The Most Flavorful Hot Pot in Honolulu

Asuka Nabe + Shabu Shabu

★★★★☆ 4.3 (642) • $$

"Excellent service and wide variety of selections, especially for vegans. It's also BYOB. Make a reservation via calling in advance!"

Hot Pot Heaven - Kailua

★★★★★ 4.8 (125) • $$

"I just came here for a visit with my family of five, and we all thoroughly enjoyed the food! This place is pay-per-plate (not all you can eat), and the total for our party of five ended up being around $85 before tip.We got the Thai Broth at level 5/10 spice and the Miso Broth (not spicy). Most of the party enjoyed the Thai Broth more, but the Miso is also great and preferable for people who do not want spice. Both broths already came with a few additions to the soup. For example, the miso had some tofu and seaweed in it.For meats, we enjoyed the ribeye more than the brisket, but both were good. We also ordered chicken breast and shrimp (comes whole and in the shell). We also got lots of yummy veggies and fresh noodles from the self-serve fridge.Honestly, I like this restaurant more than Shabuya at Ala Moana Mall. The broth here was rich and flavorful, the meats were good quality, and the restaurant had a small homely feel. Our server was very friendly and helped walk my parents through what to do since it was their first time at a hot pot restaurant. I look forward to returning in the future!"

Aunty’s Hotpot House

★★★★★ 4.7 (400) • $$

"Service and food is always 100%I love eating at places that you walk in and feel welcomed like you're family. Their broth is always spot on.Will always be our #1 spot for our whole family to enjoy. Don't even get me started with the dessert. Trust me, Aunty's will not disappoint!"

Kogi Aina

★★★★☆ 4.4 (356) • $$

"I came out of Yelp retirement because I'm so irritated by my recent experience.I've patronized this restaurant several times years ago and it easily could get 5 stars. We returned recently and it was pretty awful in terms of service and being empty on a weekend evening was telling. We arrived a little before their happy hour ended and the waitress said she would honor their early bird prices so we ordered our first round. Upon receiving our bill, we were charged full price so we went up to ask and the waitresses said the lady in charge (kitchen) said because we ordered after their happy hour we had to be charged the full price?! Never was that disclosed on the menu not in person because we would've ordered everything the first time! It felt very shady.Food was fresh and good but the service was lacking even beyond that bill incident."

Ichiriki Japanese Nabe

★★★★☆ 4.1 (981) • $$

"Haven't been to Ichiriki for a while and felt like eating hot pot so my friend & I decided to go for Happy Hour. I made a reservation for 8pm and surprisingly they were pretty crowded even at that time. We both got their melon soju drink that was strong but good. For pupus we got the cucumbers & calamari. The cucumbers were simple with salt, chili peppers, & sesame but tasted sooo good. I need to try making that at home. I ordered the happy hour nabe set & got a side of fish cake. And I got the pirikara broth. Everything was so tasty and hit the spot!After we were done eating, we talked about how good everything was especially because we hadn't been there for so long. I usually like to try new places and not go to the same ones over and over, but I wouldn't mind coming back again soon!"

Hot Pot Heaven Pearl Kai

★★★★☆ 4.4 (17) • $$

"The Hubby and I have found our new favorite hot pot place! Shabu shabu yes! All you can eat shabu shabu for $27. EVEN BETTER!Hubby and I came here for a late lunch, and found only another couple there. Turns out, they recently opened up about 2 weeks ago, but with this place being as good as it is, I don't think it will be slow for long. We were told by the owners that they will be adding new menu items next Monday (4/19/21). So I guess I will have to stop by next week.With AYCE shabu set you order the meats through the server, then they call you up for the veggies and sauce they serve and plate it for you. All you do is point and tell them what you want and how much of it and they put it on a plate. There was a good selection of veggies, noodles, and add ons.We got the miso-shoyu broth because it was listed as a favorite and it was delicious! Our server asked if it was our first time there, and we told him it was. So he replied ok I'll get you 2 of all the meat for each of you. It's like he read our mind because that's what we wanted. I'm looking forward to the new items they will be having soon. We will definitely be going back again and again."

Chong Qing Hot Pot

★★★★☆ 4.4 (255) • $$$

"Personally this is my favorite hotpot location.They tend to be quite busy the past couple of times I have visited to keep that in mind. I tried to call ahead of time to ask to put my name down but they said we had to come in to sign into the waitlist. When we got here we were given an estimate of 15-30 minutes. However, less than 5 minutes later we were seated.Very pleased with the experience. With such a large restaurant they're bound to small details such as your water, but if you ask they're quick to fill it right up. When we ordered we made an accidental mistake for one of the broths and we asked politely to change it and they happily obliged with no problem.The process is straightforward, when you are seated you're given a piece of paper where you will order with (including the broths). You get 3 rounds. Under each round you can put the quantity of that item. Don't be shy when you put the quantity of the meats down, the images I have included was orders of 4 and then 6 (of each meat in separate rounds) it looked like the exact same to be honest. Self Serve Station:This is where you can get your sauces designed to what you desire. They also have small sides such as various fruits (ex: pineapple, cantaloupe), seaweed salad, peanuts, shrimp chips, and mini fried mandoos (last time it was sesame balls) (with condensed milk). Ordered:I got the spicy marrow broth. It is my go-to and super flavorful. - Supreme Beef: Delicious, MUST order- Beef Short Plate: A bit on the gamey side compared to the supreme beef, we almost mistook it as the lamb. Personally a bit too fatty for me as well. Would order just smaller quantity- Supreme Lamb Shoulder Plate: Also gamey as expected but it was perfect and expected if you enjoy the lamb flavor.I tried many things but the must orders beyond the meats for me are: - Shrimp paste with roe- Fish ball with roe- Wood ear mushroomsI would really recommend to not be shy when ordering and try what you'd like as you have only 3 rounds to order and the quality of each order is very small (eg: 1 order of shrimp paste is like 1-2 singular shrimp paste ball)."

Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (111) • $$

"I've been obsessed with hot pot lately. I am mostly writing this review so that I remember to come back here on my next visit. I first encountered Hawaii Pot in a mall in Kaneohe, but was too full to eat, I later realized this was a local chain and it had 5 other locations. I begged to be taken here to eat as I have never encountered a hot pot place that has hot pot with a salad bar type set up, I now know this is a thing, but its not readily available where I live. This one is all you can eat, you pick your broth, order your meat (if you want), but then get everything else yourself out of the salad bar and fridge located next to it, sauce bar too. I love that I don't have to have 15 lotus root slices, when I only want two, it feels like so much less waste and you get exactly what you want. I really appreciate that they have a broth called healthy vegetarian, it's great when you don't have to guess if something is suitable for specific diet types. I also now only like hot pots with sauce bars as I have discovered that I prefer my broth to be perfected to my own taste palate. I must have garlic, cilantro and vinegar. I also prefer places where you get your own individual pot and don't have to stress with split pots, etc. All you can eat price seems reasonable for lunch. This seems like it would be a great place for a fun meal with friends. My partner complained that hot soup is not suited for Hawaii weather, but I disagree and seems many others did too, since this place was busy in the afternoon. I walked out of the restaurant and immediately started searching to see if a similar type set up existed in my home state. I can't wait to come back here on my next trip. Plus it seems I'll be able to access this easily no matter where I am on the island. My only complaint it that no one offered me more broth, but I probably didn't really need to eat anymore food. Also hot pot is super messy for me, please offer additional napkins"

Hot Pot Heaven

★★★★★ 4.7 (269) • $$

"First time at this hot pot restaurant, the place was quiet, being a Tuesday at 5.Server explained the process, pick your broth, meat, and vegetables. Price based on number of items and type.We chose 2 different broths to create our soup with. The Thai and beef broth, as you can see from photo there is a divider in bowl.It was interesting to create our own soup and place our items in it. We picked ribeye, noodles, bok choy and mushrooms.Both broth choices were were good with the beef being more like what we were use to. I took home what was left of Thai broth to create my own soup.The server was friendly and fast. We enjoyed our experience. The ambience was was tidy and clean."

Chong Qing Hot Pot Waikiki

★★★★★ 4.5 (29) • $$$

"The restaurant was big and clean. The service was fast and good. The food was fresh and quality was decent. All check marked!I also liked that it was BYOB for now. We brought a bottle of Prosecco and that went perfectly with the meal.I'll definitely be back here. We only had hot pots, but would like to try the bbq as well next time."

Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House

★★★★☆ 4.2 (36) • $$$

"Five stars for the lunch special! It comes with your choice of meat and 6 items. I love this lunch special since I cannot get my money's worth with all you can eat. The spicy broth is delicious and there's lots of choices for veggies and sauces. The service is friendly and quick. I love that it's conveniently located in Windward mall. The restaurant is comfortable and relaxing during lunch time. I'm going back to try all the broths!"

Rokkaku Hamakatsu

★★★★☆ 4.1 (387) • $$$

"Classy place - nice ambiance, good service and delightful food. Dined here during the time I had visited my Dad in mid January 2025. The last time that I had some legit tonkatsu was at Tamafuji during Aug. 2024, but that place is impossible to get a reservation, so you just have to show up when they open at 4 or 5pm, wait around for a spot and chance it. This spot is open all afternoon.My Dad told me about Rokkaku Hamakatsu for a while and said their tonkatsu is pretty similar to Tamafuji and I agree it's very close - but not quite at the same level. Rokkaku's tonkatsu doesn't come in different sizes and although it looks like a decent size when it's first served to you, upon closer inspection, it's a bit smaller and thinner. Still, their tonkatsu is juicy and tender - definitely, they're using some high quality Berkshire pork, here. Similar to Tamafuji, you grind your own sesame seeds. Unlike Tamafuji, though, you do have to pay extra here for rice and miso soup, and there are no pickled veggies / ume / gobo served on the side. All things considered, I could see how Tamafuji is better in terms of the overall value and quality of the food. However, if you're not wanting to wait around for who knows how long at Tamafuji and want a classier place to dine at and one that's more conveniently located with much more parking, then Rokkaku Hamakatsu is a better choice. I'd for sure return to dine at this spot. It all depends what you want, are willing to put up with, and wait for."

Ichiriki

★★★★☆ 4.2 (879) • $$

"Came in to take advantage of the lunch specials (see attached pic). It's a pretty good deal all around. Service was however, exceptionally slow. Nothing against our server. He apologized for the wait so I believe it was because of the kitchen getting the plates together. Also this was not the first time where we were seated and the lunch special menu was not handed out to us when we were first seated. The menu is on the front door, but has not been included with the regular menus so check the front to see if it's still being offered. Food is still fresh and plentiful."

Nabeya Maido

★★★★☆ 4.4 (540) • $$

"Ok, so my A1C was borderline diabetic, so I immediately made changes to my diet - low carbs/low sugar. I've been packing the protein wherever whenever I can. I started seeing a nutritionist who specializes in keto diet - I'm trying my best! I've lost 10 lbs and my A1C has come down a couple tenths! That's progress!! It's easier when you have easy keto choices like Dr. Jodi's (Keto Prescription) Keto Bowl at Nabeya Maido in Mo'ili'ili on King Street. It is fresh and tasty goodness with added pork and meatballs, bok choy, Shirataki noodles, and that broth (ohhhh, that broth!!) - yessss!!! Dr. Jodi partnered with Nabeya Maido to make this bowl just for us keto peeps! More restaurants need to do that because if they do, I will be there!! Mahalo nui loa, Nabeya Maido and Dr. Jodi - more please!!Go check out Nabeya Maido and their yummy menu for this and other ono food!"

Hawaii Pot Shabushabu House

★★★★☆ 4 (544) • $$$

"I've been coming here for years, and my picture is still on the wall! Even after moving off the island, I make sure to visit every time I'm back. My family loves making me jealous with photos of their meals here .The hot pot is always amazing , and the service is so kind. I'll definitely be back again! Recommended broth: ThaiTomYum"

Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House

★★★★★ 4.5 (73)

"Great food and wonderful service. We had a very pleasant birthday celebration. Definitely a place I will revisit!"

Pho One Kapolei

★★★☆☆ 3.1 (453) • $$

"I like the music selection in the background, Vietnamese pop music. Also the French baguette with the banh mi sandwich was perfectly done. Lemon beef salad was not too spicy for me . Great service from our server, Henry. I would return again for another meal to try more dishes :)"

Honolulu Hotpot Hale

★★★★★ 4.6 (219) • $$$

"Great hotpot experience with fresh vegetables and tofu! The Spicy Sauerkraut Broth was the favorite amongst my dining companion. We also enjoyed the sweet sesame dip as well as the lime vinegar dip.A must visit when you are in the Ala Moana area!"

Yakiniku Sizzle

★★★★☆ 4.2 (149) • $$

"So...I didn't quite anticipate much coming into Yakiniku Sizzle, but boy did the expectations kind of play out a ton better than I thought it did.This place screams 'Japanese' from the decor to the menu...and I liked that.I ended up ordering the Beef Tongue Stew lunch plate, which, price-wise, for almost $20 (with tax), it might have been a bit pricey. But...because it's beef Tongue, I think it's understandable why it's priced that way.It really deliverered for sure. I never had beef Tongue before, and yet having tastes it, I have to say...it wasn't that bad. Super tender and the sauce really was delicious. Might have been the best thing I ate at a Japanese restaurant by far.Would I come back there again? Absolutely. Even though the place is pretty small, it definitely is a great place to consider if you're looking for something to eat that's kind of "out there" for sure."

Hot Pot Heaven

★★★★☆ 4.2 (719) • $$

"Amazing food and service! Located in McCully Shopping Center, there was ample parking. I came here with 2 friends and sat down immediately with no reservation.You start by ordering your broth and meats. We got the Thai broth which was delicious! It was acidic and a little sour which made it refreshing and easy to eat. As for meats we tried the ribeye, pork belly, and brisket. Each portion was a decent size.Everything else can be grabbed from the fridges and DIY sauce bar. There was a variety of vegetables and starches with classics like cabbage and unique items like bitter melon. We loved the quail eggs and Korean rice cakes! Such a fun and delicious experience we will definitely be back again!"

Kamitoku Japanese Hotpot

★★★★★ 4.5 (180) • $$

"The 4 stars is for the hot pot pork belly. I got number 3. With sukiyaki broth. I liked the broth a lot since it was on the sweeter side. I tried my friend's broth and both were yummy. I wish it was a little more veggies. The menu was 12.50 but u think the lunch special is 9.99 which is a good deal. They offered more broth but we were done and one of us had a piece of meat left. I think they offered more broth because it was burning and it started to smell in there. A feel like healthy meal. I enjoyed it alot but my husband got a set and didn't like it as much as the hot pot. He said it was average. I felt it was above average. Hence the 4 stars. See my photos."

Rinka

★★★★☆ 4.1 (520) • $$

"We had the pleasure to re-visit one of our old favorites recently. Rinka has been a Kakaako area staple for 5 or 6 years now, and we love coming here, as well as their take-out only Bento Rinka location on Beretania street.The restaurant is open and brightly lit, and service is prompt and polite.They have a variety of beer, sake and a selection of cocktail and hard liquor as well. Coffee, tea and soft drinks are also available.We particularly like their lunch specials, which consist of a choice of entree with miso soup and chawanmushi (a savory Japanese custard) plus a choice of two small sides.Prices for the lunch specials range from $18-20 for croquette or tonkatsu with most in the $30 up to $40-plus for more extravagant choices like sushi and sashimi entrees. Alternately, if you really feel like going over the top, the chef's selection sushi set meal can reach $60 or more for the deluxe assortment.The dinner menu includes most (if not all) of the lunch entrees as well as an expansive selection of other items for both teishoku sets and a la carte items. Additional selections like hamburger steak, yakiniku, various hot pots, sukiyaki or assorted teishoku sets. For dinner, the more modest sets start in the $35-$45 range, topping out in the $65-$75 area for the top tier sushi and sashimi selections. They also have an extensive a la carte menu of sushi, sashimi and more; I'd say that almost every entree choice from the dinner set menu is available as an a la carte selection as well.The food quality is always top notch, and I would say they're amongst the best Japanese restaurants on Oahu in terms of bang for the buck. You could easily pay more for this qualify of food, but there are few places in this place range that are as good."

Rokaru Shabu Shabu

★★★★☆ 4.2 (540) • $$$

"Attentive service and that's really appreciated at an all-you-can-eat restaurant. The AYCE menu has a great selection and variety of appetizers, meat, soups, veggies, rice and noodles and there's even a premium option that increases tour choices. It also comes with dessert. And if you're not looking for a buffet of choices, they have several different sets to choose fromThe quality of meat is stellar and I would pay them another visit in the future. The seating and tables have ample space and you won't feel cramped.Definitely make reservations as they can get busy, but we risked it and were seated right away.Plenty of parking out front in the Waimalu lot."

Pho 97 One

★★★★☆ 4 (220) • $$

"Pho 97 One is my partner and I's favorite pho spot, and he's from Washington so he knows his pho. Conveniently located in the Waimalu Plaza, this hole in the wall is almost always busy and for good reason. You can never go wrong with their pho tai with rare steak. Each table has an assortment of sauces and chilis for you to use to your heart's, and stomach's, desire. Service is hit or miss on the friendliness scale but I've never had an overall bad experience.Pro tip: ask for the rare steak on the side so you can cook it in the broth yourself and determine how well-done you want to enjoy it!"

Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (462) • $$

"A fellow foodie who I've known for over 10yrs via Yelp Hawai'i recently moved from 808 to 702 and our foodie group wanted to get together one last time before she flew out. She chose Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House (HPSSH), located on the 1F of 808 Center.HPSSH opened back in 2007 with the concept of combining Chinese and Japanese cooking styles. Basically they offer hot pot and you can also cook your meats shabu shabu style. For you big eaters out there, HPSSH is AYCE that offers unlimited, assorted fresh ingredients, including various kinds of noodles, proteins, and locally sourced vegetables. Dining here is quite simple: 1) select your soup base; 2) pick your meats; 3) pick items off their conveyor belt and their chiller refrigerator; and 4) create your personalized sauce at the sauce bar. There was an impressive list of soup bases and was so tempted to try their coconut chicken but ended up "chickening out" as I was afraid the broth wouldn't appeal to me. I then asked my foodie friend for her suggestion as she's been here before. I followed suit by also ordering their tom yum soup broth. You get to order 2 plates of meat each time, where I started off with beef ribeye and lamb. I then made my way to the chiller and was impressed with a large selection of proteins, mostly raw seafood, dumplings and hot pot favorites. My eyes locked on book tripe, which I absolutely enjoy. I also got some whole shrimp, fishcake tofu, stuffed fish balls and bean curd sticks. While my broth was boiling, I made my way to their sauce bar and was so happy to have found Chinese ginger and onion sauce. I added a whole bunch of chopped Chinese parsley, chili oil and for a spoonful of their house special sauce. I headed back to my table and added the fishcake tofu, stuffed fish balls, bean curd sticks, as well as fresh mushrooms and long rice that I got off the conveyor belt. When my broth came to a boil, I started to add the sliced raw meats and ate. I was impressed of their food quality and me being able to control my meat temperature. I hate overcooked meats as I'm not a fan of dry proteins. My dipping sauce paired well and I was a happy camper. I was also impressed with the large bowls of snow crab legs but because it's a hassle to eat and didn't want to get my hands all dirty I passed on them. I made the mistake of sipping the broth as it was super, super HOT. I semi burnt my tongue. Aiyah!!! Should have known better. The book tripe was delicious, as well as whole shrimp where I ended up eating the shell and all. They also offer rice, which I declined as to save stomach space.Service was a little spotty. The wait staff on the floor are non-English speaking natives where there was some confusion and disconnection during our meal. They were blunt with explanations and a little aggressive which I didn't really care for. Although I enjoyed my experience, I did find the layout of the restaurant somewhat awkward with narrow walkways. Foot traffic was passing our table and because I sat on the outside, I could feel motion on my right arm as someone passed me.Overall, a great first experience as I was able to see my friend one last time before she relocated to 702. Food was tasty and I wouldn't object returning, especially with our weather getting cooler, which would be great for hot pot/shabu shabu."

Hawaii Pot Shabu Shabu House

★★★★☆ 3.7 (117) • $$$

"Hawaii Pot is litterally my favorite hot pot places on the island! My family and I usually come several times a month because we enjoy it so much. We've come so often that the staff knows our order the moment they see us come through the door. Their staff is very friendly and try to accommodate everyone that comes in. Their service is very on point. Every time I have empty dishes on my table, whoever is walking by automatically gets it off the table. They're quick to make sure you have drinks and refills as well. The environment is nice. I love the conveyer belt concept vs having to walk to the fridge. But their "transformer" train that drops off the meat and other items, straight to your table is my favorite. It makes me want to order more items just to see it come by. I always compare their sauce station to other hot pot sauce stations (I still think Hawaii Pot's sauce station is better and have more variety). Their meats are very good as well (pork belly is always my favorite). I always have to have the green tea ice cream for dessert. It's nice that this location is in the mall because we eat so much that walking it off helps for the drive home. Overall, I highly reccomend trying this place out!!!! The price is reasonable, service is spectacular, they just added all you can eat snow crab (my fav!!!), and they're great at remembering their regular customers"