Malaysians are spoiled for choice when it comes to hotpot options. To name a few:
- Hai Di Lao – known for their exceptional customer-oriented service (some outlets even provide manicures while you wait!)
- Beauty in the Pot – specializes in nourishing collagen soups that are purportedly good for the skin.
- Suki-Ya, an affordable halal Japanese hotpot chain.
With so many choices, there’s probably a hotpot chain for you out there, no matter the preference. But if an affordable price point and fresh food is what you’re looking for, then Shabu-Yo ticks all the right boxes.
One of the newer entrants to the Malaysian market, Shabu-Yo is Japan’s largest shabu-shabu chain with close to 300 stores in its home country. They opened their first outlet in Sunway Velocity back in 2020, then Sunway Pyramid a year later. Their third store in BBCC Lalaport Kuala Lumpur welcomed diners in April 2022 – and it was here that the Hubs and I stopped for a late lunch over the weekend.
Staff members are friendly and well trained. We were asked if it was our first time (yes) and then shown around to the different buffet sections before they brought us to our table.
The interior looks warm and cozy, and is designed to look like a traditional Japanese ryokan or eatery. The dining area is lit up by dozens of lights hanging from the ceiling, with booth seating, overarching wooden beams, and wooden partitions for privacy.
You order the meat from a tablet at your table. Just key in the quantities you want, place your order, and voila!
We got started with one of each item: pork collar, pork belly, chicken, and tsukune (a combination of minced pork and chicken served in a faux bamboo stalk. The pork meat was fresh and tasty, especially the pork collar which had a great balance of lean and fat. I also recommend the tsukune. I thought it would be dry, but it was soft, moist, and juicy. The chicken wasn’t as fresh though, so we had that one plate and only got pork refills afterward.
In Japan, raw egg is usually given as a dipping sauce when you eat shabu-shabu or sukiyaki. If you haven’t tried it, I suggest giving it a go! The heat of the meat fresh from the pot cooks the egg slightly, lending it a smooth, silky texture, while also elevating the flavours of the meat.
I was surprised at the quality of the ice cream. At most of the other hotpot buffets I’ve tried, their ice-cream tends to be more ‘icy’, with a higher content of ice than cream, almost like a sorbet. The version here, however, is creamy and rich, almost like McDonald’s ice-cream sundae.
Aside from ice-cream, they also have a waffle machine if you’re craving something more substantial.
All in all, I think Shabu-Yo is a great option for those looking for fresh food at a relatively affordable price. Selection wise, I don’t think they have a lot of items as compared to, say, places like WagyuMore, but what they do have is of excellent quality.
Our buffet lunch for two on a weekend cost about RM112, inclusive of taxes.
SHABU-YO
Lot G-78 & 79, Gourmet Street, Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Bukit Bintang, 2, Jalan Hang Tuah, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 12PM – 9PM (daily)
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