I have been going to this place ever sense the chinese hotpot closed down across the plaza and I loved the food there when the first owner was running the place he was a great guy and I really enjoyed hanging out with friends there and the food was very good Quality Sauces and food.

Then Harry took over at first the Quality went way down and yes I can see how one would think of him as not really caring but in his own way I think he does care but he has to change the Ponzu and Seaseme Sauce they are of poor quality and do not help the taste of the beef!! Also Don't let Harry put the Dave's Insanity Hot Sauce in your bowl!!! HAHAAH

I still take my friends there and enjoy the food but not nearly as often due to the changes that have been made but I still enjoy they place.

Also I found a place in Torrance close to my Girls house and this place has the best tasting beef I have ever had ITS THAT GOOD its consistant but the service could use help but HEY its the tasty!!

Enjoy,
Kendo
- Kendo

Fun and Hot
An enjoyable dining experience. I love the freshness and overall festive atmosphere. Beef lovers enjoy!
Recommended: Choice Prime
Food: 8
Service: 10
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 10
- Fun and Hot
- UC Irvine

BUGS BUGS BUGS
I wrote this review because the owner, Harry, has really made me angry. If you still decide to eat there after reading this, just check the soup at the end of your meal and look carefully at little things that float. Here is the story. I have eaten at this restaurant for several years now. The restaurant has been through 3 different owners, Harry is the 3rd. The first owner was a retired professor who taught interior design. He designed the restaurant himself. The first owner ran the restaurant very poorly. They used cheap ingredients and provided bad service. Their beef was so low quality that I could not get it to taste good no matter how rare I cooked it. As a result, they had no business after several months and eventually sold it. The second owner was a guy named Wayne. Wayne was awesome and I wish he had never left. Wayne used high quality meat and fresh vegetables. He also had a great personality and everyone liked him. He had this funny thing where he would say something twice, like “How’s it goin’ How’s it goin’” or “No problem. No problem.” The restaurant was my favorite shabu shabu spot and I told all my friends about it. Unfortunately, Wayne got a good offer and decided to sell it and move on. That was where the horror began. When Harry took the restaurant over I really hoped things wouldn’t change too much. But I was to be disappointed. Harry lowered the prices, but the attention to details as well. I noticed that my vegetables were slapped onto the plate instead elegantly sorted and my tofu came in retarded chunks instead of perfect squares. For me, I’d rather pay a bit more than have ugly food. The menu was redesigned and it was ugly. Harry posted extremely lame signs around the restaurant that read “Eat Beef, Not Cold Bait” on 8.5 x 11 white papers. He put up Polaroid pictures of his customers and he wanted to put a big screen TV for sports (thank God that never went through; his cheap wife probably stopped him. Yes she’s cheap, but that’s another story.) Basically, the class of the restaurant turned to sh**, but I was willing to respect the changes since it is HIS restaurant and maybe he wants to go for a different atmosphere to target different customers. Most of Harry’s customers will probably describe Harry as a cool guy, but the smarter ones know Harry is phony. The guy tries to act like he is caring by asking questions like how is school, work, family, etc. But he will only give you about 20 seconds to respond and he’ll say something lame to end the conversation because he really doesn’t give a fuck, he merely mimics the behavior of a caring person. He goes to church every Sunday, and I have yet seen any character that is in parallel with the teachings of Jesus. And get this: when his waitresses (he doesn’t hire waiters) eat there during their lunch break, Harry deducts it from their tips. Call me crazy but I thought feeding your waiters and waitresses was considered common courtesy. This is where I officially decided I don’t like Harry. One day, when I was drinking the soup at shabu shabu, I noticed a tiny bug floating in my bowl. When I looked more carefully, I saw several more. This wasn’t my first time finding bugs in my food since Harry took over, but the AMOUNT of bugs I saw this time was unacceptable. Understandingly, I quietly showed Harry his bugs so other customers wouldn’t hear it. Harry, embarrassed, went into the kitchen to lecture the vegetable-washing-lady and that was his way of amending the mistake. He didn’t offer me free food for eating bugs; he didn’t even ask me if I wanted some green tea ice cream on the house. After that encounter, I was careful to examine my food before eating, and I gradually realized that Harry does not wash his vegetables properly because I found more bugs and even straight up dirt (soil) in many visits after. So I kept going back even though I don't respect Harry and the food is dirty. There were many times where I wanted to give Harry a piece of my mind but I didn’t think it was worth the convenience of having a good shabu shabu (taste-wise) near by. HOWEVER, the other day I was there for dinner with 4 of my friends. At the end of the meal when I was drinking my soup, I saw bugs again. Same bugs I’ve seen before, no surprises there, except this time in even more vast numbers. There was a bug holocaust in my bowl. I showed my friends the bugs and they promptly found the same bugs in their soup as well. So we let Harry know (quietly still), and the guy puts up the same act of “Oh noes that darn vegetable lady I am so angry at her blah blah.” Harry says to us “I’m really sorry guys I don’t know how I can make it up to you guys.” I replied to the lame apology, “Well in most restaurants when people find bugs in your food it usually means the meal is free.” Harry looks down at his feet for a second (as if that was too much to ask) and says, “We’ll call it free then.” He walks away and never came back to check on us that night. We put the tip on the table and left. Today I found out something amazing. Harry has told his waitresses to refuse service to me if I were to show up at the restaurant. This is amazing because I can’t believe I was gotten rid of instead of the bugs. It is also amazing because it is so ungrateful. I have brought countless people to his restaurant and I never once screamed in his restaurant “THERE’S BUGS IN MY SOUP.” This is how he repays my free word-of-mouth and understanding. I have had it. I will never go back to that restaurant as long as Harry owns it. So there you have it. Every word I’ve written is true; I can back up my story entirely. I have discovered a new shabu shabu restaurant and I will be happy to share its location with anyone who is interested in good shabu shabu with no bugs. me(at)truethoughts.net http://www.truethoughts.net/bugs/
Food: 8
Service: 6
Ambiance: 4
Overall: 2
- BUGS BUGS BUGS

The Greatest Shabu Shabu Ever!
I have tried Shabu Shabu at many places. But by far "The House of Shabu Shabu" is the best. The House of Shabu Shabu is the most reasonable priced Shabu Shabu in the city(maybe the country). I go about 2 times a week love the food. 9 ounces of meat(about 20+slices) not the usual 13 weak slices at other shabu shabu's. Let me tell you, "if you Love Good Beef then you will love this place." I always get the "Choice Beef". The sauces are the best I have ever tasted. Harry and his wife treat you like family. If you eat here, I believe you will agree with me.
Recommended: Choice Beef Large. Lunch-Dinner
Food: 10
Service: 8
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 10
- The Greatest Shabu Shabu Ever!
- USMC

Harry is Great!
My wife and I stopped by the center, actually to go somewheree else. Saw this place ...peeked in and saw Harry teaching guests sbout Shabu Shabu. We joined in, learned alot and made a friend. They serve both Prime, Choice grades Beef, which we had and was excellent. Offerings include Chicken, Seafood and shrimp as well as Veggie Shabu Shabu. All Preparations were fresh, clean and service was way above expectation. We will return and soon. TR Irvine
Recommended: Beef Shabu Shabu Lunch or Dinner
Food: 10
Service: 10
Ambiance: 10
Overall: 10