Shabu Day — Restaurant in University City

Rating Reflection: 🌟🌟🌟My quest for an outstanding hot-pot experience in Metro-St. Louis brought me to Shabu Day, where the experience was, well, “Ok”.

Decor Ambiance: 🖼️📺Shabu Day’s ambiance is a mixed bag. The decor is somewhat basic, with standard tables and chairs. A unique touch is the vibrant K-Pop videos playing on the TV - a treat for K-Pop enthusiasts, but it might feel repetitive for others. The standout feature for me was the captivating flower mural painted on a black wall. Yet, the establishment’s exterior can be misleading, with cloudy windows that almost give an impression of being closed.

Service Quality: 🙋‍♂️Service at Shabu Day was par for the course - nothing exceptional, but also nothing to fault. It was the kind of service that meets your needs without adding any remarkable flair to the dining experience.

Culinary Experience: 🥘🥢The culinary offerings were somewhat underwhelming, especially considering the price point. The meats for the hot-pot, including the USDA Prime Brisket and Premium Beef Sirloin, were of average quality. The broths, particularly the Sukiyaki, were a highlight, offering a savory indulgence. Standard toppings like egg, greens, and mushrooms were present, but I found myself yearning for something more to justify the cost.

In Retrospect: 🤔Shabu Day presents a fair hot-pot experience with elements that cater to specific tastes, especially K-Pop fans. The decor has its moments of charm, and the food, while adequate, leaves room for improvement in terms of variety and value.

Final Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐ - “Ok”“A Mixed Pot of Flavors and Ambiance at Shabu Day.”

Shabu Day is for those seeking an average hot-pot experience with a unique K-Pop twist. It’s a place where you’ll find the essentials of a hot-pot meal but might find yourself desiring a bit more in terms of food quality and overall...

Shabu Day: A Random Find That Turned Into My New Favorite Obsession

Sometimes you stumble upon a place so good, you question if it’s a dream—or a divine intervention. That’s how I felt when I walked into Shabu Day. This wasn’t planned; I wasn’t on a mission for greatness. I was just hungry and Googled “food near me.” What I found was a treasure chest disguised as a hole-in-the-wall restaurant.

The vibe? Unmatched. It’s the kind of spot that whispers, “You’re about to have the best meal of your life,” as you walk in. The atmosphere is cozy without being cramped, like your coolest friend’s living room (if they could cook food this good).

The food? Incredible. For the price, it felt like I was robbing the place. Seriously, I was mentally preparing myself for a higher bill because it tasted too good to be this affordable. I’m still not sure how they pulled that off—maybe they’ve got some culinary wizard back there with a cauldron.

I’ll be honest, Shabu Day feels like one of those places you accidentally tell everyone about, then regret it because now you can’t get a table. But I’m gonna risk it because this place deserves ALL the love.

10/10 would go again, and honestly, I’m already planning my next visit. If you haven’t been yet, stop reading this and get there. Trust me—future you...

Just a heads up, you will be cooking all the food yourself(or one of the members of your party) in a pot of broth. If this not what you signed up for, then this is not for you! The tables have a hot plate surface in the middle. The menu tells you to choose 2 broths and 2 meats. The server brings out the pot for the broth, which is divided into 2 sections. The menu is not very informative. It only tells you to choose 2 broths and 2 meats. It does not tell you the other food that comes with the all you can eat. In addition to the meat, you also get a plater of a couple leafy green vegetables, some type of dumpling, tofu, mushrooms and ramen. They provide you with tongs and a small strainer to put the food into the broth to cook it. The bowls they give you for the food are very small. It’s hard to get the broth out of pot, since they only give you a strainer and tongs. A ladle would be very helpful. They also provide chopsticks to eat with, and a spoon. There are 3 types of sauces at the table you can add to your food, and a platter you can pour the sauces in. The broths have great flavor. If you need more of anything you just ask. Also it is very very steamy in the restaurant. There is not a lot of parking so I parked in a gas station/mechanic parking...