Seattle's New AYCE BBQ + Hotpot Spot šš²
Ever since Niku Feast closed, I heard it would be replaced by Wagyu Factory, a chain from California. Now that it's finally open, I stopped by to check it out! The overall layout hasnāt changed much insideāthe biggest difference is the revamped buffet area shown in the photo. Theyāre currently in soft opening, operating every evening with three pricing tiers: š„ BBQ AYCE ā $49.99 ($43.99 with membership) š„š² BBQ + Shabu AYCE ā $55.99 ($49.99 with membership) š„© Ultimate A5 AYCE ā $75.99 ($65.99 with membership) Prices in parentheses are member rates. Membership costs $58 per year and is valid nationwide at Chubby Club-affiliated spots. Members can extend discounts to up to 4 guests and also get a free basic-tier birthday meal, making it a solid deal for frequent visitors or groups. According to the scanned menu, lunch pricing may be introduced laterācanāt wait for grand opening hours! This time I went for the Ultimate A5 AYCE. Orders are placed via iPad, with 70 minutes to order and 90 minutes total dining time. The A5 chuck flap is limited to one order per personāall other A5 cuts are unlimited, so meat lovers can truly feast! š„©āØ My personal favorite style was cooking the beef in sukiyaki broth + dipping in raw eggārich but not overly heavy. Besides the super-marbled chuck flap, my top pick from the unlimited meat options was outside skirt, which had a nice crispy-chewy texture. The buffet station meats are available for all tiers and were restocked quickly. Today I tried karubi, otoro, beef cube, inside skirt, and finger meatāall solid, though just like at Niku Feast, you have to watch carefully to avoid burning them on the grill. From the hot foods section, the wagyu burger was delicious and super popularāa whole tray disappeared fast! I skipped rice and steamed items to save room for meat. š The watermelon was a pleasant surpriseāsweet and juicy for off-season fruit. Drinks include fountain beverages, plum juice, Calpico, and milk teaāI stuck with ice water, so didnāt snap a pic, but there were plenty of options. The dessert section was fairly standard, but the ice cream was as good as ever. Restaurant: Wagyu Factory BBQ & Shabu | Seattle Address: 13200 Aurora Ave N APT G, Seattle, WA 98133 #Seattle #SeattleFood #AYCE #Wagyu #BBQ #Hotpot #FoodReview š„¢š„šØ