Shabu Plus Rotary Hot Pot Wicker Park

We went here to celebrate a family member me birthday party! We were seated immediately- we were there on a Sunday late afternoon. All of us chose the mushroom sukiyaki base and selected the ultimate (have more selection of meats and snacks). The rotary belt of hot pot items were a treat to see! Favorites: taro, cheesy tofu, tong ha, all the mushrooms

As someone who loves shabu shabu I was so excited to try somewhere I haven't tried before. We went on a Sunday night, it looked like a full house but we were seated as soon as we got there which was nice. As soon as you walk into the restaurant it's just a vibe. Decorated beautifully, the murals of classic anime characters and the transformers thrown in there too, the light fixtures, the manga panel, all of it was stunning.After being seated they let us know exactly how it works, I love the fact that you can order meats straight from the tablet and not have to wait for a server to check on you to order meat. We ended up getting the adventure course, but there are 3 ayce courses to choose from. The sauce bar was also perfect, there was everything and more that you can want. My go to favorite will always be Sesame sauce with a little garlic and a lot of green onions. There was also fruit next to the sauce bar which was a pleasant surprise. Fun fact: they have rice! You just gotta ask since it's not on the menuEvery worker we came across was friendly and super helpful with answering any questions we had and I really appreciate that. We'll definitely be coming back with a few friends.

My family was visiting the area and decided to try this shabu place. It was a large restaurant and there was way parking out front. The staff greeted us and asked if we had been there before. They explained the options and pricing as well as how it worked. We sat down at a table and the server made sure to explain to us how to order as the meat selections and desserts were on a tablet that gets sent to the kitchen. You can also call the server if you would prefer to order that way or need anything else. They had good broth options and they were knowledgeable about gluten free options for the broth and other items. We ordered several meat options each time on the tablet and they arrived quickly on a cute train that ran next to the table. There was also the conveyer that had all of the veggie and appetizer options. It appeared they were constantly refilling as items were being taken as there was never a shortage of options. They also had a wide selection of sauces at the bar. The service and food were both great. If I could say there was one thing I wished they had was a wider selection of meats. Most shabu also have lamb and they did not. Despite this I recommend trying this place as we really enjoyed the experience here.

I loved this hotpot location. First off, you get your own hotpot which was great. I've been to another location where you and your guests share the hotpot... but this is wayyyy better. You get to choose how you want your broth (spicy, pork broth, etc). You get to choose what ingredients you put in your hotpot (meats, veggies, spices) and its about $40 bucks a person (minus tax&tip) for the ultimate selection where you get unlimited meats, chicken, shrimp, veggies, tofu, etc. so many possibilities. And you also get dessert. The drinks besides water and an extra charge. The veggies and other sides come in a rotary! The meats and seafood are dropped off by Optimus Prime lol. Did I mention their services is fast!! Great service from both staff and Optimus, very clean place and music is on point. I would recommend Shabu for your hotpot experience.

Excellent service and delicious food. Prices are decent too. Kind of loud though depending on what day/time you go to the restaurant.

Fun acye hotpot experience for the kids with trains and trucks bringing the meat. It's a bit pricey unless you go between 1-3ish for a 15% discount. You choose which set of meats you want to determine price, and then place your meat orders whenever you want. All else is on the rotary belt and has an ok variety of options of veggies, fish cake, noodles, etc. They have mochi ice cream, fruit, and fried donut for dessert. Keep in mind they do actually time you and place limits on eating time, which is more strict than other places, but we we're still able to eat enough despite having to feed kids the whole time. I would primarily return for the experience for kids.

What a fun experience! Did a walk-in on a Friday night and managed to get a spot. They ask you at the front which AYCE option you want - there are 3 and we got the ultimate course which includes the new york strip and ribeye cuts and shrimp (in addition to meats in the lower tiers - beef brisket, chuck roll + chicken breast and pork). Once seated, we were assisted immediately with choosing our broth. We did the tonkotsu and the new spicy kimchi jiggae broth (which was a good level of spicy). You can order drinks and meat on an ipad at your table. All of the other hotpot items are located on the conveyer belt - noodles, veggies, mushrooms, tofu, etc! There was a wonderful selection. The sauce bar is off to the side of the restaurant and they had a well-rounded selection! The staff were helpful and friendly and i look forward to coming back!

Kaiten shabu!? Clearly this sushi restaurant turned hot pot spot has done really well for themselves.My friends took me here during a recent visit and it was great for someone like me that is plant-based. For $25 in the most affordable tier, I had access to a variety of fresh Asian veggies, tofu, and noodle options. All the options rolled around frequently so you are never short on options, and if you want to order meat, you can do so via the touch screen.A good hot pot spot also needs a fantastic sauce bar, and they are no stranger to the game. Excellent variety of toppings to build your own sauce along with a sliced fruit bar. My recommendation? Ponzu with green onions and garlic, or the shacha sauce with some chili oil.Only thing I'd recommend is for them to consider labeling the ingredients at the sauce bar of whether an item is gluten-free, vegan, nut-free, etc. I know seasoned folks will be aware but it would help others that are unsure or are having their first few experiences doing shabu.Service was also impeccable. They treated our group well and made sure to accommodate my friend's young kid. They checked in on us frequently and it was a wonderful experience.

I am a big fan of hot pot so when I stumbled upon this place, I had to try it. There is a lot of options for "sides" and it's fun that it comes on a conveyor belt so you can pick & choose what you want, whenever you want and not have to wait for waitstaff to bring it.There is different price points for various meats so you can't go wrong with that. My parents liked it so much that they are considering bringing the family here for Christmas.So go if you like to "play" with your food. Just make sure you bring your appetite!

Last dinner and review of 2023! Came here for NYE dinner and wasn't disappointed! They don't take reservations, but we were quoted at 25 mins and got in earlier than that. The space is quite nice, and for smaller parties, you're likely sat at the single communal table instead of a booth. We've been to hot pot before, but our waiter explained how everything works pretty quickly. Ordering is easy, and it was convenient being able to see how big the portion sizes are for the veggies/sides before grabbing them to reduce potential leftovers. We stuck with mostly the beef, tofu, and some veggies. Over the years, I've learned that while I can never eat enough to break even on the AYCE cost, the best way to go about it is less carbs and more meat. The meat was pretty good quality too, so I was happy with that. The fried tofus and rice cakes are always nice to add some variation, and I enjoyed the tomato broth here. They have a few desserts on the menu (specifically the second tier of AYCE options) and we ordered a couple of mochi ice creams and two of the mango crepe cakes. We finished earlier than our 90 minutes and were encouraged to order more if we wanted to, but we decided to not overdo it or bring in the new year knocked out from a food coma haha. Would definitely come back here again as it's close to home and the experience felt a bit nicer than our usual go-to hot pot place! Pro tip, My 10/10 sauce combo at every hot pot place: Minced garlic, ponzu sauce, sesame oil, black vinegar