Shabu House — Restaurant in Burlingame

My recent visit to Shabu House on Paloma in Burlingame left me with mixed feelings. While the restaurant offers some redeeming qualities, there were notable drawbacks that affected the overall dining experience.

Let's start with the positives. The meat quality at Shabu House was commendable. The thinly sliced beef and lamb were fresh, succulent, and added a delightful touch to the hot pot. If you are a meat enthusiast, this might be a redeeming factor for your visit.

However, the same cannot be said for the overall hot pot experience. The broth lacked the depth and richness that I've come to expect from a top-tier shabu-shabu restaurant. The variety of vegetables and noodles provided were standard, nothing to write home about. It seems the focus here is more on the meat than the complete hot pot experience.

The atmosphere at Shabu House is decent, with a simple and clean interior. However, it lacks the cozy ambiance that some other hot pot establishments manage to achieve. The tables are adequately spaced, providing a level of privacy, but don't expect any special decorations or a particularly memorable dining setting.

Parking around Paloma Street can be described as challenging at best. Finding a spot nearby can be a time-consuming task, especially during peak hours. Be prepared for a bit of a walk if you're visiting during a busy evening.

Unfortunately, the service at Shabu House left much to be desired. Our order was repeatedly confused, leading to frustration and unnecessary delays. The staff seemed overwhelmed, and the communication breakdown impacted the overall dining experience negatively. To add insult to injury, when we brought the issue to their attention, the resolution was far from satisfactory. They failed to deliver on a small Sapporo we had ordered, and their response was lackluster, leaving us feeling dissatisfied. Take note my friend have been a patron of this place for 12 years and was really upset that this was our experience. You can overlook the taste of food if the service is superb however I don't think we will come back to this place with the embarrassment that we have experienced.

In conclusion, Shabu House on Paloma offers a mixed bag. If you're primarily seeking high-quality meat for your hot pot, this place might be worth a visit. However, be prepared for a less-than-perfect overall experience, with an average atmosphere, challenging parking, and a service that leaves much to be desired. Consider exploring other options in the area for a more well-rounded and enjoyable...

The food itself is really good and so fresh. My kids love to go and cook their own food. I usually go early as I have 3 kids, very well behaved. I am not being biased here, if they were brats or ill behaved in public, I would be the first to say so. Nor would I take them out to a restaurant. We were one of the first people there. There was one other table with kids and this is at 5 pm, on a week night. The hostess/waiter sat us at a 2 seater table with 2 chairs pulled up on the back side of the table. So 2 of the kids couldn’t even reach the pot to cook their food. My daughter had to keep coming around the back of my son, to the side the hot pot was on to cook the food and start the whole process over again when she finished and wanted another serving. There wasn’t enough room for her to eat on that side. Also, the table was sooo far to the front right corner. In my opinion, it was very inconvenient and unnecessary since there were so many 4 top tables available. People were NOT rushing through the door that all of those tables needed to be open. I had made mention to the waitress of my disappointment in the table location, but that only fell on deaf ears. She only said “this is where they put families with kids”. Sounds like steering to me. At any rate, I am disappointed as this is one of our favorite places for hot pot. But with the situation and mindset of kids shouldn’t be seen, we will not be coming back here. If they didn’t automatically put the tip on the bill, I would have definitely docked the tip for the lack of compassion. There are plenty of other restaurants that will happily accommodate a decent table when I dine with my children out in public.

PS. I usually bypass reviews that complain about service, that is why I am giving 3 stars. The food and experience is good here. But the overall dining experience didn’t sit well with me and I felt compelled to make the review as this experience ruined my view of the establishment...

One of my fav shabu restaurant!

I consider shabu shabu as one of my comfort food. I have visited many shabu places around the peninsula, this is definitely one of the best and with the most consistent food and soup quality.

We ordered a half half soup broth (spicy miso and ginger chicken). The spicy miso is nice but i wouldn't exactly call it spicy.

Ordered a large Kobe beef (5/5) and regular pork (4/5). They come with a plate of vegetables (enoki mushroom, a shiitake mushroom, a tiny portion of udon noodles, carrots, lettuce and tofu. It's a decent mix and portion as a whole, sufficient for one pax.

Rice is also inclusive in the set, however, they will only serve if you ask for one. Likewise, for beverage, hot green tea is also included in the price of the meal and they will only serve if you ask. The meal also comes with a scoop of ice cream at the end of your meal.

Often there is a line. When you walk in, turn left and head straight to the whiteboard and write down your name, party size and preferred seating. They have table, bar and first available.

Pretty glad to see you can now make a reservation via Yelp too. But this is only for party of 4 and above.

Once you are signed in, decide on what you want quickly. Once you are seated and while you still have the attention of your server, place all your order. Everything will come swiftly.

I see many people complaining about their service. I really don't need much service but just my dearest food. So would highly recommend that you decide asap, tell your server asap and you will be set for 75% of your dinner (asking for a drinks top up can be tough, they do get really busy)

Highly...