Nabe

Really good food and experience. The staff is very pleasant and the food was very tasty. For apps we got pork gyozas that were really really good.
For entrees we ordered the two miso broths and the kimchi broth. For meats we got the pork belly and shoulder and the kobe beef.
The shoulder tasted a bit too pork-​y for me but all the meat overall was very tasty.
Loved the rice pudding at the end with shallots and nori. 100% recommended, I will go back.

My family and I live in the neighborhood so come to Nabe regularly. We discovered it after my husband spent some time in Japan and came back looking for the best sukiyaki in San Francisco. Lo and behold it was just down the street from us! Awesome food, great service.

I know this place is highly reviewed on Unilocal and there was a lot of promise going in, but for some reason, neither me nor my dining friends seemed to enjoy what Nabe had to offer. Personally, I had the Sukiyaki which is the wagyu with Warishita broth. While the wagyu itself was tasty, the broth simply had either too many mushrooms or some other spice that made it too herbal. It was evocative of an herbal ginseng soup that my parents would make me drink. And considering that the broth is supposed to be the star of any hotpot, I was left disappointed-​the same story applied to my sister as well, who had the duck breast nabemono. We left unsatisfied and still hungry. If we’re ever in the San Fran area we would maybe try again-​but get something else entirely.

Nabe is one of my favorite spots in SF for Shabu! There was one week that I went here 3 times. I have tried the spicy miso, miso and sukiyaki broths. My favorite broth has to be the spicy miso! Everything is super fresh and high quality! The beef is very nicely marbled. My first time here, I made a big mistake with my cousin by over ordering and not saving any room for the rice porridge at the end. The duck breast is good to try but I am Not used to eating that for hot pot. By the way, they do take reservations for a party of any size so if you do not want to wait, make a reservation!

If you are craving for spicy miso then this place isn’t it. Their spicy miso doesn’t have a lot of flavor and wasn’t spicy. I do recommend the **Kamonanban, its served with duck breast, leek, soba with dashi broth. $ 29 dollars for the large. The broth was very good and especially great with the porridge they make for you with the remaining of the broth. Good flavor and very tasty. The duck was very soft and tender. Leave room for the free (duck) porridge. It was delicious!
We also started with some appetizers. **Kimchi Hiyayakko Cold Tofu. Refreshing and spicy.
**Kurobuta Gyoza With Chili Ponzu — They were tiny. Came with 6 of them. It wasn’t bad.
You are able to make reservations over the phone. Services was good. The staff was friendly. Small restaurant. Will come back for the duck but everything else was just okay. Everything else was kinda pricey.

Nabe is Japanese style shabu shabu, so don’t come here if you’re expecting Taiwanese hot pot. It’s different!
This is a pretty small and cozy joint so I would recommend making reservations like we did. The décor is cool with the sake bottles hanging on the walls. I looooove shabu shabu and I think Nabe does a pretty good job. They offer nabemono sets that come with your choice of a broth and a predetermined set of veggies. You can go ala carte too but I think the sets are where it’s at. I got the sukiyaki broth and my friends got the miso. I love sukiyaki and this was exactly what I was craving… it’s on the sweeter side. Don’t forget to dip your meat in the raw egg! Their ponzu sauce and sesame sauce are also AMAZING. I started to just eat then on their own with my rice. The Wagyu beef it came with was thinly sliced, very good quality and it was accompanied with assorted veggies + shirataki (yam) noodles. Our meal was ended with the zosui (rice porridge) made from the miso broth + green onions and nori (seaweed). It was really flavorful because the broth was so concentrated at that point so it could’ve been overpowering to some, but I enjoyed it.
It came out to around $ 20/​person without tax or tip so it is a little more expensive. That was with each of us ordering our own regular order and that was more than enough for me. You could try to order a large and share with 2 people if you have a smaller appetite. I just think shabu is less salty than hot pot which I like, but if you want AYCE or more options, you should probably look elsewhere.
I really have no qualms about this place, so 5 stars it is!

Get some really decent hot pot at Nabe, but you’ll feel like sardines in a can. The meat and broth was delicious, but navigating the dishes around made me feel like I was playing tetris again. The kurobuta pork and the sukiyaki were the standout items. While we had four pots total, I did not relish that we were only allowed to make rice porridge using our choice of one of the broths.

Nabe is definitely more expensive than AYCE chinese hot pot, but I think much like KBBQ, what you lose in quantity you gain in quality for about the same price. I think considering that I’m not a very big eater anyway, it ends up working out about the same for me.
Both times I’ve been here, I’ve split the large Kamonanban with my boyfriend. The first time we came here, it was fairly late and I remember the presentation of the hot pot was beautiful! The second time we were here it was around normal dinner hours and they were obviously much busier, and the presentation wasn’t as visually stunning. Luckily though both times tasted just as great. I really like how flavorful and rich their broth is. I always die a little on the inside when they scoop out the excess when making the final porridge at the end… haha! Anyway the Kamonanban is extremely satisfying. It won’t leave you totally stuffed, which is kind of a nice thing because then you can get dessert! The mochi cake with ice cream is simple but very satisfying. Definitely try it, especially if you’ve never tried mochi cake before!

My bf and I came here on a rainy day, wanting some nice hot soup to warm us up. While Nabe did just that, it really was pretty average and honestly not making a special trip back.
First things first, Nabe is not AYCE shabu, which is why my bf and I came here in the first place. However, I’d say that going for AYCE shabu would probably be a better bet moneywise. All in all, after tax and tip, a large serving of shabu was at least $ 20. AYCE is not too much more than that, and you would get way more food.
That being said, the food was satisfying but nothing special. I was definitely disappointed with the serving size. My bf and I were ravenous, and I think without the bowl of rice and gyoza we ordered, we would have been hungry after. The meat itself looked like it was a good quality and the soup was tasty. The shabu shabu also comes with veggies such as napa cabbage, spinach, mushrooms, squash, and udon noodles.
Service was a little on the slow side considering how slow it was in the restaurant (we were one of two parties dining during lunch). However, there was only one waitress, so I guess I could understand. She was nice, but could have been a bit more attentive given the relative slowness of the time (she was in the back most of the time).
If you’re from the city, you know how crazy parking can get around this area. Be prepared to round the block a few times and pull out a bunch of quarters.
Overall, not a bad place to eat, but not memorable either. I’d probably suggest an AYCE shabu place if a friend wanted to eat here.

Nabe is the perfect meal to have especially in the Sunset where it is normally cold. When I got there on a weeknight, there were already people waiting. Ideally it would be nice to wait inside, but there is limited waiting space inside. Use caution if you do wait inside as the door swings inward (I think this might be a fire code violation). Seating inside is tight and not ideal for large groups, unless you come right at opening.
I ordered the nabemono sukiyaki set, which is wagyu beef, shirataki (noodles) with warishita broth. The set comes with assorted vegetables and rice. Also got the spicy miso broth with an extra add on of pork and shrimp. The warishita broth was better than the spicy miso. The spicy miso was bland. I finished off my meal with the zosui. The zosui is like a rice porridge similar to Chinese jook. It’s packed with flavors since you are using the same soup base and all the ingredients that were cooked into your broth.
Service was excellent. The servers were attentive and kept our broth filled. To me that’s pretty important when having nabe or shabu.

I made a reservation the morning of without any hassle. I’m glad I did because it was pretty packed when I came.
My BF and I got the miso and Kim chi soups with veggies, mochi, pork belly and wagyu beef. It all tasted great! Afterwards you get to choose one soup to make into porridge for free. Also very yummy! It just sucks that you only get to choose one soup to make porridge with. We were with a group of four and we still only get one soup to make porridge. Boo.
Space wise, the restaurant is very narrow and pretty cramped so I wouldn’t recommend big groups and I def recommend making a reservation.
Tip: wear short sleeves because the poor ventilation made the hot pot experience even… hotter! The windows were so steamed up it reminded me of the scene from the titanic !

Come early or make reservation (no need to be days ahead, maybe just when they open), it is a pretty small place, so it does fills up pretty quickly, and the wait is usually longer!
I like Duck and Shabu Shabu (beef), plenty of vegetables and the meat are pretty fresh. A bowl of rice comes with the pot.
The Zosui (they use one of the soup base you have in your party to make porridge with eggs, rice, nori (seaweed) and green onions) is my absolutely favorite! I probably look forward to the zosui more than than the hotpot itself :3. If you think sharing someone else’s pot base is disgusting or not sanitizing, just remember to set up rules beforehand to use extra set of chopsticks or the end of the chopsticks when putting food in/​out of the pot? It is really delicious and you are missing out of not having it!!! If you just don’t like porridge, nevermind then: p
Some people might think the portion is kind of small, but remember to save your stomach space for the Zosui in the end!!! Also good with big group (just reserve ahead).

Floor-​to-​ceiling glass windows.
Pinterest-​worthy wall décor of sake in wooden case dispensers.
Water served in pink and blue frosted sake bottles.
Sleek modern furniture.
Wooden utensils.
The classiness of not smelling like kBBQ.
Enter Nabe, Inner Sunset’s suave shabu shabu place.
It’s a cool ambiance with a general bouge feel, but overall I found it lacking flavor and more pricey for what it’s worth. Yes it’s locally sourced organic etc., which unfortunately doesn’t translate to tasty. The broths were mediocre, and the portions were tiny (meat was sliced *paper-​thin*!) I think we ordered a beef and a pork thing and added some noodles and mochi, but I don’t remember exactly because it wasn’t all too memorable. The redemption factor was the yummy rice broth at the end that everyone raves about. Overall though, $ 20 later, we were all still hungry :(
I think Nabe would be the best for a girl’s night out (or maybe a date to impress a girl who really like ambiancey places). The food is nothing mind-​blowing, but you feel so SF eating overpriced organic shabu and sitting in a pretty restaurant with a crowd outside waiting for your table.

Upon entering this quaint restaurant, the sweet aroma just fills you up. I already fell in love with the flavors of the restaurant just from its scent. The four of us were seated in about half an hour even after we called in over an hour earlier to put our name down. The wonderful thing about this place is that the pot is great for two with an additional order of meat as my friend recommended. We ordered the Spicy Miso Shabu Shabu set ($ 20 regular/​$ 24 large) and the Sukiyaki set ($ 20 regular/​$ 24 large). Each of those came with assorted vegetables and an order of Wagyu beef. We ordered another two plates of Wagyu beef ($ 12 each regular) and Duck Breasts ($ 16 regular) as an add-​on. First of all, this place is pretty pricey, but the flavor and quality is absolutely worth the splurge.
Although I had the Spicy Miso pot, I also tried the Sukiyaki and absolutely fell in love with it. The sweet and salty flavor was unique and tasteful. I kept refilling my bowl with the soup to drink, yum. In the end, you also get to choose one of your soups to make into a porridge and of course we chose the Sukiyaki flavor. The porridge is mixed with rice, green onions, egg, and seaweed. I never knew it could taste so delicious! The food here is definitely something I’d be back for, but the service not so much. It took forever for us to be seated, forever to order, forever to get our checks so that’s where they lose a star. Also, it’s a very cramped and tiny restaurant, so not much moving room.

My friend introduced me and now I can’t stop going back. Nabe isn’t an AYCE hot pot place but it does offer high quality meats and delicious soup bases for the same price. Unlike many of the Chinese hot pot restaurants in the area, Nabe serves Japanese-​style shabu shabu. I love their spicy miso soup base and their wagyu beef is just amazing. I find their regular shabu shabu soup base a bit plain, but it could be just right for those who like a more clear broth with their hot pot. The porridge at the end is also quite awesome. They take the leftover soup and mix it with rice to give you a rice porridge. It tastes better with the more savory soup base so be sure to choose the soup of the friend with the more flavourful soup (it’s one bowl per 2 people and the kimchi based soup base tastes best with the rice in my opinion). The only problem my friends and I have is that sometimes there’s barely enough soup to mix with the rice cause we’ve used up so much of the soup to cook…
It does get quite cramped in the restaurant and you’re relegated to waiting outside (even in the cold) for a table. The wait can be insane at times by the way, so be prepared.
Some might find this expensive compared to the AYCE hot pots in the area. However, for the food quality, I personally think that it’s totally worth it and it’s all based on your preference of volume or quality.

I would first like to point out that the service here is great! I came here on a Monday night around 9:30pm and they close at 10pm, so I called to see if it was inconvenient if I came in near closing but the girl that answered the phone was super sweet and said that it would be okay! When I walked in around 9:30, I was actually shocked that I had a table for two already set up when I never asked for a reservation.
I must say that I had a really good experience here, quite different compared to many other hot pot places. The interior is so nice! I love that they decorated the whole restaurant with different types of Japanese sake. The ambiance of this place is so cozy with dim lighting, it’s perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a date, catching up with friends, or just casually getting some hot pot.
I had the large Sukiyaki, which included Wagyu beef, vegetables, and a side of rice shared between a friend and I. The broth was sweet, but overall it was flavorful and unique. My only complaint is that I wish they had more vegetables and sides in it! But overall, it was good and you can always have more broth filled if you need more! After finishing, our server offered to make us Zosui, which is a porridge. At this point I was just really fascinated because she came back with a tray of broth, an egg, rice, some seaweed flakes, and some scallions. After that, she basically gave us a show, and made us porridge on our table. This was definitely something that I never experienced before at a hot pot place, or basically in general! It was awesome and the porridge was great! Who knew that those little ingredients she brought out would make the broth taste different (in a good way) and delicious!?!
This is such a great place to go to on a cold night to get some hot pot AND porridge! Overall, I had a really good experience from the service to the food! I can’t wait to try the other items on the menu!

Shabu shabu on a cold San Francisco night is the best. We came on a Monday night and were seated promptly. We ordered the wagyu beef shabu shabu with traditional broth and the seafood platter. I ordered the large plate for an extra few ounces of beef. With the vegetable plate and ramen (which we subbed for the udon), this was a huge amount of food. They have the electric stoves on the table and they were well taken care of as the broth almost immediately boiled once they brought the pots of soup to the table. Remember to keep some rice as they take the rice and make a porridge out of the leftover soup. Best part of the meal and it made a fantastic breakfast the next day as there was tons of porridge. Fantastic meal and I definitely want to come back

This shabu shabu place is super legit! I’d make a reservation if you could. Make sure to get rice and have them make congee at the end with the left over broth — that was my favorite part! We got the seafood and the traditional shabu shabu pork and beef. The seafood had a lot of variety and the meat came out in super thin pieces on an entire plate. The total quality wasn’t that much but it cooked super fast with how nice and thin it was. I would definitely come back when in the mood for something hot and steamy!

Nabe is the standard by which I rate all the hot pot places I go to. I guess what they say is true – there’s no love like the first. I’m fairly new to hot pot, so I don’t know much, but this place is untouchable compared to all the other hot pot joints I’ve been to since. Although I know east coast hot pot (specifically in the south) is child’s play compared to west coast hot pot joints, Nabe still sets the bar.
I can only dream of the Wagyu beef that we had with our Sukiyaki Nabemono until we visit SF again. And that won’t be soon enough.

Modern and clean for a shabu shabu restaurant, which is probably why it’s slightly pricier than your usual AYCE hotpot joint in the city.
My go-​to: Wagu Beef with spicy miso soup.
Pro tip: Save room for the grand finale! At the end of your meal, your waitress will bring over a bowl of rice, eggs, shredded seaweed and make congee (Asian rice porridge) with your leftover soup. If you didn’t feel quite full before the congee, I guarantee you will be afterwards.