Mokkoji Shabu Shabu - Garden Grove

The shabu shabu here is quite good, but keep in mind it’s not an all-you-can-eat option, and the variety can be a bit confusing. Fortunately, the server was patient and took the time to explain the different choices. Everything is à la carte, and the portion sizes are just right, especially when paired with rice and pasta. The soup base was decent but not particularly unique, though I opted for the more expensive hot crab option, which had fresh meat. I wouldn't recommend getting appetizers; instead, it’s better to share an extra plate of meat.

Mokkōji is my favorite Shabu place! They offer a wide variety of broth options, but I always go for the miso or spicy miso. You could totally enjoy the broth by itself because it's fantastic! Whenever I eat at Mokkōji, I always order their toro bat, which is amazing! It comes with garlic and their special marinated sauce. I’m not sure what’s in it, but trust me, you won't be disappointed! I tend to order a generous portion when I visit. Each order includes a bowl of rice, a selection of vegetables, and two types of sauce. The vegetable bowl features Napa cabbage, bok choy, carrots, broccoli, enoki mushrooms, and tofu stamped with their logo (so cute!). There are a few more vegetables included, but those are the ones I enjoy. They have two types of sauce, but my favorite is the goma, which is sesame sauce, and theirs is the best I've had so far. I usually ask for two servings of goma because I love it so much! I highly recommend visiting Mokkōji for a non-AYCE shabu experience; you will not be disappointed!

Since the new staff, we have not been at this place for several months and have returned last night. not as crowded as usual, but still a good amount. most employees were new except a few old faces. once again phu was exceptional! he wasn't our waiter for the night, but he saw that I looked around on our waiter so he came to help. eating was as good as usual.

You can choose to have the meat marinated or unseasoned, but I definitely recommend the marinated option—it’s garlicky and full of flavor. They also offer a side of rice, a veggie plate, udon, and some ponzu and peanut sauce. They have hot drops available, but I tried one in the sauce once, and it was way too spicy for me (I generally only handle mild spices and Hot Cheetos for reference). If the heat level is too intense after trying the drops, you can ask to replace the sauce. This place operates a la carte, with no all-you-can-eat options, but I actually prefer it that way since it helps me appreciate the value of my money better. The prices are quite reasonable for the quality of food you get—it won't break the bank. The servers are also very friendly! I've recommended this place to all my friends, and nobody has ever been disappointed!

We had dinner at this restaurant last Saturday 09/03/22. Definitely it was not as great as we expected it to be from the Yelp reviews we read. Both the Sukiyaki broth and the original broth were just plain and disappointing. Nothing special. The meat was ok and the veggie oh the veggie was just seriously bad (see the photos). The dipping sauce only came with 2 flavors both tasted boring and disappointing. We do not recommend this restaurant.