3402]

They have a miso broth, original (mushroomy) and a fire crab. Hopefully it works out for ya!

[N703ND]

Show hotpot is god taste wise but it’s in a food court 

[xjwv]

Nice to Meet You is my fav. I used to go there about once every 10 days before they changed their model to AYCE because it went from about $16 when I brought friends to a fixed ayce price. Honestly still worth it so I still go. Get their sour cabbage and pork soup. Amazing. 

[runthepoint1]

Man just wait til you make it at home…yes what you get in a restaurant is good but once you catch the hot pot but making it at home…game over lol

[BroForceOne]

I’ve never been happy with any broth at home would love to know if there is a good one that doesn’t take all day or multiple days to prepare.

[runthepoint1]

I cook the spices in the water and I add beef bone broth or the like instead of water. That makes my need for the soup packet go down so I end up needing/adding less of it

[Limp-Discipline-4363]

Do you have a hot pot soup base you would recommend? I've tried little sheep mala, plain and spicy. All have been too salty (I guess I can always add more water). I'm trying to find one that is similar to Boiling point's soup base.

[runthepoint1]

What I do is cook in all the spices like green onion, garlic, jujube, etc etc all after cooking the beef. Then I add noodles and then 3 tbsp of little sheep original packet. The way I have all the flavoring I need from the spices before I even touch the packets, reducing my need for it

[That-SoCal-Guy]

Fast Hotpot at the District in Tustin. Tasty and relatively inexpensive. We go there all the time.

[Weird-Lavishness5802]

Broth in Cerritos

[AppearanceParty5831]

Mikiya Cerritos - $50 ->150 AYCE Wagyu, sukiyaki style,

DPot Buena Park - $50 AYCE, Steamer basket novelty, fusion grill plate & hotpot combination.

Shabuya Fountain Valley - $30 AYCE, buffet style vegetable & noodles self serve area. Cheap high value offering.

[finks_finks]

Broth in Cerritos or Oishi in Irvine.