Joon Shabu Shabu — Restaurant in Glendale

Stepping into Joon Shabu Shabu was like opening the door to a dining experience that was not only new but truly magical, marking my delightful introduction to the art of hibachi-style soup creation. This wasn't merely a meal; it was an opportunity to dive into the exhilarating world of cooking right at your table, blending the joy of do-it-yourself cuisine with the comfort and elegance of dining out. The welcoming vibe, accentuated by tantalizing aromas, set a perfect stage for the culinary symphony that awaited.

The team at Joon Shabu Shabu was exceptional, radiating a blend of genuine warmth and professionalism that made me feel immediately at home and cherished. Their guidance through the menu and the dining process was like having a personal culinary coach by our side, ensuring that my companion and I felt confident and excited about the adventure we were about to undertake. This thoughtful, non-intrusive support allowed us to savor the array of sauces and ingredients at our own rhythm, adding layers of joy and discovery to our meal.

As we placed our orders, the excellence of service continued to shine. The dishes served were a feast not just for the taste buds but for the soul, with every bite bursting with freshness and flavor. The ingredients were abundant, and the equipment was so clean and simple to use, making the entire cooking process a breeze and incredibly fun.

Visiting Joon Shabu Shabu was a transformative journey for me, turning what I presumed might be a complex dining style into a celebration of simplicity and conviviality. If you're ever in Glendale, I wholeheartedly encourage you to treat yourself to this gem of a restaurant. It's a place where your culinary dreams are met with a vibrant atmosphere and a chance to play chef, promising not just a meal but an uplifting experience that will brighten your day and warm your heart. Joon Shabu Shabu isn't just about satisfying your hunger; it's about creating memories that linger long after the...

The quality and the freshness of the meat and vegetables were half decent. We ordered two sets of $17 shabu shabu that was recommended by our server. Tried four different types of sauces (limited 2 per meal). None of the sauces were that special. Here is the thing: as I open up each piece of the meat, the folded portion (1/3 of meat) was pure fat. As I dig into rest of the meat, all of my meats on the plate had that same consistent fat that covered good portion of my meat. I told my waitress and she said she will tell the kitchen. So I waited. Nothing happens. When other waitress came by our table and asked, I also told her about it. She also noted and she told me that she would tell the kitchen (whatever that means). I paid for the meal and just lounged around until one of the waitresses to come back and give the response. I had to flag my first waitress down and asked if she heard anything back from the kitchen. She simply said, she told the kitchen and that's best she can do. Really? I wasn't expecting much from them but this is pretty lame response. I just wanted some explanation on their part. I also talked to their manager, James, and asked for his explanation. I didn't get much further with this guy since he was unwilling to do much about it. He said kitchen would of remove the fat for me but that option wasn't offered to me either. I am bit shocked of their responses and feeling amazed of how little they know about the essence of service. I would of walk over to In N Out few streets down and spend less than $5 and they will go above and beyond to adjust any complain we might have. I just dropped close to $40 on this less than average meal and they are completely unwilling to make any type of adjustment is shocking to me. I hate people (especially the ones they are related to the restaurant) purposely give good reviews to make this restaurant appear even half decent from outside. More over time, this type of joint will not last and true...

Joon Shabu has officially won me over! 5 stars! Some important details and highlights of my meal were:

Parking: Across the street or in the alley way. Across the street will cost you $0.75 an hour (takes coins or card) but the alley has very limited spots.

Crowd/ambiance: Can get very busy especially on the weekends or dinner time. We came right before the dinner rush today and were seated in 10 minutes. There are two U shaped table arrangements so no individual seating. If you don't like being close to randoms while eating, this is not your spot. You'll definitely rub elbows with your neighbor so get comfortable.

Food: Very fresh and I left feeling very full/nostalgic. I ordered the Ippai ribeye (Ippai meaning plentiful) which is $20 all day and night. Our server mentioned it weighing a little less than 1/2 a pound of meat so be ready to chow down. What set this shabu place apart from the rest were the sauce options. If it's your first time visiting, your server will let you try out 5 of their sauces: Umami, Goma, Soyo, Ninnku and Ponzu. My recommendations are the Soyo and Ponzu because they complimented my beef so well. Another cool factor is that you can choose between ramen or udon noodles.

Service: On point. The manager even told our party that a server is stuck in traffic so it'll be a bit slow. Although everyone was running around with their heads cut off, the service was still friendly and genuine. Yes, the service was slow but I was appreciative that I was informed ahead of time rather than after the fact.

And for the ladies: There is floss, tampons, pads, hairspray, body lotion and makeup remover in the women's restroom. This is especially helpful when on a date :)

I only wish I lived closer to Joon. I drove 30 minutes to try this spot out and I wasn't disappointed. Definitely coming back the next time I'm...