Adventure: Shabu-Shabu USA (Mission Viejo, CA)
This past week we made a quick trip over to Shabu-Shabu USA in Mission Viejo, CA in response to fabulous personal recommendations from friends and colleagues. In typical adventure fashion, we hit up the Japanese hot pot variant with photographer Taylor Corner in tow, and did our usual food eating damage. Tucked away in a neat, quiet strip mall moments away from The Shops at Mission Viejo, the interactivity and ambience inside is something you do not want to pass up if you get the chance!
The entire unit is super cozy, with pots and seating available for a little under a couple dozen individuals. What we learned from our visit and our uber-helpful and informative waitress, is that Shabu Shabu stands for “Swish Swish,” a nod to the sound that comes about when swishing meat around in the boiling water. For a Shabu Shabu virgin like myself, seeing the raw meat being dropped in the water and being cooked in a matter of seconds was jaw dropping. We have video of the spot available on the Mission Viejo Patch website, as we continue to do some continuing coverage for their publication on a local level.
Between Taylor and I, we ordered up a plate of their freshly and thinly cut Sirloin Beef and a platter of fresh butterflied shrimp ($15.95 a person). Another important point of interest is that all the cooking is done in a pot full of water, no oil. The only ingredient in the water during the boiling process is a square inch of seaweed, so you can imagine the health benefits involved of nixing oil out of the cooking process.
The meat is cut straight from a fresh block at the front of the house, the waitresses are patient and accommodating to those new to the process, quick to explain the history and help you make some meat decisions if you’re unclear. If you’re in Southern California and looking for a little alternative Japanese cuisine, hop on over to Shabu-Shabu USA (I would recommend calling ahead of time making sure they’re open, as they have staggered operating hours throughout the day!):
28201 Marguerite Pkwy Ste 9
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
