My hubby and I love Shabu Shabu! We always have so much fun cooking our food. The peanut sauce is my favorite. I just like the fact that you can start eating right away without waiting for your food to come out. I usually order the Shrimp and I like to get started on my soup soon. My hubby always goes with the beef and it looks delicious (I don't eat red meat). I've had the chicken but its so filling I just prefer to go with the shrimp and enjoy the veggies and rice with the sauces. It's very filling! Service was great here. I like that we can sit across from each other at this place. Looking forward to going back.
(5)
Julie P.
I use to go here all the time for both shabu and happy hour, but now I would only go here for happy hour. Happy hour is usually after 8 and the appetizers are buy one get one free and $1.50 for sake! Pretty good prices for happy hour! For shabu, you get to choose your meats and soup base, either plain or spicy miso. I usually get the spicy miso broth, but with the spicy miso it gets too salty towards the end of your meal to use it for the soup portion. Which in the end you have to drink a lot of water to keep it down. Service here is great. Always attentive and making sure your water is filled!
(4)
Amy S.
I agree with the other reviews that the rating is not about the food it is about the service. When we sat down there was probably 5 other tables with 3 servers. It took forever to get our drinks. It was our first time eating shabu and not once did the waiter explain to us how the process went when cooking. It took an act of congress to get drink refills or order any additional sushi. The food was ok but I will never go back due to the service.
(1)
Tiana B.
Good price and the service was good too! Parking may be a bit hard to find if this place gets crowded. Spicy miso they give alot of soup base for my table. Cant go wrong coming here.
(5)
Mercy L.
I gave 1 star because the person that served us was rude and when he gave us food we saw a piece of hair in hour bowl of soup and we where like r u serous I mean I love the sushi and that but yea and we wanted to sit outside but the tables were plastic so we didn't want to anymore!
(1)
Sammy B.
After moving to Huntington Beach, this place was one of the first places that stood out. Well, mostly because it was right next to my house. But still, it looked promising. And with such a great looking happy hour, I had to try it out. My roomates and I walked over and sat down. The hostess was nice, and also doubled up as our waitress. We sat down and looked over the happy hour menu. I hadn't eaten yet so I was craving anything. Took some orders down from the happy hour menu, and ordered a bunch of drinks. FOOD: 1 star You know how they say, "the hungrier you are, the better food tastes"? Well, the food here was absolutely horrible when it comes to their happy hour menu. Everything I ordered was dry and flavorless. This goes for the chicken meatballs, chicken mushroom skewers, and hand rolls. The only good things I can say are the salmon skin rolls & pork kim chi. They definitely had the yakitori food out under a heat lamp for a long time, which is why the food was so dry and flavorless. HAPPY HOUR DRINK PRICE: 5 stars This is where things get back to being good. With hot sake being only $1 a bottle, and each bottle enough for 3 shots, the drinks are well worth the price. Draft beers are around $3, and they have Kirin on tap. If you're coming here, you're doing it with a full stomach and looking to get drunk! We drank over 32 bottles of hot sake and we wanted more! CONCLUSION: Don't come here for happy hour if you're hungry. Your taste buds will be so mad at you that your fist will emphatically punch you in the face! However, if you've already eaten and you're ready to get your drink on, this place is the poor man's way to go.
(3)
Vi N.
This place is OK, I wouldn't say there's anything spectacularly good or bad. If you're craving shabu this definitely hits the spot. Came here pretty late on a Saturday night with the Boyfriend and two friends. Boyfriend and I shared a Regular Beef plate (12 pieces) with spicy miso broth and the two others each got the Small Beef plates (6 pieces) with regular broth. The menu also had a share plate for like $6 which includes more noodles and additional veggies which I thought is a nice option. The miso broth was yummy and suuuuuuuuuper spicy (the waiter had told me it was like hot cheetos spicy, nope way way spicier than hot cheetos buddy). But the boyfriend looooooooved how spicy it was. I like it when shabu places have the miso broth option (I don't like having the plain broth and having to figure out how to season it myself...is that me being lazy or maybe I just don't know how to do it right). 12 pieces of beef was plenty for the two of us to share, but I wished that the veggies plate was bigger. I really like my vegetables, and this plate was tiny. My friends did have a complaint, the waiter never brought us any hot drops. Just read a review that said you have to request it? I never add them b/c I can't handle the heat, but that was pretty annoying when we finished our meal and saw the table next to us had been offered hot drops. We were all pretty stuffed by the time the meal was done, so didn't get a chance to try any desserts. Maybe next time.
(3)
Katrina K.
Okay so, Benny & Jeannette are still awesome! We've been coming here for years now & it's always a good time. The servers are super cool & friendly. The manager is so nice. He always comes around to each table with a huge smile making sure everything is fine. On certain nights it does get really busy & your orders may take a little longer to come out (not terrible). The servers are humans, not robots! You're there to hang a little while, so calm down. Everything always tastes great when it comes. My only gripe, which is why I took one star away, is that it seems like each time we go, the portions are less & less. Tasty still, but much smaller than it used to be. We go for happy hour deals - B1G1 FREE appetizers. The prices were raised recently too. Higher prices + less food = no good! Still love this place.. Just been going a little less.
(4)
Tim A.
I've just recently fallen in love with shabu so I wanted to give this place a try. We did come a little late for lunch but holy shit we had a rude ass waitress! She was dropping our food and drinks on the table then would walk away. I wasn't that impressed by the food either so yeah I'm not coming back. Atleast the water was cold..so 1 star.
(1)
Danielle P.
Yummy! Happy I found this place. They do happy hour all day on Mondays and Tuesdays!! Score!! The fish tastes fresh and they have a pretty good appetizer selection for happy hour too. My only small complaint was that I tried one of their martini sand it was not very good. But I stuck to beer after that so not a huge issue.
(4)
Maggie S.
A great spot that I visit often. Wonderful atmosphere, very friendly staff. Delicious food. Delightful and addicting happy hour I will keep coming back. Fresh, satisfying and highly recommended.
(5)
Kimberly W.
If your gonna changed the price on the menu, don't forget to changed the price on the outside sign lol!
(3)
George C.
They have so many types of Sushi, they need their own Sushi App! I get confused, fumbling for my smartphone when I am at happy hour. My wife and I usually try to make it a monthly "thang" to grab some time at this restaurant. The atmosphere is quaint, and clean. The servers are nice. The sushi makers dont usually strike up a conversation, but ah well. My wife usually goes for thier soup, and I always feast on any roll that is $11 or above. I recently enjoyed getting buzzed from a happy hour session, and my stomach was happy too!
(5)
Quan N.
My friends and I use to go to this place a lot and would spend hundreds of dollars on drinks and food. Just one bad experience spoils it for me and I will never be coming back. I was eating in a party of 4 and it was a very nice evening. It took a little longer to get some of our orders be it was ok, we had our beers to enjoy while waiting for the food. The unfortunate event took place when we got the bill. They charged us for numerous things that we did not order. When we took it up to the "manager" she said that we did order those items. Excuse me but I fucken remember what I ordered, so we grab the order sheet and did a run down and show her some of the items that we got charged for were never marked on the sheet. She told us that we ordered that by mouth. I was like WTF. I told her that we were not going to pay for things we did not get. She went to the back and came out with our new bill. I left no tip and make sure to never come back here again.
(1)
Tiffy M.
I love everything about shabu shabu. Food, people, environment. Happy hour is the best I come here all the time and Todd the bartender is awesome. I would recommend this rad spot to anyone.
(5)
Duy N.
I used to frequent this place once a week for their AWESOME Yakitori happy hours. While the Yakitori menu isn't available Monday-Thursday anymore, it's still a great place to come chill with friends and load up on Yakitories on the days they do serve. They have a sushi bar and you can get the typical sushi sheet with the usual rolls. Nothing to write home about though. Will fill you up, but not stellar nor terrible. For the Shabu Shabu, I had it once and wasn't exactly excited for it. No lasting impression. Positive nor negative. Except maybe thinking it's a bit pricey for what it is. They do have a small bar with TVs, so you can follow games. Bottom line, I think of this place more of a chill place to hang with friends over a few happy hour beers ($3 kirin, $10 pitcher) and good snacky grilled skewer foods. PS: If you do visit on a yakitori day... make sure to try the "Gyutan". Just do it. You'll love it!
(4)
Alle F.
This rating is based solely on their sushi, I've never been there for the Shabu-Shabu. This is my go-to place for sushi. They have a good happy hour and the staff are always friendly. If you go, you must try the Jade roll and the Pink lady roll. The appetizers are buy one get one free after 9pm and the sake and kirin are reasonable for happy hour too. Been coming here for years and always have a good experience here.
(4)
Jenny P.
I just love this place! They have new spicy miso broth which is to die for. Service can still be a little slow.
(4)
Ashley M.
Love the shabu here. The staff is friendly. The manger stopped at our table and made sure we were enjoying our meal. Check-In on Yelp for a free dessert! Sushi is great and fresh. Have never been disappointed and always leave happy and full!!
(5)
John S.
I really liked this place. Nine dollar chicken shabu lunch special, I'm not an expert on shabu, but having had it at other places which were way pricier, I thought this was a excellent deal and tasted great. Kind of like I'm sure Morton's has a fantastic steak , but so does king Neptune's, and it's way cheaper at Neptune's which for a cheap skate like me makes it taste all the more better. I love spicy, but flavor wise I liked the miso broth better than the spicy miso, just an FYI.
(5)
Paulene N.
I am a regular here, I eat here 1-3 times a week. Service varies on whose working at that time you're there. I ate here yesterday, we had a total of 3 veggie plates. We noticed on one plate that a big bug came crawling out and in the second plate, a smaller bug was lying on the plate dead and I'm not sure if the third plate had any bugs since everything was tossed into the pot. After seeing this we were all disgusted and didn't feel like eating anymore. I come here every week so it surprised me to see bugs crawling/laying in the veggie plate. I'm not sure if I'll ever come back, very disappointed.
(1)
Rohie B.
This place needs new management. With all the competition out there. A restaurant should offer outstanding customer service & quality food. This place has neither. Mediocre. Don't dare ask them if you can charge your phone so you can be sure you have enough juice to know when your driver will be there. Will never go back unless I have a gun to my head. They are cutting corners & going down hill. Get it together. 2 stars just because it wasn't super dirty I didn't see a roach & the bartender wasn't too unpleasant just seemed unenthusiastic & without zest. Maybe because his place is losing.
(2)
Wilson T.
Worst customer service! I went there at 5 til 11 and according to yelp they close at 11:30. My wife and I were planning to eat shabu there but the waiter that was just standing there doing absolutely nothing told us that they will not be serving food anymore at this time, then I asked them what time do they close and he says 11. After hearing that, I told him that I saw on yelp that they close at 11:30 so it was more than enough time to serve us. He then replied with "We've always closed at 11" so I told him that they should update the yelp so that it's more accurate and then he proceeded to roll his eyes and repeat himself. Although I was simply asking him to change it, he could've just told me yes or something to show that they care about their customers. Very terrible service and now I know why their place has been slowly going down lately. The guy didn't have to unnecessarily make the customer feel wrong, although I was basing my judgment off of yelp. I am never coming back to this place ever again.
(1)
Van N.
I only come here for the lunch special shabu. You seriously can't go wrong. $9.50 and you get the works; 5 huge slices of beef (I cut them in half so I get 10 pieces lol), veggie plate with udon noodles and rice. It's a great, cheap meal and I'll continue to come back.
(4)
Judy K.
The owner is the nicest man. He always makes sure we're happy, drinks refilled, stocked up on sauces etc. This is one of our favorite shabu places!
My fav place on beach blvd!! Great soup, sushi n happy hour thankks! Poke salad is bommb.
(5)
Rebecca C.
This is my friend's favorite shabu shabu place. I was craving shabu shabu so she took me here. This restaurant is easy to miss so really pay attention! The decor looked like a club or a lounge, especially in the patio area with loud music radiating throughout the whole restaurant. People come to dinner dressed up in club attire. So we ordered two appetizers, the aged tofu and baked mussels because appetizers were buy 1 get 1 free. Wow! The aged tofu was fried just right- crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and drenched in ponzu sauce and fish flakes! SO YUMMY. The baked mussels were good as well. We both ordered the angus beef shabu shabu. It was a lot of meat! It comes with a vegetable plate (cabbage, broccoli, udon noodles, tofu, seaweed, carrots, spinach), rice, and two dipping sauces. I chose the spicy miso broth while my friend chose just the plain miso. I had to add oil and spices to my broth because it wasn't spicy at all. I love how they give you a huge bowl with some added sauce for flavoring to put your udon noodles and broth into, just in case you want to make the remaining entree into noodle soup! So basically your one entree can be split into two entrees: 1.) meat, veges, dipping sauces, RICE 2.) meat, veges, dipping sauces, UDON NOODLES AND BROTH You can split the meat and veges into two portions because they give you a lot! Oh man I was full. The shabu shabu itself was only $19. Definitely coming back!
(4)
Michael C.
Best Shabu hands down! If your a Shabu lover give it a try & you might like it too. Check in to get the free fried banana w/ ice cream!!
(5)
Patty J.
We didn't have issues with service and the food was good. It was our first time and the servers were helpful. The spicy miso was spicier than expected but still very good.
(4)
Ana A.
They have great happy hour from 8pm to close. Buy one get one free appetizers and they are actually good. Only wish Shabu was on happy hour.
(4)
Jess B.
good deal, yummy food, friendly staff! i'll be back!
(4)
Trisha A.
Came here on a wednesday morning with a friend. We were the first customers of the day. We both ordered the lunch special for shabu shabu. It was just okay. Nothing special about it. It barely comes with any meat. If you do get the lunch special, i recommend you rip your slices into smaller pieces. The miso broth was better than the seaweed broth. The sauces were eh nothing special about that. They give you a great amount of veggies and the soup base which is good for $7.99 After finishing our meal, we were still hungry. We wanted to order just the meat but it was more expensive than getting the whole lunch set so we just ordered one more round to share. I was satisfied but i felt like something was missing. The place is really nice and clean. The servers were nice and attentive. Would come back because i LOVE shabu shabu but next time im going to try their sushi! Don't forget to order your sake! Especially during happy hour when it's only $1
(3)
Camila G.
I go to this place like once a week. I've been to probably every shabu place in Orange County and hands down, this one is my favorite. It's traditional, no frilly, great meats and reasonably priced. Great saki too! I love this place, highly recommended.
(5)
Eva G.
It was our first time and let me say that we loved it! The server Charlie was awesome, he took time explaining the process and how to order. He kept the refills coming without us asking. The food and desert was delicious. Can't wait to come back!
(4)
Gibson P.
Really good service! Meat plate was huge... I'm a huge meat fan so the more the merrier. Everything was on point AND THEY SERVE SUSHI. The best of both worlds. Check in to get your free tempera banana dessert.
(4)
TINA T.
I like this place, the food is good and the service Is not bad. Is one of my favorite Shabu and Friends Get Together. I would recommend this place and I will diffinitely come back.
(4)
C A.
This place gives huge portions. You'll definitely leave with a to go container or enough to split for $7 bucks more. Great service and full bar! Happy hour is great too!
(5)
David G.
This place is by far one of the friendliest and best shabu places around hb. There are better, but then you have to spend more on gas getting to little Saigon. Also this is lazy shabu where the broth is pre made bases. Makes a white persons eating easy!
(4)
Camila G.
Every time I come here I love this place more and more. Tonight we had this hustler named Thomas who seemed new, but super quick and on it. Both my boyfriend and I got shabu and were in and out in an hour. It was amazing, as always. And tonight I broke my hot drop virginity. Big day today!
(5)
Conan E.
Love free tempura banana by check in on yelp. The place has sushi and shabu shabu on the menu.
(4)
Kara J.
Went here last night with my boyfriend and we had a very good dinner. The waiter was super helpful and explained everything very clearly since this was our first time here. My one suggestion is that they could possibly narrow down the menu a bit. The poor guy had to go over SO many things before we could think about what to order.
(4)
Micky H.
Alex is my favorite server here! He's the best! Very knowledgable and attentive to his customers! Will be back soon!
(5)
Sadia C.
Welllllll... well.......well.... Aren't you a deceiving place? You look all pretty and cool.... every time I drive home down Beach Blvd., I notice the baller Lambos and Ferrari's parked right outside....this place must be good if it's usually busy right?? WRONG!!!!! I was just here 2 nights ago and you know what I think? I think this place should remove Yakitori off their menu and buy fresh ingredients. Oh and ask for a side of Sri Racha, you'll need it to make the food bearable! I came with my sister and we ordered the: Tiger roll: what the hell? I've never had sushi this flavorless before. You know that taste you get after freezing seafood? it tastes bland, like you soaked the poor seafood until the flavors just poof! dissolved? well yeah...that's what it tasted like. I couldn't taste the raw spicy tuna on top and the shrimp was a little mushy and didn't even taste like shrimp. It was probably one of the worst rolls I've had. I had to dunk it in so much soy sauce and horseradish. BTW yakitori came out almost 35 mins after our appetizers...service is pretty bad here. Server only came to take our orders. The next 4 times consisted of us flagging her down or asking the super awesome busser for the check. eggplant yakitori: I'm not exaggerating when I say this is probably the WORST thing I've eaten in a long time. I love eggplant. How can you possibly screw up grilling a small piece of eggplant? It was so hard and rubbery..I took a bite and left the rest untouched. Weird flavor and the sides of the eggplant looked dehydrated. Strangest thing... chicken and mushroom yakitori: heads up, this was weird. The chef stuffed a thin mushroom cap with ground chicken? it wasn't good..at all. tofu salad: pretty okay, simple flavors. buffalo chicken pieces: Best item of the night, probably because it doused in a store bought sauce? chicken and leek yakitori: ah finally, this looks good. I take a bite...well I try to...I had to rip that thing apart with my teeth. The chicken was so tough and dry. When no one was looking, I started drumming on it with chopstick to show my sister how hard they were..she thought I was being dramatic. I shut her up! I feel really bad writing this review, esp because it's a pretty place and I really wanted to like it. I even went their hungry, so everything should have tasted good. Food was horrible. My sister and I left a lot uneaten and went to In N Out after. It wasn't a cheap place either...Maybe we just ordered the wrong things? but that's a lot of bad items.
(1)
Marcelo G.
Trying Sakura for the first time. Beef Yakitori was delicious! Crunchy Roll was awesome! Shitake mushroom was good. Chicken Teriyaki was a bit a dry, but nothing a little Teriyaki glaze couldn't fix. Waiters are nice, but tend to disappear...I'm guessing the kitchen must be a fun place to hangout...lol...overall a thumbs up.
(4)
Adam K.
The food here is really good. The service is kinda average. But my main comment is just that they need bigger tables. The tables are really small, and when you order shabu shabu you get lots of plates, so there really just wasn't room for them all.
(5)
Doannie N.
Shabu w/ spicy miso broth is really good here! Their dipping sauces are also yummy! Great place to hang with friends, eat, drink , and enjoy each others company! ! The outside area is perfect for summer nights. :) perfect night weather. ;)
(5)
David Y.
Really great service, fresh food, really good value, and one of the better Shabu-Shabu experiences in the area. (This is my second day in a row here for lunch.) Shout out to the server we had...I asked to change the channel of music, because we will be only people in the restaurant, and I am really sick of Christmas music already. She did it without even batting an eye, and was sooooo friendly about it. I will be back, maybe not tomorrow, but soon.
(5)
Shari G.
I've driven by this place for years and finally went in. Everything from food to service was amazing. Hands down the best sushi I've had in a long time around HB. We went again in less than a week and can't wait to go back.
(5)
Kim T.
My number 1 favorite spot for shabu! I love how they have both my favorite foods sushi and shabu! And it's delicious! The atmosphere is great! Great place to go to whether it's a date or get together with friends.
(5)
Jaqueline Y.
Happy Hour! +Pork belly wrapped okra $1 +Hot sake $1.50 +Kirin $2 I would give 5 stars just for the pork belly wrapped okra. We ordered like 10 of these bad boys. So good. Yakitori overall was decent, but the okra was definitely my fave. Great prices for alcohol and cheap appetizers for snacking. Love!
(4)
Zach H.
My family and I had made a reservation for a day early. When our large party shows up, they claim that it has been purely hectic and we have to wait over an hour. They point at the tables that were supposedly "reserved" for us. The manager claimed those customers showed up very early and so they had to be seated. This was blasphemous as those customers had no food on their tables meaning they had just arrived. They constantly attempted to persuade us to sit outside when it was about 55 degrees outside. In the end, we decided to just eat at the restaurant next door. This incident shows that this restaurant has no consideration for their guests and do not plan ahead.
(1)
Sabrina R.
Always good
(4)
N N.
My friend insisted on coming here for Shabu Shabu even though I prefer California Shabu Shabu. It was Monday night so the place was dead, only our table and another table. We all ordered Regular Beef ($18.99 for 12 pieces). The beef quality is good, but the veggie plate is kinda small. We also order 2 appertizers:Popcorn Chicken and Mixed Tempura since it's HH buy one get one free. Popcorn Chicken was horrible, Mixed Tempura is kinda soggy. We had two friends check in on Yelp to get two free fried banana with ice cream.
(3)
Justin B.
Dont even desert 1 star. Bad service ever. All waiters think they are the owner. Only the Hispanic bus boy is nicest guy in the place to us all the time. We come because happy hour on sunday.
(1)
Araya P.
Only visit during happy hour so I can't say much about the shabu or yakitori. Happy Hour wise- bring on the hot sake, beer, and hand rolls! Service wise, never had any problems. They were attentive, but again we come in near to closing so the restaurant is almost deserted by then.
(4)
Rafael S.
Been here many times before, & I will be back many times as well. This place is great when you want to spend time with friends in a very chill environment. Highly recommended. Great food, great deals, overall just a great place to be. Come here for a good time!
(5)
Michelle R.
Good place for some late night sushi. Came here after craving sushi at 10:30 pm and this was the only place close that was still open. They have Happy Hour from 8pm to close on Sunday with 2 for 1 appetizers and cheaper hand rolls. We tried the shrimp and vegetable tempura which has a light, crispy batter which pulls away from the veggies so that they are nicely steamed. It's served with warm soy sauce which a nice touch. I would also highly recommend the plum sake that they have which has just the right touch of sweetness. The only (small) bad thing about this place is that it's freezing! They have the AC running full blast, which is understandable if you have all the shabu shabus going, but if it's a quiet night, then it's super cold in there! Overall it's a nice, hip place, especially for their Happy Hour and extra points for being open late. I would come back to try their shabu shabu.
(4)
Kevin N.
I was getting my mazda tuned up across the street and I decided to drop by Sakura for lunch while I was waiting. I like the decor they have here. They had TV's on all the walls and they had a central bar area which was cool. The tables all have built in heaters for the shabu pots as well. They are definitely aiming for a trendy vibe with the decor here. I ordered the lunch special for $8. For $8, you get a bowl of rice, 5 pieces of beef, a plate of veggies, and a pot of broth (I chose Miso). Surprisingly, the 5 pieces of beef is enough considering they load you up with a huge amount of veggies (mushrooms, tofu, a lot of cabbage). The broth was a little bit too salty but it was edible. However, the peanut sauce and ponzu sauce here wasn't that flavorful. Anyone that eats at shabu places know that the sauces are what makes or breaks the meals. Also, if you check in on yelp, you can get a free dessert! I got a tempura banana with ice cream. I didn't like it too much, the banana was too soggy. Overall, the service was friendly and attentive. For the price, it's solid shabu shabu. However, I might want to check this place out again for the happy hour because it looks like the deals are pretty amazing.
(3)
Ally N.
One of my favorite places for shabu. Love the peanut sauce. You can pick the portion size of your order and usually the small order is enough for me. They have other types of food including sushi on the menu as well. They serve alcohol and have indoor and outdoor seating. Inside it's warm and cozy. I've sat outside during the summer and it's really fun and nice too. It's nice with the lights and fireplace. They close really late which is a plus. You can sit and talk for hours. I definitely go here a lot during the winter time.
(5)
Kathleen N.
My favorite local shabu shabu joint! If you like spicy, you should try their spicy miso broth. That's my favorite! I usually order it with the ribeye beef... and sometimes add a side of salmon. They also give you an option to share for $7 more for each person to get their own plate of veggies & sauces. This is great if you want to try their yakitori or sushi menus. I'm glad this place is down the street from me. :)
(5)
Jaime H.
I LOVE Shabu! I would say, however, this place is average to me. I got the better quality Ribeye ($2) more than the normal beef and I found to be just ok. We, also, got the rainbow roll and the fish was again just ok to me. If you're a Shabu fan, it may be worth trying out for yourself and coming to your own conclusion. A plus was that the service was great!
(3)
Khrystie L.
Big disappointment last night. Meats and veggies were decent. Everything else was horrible. The condiments garlic, onions, and daikon were spoiled. First time waitress brought it out, the condiments were old & spoiled. You can tell from the green onions having that yellow brown color and there were barely any onions in that jar. I asked to get another batch of condiments and they were spoiled as welll. Ordered spicy miso but it was just regular miso. Goma sauce was bland and barely much. Our bill got over charged my friend had to ask a different waiter to see the actual bill because the waitress didn't give it to us. He also ordered room temperature water which he didn't get so he didn't have anything to drink that entire dinner. What happened Sakura? You've cut back on lots of things that shouldn't be because it isn't costly. I don't think you'll be able to survive if you keep yourself at the pace you are right now. Majority of us come back because it's local. That's it.
(1)
Jon T.
Both times here and it was great the food is good!!! Tried something else out and so far its good!
(4)
Brianna T.
I like this place. The meat and salmon seems fresh and the sauces are really good. They give you a lot of meat for reg size prime rib eye, but I always get the dinner combo that includes salmon. Only thing is their service is whatever. Our waitress was really slow and even when she was aware that we needed something and other servers informed her to come to our table, she continued to take her sweet ass time and even seemed annoyed when she got to us. There's this Mexican guy who isn't a waiter, but brings you things if you need and takes your plates away, who is super nice, and much more attentive and courteous than a lot of the other servers there. I would still come back, just really hope their service improves otherwise it's not really a place I would miss. I heard Mokkoji in Irvine is better. PS, don't get their house sake because it is basically water.
(3)
Vincent N.
Only come here for the drinks during happy hour! All day Monday and Tuesday and 8pm to close on other days. THEY HAVE FLAVORED SAKE. Don't be an idiot like me and order regular sake. Super cheap drinks. $2.00 - $2.50 beers. $1.50 sakes ( which is about 4-5 shots ), and 5-6$ mixed drinks. The food is sub pair and even though it is BOGO appetizers the portions and the taste both lack. Although its BOGO, the portions are really small so it's not that good of a deal. If you order wings or baked mussels it's only 4 pieces... Small plates of tofu and pop corn chicken. The popcorn chicken is more like a Kung pao chicken, it's not breaded. The shabu is okay... If your not one of those picky shabu nuts this is a good place for you. The only food I thought that tastes good was the salmon hand roll $2.95 during happy hour! Overall: i woulnt recommend the appetizers . Come for the drinks and the salmon hand rolls!! And try the shabu if you'd like its worth a try.
(3)
Jasmine H.
Good shabu shabu.. Service though.. The service is either slow or servers are rude. The owner came up to our table and said if the drive burn you guys we are not responsible for it.. Really??!!! I don't think it works like that.. No wonder your servers doesn't consider offering good service.. And the 2.00 for extra onions??? Onions are condiments!!
(2)
Roban L.
I love this place! Always great shabu and service is good. Love that they offer miso broth
(5)
Sarah V.
Best sashimi plate I've had. The pieces were huge and so savory! I ordered to go and when I opened the to-go container, I had to run to the other room to show my bf how beautiful the plate was! The sashimi was fresh and tasted wonderful. Would definitely go here again. The place was really nice and sleek inside, but also gave off a warm and cozy feeling. Excited to dine in soon!
(5)
Nikki N.
Came here for my friend's birthday. Didnt get to try the Shabu, cause it was pretty pricey, around 20$ something dollars for a pot? nahhhhh. Ordered a lot of appetizers because it was happy hour after 10 buy 1 get 1 free. & $1.50 small, $3 large hot sake. ordered : - agedashi tofu - orange chicken - house salad - spicy tuna + california hand rolls EVERYTHING WAS DECENT. nothing to rave about - the skewers were DISGUSTING. one of them was totally burnt. the quail eggs did NOT taste like quail eggs =( The combo served with salad, rice, miso soup & tempera veggies + shrimp & also comes with a main dish, ordered the new york steak, the steak was pretty good, but not worth the price.
(3)
Berenice R.
We were kind of sketchy in trying this place out due to the reviews on the service. But it guess we got lucky tonight, our server was Charlie and he was awesome!!! This is our first time here and he was so nice and helpful made sure he explained everything to us without rushing! Definitely would come back! The food was delicious and good serving sizes. The banana tempura is delicious!!
(4)
William P.
The shabu shabu is really good. Juicy angus beef and big, sweet shrimp. The veggies are about average, not really enough, but the sushi and rolls are above average. The free tempura banana dessert is a plus. Our waiter was great, very prompt and friendly.
(4)
Daniel R.
The HB Street Cred Crew came back once again, the food was phenomenal and our waitress Trish was amazing 5 stars to her, we came for lunch, we have yet to be disappointed and we continue to be amazed!!!!
(5)
billy t.
All in all this place is alright. Happy hour isn't as good as it use to be. At $2.50 for mug of beer that's not even a full pint is not a deal imo. Happy hour hand rolls are $3+ with barely enough fish that would satisfy an Ethiopian kid.
(3)
Stefanie C.
Happy Hour all day Monday! Win! Our server was really nice and I felt bad for her as she suddenly went from having no one in there to a room full of people at 2pm. It was Memorial day so you never know how those days are going to turn out at a restaurant. She was extremely attentive and made sure to answer all of our questions and to explain the happy hour. Food: Garlic Wings: very garlicky but the more garlic the better in my book. Enoki Mushroom: did not know what we were getting ourselves into and wouldn't order again. It's a weird consistency and an even weirder taste. Not terrible, just not my style. Salmon Handroll: Delicious and fresh Eel Handroll: Not my favorite, the eel was super mushy and didn't seem so fresh. Took one bite and abandoned it. Pink Lady Roll: Superb. I would definitely come here again if I was in the neighborhood
(4)
Diane N.
My all time favorite go-to shabu place !!! I don't go to any shabu place besides Sakura! I love coming here since they're open late! I always order the small ribeye angus beef which is only 6 pcs but trust me it fills you up! They cut their slices of meat pretty large than other shabu places. Did I mention it's only 13 bucks for the portion basically! Cheap & good? Score! I absolutely love their spicy miso broth!!!! That's why I can't go to any other places! Plus, the ponzu and sesame sauce is on point! Add extra garlic & green onions in there! So bomb! Ask for hot drops! I love spicy so 6 drops please! Beware it doesn't get diluted so it stays spicy! I'm drooling just writing this review. The vegetables variety is pretty good! I mostly eat everything on the plate and I'm not really a veggies person. While, other shabu places sometimes have veggies I don't really tend to eat with my shabu. Also, during happy hour it's buy one appetizer get one free! I recommend the green baked mussels and fried calamari. The service is good! The workers are usually very attentive! On the weekend especially Friday nights get crowded so sometimes it might be harder to get your servers attention. Overall, five stars for the food! I won't go anywhere else for shabu! Also, check-in to yelp for their yummy banana tempura ice cream!
(5)
Daniel N.
So after reading the reviews I decided to go see the place for myself. Now I did go during the late afternoon and my server Alex was great and the service was quick. The soup base was a small selection but I did like the spicy miso here. I eat it with hot drops! The sushi here was delicious and well made definitely a must try. Service: he was quick, polite, attentive, and very willing to help with the menu and recommendations Food: Shabu: better than California Shabu Shabu Sushi: Top notch House rolls: best rolls I ever had Display of food: Clean, neat, and tucked well onto a plate; instagram worthy Setting: clean and isn't cramped like east west Shabu Shabu and California Shabu Shabu Moat interesting thing: they use sweet rice!
(5)
Michelle H.
This restaurant is super cute and oriental-looking from the outside, hard to miss. They have a happy hour menu posted on their roof but I'm pretty sure it is outdated. The decor is very sleek, modern, and clean inside. Very dead during the day but the crowd picks up during happy hour. FOOD: - I come here strictly for the shabu shabu. I order their regular beef 6 pieces, water base. This place also offers miso and spicy miso broths but I prefer water because it's less salty when I make the udon soup at the end. The pieces of meat are quite large and the quality is pretty good for the price. However, the sauces are weak, especially the ponzu, so if you're a shabu shabu sauce connoisseur then you probably won't like Sakura in that aspect. I personally don't care as long as I get my hot drops. I get about 5-6 drops before I start feeling the heat. - I don't like the happy hour (minus 1 star). Appetizers are BOGO, and they have a menu for yakitoris. If you like weird organs like hearts, gizzards, livers, etc then you'll like the yakitoris but nothing sounded at all appealing to me. Don't get the popcorn chicken. It's a super small portion and the chicken are little bits that are not fried like your average popcorn chicken. My friends ordered the wings and they seemed to enjoy that app. The only thing I would really order again are the hand rolls but even those were just average. The best part of their HH is $2 Kirin though!! PRICE: - SO CHEAP for shabu shabu. $9.50 for lunch and $11.50 for dinner for the 6 piece. I always leave full and satisfied from my shabu craving! Happy hour prices ranged from $2+ for yakitori and hand rolls. Appetizers go up to $8 per. Shabu shabu and HH drinks are the most worth it here. Everything else adds up and you end up spending the same if not more than just a regular non-HH restaurant. SERVICE: - Our waitresses are usually nice but the most recent one neglected to tell us that happy hour was over while we continued ordering HH items. It would have been common courtesy to let us know since obviously we were under the impression it was still HH. TIPS: - Yelp check-in offer: tempura banana w/ ice cream (good for 2-3 ppl). Make sure to put this in ahead of time so you don't have to wait for them to make it after you finish your meal. - Happy Hour Mon-Tues all day; rest of week is 5-6:30pm & 8/9 til closing
(4)
Trung D.
Always my fave hh n shabu place. Make sure check in to get free desert. Sushi and shabu us the easy to go.
(4)
Jackie L.
Went here last Friday night for a party of 10 and we got seated right away. First off the decor of this restaurant is very modern, simple and clean. Nice lighting and the bar is the first thing you see once you enter. Anyways, my friends and I started off by ordering a lot of beer and shots of Hennessy. We were seated outside the Patio and right away the servers took our orders. They had a happy hour special which was buy one get one half off for all appetizers. I ordered the calamari, fried cod, and tofu salad. Everything was yum ! My favorite was the calamari. The batter was perfect and the dipping sauce went well with it. No complaints here. The service here is great ! Servers were very friendly and attentive to our table. They literally kept walking around asking us if we needed more drinks/shots, etc. I also mentioned to our server that it was my friends birthday and he gave the birthday guy ice cream with a candle ! Overall, I will for sure come back. Great place to drink and eat :)
(5)
Jerome R.
Cool spot. Always music nice outdoor patio. Great menu. Open til midnight during the week days. Good sushi and calamari.
(4)
Lucy P.
Absolutely love their shabu here. During lunch it's only 10$ a meal. What a deal. Their service is ok. Some servers are very nice/attentive and some seems like they don't even want to be there. Five stars just for the food, as for the service I'd give it a 3. So a 4 it is!
(4)
Amy N.
Types of broth you get to choose from: seaweed, miso and spicy miso My personal favorite here, the miso because the spicy miso gets spicier as you near the end of your meal, haha. The service here is always on point, as with the servers, the busboys are always making sure one's empty plates are removed and cups are filled. Sakura Shabu-Sushi & Yakitori is a nice place to hang out with friends, eat and drink some sake. Although I've never experienced their yakitori, their shabu is superb and the sushi is also quite yummy. You can pick from seating at the bar, a booth, a table and/or outside if the whether is permitting. The main, main, MAIN reason I dine here is for the goma sauce (aka the peanut sauce). According to my individual tastebuds, IT'S THE BESTESTESTEST when garlic and hot drops are added to the equation x] They also have a great happy hour and if it's your first check-in there through Yelp, you'll get a nice dessert at the end of your meal: ice cream with tempura battered bananas and whip cream (nom nom nom). xoxo Amy Nguyen
(5)
Anh-Thu N.
Some of my close friends have been coming to Sakura for a while now and always told me that it was good food and cheap drinks! I've only been there occasionally to have a few drinks for birthday parties or what not. But since I'm on this yakitori binge, i decided to give the happy hour a try since it seemed like such a great deal! Here's what you get for the happy hour ( 8-11 sun-wed and 9-11 thurs-sat) $1 hot sake $1 selected yakitori $2 draft beers $2.95 on select hand rolls buy one get one free appetizers Yakitori that we ordered: - 2 orders of beef tongue ( TIP: highly recommend trying this if you havent tried it already! it's really good!) - 2 orders of the chicken hearts - 2 orders chicken gizzards - asparagus wrapped in bacon - tomatoes wrapped in asparagus - green chilly pepers - enoki mushrooms - Squid legs ( one of my new fave yakitori items now) - quail eggs - salted beef - zucchini - bacon wrapped potato ( i didnt expect to like this but it was pretty good. give it a try!) - chicken meat balls ( TIP: I DO NOT recommend this. it's made with white chicken and what happens is that it's dry and not good at all!) Appetizers: - 3 orders of the baked green mussels (TIP: you have to get this when you're here! it's baked to perfection! the sauce that they put on top of the mussels is this spicy mayo kind of sauce and added with the texture of the mussels, its amazing!) - edamame Hand Rolls: - spicy tuna - spicy scallops And we topped that off with two mugs of Kirin! :D Over the dinning experience was pretty good. We sat outside on the patio and id say that it's a nice place if you wanted to go on a date too. I recommend you trying all the things that i ordered, minus the dry chicken meat balls. no bueno at allll. So at the end our bill came out to about 54 dollars, not too bad for the quality and amt of food we got. :)
(4)
Spotless T.
I went on a Saturday night at 7pm and the place was not too busy which was good since there is not a lot of parking. This is a good place to eat if you have a larger party too. We had a party of 6 and next to us was a party of 12. It's not too loud, the place is clean, the servers are friendly and prompt. We ordered the Seaweed Salad which tasted fresh and the pickled spicy carrots set on top was a nice touch. It helped bring a good balance to the salad. Perfect serving for 3 people to share. The calamari appetizer was generously battered and had good flavor, I just wish that there was more of it. The Nabeyaki Udon was a small portion for the price but the shabu shabu was the star. We ordered the Premium Angus Rib Eye Beef and the cuts of beef were largely portioned as well as the Tender Chicken Breast. Everyone who ordered this received a plate of Udon noodles, tofu, and veggies and the Miso broth was devine. They provide you with a separate bowl for your Udon noodles which is so convenient and a soup base you can add which was really yummy. In addition, there are 2 dipping sauces for your meats, a Ponzu sauce and Sesame sauce which I recommend. You can add in chopped garlic which really adds extra flavor. Overall, I would recommend this place for the Shabu-shabu and the price and portions are of value.
(4)
Joe P.
I dropped by here a second time, and actually had food: I owed Sakura a review. It is located on Beach Blvd, just North of Warner in Huntington Beach. Unfortunately, I also discovered this place made my TST: Two Star 2sday List!!! We ordered from all parts of the menu. For starters, we had guy yaki ($2.95 - salty beef; not pictured), and geso yaki ($2.50 /squid legs). We also ordered a crunch roll ($10.95 - not my idea), and unagi ($5.25). Lastly, I ordered the combo Angus Ribeye (6 pieces) w/ scallop (10 pieces) - ($22.98), while my friend ordered a large Angus Ribeye ($21.98 - 12 pieces). First of all, the yaki was kinda yucky. The guy was tough as was the geso. Kappo Honda and SSG Robata & Yakitori blow this place away, because they use real coals vs an electric cooker: 2 Stars. Secondarily, the sushi was very average. It is the kind of sushi you would expect from a place that serves rolls. There was no art in the sushi. The sushi chef was simply filling orders rapidly. Moderately priced Irassae in HB, is a much better option: 3 Stars. Lastly, the shabu shabu was OK. However, the pricing is high in relation to the portions. It was 15% higher compared to California Shabu Shabu in FV: 2.5 Stars. Regarding the service, it was mixed. I arrived early, and it took a while for someone to get me a beer. In addition, my broth was not as hot as my friend's, so I asked them to turn the heat up (twice). I was asked to wait - Wait for what?! You already brought me my meat and veggies!: 2 Stars. The ambiance is nice, but this is a big place. Additionally, most of the clientele don't know shabu shabu, because most were eating the mediocre rolls: 3 Stars. Sakura is overpriced, and serves mediocre food IMHO. There is no way I would return to this place that can't compete w/ California Shabu Shabu (shabu shabu), Kappo Honda and SSG Robata & Yakitori (yakitori), and Irassae (sushi). I'd rather go to the foregoing places that specialize in their cuisine, vs a place that can't master any.
(2)
Kathy H.
I love shabu shabu! I really recommend the Spicy Miso broth with hot drops in the soup (it's really spicy so beware - I get 4 drops then 2 each in the ponzu sauce). The servers are always sweet and attentive. I love their happy hour: Mon & Tues: 5pm-close Wed & Thurs: 5-6:30pm, 8pm-close Fri & Sat: 5-6:30pm, 9pm-close Sun: 5-6:30pm, 8pm-close I always the the Angus Ribeye Beef (lunch is $14.50 & dinner is $19.50 for the Large which is 9 pieces). Get the Premium Angus Ribeye Beef if you like a fattier cut for your meat. Overall, I love coming here! Enjoy!
(4)
Diamond L.
I always hear about this place. I have friends who previously worked here. I have been dying to try this place out. However, when I got a chance to try this restaurant out, I was not too satisfied. The interior decoration is awesome and the representation of the food is great, but the taste is not special. I expected alot out of this place.... Shabu shabu isn't as great. It was plain, and everything else I ordered was ordinary. I will not come back...
(2)
Jason S.
Good food. Nice ambience. Fast service. We went for happy hour hand rolls and shabu shabu. Jalapeno poppers 5/5 Crunch Roll 5/5 Baked green mussels 5/5 Shabu Shabu broth Sukiyiki 3/5 Broth spicey miso 4/5 Philadelphia hand roll 4/5 Tempura 5/5 Ribeye was cut too large. But flavor was good. 4/5 All in all it was good.
(4)
Jackie N.
This was the 3rd time I've been here, and it might be my last. We came because my bf wanted shabu, and I wasn't feeling it so I went for the sushi and apps. I got 3 handrolls, asian garlic wings, and baked mussels. The handrolls tasted off to me, it didn't taste like traditional handrolls. I got spicy cali handroll, philly handroll, and crunchy handroll. The crab meat tasted funky, which was in both cali and crunchy handroll. The philly handroll, i just wanted to try because i love a regular philly roll. But their cream cheese tasted weird too and because it was in a handroll form, the cream cheese wasn't evenly distributed. I would eat some rice and salmon, and my next bite would be just cream cheese and rice. Wasn't a great experience with the sushi. The asian garlic wings just wasn't what I thought it would be, but maybe it was my fault for not understanding the title? I'm used to asian chicken wings to have that kind of sweet honey glaze with some asian spice to it, like most asian wings are. But these wings were straight up garlic. And when I say garlic, I mean enough to kill all all of the Cullen Clan (lol reference to Twilight if you didn't get it :P ) Anyways, their wings were WAY too garlic-y and had no taste of "asian" in it for me. I tasted buffalo wings with a lot of garlic, and I hate buffalo wings. As for the shabu, I didn't really eat, but had a little taste here and there. My bf got the spicy miso broth, and it was okay, but wasn't great. It tasted extremely spicy, in the way that makes you want to cough and down your water. I thought the broth didn't have much flavor besides the excess amount of spice. The only good thing I actually enjoyed was the free item we got for checking in. We checked in and got a free dessert of Fried Banana and vanilla ice cream. They only allow one check in per table, but that's okay, it was enough for us.
(3)
Morgan H.
I've only ordered shabu shabu here, not the sushi. Sakura is my favorite Huntington Beach spot for shabu shabu because I feel that the meat and veggies are fresh and prices are fair. They recently added more booths inside, making it a bit nicer. There are a few TVs, a sushi bar, and outside seating as well. Service has always been attentive and there is a full menu, a sushi menu and a yakitori menu. Broth choices are miso, spicy miso and seaweed. They offer the typical hot drops and condiments along with chili oil are on the table. Something different here is that the soup base is on the table as well for when you're ready to pour the broth into the bowl, so that you are able to add as much or as little as you want. Veggies are the typical offerings, and my favorite meat is the Prime Angus Ribeye. It is so tender and there are few fatty pieces. It practically melts in your mouth. Check in on Yelp for a free tempura banana dessert! It is the perfect end to the meal and comes out nice and warm with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream drizzled with chocolate sauce. Check their website for their frequent happy hour times and deals.
(4)
Kim S.
Great happy hour can't go wrong with grey goose an cranberry for $5.75. I've tried the cheaper meat an was really happy with my choice tonight I got the third more expensive meat an it was amazing. I'm a shabu junkie so I'm glad they are open later an are super nice an friendly. The owner was even nice enough to come by an introduce himself. So glad I gave this place a another try. Make sure you check in so you can get your complimentary banana tempura that never disappoints.
(5)
Angel N.
Amazing place!!friendly atmosphere with delicious food!!I love their Shabu the most!!! Beef and seafood lovers Brittany was our server and was very helpful!!!:)
(5)
Katherine H.
I've been here a few times and the service has always been exceptional. The shabu shabu is also up to par. The last time I came, I tried the sukiyaki broth for the very first time. Let me tell you... It's now my favorite broth. It was sweet but not overly sweet and blended in well with the meat and vegetables. We also checked in and got the banana fried ice cream which is also really good. Best to come on a cold day!
(4)
Sung Hyun K.
This place is great for shabu shabu! Their spicy miso broth with the premium meat is my personal favorite! I have had spicy miso at other shabu places, but this one is the best! I would ask for Brittany (sorry if spelling is wrong) to be our server again. She was very quick to help us and made sure we were satisfied with everything we had :)
(5)
Sam P.
Sakura shabu was the first place I ever tried shabu, but I waited a year to come back because I wanted other places to compare. Sakura did not disappoint! They have amazing cuts that taste great and flavored broth. Not every shabu restaurant has spicy miso and even fewer do it so well. Definitely come by for the happy hour. I really loved the agadashi tofu (crispy and soft) and the green mussels. I'd definitely come back for just these items any day of the week. This place has definitely won a spot on my top 10 to-go list. Our server was randy and he was really friendly and helpful. He recommended the passion fruit sake and we loved it. It's only 3.50 during happy hour! Make sure to check in for free dessert!
(5)
Summer T.
3.65 stars Little parking. Friendly service. Happy hour after 8pm til closed. Aged Dashi Tofu: good, wish they put less savory sauce in it Fried Calamari: decent, tender, sauce was too creamy, it says spicy but it wasn't spicy at all. Would taste much better if it was spicy. Pork Kim Chi: decent, too bad it wasn't spicy. :( Spinach Garlic: decent Asian Garlic Chicken Wing: fatty, lacked in spices Gyoza: wasn't fresh, tasted alright Edamame: flavorful & yummy Tempura vanilla ice cream: decent Tempura banana green tea ice cream: good Shabu shabu: tasted alright.
(3)
Victor R.
It's my birthday! 1st timer - that makes me a "Newbee"! Great service-great time with my wife!
(5)
John O.
This place is great. I highly recommend this place. The food is excellent and the service is top notch. No complaints.
(5)
Drew M.
Used to live down the street from here a few years ago and stop in every once in a while. Went this past Saturday and got a
(4)
Cammi H.
4 stars for the happy hour that we usually come here for from time to time. Great selection of appetizers, hand rolls, yakitori, and drinks.
(4)
Sonya J.
I recently moved back to HB and found this Shabu spot close to my house. Went there Friday night and it was good. I had the beef & scallops combo and we also tried a beef appetizer skewer that was really good. They have a full bar and also a full sushi bar (we had some yellow tail - my favorite - 2 Thumbs up!). So its basically a 3-in-1 spot: Bar/Shabu/Sushi - you can't go wrong.
(4)
Leeann G.
Great service and best sushi around ! So glad I found this gem ! The food is excellent every time and incredibly fresh! So far I have only gotten the appetizers and the rolls, but I can't wait to try more of their huge menu in the very near future!
(5)
Christine L.
Premium Angus Rib eye Beef is BOMB! It tastes so fresh and delicious. I ordered the large just so I can the extra that I can't finish away to my bf who eats like no other (he also ordered a large O_O). I also really liked the miso broth soup and what's cool is that they give you your own soup so you don't have to worry about sharing the broth with someone else! I highly recommend decking out your soup with a bunch of garlic and onions (makes it way more flavorful). Also the hot drops aren't really hot (I added 3 drops into everything and it tasted just the right amount of hotness). In terms of the sauces, I liked the goma sauce better than the ponzu which tasted very citrus-y (like Yuzu). Our waiter was a bit slow for my liking. I felt like we were always forgotten about and it took him forever to bring out our check. By that time, we were so over even mentioning about our yelp check in and getting a free fried banana dessert. TIP: I would say go for the happy hour because they have a lot of great deals.
(3)
Mike K.
Lets face it shabu is just a fun way to eat and this place does not disappoint. Had anout a dozen "hot drops" added to our pots but we are weird like that. Everything was delicious will be going back for sure.
(4)
Vicky N.
Had a really bad experience, kind of disappointed. Our server didn't know anything on the menu and apologized that he was still new. I asked for one hot drop for my broth and he gave me four and said oops, sorry. I can eat spicy so I didn't mind, but he needs to be more careful and a bit more training. :/
(2)
Judy N.
My review mostly reflects just the Shabu. Best goma dipping sauce I've tried for Shabu! Really... It is the maker to your meal if u order Shabu here. It's quite hard to come by a place that has good chicken quality for Shabu (except Mokkoji in Irvine).. But it's texture wasn't too bad at all. No complaints on their other meat selections either like the tender beef ribeye, or the broth --- BUT the veggie platter I believe could use some more work! It seems poorly put together & I usually omit the cabbage & noodles so I don't believe that its too much to ask for more of the other stuff. I'm so use to other restaurants organizing their veggie platters, but Sakura seemed lazy with piling everything on top of each other. The list of food choices goes on & on with their menu having a variety of appetizers, yakatori, sushi, rolls, && drinks here. Although I haven't tried a lot of their sushi, it tastes pretty average.. Might not be the freshest to me. Service isn't the best either depending when u go, it seems to get crowded & rowdy during HH here, almost like a lounge. Minus the hiccups in service, the Shabu here does leave me satisfied.
(3)
Vivian N.
3 stars for the food and 0 stars for service! What I ordered: Shabuuuu shabu Angus beef ribeye (small) - $12.50 It's very filling yet so cheap! Will I come back? Nooooope yall service stank. It was so hard to flag down my server.. and he never checked up on us. I honestly came in to eat and leave not to sit and talk after my meal.. asked for the check and tells me my server will get my check. My server wasn't even informedddddd, commmmunicate....
(3)
Alvin N.
This place been going down hill over the years and became increasingly cheap with condiments at the same time prices have been increasing. The sushi prices compares or goes beyond the prices of above average sushi restaurants minus the quality. The salmon for the Shabu dinner is nice and thick, which was a surprise. The amount of soup base supplied was otherwise a disappointment and had to be asked for more. The hot drops for the sauces seemed like it was watered down from the norm. I usually ask for 10 drops for ponzu and 30 for the gomu. Yes. I like my food spicy. The only saving grace this place has is the drinks on happy hour. Other than that, it's simply not worth the time.
(2)
Richard N.
This place has been my go to shabu place for four years. I have never written a review about this place before because I had to make sure the service was consistent everytime..and it was. The service is always great and the management always says hello to us when we come in. I have never had to wait longer than 5 mins to get a table. The servers are always ready to help with their tables. If you do not understand how shabu works they will help you. The shabu is inexpensive and of high quality. They have a large variety of miso broths that you can choose from, my favorite is the spicy miso. The sushi is very delicious for a restaurant that is known for its shabu. It comes in large sharing portions and everything is fresh.
(5)
Jessica N.
I came here with my family for dinner. Try the grass fed beef! Its delicious. As for rolls I loved the baked scallop roll and jalapeño poppers. Fried banana and ice cream is on point We will be back!!
(5)
Deidra S.
first time coming here and got served by Britney. Great server, very nice and upbeat. Made my experience very good :)
(4)
G S.
Been there five, maybe six times, and they haven't disappointed. The pricing change from lunch to dinner has on occasion been a bit muddled (wrong menus @ wrong times) and can be a slight hassle. The kimchi, both hot and cold, are phenomenal.
(4)
Hanna K.
The rating doesn't really reflect upon the food, but rather their service & the overall experience we had here. The food here is pretty good. We got 2 hand rolls & the beef Shabu and they were all of decent quality. Pretty fresh, pretty tasty. My bf and I shared the regular beef Shabu (20pcs) w/ the sharing add-on (comes wih extra sauce, rice, and another veggie plate) and it was just enough for us. But the service... Oh the shitty service. We came in a group of 20, so I understand any delays but this was just ridiculous. There was like a 15min wait between every item they brought out (first the stove, then the pots, then the veggies, then the sauce, then the rice, then the meat, then the condiments = 1:45min wait for everything to be set up) They would bring the food out, and let it just sit there, then come back like 10min later to pass them out. We were almost all done with our veggies by the time our meat came out ~_~ then condiments came out after someone asked for them ~_~ sigh just totally clueless & unprepared. Not to mention this one server that was helping out was so rude & ignorant of the orders he was delivering ~_~ Anyways, nobody likes to read rants so let me just summarize: food is decent but service is so slow it's almost non existent. Maybe you might have better luck in a smaller party, but our waitress said they usually get parties of 30+ so idk why they couldn't handle a party of 20.
(2)
Scott L.
Great for late night dining. They offer different cuts of meat for their Shabu Shabu with prices ranging anywhere from $18 and up for 6 pieces or $21 for 12 pieces. They even have organic cuts which my friend and I were reluctant to get. "Cows just eat grass right?" We ended up getting the 1885 cut which was meaty and yet so delicate. They even have happy hour which is great if you like calamari, enoki mushroom, or edamame. Our hostess was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)
Rose S.
I just left this place without even ordering. My husband and I happened to be around the area. We decided to stop at this place for a quick dinner before heading home. We arrived and a nice guy took us to our table. We sat and waited for 10 mins till finally someone came to our table to ask for our drinks. 15 more minutes passed by and we were still waiting for someone to take our order. Funny thing is that the people sitting next to us (Asians) were asked at least 5 times if they needed anything. Racism? It felt like it. If you are a Latino, Mexican American or dark skin please don't waste your time by going to this place. Waiters and waitresses are going to ignore you.
(1)
Michelle C.
This place has amazing food, is open late, and has great service! They have a full bar with a full menu! I recommend the sushi or the shabu! They even have spicy miso soup for your shabu! It's delicious! Even though this restaurant is geared for a younger crowd my whole family loves this place!
(5)
Jessica T.
Brittany was serving us on tuesday night and was awesome. Always made sure our table was clean and we had everything we needed. Even accommodated the fact that we were the only ones that wanted to sit outside. The food is always fantastic and the environment was fun!!!
(5)
Joe G.
Came to Sakura Shabu-Sushi & Yakitori for lunch on a Saturday. The place was not busy at all, and they do have a lot of options. From shabu to sushi, there's just so much to choose from so that everyone can get what they want. I got the sashimi salad which was pretty good. Their shabu was really good too. And with a yelp check-in, you get a free banana tempura. Great asian food spot!!!
(4)
Taeleng M.
Thanks to Brittany for reminding us about the promotion that they had about happy hour. Very nice helpful and informing. Brittany is very attentive to our needs when it came to serving food and drinks.
(5)
Cat P.
Food: The Miso broth is A+ with so much flavor! It is amazing to eat by itself. Customer Service: Our server Brittany was very friendly and helpful. She gave us great suggestions and helped us have a great time. :) Pricing: For the happy hour sushi, make sure to ask if it is a hand roll (one piece) or the cut rolls. We were given hand rolls for the "happy hour" sushi rolls, but it didn't specify that it was a hand roll on the menu. It just said that it is sushi roll (happy hour price for the roll $3-4 and regular is $8). Also, double check the pricing for number of shared bowls because it wasn't specified in the menu either. Other than that, it's still a good place to eat.
(4)
Ashley N.
My top pick when I'm craving shabu& my boyfriends favorite shabu restaurant. I always get spicy miso& chicken when I come here. I am in love with their ponzu sauce!!! I drench my rice, chicken& veggies in this sauce. You can also substitute your white rice for brown rice for an extra $1. Or you can substitute some veggies for different veggies. The servers are friendly& quick on their feet. I usually dine here late at night so I never have to wait for a table. And I always to-go my udon noodles with my leftover shabu
(5)
Sally N.
Very good place for sushi and shabu. Great prices. The only thing I can suggest is maybe some one get the place checked for bugs. There was flies always around and there was a spider that crawled off my check when it was brought to me. EEEK! Other than that, the waiter was great and friendly as they always are here. Can't beat the prices for the quantity and quality of food. Just get the spider thing checked out!
(4)
Tilia L.
Coming here to give it a second chance and I'm glad that I did. They really improved the flavors of the broth and the veggies plate. I really enjoyed my second visit here and will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Eva G.
Great food, great service, reasonable prices, every single time! Love love love! I've come here for lunch several times and as soon as I decide what I want, I have food, ready to go, in literally minutes. ..I've had shabu in many places and I really love not waiting when I'm hungry AND in a hurry! Thanks guys, (especially Ivy, she's amazing! ) you always warm my tummy and my soul! !
Happy hour every single night until closing! $4 wells, $2 hot (or cold sake), BOGO half off on appetizers, $3 drafts, happy hour sushi-- this is a dream come true for all of the alcoholics on a budget. Come here any single night when you're craving for a night of relaxation.
(5)
Park N.
the food wasn't extraordinary but it wasn't bad either. I was left full. I order the large Kobe shabu shabu. the birth was normal nothing fancy about it though. service was good.
(3)
Tammy L.
The shabu here was so good with the Miso soups, fresh meat and veggies. The service was fast and friendly. I will come back for sushi.
(4)
Jack H.
Good place to go for happy hour! I usually come here to drink and order the appetizer because it's buy one and get the 2nd one for free! Henny vs and grey goose shots are $5 during happy hour as well!
(4)
Danielle R.
I really like this place! I get the veggie Shabu dinner, it's way too much food for $11 I always have 2 days of leftovers. Also their happy hour and sushi menu are pretty good as well!
(5)
Hiro N.
Don't get me wrong on the three stars, the food here is great! Shabu is split in half so it's perfect to share with someone. My friend and I got half spicy miso and half miso and the regular ribeye (12 pieces). I also got a baked salmon roll and it was pretty good! Our other friend ordered yakitori (didn't really ask how it was). We also checked in for the free banana tempura, which was yummy!! However, the service here is terrible. 2 stars at best :( It was very hard to get anyone's attention, and we felt like we only saw our server once or twice during the course of our meal.
(3)
Karen L.
Tried this 1st time last night. Love the spicy miso broth. We went during happy hour, appetizers 2 for 1. Great. Everything was pretty similar to other shabu shabu, the veggies, udon and meat. But the broth made it. Also ordered the crunchy roll. There was only tempura on both ends of the roll and imitation crab in the middle. And it felt apart. A little disappointing. But overall, it was a good meal and the service was great. Will definitely go back. Another place for shabu shabu!!!
(4)
Sam N.
I've been here before for lunch and we decided to come here for dinner as we were close by doing some Christmas shopping. We arrived and were greatest and seated promptly. We sadly just missed happy hour at 6.30pm, they have great sushi and drink deals! We decided on shabu, I had the beef and salmon combo, my husband a large beef. Food arrived quickly. I really like the miso soup that they use for us to cook our food in, many other places give just plain water and you need to season entirely yourself. I checked into here and got the offer for a free fried banana and ice cream - that rounded things off nicely! Our server was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be going back soon!
(4)
Franchesca N.
Great deal on happy hour for drinks. Their appetizers are BOGO during happy hour as well. However I don't think it's worth it. One order of wings only includes four wings and that costs 8 dollars. So during happy hour it's a dollar for one wing.... Ya not legit. Stick to drinking here only. Parking lot is small. However I do like the lounge feeling and music here. Overall it's good for drinks!
This place was my first experience with shabu-shabu. And wow. who can't love spicy Udon Miso. Every time I go, I am warmly greeted and they treat me like an old friend. Better they treat me like royalty. The amazing quality of the products they use make for such a satisfying experience, the atmosphere is comfortable and the staff attentive yet not overbearing. I love this place!
(5)
Thomas H.
Stylish bar, good service and good food. Can't go wrong! Always good and friendly service here, the food isn't cheap but it's well worth paying for. The decor is on the fresher side of trendy and the ambience has always been nice. Would recommend!
(4)
Michelle N.
So...where do you want to go for dinner? I don't know. You pick. I always pick. I'm tired of picking. YOU PICK! You're the Yelp Elite. I don't know good food. T__T. Something soupy? Shabu? Ok. Friday night driving around clueless about what to eat. We didn't want to overload since the next day we were planning on hiking. My thoughts are coming out jumbled. Let's cut to the chase. Food - Yummy. Spicy broth was not spicy enough though. We ordered the Kobe rib eye and scallops. For what it was, everything was pricy! I was unhappy with the bill. Service - FANTASTICO! Charley was a great server. I'd highly recommend him to anyone.
(3)
Sue N.
Great service! New And improved vegetables' now with onions too. I always Come here for the lunch specials :) miso soup beef shabu is my Favv
(5)
Kendall N.
Came here for shabu shabu since they have flavored broths and I was not disappointed. You can either chose Miso, Spicy Miso, or Seaweed flavor. I always opt for beef for the entree though I haven't tried other meats/seafood for source of protein. The service is a lot slower here than other places that serve shabu shabu since this place doesn't solely concentrate on being a shabu shabu restaurant so they take their time bringing out the items one at a time. Their goma sauce was certainly delicious as it was very close to the goma sauce at California Shabu Shabu. Check out their happy hour if you can, they have some great deals on appetizers and drinks.
(4)
Emma J.
We came for happy hour and enjoyed a bit of sushi and tempura. Nothing too memorable aside from the nice little perk of free dessert once you check-in on Yelp. With Kabuki just a little farther up the road, I'd prefer a different happy hour to Sakura's. The sushi wasn't anything spectacular.
(2)
Phan V.
The gf and I are usually in this part of OC often on the weekends doing our shopping. When our stomachs start to growl, we typically find ourselves caught in a pickle. We crave Asian food, but Little Saigon is just too far away to drive to and drive back. Luckily, I found Sakura. Parking can be rather difficult to find at times because their own lot is very limited in space, so if you're a dare devil like myself, you park next door at the Chinese restaurant to their left! (Shhh!) I enjoy this place because they have flavored miso broth, as opposed to some other shabu places that just use hot water. The pricing here is pretty typical and comparable to other locations, however, a cool thing they offer is a happy hour menu. For food, it's BOGO free appetizers, unfortunately because the GF and I do not drink alcohol, we never pay attention to those deals. The sea food platter is my go to platter and they give you salmon, scallops. shrimp and green mussels. The vegetable plate that accompanies the order is plentiful and will leave you full. For the appetizers, I've had the pleasure of trying their baked green mussels and gyozas. Both were good and worth a try. Inside can get stuffy with all the burners going, good thing is they offer outdoor seating here as well. On my last visit here, I wish we sat outside as it can get rather noisy inside, and when you're stuck next to a table with a bunch of "WHOOO!" girls, it can be difficult to get through a meal. Overall, Sakura has provided me with good food and I hope it stays that way!
(4)
Anita N.
Sakura has a good happy hour! I also come during their lunch hour for their shabu lunch deal. Their spicy miso and dipping sauces are so delicious! One my fave go to shabu places. Servers are always attentive. Last time I came here my friend got her keys stuck underneath one of the couches and one of the waiters were nice enough to get it out for her. Deff will be coming back :')
(5)
Theresa O.
The shabu is on point. Always get the spicy miso so good! Yakitori is really good the chef takes his time in the meat. All is very delicious. Service is a little slow on a busy night
(4)
Ashley F.
Came in for a late dinner on Friday night. They have a reverse happy hour that even applies on weekend nights, which was pretty cool. Bogo appetizers, cheap drinks and handrolls. My friend and I got the Calamari and the Buffalo Popcorn Chicken: Loved the popcorn chicken, the calamari was a little on the greasy side :|. We arrived around 11 pm and the waitress told us we had until 11:15 to order, so we ordered a bunch of food and drinks to ensure we'd be covered. The waitress was really sweet, making sure multiple times we were okay before last call. The only thing that was a little weird was the Club Life mix super loud in the background,but after a few sake shots it was cool.
(4)
andrew t.
The food here was great and our server Britney was awesome. Good food good service equals happy belly!
(4)
Mishi N.
This place is okay. The only thing I really like about this place is their spicy tuna hand sushi. The price is pretty reasonable. And sometimes when I am craving an alcohol beverage, I usually order the June bug. This place is a fun place to go when you bring a bunch of your friends with you. Shabu is okay, I wouldn't find it amazing, but it is cheaper than most places so I can't complain.
(3)
Kimberly N.
This rating is not about the food, but the service I experienced yesterday night. Came here around 8:30pm, there were 3 servers total, and lucky us--we got the drunko one. Our waiter was buzzing it with his asian glow (nothing against asian because i do get asian glow too), taking our orders without writing it down is OKAY--if you get the order right. 1. I ordered 3 spicy salmon hand rolls---but instead got 6 different hand rolls, ordered spicy miso for our shabu but got regular miso--it would help if he repeated our orders to us to confirm so we wouldn't have this problem... 2. We were missing quite a few items we ordered, we had to ask him 3 times for each missing item 3. I don't mean to be such a brat but I don't appreciate having a server drinking on their job who cant handle their alcohol---because it made my dining experience very frustrating- I had to even get out of my seat to go look for him... it would be nice if he checked up on us but he didnt. O__O I was soo close to requesting for another server, if that was even possible. Our server had the wrong orders still on our bill--he literally had to re-do it 3 times to get it right. He kept coming back to grab the check when we were trying to figure out the bill with the multiple cards transaction.. he came back like every minute.. dude--give us some time.. Sad because this was for my mommy's birthday celebration. :'( the service really SUCKS!!!
(1)
Jacqueline D.
HAPPY HOUR: 9pm-closing Highlights of happy hour include: Bogo appetizers 1$ hot sake Cheap hand rolls And half-order of shabu is $9.95 for dinner is the best bang for your buck when dinner at any other shabu place could easily cost double. Granted it's not as good, but it's do-able. Since happy hour is later but not too late, it's one of the cheaper places to eat and drink when you're on a college budget! Sometimes you have to hunt down your servers, but it can get busy! My favorite thing here is the Ono Carpaccio!!! My favorite happy hour item would be the baked green mussels! HAPPY EATS ^_^
(3)
Sylvie L.
Great service. Thuy and Charly offered exceptional service, especially since it was our first time here. Every part of the meal was absolutely amazing from the shabu to the Twister Roll to the popcorn chicken to the baked green mussels. Pretty large portions of meat too! Definitely come here again.
(5)
Diann B.
The waiter I had was Benny. He broke down the whole process to me pretty well. It helps to explain so I didn't feel so dumb. Great food and good service
(5)
Nam B.
Some girl asked me to join her and her sister here for dinner. It looks like a nice place to hang out and dine. We ordered lots of various items. Most of the food were alright, but what suck was the shabu (which is part of their name). Sakura seems like an American place that pretends to be Japanese, non authentic at all. Only American kobe served here :/.
(2)
Shorty P.
Guys...guys. Go for the happy hour. You'll be really happy you did. The prices are great and the interior is perfect for a romantic date or a night out with a couple close friends. They also have a gorgeous patio area with fire pits. If you live in any of the nearby apartments it is a perfect place to walk to and take advantage of the happy hour sake and beer. The portions are very generous.
(4)
Elaine N.
It's still delicious as ever and great service but portion sizes have DRASTICALLY lessened. The small ribeye is enough meat for me since their slices are huge but the noodle/vegetable plate is really little. They compensate with the free banana tempura ice cream as a Yelp check-in offer but I'd rather have more food than free desserts.
(4)
Wesley C.
Amazing! We were real first-timers in the world of Yakitori, but our server made us feel like pro's! The sushi selection was extensive and my tuna tour roll was delicious! We cooked our shabu at table, with many garnishes and flavorings to try. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants something else with their sushi!
(4)
Kristy N.
Quick tips: Happy hour all day monday and tuesday I would reccomend only come if there was happy hour.: Buy one get one free appetizer Shabu is OK (not horrible)... but go somewhere else for shabu.
(3)
Alpha Q.
This place is the best shabu in town. The broth selection is awesome. And don't forget the hot drops!
(5)
Haily H.
Good food and good service.We really enjoy it! 2 thumps up for this place...Can't wait to come the next time
(5)
Raymond R.
Didn't get shabu just got the sushi. The eel roll was ok. Good enough for the price. I love eel so I had to try it. Then got the Dynamite roll. It was good. Everything came together with flavor. (Tuna, salmon, yellow tail, crab meat, cream cheese, rolled then DEEP FRIED!) and finally got the Surf City Roll (shrimp tempura, crab meat, avocado & cucumber topped with spicy crab meat, spicy tuna, eel sauce, spicy aioli & crunchy crumbs). It's good but I just feel like there's to much going on. But it's decent. Wouldn't get it again cause it's a little pricey but it's not bad. Also our waiter is really good. He's on point. He's on top of things. Very tentative. If you see him, his name is Charlie. This is a not bad place to come.
(4)
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Address :16871 Beach Blvd
Huntington Beach, CA, 92647
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Vanessa F.
My hubby and I love Shabu Shabu! We always have so much fun cooking our food. The peanut sauce is my favorite. I just like the fact that you can start eating right away without waiting for your food to come out. I usually order the Shrimp and I like to get started on my soup soon. My hubby always goes with the beef and it looks delicious (I don't eat red meat). I've had the chicken but its so filling I just prefer to go with the shrimp and enjoy the veggies and rice with the sauces. It's very filling! Service was great here. I like that we can sit across from each other at this place. Looking forward to going back.
(5)Julie P.
I use to go here all the time for both shabu and happy hour, but now I would only go here for happy hour. Happy hour is usually after 8 and the appetizers are buy one get one free and $1.50 for sake! Pretty good prices for happy hour! For shabu, you get to choose your meats and soup base, either plain or spicy miso. I usually get the spicy miso broth, but with the spicy miso it gets too salty towards the end of your meal to use it for the soup portion. Which in the end you have to drink a lot of water to keep it down. Service here is great. Always attentive and making sure your water is filled!
(4)Amy S.
I agree with the other reviews that the rating is not about the food it is about the service. When we sat down there was probably 5 other tables with 3 servers. It took forever to get our drinks. It was our first time eating shabu and not once did the waiter explain to us how the process went when cooking. It took an act of congress to get drink refills or order any additional sushi. The food was ok but I will never go back due to the service.
(1)Tiana B.
Good price and the service was good too! Parking may be a bit hard to find if this place gets crowded. Spicy miso they give alot of soup base for my table. Cant go wrong coming here.
(5)Mercy L.
I gave 1 star because the person that served us was rude and when he gave us food we saw a piece of hair in hour bowl of soup and we where like r u serous I mean I love the sushi and that but yea and we wanted to sit outside but the tables were plastic so we didn't want to anymore!
(1)Sammy B.
After moving to Huntington Beach, this place was one of the first places that stood out. Well, mostly because it was right next to my house. But still, it looked promising. And with such a great looking happy hour, I had to try it out. My roomates and I walked over and sat down. The hostess was nice, and also doubled up as our waitress. We sat down and looked over the happy hour menu. I hadn't eaten yet so I was craving anything. Took some orders down from the happy hour menu, and ordered a bunch of drinks. FOOD: 1 star You know how they say, "the hungrier you are, the better food tastes"? Well, the food here was absolutely horrible when it comes to their happy hour menu. Everything I ordered was dry and flavorless. This goes for the chicken meatballs, chicken mushroom skewers, and hand rolls. The only good things I can say are the salmon skin rolls & pork kim chi. They definitely had the yakitori food out under a heat lamp for a long time, which is why the food was so dry and flavorless. HAPPY HOUR DRINK PRICE: 5 stars This is where things get back to being good. With hot sake being only $1 a bottle, and each bottle enough for 3 shots, the drinks are well worth the price. Draft beers are around $3, and they have Kirin on tap. If you're coming here, you're doing it with a full stomach and looking to get drunk! We drank over 32 bottles of hot sake and we wanted more! CONCLUSION: Don't come here for happy hour if you're hungry. Your taste buds will be so mad at you that your fist will emphatically punch you in the face! However, if you've already eaten and you're ready to get your drink on, this place is the poor man's way to go.
(3)Vi N.
This place is OK, I wouldn't say there's anything spectacularly good or bad. If you're craving shabu this definitely hits the spot. Came here pretty late on a Saturday night with the Boyfriend and two friends. Boyfriend and I shared a Regular Beef plate (12 pieces) with spicy miso broth and the two others each got the Small Beef plates (6 pieces) with regular broth. The menu also had a share plate for like $6 which includes more noodles and additional veggies which I thought is a nice option. The miso broth was yummy and suuuuuuuuuper spicy (the waiter had told me it was like hot cheetos spicy, nope way way spicier than hot cheetos buddy). But the boyfriend looooooooved how spicy it was. I like it when shabu places have the miso broth option (I don't like having the plain broth and having to figure out how to season it myself...is that me being lazy or maybe I just don't know how to do it right). 12 pieces of beef was plenty for the two of us to share, but I wished that the veggies plate was bigger. I really like my vegetables, and this plate was tiny. My friends did have a complaint, the waiter never brought us any hot drops. Just read a review that said you have to request it? I never add them b/c I can't handle the heat, but that was pretty annoying when we finished our meal and saw the table next to us had been offered hot drops. We were all pretty stuffed by the time the meal was done, so didn't get a chance to try any desserts. Maybe next time.
(3)Katrina K.
Okay so, Benny & Jeannette are still awesome! We've been coming here for years now & it's always a good time. The servers are super cool & friendly. The manager is so nice. He always comes around to each table with a huge smile making sure everything is fine. On certain nights it does get really busy & your orders may take a little longer to come out (not terrible). The servers are humans, not robots! You're there to hang a little while, so calm down. Everything always tastes great when it comes. My only gripe, which is why I took one star away, is that it seems like each time we go, the portions are less & less. Tasty still, but much smaller than it used to be. We go for happy hour deals - B1G1 FREE appetizers. The prices were raised recently too. Higher prices + less food = no good! Still love this place.. Just been going a little less.
(4)Tim A.
I've just recently fallen in love with shabu so I wanted to give this place a try. We did come a little late for lunch but holy shit we had a rude ass waitress! She was dropping our food and drinks on the table then would walk away. I wasn't that impressed by the food either so yeah I'm not coming back. Atleast the water was cold..so 1 star.
(1)Danielle P.
Yummy! Happy I found this place. They do happy hour all day on Mondays and Tuesdays!! Score!! The fish tastes fresh and they have a pretty good appetizer selection for happy hour too. My only small complaint was that I tried one of their martini sand it was not very good. But I stuck to beer after that so not a huge issue.
(4)Maggie S.
A great spot that I visit often. Wonderful atmosphere, very friendly staff. Delicious food. Delightful and addicting happy hour I will keep coming back. Fresh, satisfying and highly recommended.
(5)Kimberly W.
If your gonna changed the price on the menu, don't forget to changed the price on the outside sign lol!
(3)George C.
They have so many types of Sushi, they need their own Sushi App! I get confused, fumbling for my smartphone when I am at happy hour. My wife and I usually try to make it a monthly "thang" to grab some time at this restaurant. The atmosphere is quaint, and clean. The servers are nice. The sushi makers dont usually strike up a conversation, but ah well. My wife usually goes for thier soup, and I always feast on any roll that is $11 or above. I recently enjoyed getting buzzed from a happy hour session, and my stomach was happy too!
(5)Quan N.
My friends and I use to go to this place a lot and would spend hundreds of dollars on drinks and food. Just one bad experience spoils it for me and I will never be coming back. I was eating in a party of 4 and it was a very nice evening. It took a little longer to get some of our orders be it was ok, we had our beers to enjoy while waiting for the food. The unfortunate event took place when we got the bill. They charged us for numerous things that we did not order. When we took it up to the "manager" she said that we did order those items. Excuse me but I fucken remember what I ordered, so we grab the order sheet and did a run down and show her some of the items that we got charged for were never marked on the sheet. She told us that we ordered that by mouth. I was like WTF. I told her that we were not going to pay for things we did not get. She went to the back and came out with our new bill. I left no tip and make sure to never come back here again.
(1)Tiffy M.
I love everything about shabu shabu. Food, people, environment. Happy hour is the best I come here all the time and Todd the bartender is awesome. I would recommend this rad spot to anyone.
(5)Duy N.
I used to frequent this place once a week for their AWESOME Yakitori happy hours. While the Yakitori menu isn't available Monday-Thursday anymore, it's still a great place to come chill with friends and load up on Yakitories on the days they do serve. They have a sushi bar and you can get the typical sushi sheet with the usual rolls. Nothing to write home about though. Will fill you up, but not stellar nor terrible. For the Shabu Shabu, I had it once and wasn't exactly excited for it. No lasting impression. Positive nor negative. Except maybe thinking it's a bit pricey for what it is. They do have a small bar with TVs, so you can follow games. Bottom line, I think of this place more of a chill place to hang with friends over a few happy hour beers ($3 kirin, $10 pitcher) and good snacky grilled skewer foods. PS: If you do visit on a yakitori day... make sure to try the "Gyutan". Just do it. You'll love it!
(4)Alle F.
This rating is based solely on their sushi, I've never been there for the Shabu-Shabu. This is my go-to place for sushi. They have a good happy hour and the staff are always friendly. If you go, you must try the Jade roll and the Pink lady roll. The appetizers are buy one get one free after 9pm and the sake and kirin are reasonable for happy hour too. Been coming here for years and always have a good experience here.
(4)Jenny P.
I just love this place! They have new spicy miso broth which is to die for. Service can still be a little slow.
(4)Ashley M.
Love the shabu here. The staff is friendly. The manger stopped at our table and made sure we were enjoying our meal. Check-In on Yelp for a free dessert! Sushi is great and fresh. Have never been disappointed and always leave happy and full!!
(5)John S.
I really liked this place. Nine dollar chicken shabu lunch special, I'm not an expert on shabu, but having had it at other places which were way pricier, I thought this was a excellent deal and tasted great. Kind of like I'm sure Morton's has a fantastic steak , but so does king Neptune's, and it's way cheaper at Neptune's which for a cheap skate like me makes it taste all the more better. I love spicy, but flavor wise I liked the miso broth better than the spicy miso, just an FYI.
(5)Paulene N.
I am a regular here, I eat here 1-3 times a week. Service varies on whose working at that time you're there. I ate here yesterday, we had a total of 3 veggie plates. We noticed on one plate that a big bug came crawling out and in the second plate, a smaller bug was lying on the plate dead and I'm not sure if the third plate had any bugs since everything was tossed into the pot. After seeing this we were all disgusted and didn't feel like eating anymore. I come here every week so it surprised me to see bugs crawling/laying in the veggie plate. I'm not sure if I'll ever come back, very disappointed.
(1)Rohie B.
This place needs new management. With all the competition out there. A restaurant should offer outstanding customer service & quality food. This place has neither. Mediocre. Don't dare ask them if you can charge your phone so you can be sure you have enough juice to know when your driver will be there. Will never go back unless I have a gun to my head. They are cutting corners & going down hill. Get it together. 2 stars just because it wasn't super dirty I didn't see a roach & the bartender wasn't too unpleasant just seemed unenthusiastic & without zest. Maybe because his place is losing.
(2)Wilson T.
Worst customer service! I went there at 5 til 11 and according to yelp they close at 11:30. My wife and I were planning to eat shabu there but the waiter that was just standing there doing absolutely nothing told us that they will not be serving food anymore at this time, then I asked them what time do they close and he says 11. After hearing that, I told him that I saw on yelp that they close at 11:30 so it was more than enough time to serve us. He then replied with "We've always closed at 11" so I told him that they should update the yelp so that it's more accurate and then he proceeded to roll his eyes and repeat himself. Although I was simply asking him to change it, he could've just told me yes or something to show that they care about their customers. Very terrible service and now I know why their place has been slowly going down lately. The guy didn't have to unnecessarily make the customer feel wrong, although I was basing my judgment off of yelp. I am never coming back to this place ever again.
(1)Van N.
I only come here for the lunch special shabu. You seriously can't go wrong. $9.50 and you get the works; 5 huge slices of beef (I cut them in half so I get 10 pieces lol), veggie plate with udon noodles and rice. It's a great, cheap meal and I'll continue to come back.
(4)Judy K.
The owner is the nicest man. He always makes sure we're happy, drinks refilled, stocked up on sauces etc. This is one of our favorite shabu places!
(4)Henry T.
As always, they never disappoint on quality of food. One suggestion though, please don't lower the heat for the pot, unless requested. Appetizers should be served before entrée
(5)Monique N.
My fav place on beach blvd!! Great soup, sushi n happy hour thankks! Poke salad is bommb.
(5)Rebecca C.
This is my friend's favorite shabu shabu place. I was craving shabu shabu so she took me here. This restaurant is easy to miss so really pay attention! The decor looked like a club or a lounge, especially in the patio area with loud music radiating throughout the whole restaurant. People come to dinner dressed up in club attire. So we ordered two appetizers, the aged tofu and baked mussels because appetizers were buy 1 get 1 free. Wow! The aged tofu was fried just right- crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and drenched in ponzu sauce and fish flakes! SO YUMMY. The baked mussels were good as well. We both ordered the angus beef shabu shabu. It was a lot of meat! It comes with a vegetable plate (cabbage, broccoli, udon noodles, tofu, seaweed, carrots, spinach), rice, and two dipping sauces. I chose the spicy miso broth while my friend chose just the plain miso. I had to add oil and spices to my broth because it wasn't spicy at all. I love how they give you a huge bowl with some added sauce for flavoring to put your udon noodles and broth into, just in case you want to make the remaining entree into noodle soup! So basically your one entree can be split into two entrees: 1.) meat, veges, dipping sauces, RICE 2.) meat, veges, dipping sauces, UDON NOODLES AND BROTH You can split the meat and veges into two portions because they give you a lot! Oh man I was full. The shabu shabu itself was only $19. Definitely coming back!
(4)Michael C.
Best Shabu hands down! If your a Shabu lover give it a try & you might like it too. Check in to get the free fried banana w/ ice cream!!
(5)Patty J.
We didn't have issues with service and the food was good. It was our first time and the servers were helpful. The spicy miso was spicier than expected but still very good.
(4)Ana A.
They have great happy hour from 8pm to close. Buy one get one free appetizers and they are actually good. Only wish Shabu was on happy hour.
(4)Jess B.
good deal, yummy food, friendly staff! i'll be back!
(4)Trisha A.
Came here on a wednesday morning with a friend. We were the first customers of the day. We both ordered the lunch special for shabu shabu. It was just okay. Nothing special about it. It barely comes with any meat. If you do get the lunch special, i recommend you rip your slices into smaller pieces. The miso broth was better than the seaweed broth. The sauces were eh nothing special about that. They give you a great amount of veggies and the soup base which is good for $7.99 After finishing our meal, we were still hungry. We wanted to order just the meat but it was more expensive than getting the whole lunch set so we just ordered one more round to share. I was satisfied but i felt like something was missing. The place is really nice and clean. The servers were nice and attentive. Would come back because i LOVE shabu shabu but next time im going to try their sushi! Don't forget to order your sake! Especially during happy hour when it's only $1
(3)Camila G.
I go to this place like once a week. I've been to probably every shabu place in Orange County and hands down, this one is my favorite. It's traditional, no frilly, great meats and reasonably priced. Great saki too! I love this place, highly recommended.
(5)Eva G.
It was our first time and let me say that we loved it! The server Charlie was awesome, he took time explaining the process and how to order. He kept the refills coming without us asking. The food and desert was delicious. Can't wait to come back!
(4)Gibson P.
Really good service! Meat plate was huge... I'm a huge meat fan so the more the merrier. Everything was on point AND THEY SERVE SUSHI. The best of both worlds. Check in to get your free tempera banana dessert.
(4)TINA T.
I like this place, the food is good and the service Is not bad. Is one of my favorite Shabu and Friends Get Together. I would recommend this place and I will diffinitely come back.
(4)C A.
This place gives huge portions. You'll definitely leave with a to go container or enough to split for $7 bucks more. Great service and full bar! Happy hour is great too!
(5)David G.
This place is by far one of the friendliest and best shabu places around hb. There are better, but then you have to spend more on gas getting to little Saigon. Also this is lazy shabu where the broth is pre made bases. Makes a white persons eating easy!
(4)Camila G.
Every time I come here I love this place more and more. Tonight we had this hustler named Thomas who seemed new, but super quick and on it. Both my boyfriend and I got shabu and were in and out in an hour. It was amazing, as always. And tonight I broke my hot drop virginity. Big day today!
(5)Conan E.
Love free tempura banana by check in on yelp. The place has sushi and shabu shabu on the menu.
(4)Kara J.
Went here last night with my boyfriend and we had a very good dinner. The waiter was super helpful and explained everything very clearly since this was our first time here. My one suggestion is that they could possibly narrow down the menu a bit. The poor guy had to go over SO many things before we could think about what to order.
(4)Micky H.
Alex is my favorite server here! He's the best! Very knowledgable and attentive to his customers! Will be back soon!
(5)Sadia C.
Welllllll... well.......well.... Aren't you a deceiving place? You look all pretty and cool.... every time I drive home down Beach Blvd., I notice the baller Lambos and Ferrari's parked right outside....this place must be good if it's usually busy right?? WRONG!!!!! I was just here 2 nights ago and you know what I think? I think this place should remove Yakitori off their menu and buy fresh ingredients. Oh and ask for a side of Sri Racha, you'll need it to make the food bearable! I came with my sister and we ordered the: Tiger roll: what the hell? I've never had sushi this flavorless before. You know that taste you get after freezing seafood? it tastes bland, like you soaked the poor seafood until the flavors just poof! dissolved? well yeah...that's what it tasted like. I couldn't taste the raw spicy tuna on top and the shrimp was a little mushy and didn't even taste like shrimp. It was probably one of the worst rolls I've had. I had to dunk it in so much soy sauce and horseradish. BTW yakitori came out almost 35 mins after our appetizers...service is pretty bad here. Server only came to take our orders. The next 4 times consisted of us flagging her down or asking the super awesome busser for the check. eggplant yakitori: I'm not exaggerating when I say this is probably the WORST thing I've eaten in a long time. I love eggplant. How can you possibly screw up grilling a small piece of eggplant? It was so hard and rubbery..I took a bite and left the rest untouched. Weird flavor and the sides of the eggplant looked dehydrated. Strangest thing... chicken and mushroom yakitori: heads up, this was weird. The chef stuffed a thin mushroom cap with ground chicken? it wasn't good..at all. tofu salad: pretty okay, simple flavors. buffalo chicken pieces: Best item of the night, probably because it doused in a store bought sauce? chicken and leek yakitori: ah finally, this looks good. I take a bite...well I try to...I had to rip that thing apart with my teeth. The chicken was so tough and dry. When no one was looking, I started drumming on it with chopstick to show my sister how hard they were..she thought I was being dramatic. I shut her up! I feel really bad writing this review, esp because it's a pretty place and I really wanted to like it. I even went their hungry, so everything should have tasted good. Food was horrible. My sister and I left a lot uneaten and went to In N Out after. It wasn't a cheap place either...Maybe we just ordered the wrong things? but that's a lot of bad items.
(1)Marcelo G.
Trying Sakura for the first time. Beef Yakitori was delicious! Crunchy Roll was awesome! Shitake mushroom was good. Chicken Teriyaki was a bit a dry, but nothing a little Teriyaki glaze couldn't fix. Waiters are nice, but tend to disappear...I'm guessing the kitchen must be a fun place to hangout...lol...overall a thumbs up.
(4)Adam K.
The food here is really good. The service is kinda average. But my main comment is just that they need bigger tables. The tables are really small, and when you order shabu shabu you get lots of plates, so there really just wasn't room for them all.
(5)Doannie N.
Shabu w/ spicy miso broth is really good here! Their dipping sauces are also yummy! Great place to hang with friends, eat, drink , and enjoy each others company! ! The outside area is perfect for summer nights. :) perfect night weather. ;)
(5)David Y.
Really great service, fresh food, really good value, and one of the better Shabu-Shabu experiences in the area. (This is my second day in a row here for lunch.) Shout out to the server we had...I asked to change the channel of music, because we will be only people in the restaurant, and I am really sick of Christmas music already. She did it without even batting an eye, and was sooooo friendly about it. I will be back, maybe not tomorrow, but soon.
(5)Shari G.
I've driven by this place for years and finally went in. Everything from food to service was amazing. Hands down the best sushi I've had in a long time around HB. We went again in less than a week and can't wait to go back.
(5)Kim T.
My number 1 favorite spot for shabu! I love how they have both my favorite foods sushi and shabu! And it's delicious! The atmosphere is great! Great place to go to whether it's a date or get together with friends.
(5)Jaqueline Y.
Happy Hour! +Pork belly wrapped okra $1 +Hot sake $1.50 +Kirin $2 I would give 5 stars just for the pork belly wrapped okra. We ordered like 10 of these bad boys. So good. Yakitori overall was decent, but the okra was definitely my fave. Great prices for alcohol and cheap appetizers for snacking. Love!
(4)Zach H.
My family and I had made a reservation for a day early. When our large party shows up, they claim that it has been purely hectic and we have to wait over an hour. They point at the tables that were supposedly "reserved" for us. The manager claimed those customers showed up very early and so they had to be seated. This was blasphemous as those customers had no food on their tables meaning they had just arrived. They constantly attempted to persuade us to sit outside when it was about 55 degrees outside. In the end, we decided to just eat at the restaurant next door. This incident shows that this restaurant has no consideration for their guests and do not plan ahead.
(1)Sabrina R.
Always good
(4)N N.
My friend insisted on coming here for Shabu Shabu even though I prefer California Shabu Shabu. It was Monday night so the place was dead, only our table and another table. We all ordered Regular Beef ($18.99 for 12 pieces). The beef quality is good, but the veggie plate is kinda small. We also order 2 appertizers:Popcorn Chicken and Mixed Tempura since it's HH buy one get one free. Popcorn Chicken was horrible, Mixed Tempura is kinda soggy. We had two friends check in on Yelp to get two free fried banana with ice cream.
(3)Justin B.
Dont even desert 1 star. Bad service ever. All waiters think they are the owner. Only the Hispanic bus boy is nicest guy in the place to us all the time. We come because happy hour on sunday.
(1)Araya P.
Only visit during happy hour so I can't say much about the shabu or yakitori. Happy Hour wise- bring on the hot sake, beer, and hand rolls! Service wise, never had any problems. They were attentive, but again we come in near to closing so the restaurant is almost deserted by then.
(4)Rafael S.
Been here many times before, & I will be back many times as well. This place is great when you want to spend time with friends in a very chill environment. Highly recommended. Great food, great deals, overall just a great place to be. Come here for a good time!
(5)Michelle R.
Good place for some late night sushi. Came here after craving sushi at 10:30 pm and this was the only place close that was still open. They have Happy Hour from 8pm to close on Sunday with 2 for 1 appetizers and cheaper hand rolls. We tried the shrimp and vegetable tempura which has a light, crispy batter which pulls away from the veggies so that they are nicely steamed. It's served with warm soy sauce which a nice touch. I would also highly recommend the plum sake that they have which has just the right touch of sweetness. The only (small) bad thing about this place is that it's freezing! They have the AC running full blast, which is understandable if you have all the shabu shabus going, but if it's a quiet night, then it's super cold in there! Overall it's a nice, hip place, especially for their Happy Hour and extra points for being open late. I would come back to try their shabu shabu.
(4)Kevin N.
I was getting my mazda tuned up across the street and I decided to drop by Sakura for lunch while I was waiting. I like the decor they have here. They had TV's on all the walls and they had a central bar area which was cool. The tables all have built in heaters for the shabu pots as well. They are definitely aiming for a trendy vibe with the decor here. I ordered the lunch special for $8. For $8, you get a bowl of rice, 5 pieces of beef, a plate of veggies, and a pot of broth (I chose Miso). Surprisingly, the 5 pieces of beef is enough considering they load you up with a huge amount of veggies (mushrooms, tofu, a lot of cabbage). The broth was a little bit too salty but it was edible. However, the peanut sauce and ponzu sauce here wasn't that flavorful. Anyone that eats at shabu places know that the sauces are what makes or breaks the meals. Also, if you check in on yelp, you can get a free dessert! I got a tempura banana with ice cream. I didn't like it too much, the banana was too soggy. Overall, the service was friendly and attentive. For the price, it's solid shabu shabu. However, I might want to check this place out again for the happy hour because it looks like the deals are pretty amazing.
(3)Ally N.
One of my favorite places for shabu. Love the peanut sauce. You can pick the portion size of your order and usually the small order is enough for me. They have other types of food including sushi on the menu as well. They serve alcohol and have indoor and outdoor seating. Inside it's warm and cozy. I've sat outside during the summer and it's really fun and nice too. It's nice with the lights and fireplace. They close really late which is a plus. You can sit and talk for hours. I definitely go here a lot during the winter time.
(5)Kathleen N.
My favorite local shabu shabu joint! If you like spicy, you should try their spicy miso broth. That's my favorite! I usually order it with the ribeye beef... and sometimes add a side of salmon. They also give you an option to share for $7 more for each person to get their own plate of veggies & sauces. This is great if you want to try their yakitori or sushi menus. I'm glad this place is down the street from me. :)
(5)Jaime H.
I LOVE Shabu! I would say, however, this place is average to me. I got the better quality Ribeye ($2) more than the normal beef and I found to be just ok. We, also, got the rainbow roll and the fish was again just ok to me. If you're a Shabu fan, it may be worth trying out for yourself and coming to your own conclusion. A plus was that the service was great!
(3)Khrystie L.
Big disappointment last night. Meats and veggies were decent. Everything else was horrible. The condiments garlic, onions, and daikon were spoiled. First time waitress brought it out, the condiments were old & spoiled. You can tell from the green onions having that yellow brown color and there were barely any onions in that jar. I asked to get another batch of condiments and they were spoiled as welll. Ordered spicy miso but it was just regular miso. Goma sauce was bland and barely much. Our bill got over charged my friend had to ask a different waiter to see the actual bill because the waitress didn't give it to us. He also ordered room temperature water which he didn't get so he didn't have anything to drink that entire dinner. What happened Sakura? You've cut back on lots of things that shouldn't be because it isn't costly. I don't think you'll be able to survive if you keep yourself at the pace you are right now. Majority of us come back because it's local. That's it.
(1)Jon T.
Both times here and it was great the food is good!!! Tried something else out and so far its good!
(4)Brianna T.
I like this place. The meat and salmon seems fresh and the sauces are really good. They give you a lot of meat for reg size prime rib eye, but I always get the dinner combo that includes salmon. Only thing is their service is whatever. Our waitress was really slow and even when she was aware that we needed something and other servers informed her to come to our table, she continued to take her sweet ass time and even seemed annoyed when she got to us. There's this Mexican guy who isn't a waiter, but brings you things if you need and takes your plates away, who is super nice, and much more attentive and courteous than a lot of the other servers there. I would still come back, just really hope their service improves otherwise it's not really a place I would miss. I heard Mokkoji in Irvine is better. PS, don't get their house sake because it is basically water.
(3)Vincent N.
Only come here for the drinks during happy hour! All day Monday and Tuesday and 8pm to close on other days. THEY HAVE FLAVORED SAKE. Don't be an idiot like me and order regular sake. Super cheap drinks. $2.00 - $2.50 beers. $1.50 sakes ( which is about 4-5 shots ), and 5-6$ mixed drinks. The food is sub pair and even though it is BOGO appetizers the portions and the taste both lack. Although its BOGO, the portions are really small so it's not that good of a deal. If you order wings or baked mussels it's only 4 pieces... Small plates of tofu and pop corn chicken. The popcorn chicken is more like a Kung pao chicken, it's not breaded. The shabu is okay... If your not one of those picky shabu nuts this is a good place for you. The only food I thought that tastes good was the salmon hand roll $2.95 during happy hour! Overall: i woulnt recommend the appetizers . Come for the drinks and the salmon hand rolls!! And try the shabu if you'd like its worth a try.
(3)Jasmine H.
Good shabu shabu.. Service though.. The service is either slow or servers are rude. The owner came up to our table and said if the drive burn you guys we are not responsible for it.. Really??!!! I don't think it works like that.. No wonder your servers doesn't consider offering good service.. And the 2.00 for extra onions??? Onions are condiments!!
(2)Roban L.
I love this place! Always great shabu and service is good. Love that they offer miso broth
(5)Sarah V.
Best sashimi plate I've had. The pieces were huge and so savory! I ordered to go and when I opened the to-go container, I had to run to the other room to show my bf how beautiful the plate was! The sashimi was fresh and tasted wonderful. Would definitely go here again. The place was really nice and sleek inside, but also gave off a warm and cozy feeling. Excited to dine in soon!
(5)Nikki N.
Came here for my friend's birthday. Didnt get to try the Shabu, cause it was pretty pricey, around 20$ something dollars for a pot? nahhhhh. Ordered a lot of appetizers because it was happy hour after 10 buy 1 get 1 free. & $1.50 small, $3 large hot sake. ordered : - agedashi tofu - orange chicken - house salad - spicy tuna + california hand rolls EVERYTHING WAS DECENT. nothing to rave about - the skewers were DISGUSTING. one of them was totally burnt. the quail eggs did NOT taste like quail eggs =( The combo served with salad, rice, miso soup & tempera veggies + shrimp & also comes with a main dish, ordered the new york steak, the steak was pretty good, but not worth the price.
(3)Berenice R.
We were kind of sketchy in trying this place out due to the reviews on the service. But it guess we got lucky tonight, our server was Charlie and he was awesome!!! This is our first time here and he was so nice and helpful made sure he explained everything to us without rushing! Definitely would come back! The food was delicious and good serving sizes. The banana tempura is delicious!!
(4)William P.
The shabu shabu is really good. Juicy angus beef and big, sweet shrimp. The veggies are about average, not really enough, but the sushi and rolls are above average. The free tempura banana dessert is a plus. Our waiter was great, very prompt and friendly.
(4)Daniel R.
The HB Street Cred Crew came back once again, the food was phenomenal and our waitress Trish was amazing 5 stars to her, we came for lunch, we have yet to be disappointed and we continue to be amazed!!!!
(5)billy t.
All in all this place is alright. Happy hour isn't as good as it use to be. At $2.50 for mug of beer that's not even a full pint is not a deal imo. Happy hour hand rolls are $3+ with barely enough fish that would satisfy an Ethiopian kid.
(3)Stefanie C.
Happy Hour all day Monday! Win! Our server was really nice and I felt bad for her as she suddenly went from having no one in there to a room full of people at 2pm. It was Memorial day so you never know how those days are going to turn out at a restaurant. She was extremely attentive and made sure to answer all of our questions and to explain the happy hour. Food: Garlic Wings: very garlicky but the more garlic the better in my book. Enoki Mushroom: did not know what we were getting ourselves into and wouldn't order again. It's a weird consistency and an even weirder taste. Not terrible, just not my style. Salmon Handroll: Delicious and fresh Eel Handroll: Not my favorite, the eel was super mushy and didn't seem so fresh. Took one bite and abandoned it. Pink Lady Roll: Superb. I would definitely come here again if I was in the neighborhood
(4)Diane N.
My all time favorite go-to shabu place !!! I don't go to any shabu place besides Sakura! I love coming here since they're open late! I always order the small ribeye angus beef which is only 6 pcs but trust me it fills you up! They cut their slices of meat pretty large than other shabu places. Did I mention it's only 13 bucks for the portion basically! Cheap & good? Score! I absolutely love their spicy miso broth!!!! That's why I can't go to any other places! Plus, the ponzu and sesame sauce is on point! Add extra garlic & green onions in there! So bomb! Ask for hot drops! I love spicy so 6 drops please! Beware it doesn't get diluted so it stays spicy! I'm drooling just writing this review. The vegetables variety is pretty good! I mostly eat everything on the plate and I'm not really a veggies person. While, other shabu places sometimes have veggies I don't really tend to eat with my shabu. Also, during happy hour it's buy one appetizer get one free! I recommend the green baked mussels and fried calamari. The service is good! The workers are usually very attentive! On the weekend especially Friday nights get crowded so sometimes it might be harder to get your servers attention. Overall, five stars for the food! I won't go anywhere else for shabu! Also, check-in to yelp for their yummy banana tempura ice cream!
(5)Daniel N.
So after reading the reviews I decided to go see the place for myself. Now I did go during the late afternoon and my server Alex was great and the service was quick. The soup base was a small selection but I did like the spicy miso here. I eat it with hot drops! The sushi here was delicious and well made definitely a must try. Service: he was quick, polite, attentive, and very willing to help with the menu and recommendations Food: Shabu: better than California Shabu Shabu Sushi: Top notch House rolls: best rolls I ever had Display of food: Clean, neat, and tucked well onto a plate; instagram worthy Setting: clean and isn't cramped like east west Shabu Shabu and California Shabu Shabu Moat interesting thing: they use sweet rice!
(5)Michelle H.
This restaurant is super cute and oriental-looking from the outside, hard to miss. They have a happy hour menu posted on their roof but I'm pretty sure it is outdated. The decor is very sleek, modern, and clean inside. Very dead during the day but the crowd picks up during happy hour. FOOD: - I come here strictly for the shabu shabu. I order their regular beef 6 pieces, water base. This place also offers miso and spicy miso broths but I prefer water because it's less salty when I make the udon soup at the end. The pieces of meat are quite large and the quality is pretty good for the price. However, the sauces are weak, especially the ponzu, so if you're a shabu shabu sauce connoisseur then you probably won't like Sakura in that aspect. I personally don't care as long as I get my hot drops. I get about 5-6 drops before I start feeling the heat. - I don't like the happy hour (minus 1 star). Appetizers are BOGO, and they have a menu for yakitoris. If you like weird organs like hearts, gizzards, livers, etc then you'll like the yakitoris but nothing sounded at all appealing to me. Don't get the popcorn chicken. It's a super small portion and the chicken are little bits that are not fried like your average popcorn chicken. My friends ordered the wings and they seemed to enjoy that app. The only thing I would really order again are the hand rolls but even those were just average. The best part of their HH is $2 Kirin though!! PRICE: - SO CHEAP for shabu shabu. $9.50 for lunch and $11.50 for dinner for the 6 piece. I always leave full and satisfied from my shabu craving! Happy hour prices ranged from $2+ for yakitori and hand rolls. Appetizers go up to $8 per. Shabu shabu and HH drinks are the most worth it here. Everything else adds up and you end up spending the same if not more than just a regular non-HH restaurant. SERVICE: - Our waitresses are usually nice but the most recent one neglected to tell us that happy hour was over while we continued ordering HH items. It would have been common courtesy to let us know since obviously we were under the impression it was still HH. TIPS: - Yelp check-in offer: tempura banana w/ ice cream (good for 2-3 ppl). Make sure to put this in ahead of time so you don't have to wait for them to make it after you finish your meal. - Happy Hour Mon-Tues all day; rest of week is 5-6:30pm & 8/9 til closing
(4)Trung D.
Always my fave hh n shabu place. Make sure check in to get free desert. Sushi and shabu us the easy to go.
(4)Jackie L.
Went here last Friday night for a party of 10 and we got seated right away. First off the decor of this restaurant is very modern, simple and clean. Nice lighting and the bar is the first thing you see once you enter. Anyways, my friends and I started off by ordering a lot of beer and shots of Hennessy. We were seated outside the Patio and right away the servers took our orders. They had a happy hour special which was buy one get one half off for all appetizers. I ordered the calamari, fried cod, and tofu salad. Everything was yum ! My favorite was the calamari. The batter was perfect and the dipping sauce went well with it. No complaints here. The service here is great ! Servers were very friendly and attentive to our table. They literally kept walking around asking us if we needed more drinks/shots, etc. I also mentioned to our server that it was my friends birthday and he gave the birthday guy ice cream with a candle ! Overall, I will for sure come back. Great place to drink and eat :)
(5)Jerome R.
Cool spot. Always music nice outdoor patio. Great menu. Open til midnight during the week days. Good sushi and calamari.
(4)Lucy P.
Absolutely love their shabu here. During lunch it's only 10$ a meal. What a deal. Their service is ok. Some servers are very nice/attentive and some seems like they don't even want to be there. Five stars just for the food, as for the service I'd give it a 3. So a 4 it is!
(4)Amy N.
Types of broth you get to choose from: seaweed, miso and spicy miso My personal favorite here, the miso because the spicy miso gets spicier as you near the end of your meal, haha. The service here is always on point, as with the servers, the busboys are always making sure one's empty plates are removed and cups are filled. Sakura Shabu-Sushi & Yakitori is a nice place to hang out with friends, eat and drink some sake. Although I've never experienced their yakitori, their shabu is superb and the sushi is also quite yummy. You can pick from seating at the bar, a booth, a table and/or outside if the whether is permitting. The main, main, MAIN reason I dine here is for the goma sauce (aka the peanut sauce). According to my individual tastebuds, IT'S THE BESTESTESTEST when garlic and hot drops are added to the equation x] They also have a great happy hour and if it's your first check-in there through Yelp, you'll get a nice dessert at the end of your meal: ice cream with tempura battered bananas and whip cream (nom nom nom). xoxo Amy Nguyen
(5)Anh-Thu N.
Some of my close friends have been coming to Sakura for a while now and always told me that it was good food and cheap drinks! I've only been there occasionally to have a few drinks for birthday parties or what not. But since I'm on this yakitori binge, i decided to give the happy hour a try since it seemed like such a great deal! Here's what you get for the happy hour ( 8-11 sun-wed and 9-11 thurs-sat) $1 hot sake $1 selected yakitori $2 draft beers $2.95 on select hand rolls buy one get one free appetizers Yakitori that we ordered: - 2 orders of beef tongue ( TIP: highly recommend trying this if you havent tried it already! it's really good!) - 2 orders of the chicken hearts - 2 orders chicken gizzards - asparagus wrapped in bacon - tomatoes wrapped in asparagus - green chilly pepers - enoki mushrooms - Squid legs ( one of my new fave yakitori items now) - quail eggs - salted beef - zucchini - bacon wrapped potato ( i didnt expect to like this but it was pretty good. give it a try!) - chicken meat balls ( TIP: I DO NOT recommend this. it's made with white chicken and what happens is that it's dry and not good at all!) Appetizers: - 3 orders of the baked green mussels (TIP: you have to get this when you're here! it's baked to perfection! the sauce that they put on top of the mussels is this spicy mayo kind of sauce and added with the texture of the mussels, its amazing!) - edamame Hand Rolls: - spicy tuna - spicy scallops And we topped that off with two mugs of Kirin! :D Over the dinning experience was pretty good. We sat outside on the patio and id say that it's a nice place if you wanted to go on a date too. I recommend you trying all the things that i ordered, minus the dry chicken meat balls. no bueno at allll. So at the end our bill came out to about 54 dollars, not too bad for the quality and amt of food we got. :)
(4)Spotless T.
I went on a Saturday night at 7pm and the place was not too busy which was good since there is not a lot of parking. This is a good place to eat if you have a larger party too. We had a party of 6 and next to us was a party of 12. It's not too loud, the place is clean, the servers are friendly and prompt. We ordered the Seaweed Salad which tasted fresh and the pickled spicy carrots set on top was a nice touch. It helped bring a good balance to the salad. Perfect serving for 3 people to share. The calamari appetizer was generously battered and had good flavor, I just wish that there was more of it. The Nabeyaki Udon was a small portion for the price but the shabu shabu was the star. We ordered the Premium Angus Rib Eye Beef and the cuts of beef were largely portioned as well as the Tender Chicken Breast. Everyone who ordered this received a plate of Udon noodles, tofu, and veggies and the Miso broth was devine. They provide you with a separate bowl for your Udon noodles which is so convenient and a soup base you can add which was really yummy. In addition, there are 2 dipping sauces for your meats, a Ponzu sauce and Sesame sauce which I recommend. You can add in chopped garlic which really adds extra flavor. Overall, I would recommend this place for the Shabu-shabu and the price and portions are of value.
(4)Joe P.
I dropped by here a second time, and actually had food: I owed Sakura a review. It is located on Beach Blvd, just North of Warner in Huntington Beach. Unfortunately, I also discovered this place made my TST: Two Star 2sday List!!! We ordered from all parts of the menu. For starters, we had guy yaki ($2.95 - salty beef; not pictured), and geso yaki ($2.50 /squid legs). We also ordered a crunch roll ($10.95 - not my idea), and unagi ($5.25). Lastly, I ordered the combo Angus Ribeye (6 pieces) w/ scallop (10 pieces) - ($22.98), while my friend ordered a large Angus Ribeye ($21.98 - 12 pieces). First of all, the yaki was kinda yucky. The guy was tough as was the geso. Kappo Honda and SSG Robata & Yakitori blow this place away, because they use real coals vs an electric cooker: 2 Stars. Secondarily, the sushi was very average. It is the kind of sushi you would expect from a place that serves rolls. There was no art in the sushi. The sushi chef was simply filling orders rapidly. Moderately priced Irassae in HB, is a much better option: 3 Stars. Lastly, the shabu shabu was OK. However, the pricing is high in relation to the portions. It was 15% higher compared to California Shabu Shabu in FV: 2.5 Stars. Regarding the service, it was mixed. I arrived early, and it took a while for someone to get me a beer. In addition, my broth was not as hot as my friend's, so I asked them to turn the heat up (twice). I was asked to wait - Wait for what?! You already brought me my meat and veggies!: 2 Stars. The ambiance is nice, but this is a big place. Additionally, most of the clientele don't know shabu shabu, because most were eating the mediocre rolls: 3 Stars. Sakura is overpriced, and serves mediocre food IMHO. There is no way I would return to this place that can't compete w/ California Shabu Shabu (shabu shabu), Kappo Honda and SSG Robata & Yakitori (yakitori), and Irassae (sushi). I'd rather go to the foregoing places that specialize in their cuisine, vs a place that can't master any.
(2)Kathy H.
I love shabu shabu! I really recommend the Spicy Miso broth with hot drops in the soup (it's really spicy so beware - I get 4 drops then 2 each in the ponzu sauce). The servers are always sweet and attentive. I love their happy hour: Mon & Tues: 5pm-close Wed & Thurs: 5-6:30pm, 8pm-close Fri & Sat: 5-6:30pm, 9pm-close Sun: 5-6:30pm, 8pm-close I always the the Angus Ribeye Beef (lunch is $14.50 & dinner is $19.50 for the Large which is 9 pieces). Get the Premium Angus Ribeye Beef if you like a fattier cut for your meat. Overall, I love coming here! Enjoy!
(4)Diamond L.
I always hear about this place. I have friends who previously worked here. I have been dying to try this place out. However, when I got a chance to try this restaurant out, I was not too satisfied. The interior decoration is awesome and the representation of the food is great, but the taste is not special. I expected alot out of this place.... Shabu shabu isn't as great. It was plain, and everything else I ordered was ordinary. I will not come back...
(2)Jason S.
Good food. Nice ambience. Fast service. We went for happy hour hand rolls and shabu shabu. Jalapeno poppers 5/5 Crunch Roll 5/5 Baked green mussels 5/5 Shabu Shabu broth Sukiyiki 3/5 Broth spicey miso 4/5 Philadelphia hand roll 4/5 Tempura 5/5 Ribeye was cut too large. But flavor was good. 4/5 All in all it was good.
(4)Jackie N.
This was the 3rd time I've been here, and it might be my last. We came because my bf wanted shabu, and I wasn't feeling it so I went for the sushi and apps. I got 3 handrolls, asian garlic wings, and baked mussels. The handrolls tasted off to me, it didn't taste like traditional handrolls. I got spicy cali handroll, philly handroll, and crunchy handroll. The crab meat tasted funky, which was in both cali and crunchy handroll. The philly handroll, i just wanted to try because i love a regular philly roll. But their cream cheese tasted weird too and because it was in a handroll form, the cream cheese wasn't evenly distributed. I would eat some rice and salmon, and my next bite would be just cream cheese and rice. Wasn't a great experience with the sushi. The asian garlic wings just wasn't what I thought it would be, but maybe it was my fault for not understanding the title? I'm used to asian chicken wings to have that kind of sweet honey glaze with some asian spice to it, like most asian wings are. But these wings were straight up garlic. And when I say garlic, I mean enough to kill all all of the Cullen Clan (lol reference to Twilight if you didn't get it :P ) Anyways, their wings were WAY too garlic-y and had no taste of "asian" in it for me. I tasted buffalo wings with a lot of garlic, and I hate buffalo wings. As for the shabu, I didn't really eat, but had a little taste here and there. My bf got the spicy miso broth, and it was okay, but wasn't great. It tasted extremely spicy, in the way that makes you want to cough and down your water. I thought the broth didn't have much flavor besides the excess amount of spice. The only good thing I actually enjoyed was the free item we got for checking in. We checked in and got a free dessert of Fried Banana and vanilla ice cream. They only allow one check in per table, but that's okay, it was enough for us.
(3)Morgan H.
I've only ordered shabu shabu here, not the sushi. Sakura is my favorite Huntington Beach spot for shabu shabu because I feel that the meat and veggies are fresh and prices are fair. They recently added more booths inside, making it a bit nicer. There are a few TVs, a sushi bar, and outside seating as well. Service has always been attentive and there is a full menu, a sushi menu and a yakitori menu. Broth choices are miso, spicy miso and seaweed. They offer the typical hot drops and condiments along with chili oil are on the table. Something different here is that the soup base is on the table as well for when you're ready to pour the broth into the bowl, so that you are able to add as much or as little as you want. Veggies are the typical offerings, and my favorite meat is the Prime Angus Ribeye. It is so tender and there are few fatty pieces. It practically melts in your mouth. Check in on Yelp for a free tempura banana dessert! It is the perfect end to the meal and comes out nice and warm with a scoop of ice cream and whipped cream drizzled with chocolate sauce. Check their website for their frequent happy hour times and deals.
(4)Kim S.
Great happy hour can't go wrong with grey goose an cranberry for $5.75. I've tried the cheaper meat an was really happy with my choice tonight I got the third more expensive meat an it was amazing. I'm a shabu junkie so I'm glad they are open later an are super nice an friendly. The owner was even nice enough to come by an introduce himself. So glad I gave this place a another try. Make sure you check in so you can get your complimentary banana tempura that never disappoints.
(5)Angel N.
Amazing place!!friendly atmosphere with delicious food!!I love their Shabu the most!!! Beef and seafood lovers Brittany was our server and was very helpful!!!:)
(5)Katherine H.
I've been here a few times and the service has always been exceptional. The shabu shabu is also up to par. The last time I came, I tried the sukiyaki broth for the very first time. Let me tell you... It's now my favorite broth. It was sweet but not overly sweet and blended in well with the meat and vegetables. We also checked in and got the banana fried ice cream which is also really good. Best to come on a cold day!
(4)Sung Hyun K.
This place is great for shabu shabu! Their spicy miso broth with the premium meat is my personal favorite! I have had spicy miso at other shabu places, but this one is the best! I would ask for Brittany (sorry if spelling is wrong) to be our server again. She was very quick to help us and made sure we were satisfied with everything we had :)
(5)Sam P.
Sakura shabu was the first place I ever tried shabu, but I waited a year to come back because I wanted other places to compare. Sakura did not disappoint! They have amazing cuts that taste great and flavored broth. Not every shabu restaurant has spicy miso and even fewer do it so well. Definitely come by for the happy hour. I really loved the agadashi tofu (crispy and soft) and the green mussels. I'd definitely come back for just these items any day of the week. This place has definitely won a spot on my top 10 to-go list. Our server was randy and he was really friendly and helpful. He recommended the passion fruit sake and we loved it. It's only 3.50 during happy hour! Make sure to check in for free dessert!
(5)Summer T.
3.65 stars Little parking. Friendly service. Happy hour after 8pm til closed. Aged Dashi Tofu: good, wish they put less savory sauce in it Fried Calamari: decent, tender, sauce was too creamy, it says spicy but it wasn't spicy at all. Would taste much better if it was spicy. Pork Kim Chi: decent, too bad it wasn't spicy. :( Spinach Garlic: decent Asian Garlic Chicken Wing: fatty, lacked in spices Gyoza: wasn't fresh, tasted alright Edamame: flavorful & yummy Tempura vanilla ice cream: decent Tempura banana green tea ice cream: good Shabu shabu: tasted alright.
(3)Victor R.
It's my birthday! 1st timer - that makes me a "Newbee"! Great service-great time with my wife!
(5)John O.
This place is great. I highly recommend this place. The food is excellent and the service is top notch. No complaints.
(5)Drew M.
Used to live down the street from here a few years ago and stop in every once in a while. Went this past Saturday and got a
(4)Cammi H.
4 stars for the happy hour that we usually come here for from time to time. Great selection of appetizers, hand rolls, yakitori, and drinks.
(4)Sonya J.
I recently moved back to HB and found this Shabu spot close to my house. Went there Friday night and it was good. I had the beef & scallops combo and we also tried a beef appetizer skewer that was really good. They have a full bar and also a full sushi bar (we had some yellow tail - my favorite - 2 Thumbs up!). So its basically a 3-in-1 spot: Bar/Shabu/Sushi - you can't go wrong.
(4)Leeann G.
Great service and best sushi around ! So glad I found this gem ! The food is excellent every time and incredibly fresh! So far I have only gotten the appetizers and the rolls, but I can't wait to try more of their huge menu in the very near future!
(5)Christine L.
Premium Angus Rib eye Beef is BOMB! It tastes so fresh and delicious. I ordered the large just so I can the extra that I can't finish away to my bf who eats like no other (he also ordered a large O_O). I also really liked the miso broth soup and what's cool is that they give you your own soup so you don't have to worry about sharing the broth with someone else! I highly recommend decking out your soup with a bunch of garlic and onions (makes it way more flavorful). Also the hot drops aren't really hot (I added 3 drops into everything and it tasted just the right amount of hotness). In terms of the sauces, I liked the goma sauce better than the ponzu which tasted very citrus-y (like Yuzu). Our waiter was a bit slow for my liking. I felt like we were always forgotten about and it took him forever to bring out our check. By that time, we were so over even mentioning about our yelp check in and getting a free fried banana dessert. TIP: I would say go for the happy hour because they have a lot of great deals.
(3)Mike K.
Lets face it shabu is just a fun way to eat and this place does not disappoint. Had anout a dozen "hot drops" added to our pots but we are weird like that. Everything was delicious will be going back for sure.
(4)Vicky N.
Had a really bad experience, kind of disappointed. Our server didn't know anything on the menu and apologized that he was still new. I asked for one hot drop for my broth and he gave me four and said oops, sorry. I can eat spicy so I didn't mind, but he needs to be more careful and a bit more training. :/
(2)Judy N.
My review mostly reflects just the Shabu. Best goma dipping sauce I've tried for Shabu! Really... It is the maker to your meal if u order Shabu here. It's quite hard to come by a place that has good chicken quality for Shabu (except Mokkoji in Irvine).. But it's texture wasn't too bad at all. No complaints on their other meat selections either like the tender beef ribeye, or the broth --- BUT the veggie platter I believe could use some more work! It seems poorly put together & I usually omit the cabbage & noodles so I don't believe that its too much to ask for more of the other stuff. I'm so use to other restaurants organizing their veggie platters, but Sakura seemed lazy with piling everything on top of each other. The list of food choices goes on & on with their menu having a variety of appetizers, yakatori, sushi, rolls, && drinks here. Although I haven't tried a lot of their sushi, it tastes pretty average.. Might not be the freshest to me. Service isn't the best either depending when u go, it seems to get crowded & rowdy during HH here, almost like a lounge. Minus the hiccups in service, the Shabu here does leave me satisfied.
(3)Vivian N.
3 stars for the food and 0 stars for service! What I ordered: Shabuuuu shabu Angus beef ribeye (small) - $12.50 It's very filling yet so cheap! Will I come back? Nooooope yall service stank. It was so hard to flag down my server.. and he never checked up on us. I honestly came in to eat and leave not to sit and talk after my meal.. asked for the check and tells me my server will get my check. My server wasn't even informedddddd, commmmunicate....
(3)Alvin N.
This place been going down hill over the years and became increasingly cheap with condiments at the same time prices have been increasing. The sushi prices compares or goes beyond the prices of above average sushi restaurants minus the quality. The salmon for the Shabu dinner is nice and thick, which was a surprise. The amount of soup base supplied was otherwise a disappointment and had to be asked for more. The hot drops for the sauces seemed like it was watered down from the norm. I usually ask for 10 drops for ponzu and 30 for the gomu. Yes. I like my food spicy. The only saving grace this place has is the drinks on happy hour. Other than that, it's simply not worth the time.
(2)Richard N.
This place has been my go to shabu place for four years. I have never written a review about this place before because I had to make sure the service was consistent everytime..and it was. The service is always great and the management always says hello to us when we come in. I have never had to wait longer than 5 mins to get a table. The servers are always ready to help with their tables. If you do not understand how shabu works they will help you. The shabu is inexpensive and of high quality. They have a large variety of miso broths that you can choose from, my favorite is the spicy miso. The sushi is very delicious for a restaurant that is known for its shabu. It comes in large sharing portions and everything is fresh.
(5)Jessica N.
I came here with my family for dinner. Try the grass fed beef! Its delicious. As for rolls I loved the baked scallop roll and jalapeño poppers. Fried banana and ice cream is on point We will be back!!
(5)Deidra S.
first time coming here and got served by Britney. Great server, very nice and upbeat. Made my experience very good :)
(4)G S.
Been there five, maybe six times, and they haven't disappointed. The pricing change from lunch to dinner has on occasion been a bit muddled (wrong menus @ wrong times) and can be a slight hassle. The kimchi, both hot and cold, are phenomenal.
(4)Hanna K.
The rating doesn't really reflect upon the food, but rather their service & the overall experience we had here. The food here is pretty good. We got 2 hand rolls & the beef Shabu and they were all of decent quality. Pretty fresh, pretty tasty. My bf and I shared the regular beef Shabu (20pcs) w/ the sharing add-on (comes wih extra sauce, rice, and another veggie plate) and it was just enough for us. But the service... Oh the shitty service. We came in a group of 20, so I understand any delays but this was just ridiculous. There was like a 15min wait between every item they brought out (first the stove, then the pots, then the veggies, then the sauce, then the rice, then the meat, then the condiments = 1:45min wait for everything to be set up) They would bring the food out, and let it just sit there, then come back like 10min later to pass them out. We were almost all done with our veggies by the time our meat came out ~_~ then condiments came out after someone asked for them ~_~ sigh just totally clueless & unprepared. Not to mention this one server that was helping out was so rude & ignorant of the orders he was delivering ~_~ Anyways, nobody likes to read rants so let me just summarize: food is decent but service is so slow it's almost non existent. Maybe you might have better luck in a smaller party, but our waitress said they usually get parties of 30+ so idk why they couldn't handle a party of 20.
(2)Scott L.
Great for late night dining. They offer different cuts of meat for their Shabu Shabu with prices ranging anywhere from $18 and up for 6 pieces or $21 for 12 pieces. They even have organic cuts which my friend and I were reluctant to get. "Cows just eat grass right?" We ended up getting the 1885 cut which was meaty and yet so delicate. They even have happy hour which is great if you like calamari, enoki mushroom, or edamame. Our hostess was very friendly and made sure we had everything we needed.
(4)Rose S.
I just left this place without even ordering. My husband and I happened to be around the area. We decided to stop at this place for a quick dinner before heading home. We arrived and a nice guy took us to our table. We sat and waited for 10 mins till finally someone came to our table to ask for our drinks. 15 more minutes passed by and we were still waiting for someone to take our order. Funny thing is that the people sitting next to us (Asians) were asked at least 5 times if they needed anything. Racism? It felt like it. If you are a Latino, Mexican American or dark skin please don't waste your time by going to this place. Waiters and waitresses are going to ignore you.
(1)Michelle C.
This place has amazing food, is open late, and has great service! They have a full bar with a full menu! I recommend the sushi or the shabu! They even have spicy miso soup for your shabu! It's delicious! Even though this restaurant is geared for a younger crowd my whole family loves this place!
(5)Jessica T.
Brittany was serving us on tuesday night and was awesome. Always made sure our table was clean and we had everything we needed. Even accommodated the fact that we were the only ones that wanted to sit outside. The food is always fantastic and the environment was fun!!!
(5)Joe G.
Came to Sakura Shabu-Sushi & Yakitori for lunch on a Saturday. The place was not busy at all, and they do have a lot of options. From shabu to sushi, there's just so much to choose from so that everyone can get what they want. I got the sashimi salad which was pretty good. Their shabu was really good too. And with a yelp check-in, you get a free banana tempura. Great asian food spot!!!
(4)Taeleng M.
Thanks to Brittany for reminding us about the promotion that they had about happy hour. Very nice helpful and informing. Brittany is very attentive to our needs when it came to serving food and drinks.
(5)Cat P.
Food: The Miso broth is A+ with so much flavor! It is amazing to eat by itself. Customer Service: Our server Brittany was very friendly and helpful. She gave us great suggestions and helped us have a great time. :) Pricing: For the happy hour sushi, make sure to ask if it is a hand roll (one piece) or the cut rolls. We were given hand rolls for the "happy hour" sushi rolls, but it didn't specify that it was a hand roll on the menu. It just said that it is sushi roll (happy hour price for the roll $3-4 and regular is $8). Also, double check the pricing for number of shared bowls because it wasn't specified in the menu either. Other than that, it's still a good place to eat.
(4)Ashley N.
My top pick when I'm craving shabu& my boyfriends favorite shabu restaurant. I always get spicy miso& chicken when I come here. I am in love with their ponzu sauce!!! I drench my rice, chicken& veggies in this sauce. You can also substitute your white rice for brown rice for an extra $1. Or you can substitute some veggies for different veggies. The servers are friendly& quick on their feet. I usually dine here late at night so I never have to wait for a table. And I always to-go my udon noodles with my leftover shabu
(5)Sally N.
Very good place for sushi and shabu. Great prices. The only thing I can suggest is maybe some one get the place checked for bugs. There was flies always around and there was a spider that crawled off my check when it was brought to me. EEEK! Other than that, the waiter was great and friendly as they always are here. Can't beat the prices for the quantity and quality of food. Just get the spider thing checked out!
(4)Tilia L.
Coming here to give it a second chance and I'm glad that I did. They really improved the flavors of the broth and the veggies plate. I really enjoyed my second visit here and will definitely be coming back.
(4)Eva G.
Great food, great service, reasonable prices, every single time! Love love love! I've come here for lunch several times and as soon as I decide what I want, I have food, ready to go, in literally minutes. ..I've had shabu in many places and I really love not waiting when I'm hungry AND in a hurry! Thanks guys, (especially Ivy, she's amazing! ) you always warm my tummy and my soul! !
(5)Natalie S.
I like going here for the happy hour. Select appetizers, drinks, yakitori, rolls/sushi on Happy hour! The hand rolls are usually what I get. sometimes I order some appetizers that are buy one get one free of equal value or less. The food here is typical. What I like about this place though is the service :) I have also ordered the shabu shabu here before. The slices of beef are huge. Good texture too! The spicy miso broth is actually quite good and when you ask for the soup bowl with the extra broth, its so delicious to slurp on. They have hot drops as well; although, I feel like it's just a roasted spicy opposed to a spicy flavor. They have garlic, radish and green onions for toppings in your sauces and soup. The only complaint I have is that they didn't have that many veggies that came with your shabu entrée. I love veggies in my hot pot. Check in to get a free fried banana and ice cream dessert! :
(3)Elaine N.
Happy hour every single night until closing! $4 wells, $2 hot (or cold sake), BOGO half off on appetizers, $3 drafts, happy hour sushi-- this is a dream come true for all of the alcoholics on a budget. Come here any single night when you're craving for a night of relaxation.
(5)Park N.
the food wasn't extraordinary but it wasn't bad either. I was left full. I order the large Kobe shabu shabu. the birth was normal nothing fancy about it though. service was good.
(3)Tammy L.
The shabu here was so good with the Miso soups, fresh meat and veggies. The service was fast and friendly. I will come back for sushi.
(4)Jack H.
Good place to go for happy hour! I usually come here to drink and order the appetizer because it's buy one and get the 2nd one for free! Henny vs and grey goose shots are $5 during happy hour as well!
(4)Danielle R.
I really like this place! I get the veggie Shabu dinner, it's way too much food for $11 I always have 2 days of leftovers. Also their happy hour and sushi menu are pretty good as well!
(5)Hiro N.
Don't get me wrong on the three stars, the food here is great! Shabu is split in half so it's perfect to share with someone. My friend and I got half spicy miso and half miso and the regular ribeye (12 pieces). I also got a baked salmon roll and it was pretty good! Our other friend ordered yakitori (didn't really ask how it was). We also checked in for the free banana tempura, which was yummy!! However, the service here is terrible. 2 stars at best :( It was very hard to get anyone's attention, and we felt like we only saw our server once or twice during the course of our meal.
(3)Karen L.
Tried this 1st time last night. Love the spicy miso broth. We went during happy hour, appetizers 2 for 1. Great. Everything was pretty similar to other shabu shabu, the veggies, udon and meat. But the broth made it. Also ordered the crunchy roll. There was only tempura on both ends of the roll and imitation crab in the middle. And it felt apart. A little disappointing. But overall, it was a good meal and the service was great. Will definitely go back. Another place for shabu shabu!!!
(4)Sam N.
I've been here before for lunch and we decided to come here for dinner as we were close by doing some Christmas shopping. We arrived and were greatest and seated promptly. We sadly just missed happy hour at 6.30pm, they have great sushi and drink deals! We decided on shabu, I had the beef and salmon combo, my husband a large beef. Food arrived quickly. I really like the miso soup that they use for us to cook our food in, many other places give just plain water and you need to season entirely yourself. I checked into here and got the offer for a free fried banana and ice cream - that rounded things off nicely! Our server was friendly and attentive. Will definitely be going back soon!
(4)Franchesca N.
Great deal on happy hour for drinks. Their appetizers are BOGO during happy hour as well. However I don't think it's worth it. One order of wings only includes four wings and that costs 8 dollars. So during happy hour it's a dollar for one wing.... Ya not legit. Stick to drinking here only. Parking lot is small. However I do like the lounge feeling and music here. Overall it's good for drinks!
(3)Viviann B.
Tonight was my first time dining here! I'm in love! Everything was so yummy! I ordered a small Ribeye Beef Shabu Entrée, Fried Tofu Salad, and their popcorn chicken. The appetizers are buy one get one free which is think is such a great deal because it was sooo delicious. I could barely finish my Shabu.. I should have ordered half! I actually really hate tofu but oh my gosh the fried tofu here is insane. Extremely crunchy on the outside and super soft in the inside! I definitely recommend ordering this appetizer. The popcorn chicken reminded me a lot of teriyaki.. I actually think our server gave us the wrong dish but I didn't mind at all because it was good. They offer a free dessert ( Banana Tempura with ice cream) with a yelp check in! Only one per table though. It was so delicious. I want some more please! I love how they have minced white and green onions and also garlic. I ended up using half of the container.. haha oops Service here is okay.. Could be better. I think our server just started working here or something because he was being really awkward. It's hard to flag someone down here because it's so busy. I think they need to hire more servers. BTW : They charge you extra for brown rice :(
(5)John M.
This place was my first experience with shabu-shabu. And wow. who can't love spicy Udon Miso. Every time I go, I am warmly greeted and they treat me like an old friend. Better they treat me like royalty. The amazing quality of the products they use make for such a satisfying experience, the atmosphere is comfortable and the staff attentive yet not overbearing. I love this place!
(5)Thomas H.
Stylish bar, good service and good food. Can't go wrong! Always good and friendly service here, the food isn't cheap but it's well worth paying for. The decor is on the fresher side of trendy and the ambience has always been nice. Would recommend!
(4)Michelle N.
So...where do you want to go for dinner? I don't know. You pick. I always pick. I'm tired of picking. YOU PICK! You're the Yelp Elite. I don't know good food. T__T. Something soupy? Shabu? Ok. Friday night driving around clueless about what to eat. We didn't want to overload since the next day we were planning on hiking. My thoughts are coming out jumbled. Let's cut to the chase. Food - Yummy. Spicy broth was not spicy enough though. We ordered the Kobe rib eye and scallops. For what it was, everything was pricy! I was unhappy with the bill. Service - FANTASTICO! Charley was a great server. I'd highly recommend him to anyone.
(3)Sue N.
Great service! New And improved vegetables' now with onions too. I always Come here for the lunch specials :) miso soup beef shabu is my Favv
(5)Kendall N.
Came here for shabu shabu since they have flavored broths and I was not disappointed. You can either chose Miso, Spicy Miso, or Seaweed flavor. I always opt for beef for the entree though I haven't tried other meats/seafood for source of protein. The service is a lot slower here than other places that serve shabu shabu since this place doesn't solely concentrate on being a shabu shabu restaurant so they take their time bringing out the items one at a time. Their goma sauce was certainly delicious as it was very close to the goma sauce at California Shabu Shabu. Check out their happy hour if you can, they have some great deals on appetizers and drinks.
(4)Emma J.
We came for happy hour and enjoyed a bit of sushi and tempura. Nothing too memorable aside from the nice little perk of free dessert once you check-in on Yelp. With Kabuki just a little farther up the road, I'd prefer a different happy hour to Sakura's. The sushi wasn't anything spectacular.
(2)Phan V.
The gf and I are usually in this part of OC often on the weekends doing our shopping. When our stomachs start to growl, we typically find ourselves caught in a pickle. We crave Asian food, but Little Saigon is just too far away to drive to and drive back. Luckily, I found Sakura. Parking can be rather difficult to find at times because their own lot is very limited in space, so if you're a dare devil like myself, you park next door at the Chinese restaurant to their left! (Shhh!) I enjoy this place because they have flavored miso broth, as opposed to some other shabu places that just use hot water. The pricing here is pretty typical and comparable to other locations, however, a cool thing they offer is a happy hour menu. For food, it's BOGO free appetizers, unfortunately because the GF and I do not drink alcohol, we never pay attention to those deals. The sea food platter is my go to platter and they give you salmon, scallops. shrimp and green mussels. The vegetable plate that accompanies the order is plentiful and will leave you full. For the appetizers, I've had the pleasure of trying their baked green mussels and gyozas. Both were good and worth a try. Inside can get stuffy with all the burners going, good thing is they offer outdoor seating here as well. On my last visit here, I wish we sat outside as it can get rather noisy inside, and when you're stuck next to a table with a bunch of "WHOOO!" girls, it can be difficult to get through a meal. Overall, Sakura has provided me with good food and I hope it stays that way!
(4)Anita N.
Sakura has a good happy hour! I also come during their lunch hour for their shabu lunch deal. Their spicy miso and dipping sauces are so delicious! One my fave go to shabu places. Servers are always attentive. Last time I came here my friend got her keys stuck underneath one of the couches and one of the waiters were nice enough to get it out for her. Deff will be coming back :')
(5)Theresa O.
The shabu is on point. Always get the spicy miso so good! Yakitori is really good the chef takes his time in the meat. All is very delicious. Service is a little slow on a busy night
(4)Ashley F.
Came in for a late dinner on Friday night. They have a reverse happy hour that even applies on weekend nights, which was pretty cool. Bogo appetizers, cheap drinks and handrolls. My friend and I got the Calamari and the Buffalo Popcorn Chicken: Loved the popcorn chicken, the calamari was a little on the greasy side :|. We arrived around 11 pm and the waitress told us we had until 11:15 to order, so we ordered a bunch of food and drinks to ensure we'd be covered. The waitress was really sweet, making sure multiple times we were okay before last call. The only thing that was a little weird was the Club Life mix super loud in the background,but after a few sake shots it was cool.
(4)andrew t.
The food here was great and our server Britney was awesome. Good food good service equals happy belly!
(4)Mishi N.
This place is okay. The only thing I really like about this place is their spicy tuna hand sushi. The price is pretty reasonable. And sometimes when I am craving an alcohol beverage, I usually order the June bug. This place is a fun place to go when you bring a bunch of your friends with you. Shabu is okay, I wouldn't find it amazing, but it is cheaper than most places so I can't complain.
(3)Kimberly N.
This rating is not about the food, but the service I experienced yesterday night. Came here around 8:30pm, there were 3 servers total, and lucky us--we got the drunko one. Our waiter was buzzing it with his asian glow (nothing against asian because i do get asian glow too), taking our orders without writing it down is OKAY--if you get the order right. 1. I ordered 3 spicy salmon hand rolls---but instead got 6 different hand rolls, ordered spicy miso for our shabu but got regular miso--it would help if he repeated our orders to us to confirm so we wouldn't have this problem... 2. We were missing quite a few items we ordered, we had to ask him 3 times for each missing item 3. I don't mean to be such a brat but I don't appreciate having a server drinking on their job who cant handle their alcohol---because it made my dining experience very frustrating- I had to even get out of my seat to go look for him... it would be nice if he checked up on us but he didnt. O__O I was soo close to requesting for another server, if that was even possible. Our server had the wrong orders still on our bill--he literally had to re-do it 3 times to get it right. He kept coming back to grab the check when we were trying to figure out the bill with the multiple cards transaction.. he came back like every minute.. dude--give us some time.. Sad because this was for my mommy's birthday celebration. :'( the service really SUCKS!!!
(1)Jacqueline D.
HAPPY HOUR: 9pm-closing Highlights of happy hour include: Bogo appetizers 1$ hot sake Cheap hand rolls And half-order of shabu is $9.95 for dinner is the best bang for your buck when dinner at any other shabu place could easily cost double. Granted it's not as good, but it's do-able. Since happy hour is later but not too late, it's one of the cheaper places to eat and drink when you're on a college budget! Sometimes you have to hunt down your servers, but it can get busy! My favorite thing here is the Ono Carpaccio!!! My favorite happy hour item would be the baked green mussels! HAPPY EATS ^_^
(3)Sylvie L.
Great service. Thuy and Charly offered exceptional service, especially since it was our first time here. Every part of the meal was absolutely amazing from the shabu to the Twister Roll to the popcorn chicken to the baked green mussels. Pretty large portions of meat too! Definitely come here again.
(5)Diann B.
The waiter I had was Benny. He broke down the whole process to me pretty well. It helps to explain so I didn't feel so dumb. Great food and good service
(5)Nam B.
Some girl asked me to join her and her sister here for dinner. It looks like a nice place to hang out and dine. We ordered lots of various items. Most of the food were alright, but what suck was the shabu (which is part of their name). Sakura seems like an American place that pretends to be Japanese, non authentic at all. Only American kobe served here :/.
(2)Shorty P.
Guys...guys. Go for the happy hour. You'll be really happy you did. The prices are great and the interior is perfect for a romantic date or a night out with a couple close friends. They also have a gorgeous patio area with fire pits. If you live in any of the nearby apartments it is a perfect place to walk to and take advantage of the happy hour sake and beer. The portions are very generous.
(4)Elaine N.
It's still delicious as ever and great service but portion sizes have DRASTICALLY lessened. The small ribeye is enough meat for me since their slices are huge but the noodle/vegetable plate is really little. They compensate with the free banana tempura ice cream as a Yelp check-in offer but I'd rather have more food than free desserts.
(4)Wesley C.
Amazing! We were real first-timers in the world of Yakitori, but our server made us feel like pro's! The sushi selection was extensive and my tuna tour roll was delicious! We cooked our shabu at table, with many garnishes and flavorings to try. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants something else with their sushi!
(4)Kristy N.
Quick tips: Happy hour all day monday and tuesday I would reccomend only come if there was happy hour.: Buy one get one free appetizer Shabu is OK (not horrible)... but go somewhere else for shabu.
(3)Alpha Q.
This place is the best shabu in town. The broth selection is awesome. And don't forget the hot drops!
(5)Haily H.
Good food and good service.We really enjoy it! 2 thumps up for this place...Can't wait to come the next time
(5)Raymond R.
Didn't get shabu just got the sushi. The eel roll was ok. Good enough for the price. I love eel so I had to try it. Then got the Dynamite roll. It was good. Everything came together with flavor. (Tuna, salmon, yellow tail, crab meat, cream cheese, rolled then DEEP FRIED!) and finally got the Surf City Roll (shrimp tempura, crab meat, avocado & cucumber topped with spicy crab meat, spicy tuna, eel sauce, spicy aioli & crunchy crumbs). It's good but I just feel like there's to much going on. But it's decent. Wouldn't get it again cause it's a little pricey but it's not bad. Also our waiter is really good. He's on point. He's on top of things. Very tentative. If you see him, his name is Charlie. This is a not bad place to come.
(4)