Shabu shabu is a hot pot dish that features meat, vegetables, tofu, and broth. Although this sounds like the ingredients of any soup, what sets this meal apart is how it’s eaten. If you’re going to try this dish for the first time, here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know.

What Is It?

Shabu shabu is a deconstructed soup. The broth is prepared, and the add-ins, like thinly sliced meats, noodles, and vegetables, are brought to the table raw. These ingredients are placed in the simmering broth to cook and absorb flavor.

Hot pot meals have been a staple of Japanese cuisine for centuries. The dish was invented in Osaka, Japan in the 1950s, and it quickly gained popularity, spreading across the world. Shabu shabu is a Japanese onomatopoeia for the swishing sound the meat makes while you cook it in the broth.

How Do I Eat It?

Since it consists of a large pot of food, this meal is ideal for sharing. Although the food is cooked in the communal bowl, you’re expected to ladle broth into a small, personal dish and use chopsticks to grab your fixings from the pot.

The most popular meat for shabu shabu is beef, but chicken, pork, and seafood are also enjoyed in the savory soup. Enoki mushrooms, carrots, tofu, and cabbage are other popular ingredients. Place the denser items, such as radishes and carrots, into the broth first as they’ll take longer to cook. Swish the meat in the soup to avoid overcooking it, and add delicate ingredients, like tofu, last as they’ll quickly disintegrate if left in the pot.

Restaurants typically offer a variety of sauces to dip your cooked food in. Common condiments include sesame, soy, and ponzu sauces. After dressing your piece of food, eat it with a bite of plain, hot white rice.

If you want to try this delicious dish, head to New Shilawon Korean Restaurant in Honolulu, HI. Since 1994, this local eatery has provided Oahu kamaaina and visitors with authentic dining experiences, like shabu shabu. Their hot pot set comes with premium beef rib-eye as well as a variety of fresh vegetables, such as tofu, cabbage, and green onions. View their menu online, or call (808) 944-8700 to make a reservation. Connect with the team on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates, or read the customer reviews on Yelp.