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FUUD: Shabu Shabu Bangkok in Kapahulu

By Catherine Toth Fox • August 27, 2010 • Food, Musings, The Daily Dish

We had heard about yet another new hot pot place opening up on Kapahulu Avenue.

Last week, Shabu Shabu Bangkok opened up in the space vacated by Yakiniku Toraji on the corner of Kapahulu and Kaimuki avenues.

So one of my girlfriends — who, I realize, loves eating anything out of a metal pot — agreed to try it with me.

We didn’t know what to expect. We had both only tried Japanese-style shabu shabu here — and loved it. But when she was in Hong Kong a few months ago, she ate at a hot pot restaurant and lived to rave about it. So she was optimistic. I was just hungry.

According to the restaurant’s menu, shabu shabu can trace its roots to the Chinese winter dish shuan yang rou. After it was imported to Japan, the name changed to shabu shabu, onomatopoeic for the “swish, swish” sound thinly sliced meat make when swirling in the hot broth.

While we both love the concept of Thai-style hot pot cooking, the experience didn’t blow us away. It was tasty and fun — and the company was great! — but we weren’t knocked off our chairs. Would I got back? Sure. But would I go here once a week, the way I would W&M Bar-B-Q Burgers or Rainbow Drive-In? Nah.

Here’s what we ate:

At the trailhead

At the trailhead
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Waimano Pool is a hike off the grueling Manana Trail. The trailhead starts at the end of Komo Mai Drive in Pacific Palisades.

Shabu Shabu Bangkok, 949 Kapahulu Ave. 808-732-7666.

***

To read all of Cat’s blogs, visit www.nonstophonolulu.com/thedailydish. Follow Cat on Twitter @thedailydish or send her an e-mail at [email protected]

Hawaiihot potKapahuluRoselani Tropics Ice Creamshabu shabuShabu Shabu Bangkokshuan yang rouThaiTothYakiniku Toraji
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Catherine Toth Fox

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13 Comments

  • Reply M August 26, 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Hello Cat!

    I didn’t know that it was open already. It’s like the Hanaki Shabu Shabu in Manoa where you help yourself with the fuud items.

  • Reply M August 26, 2010 at 8:13 pm

    Oh I forgot to say, Happy Fuud pics Friday !!!!! 🙂

  • Reply Ron August 26, 2010 at 8:22 pm

    Yes! Cat’s trademark Fuud Pix Friday is back!

    Nice to know what the raw ingredaments look like, but I missed the final results. Looks like it didn’t stay on the plate long, hehehe.

  • Reply cat August 26, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    Final results weren’t pretty, not the way I eat!

  • Reply johngarcia August 26, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    I haven’t been to shabu shabu in a long time — we usually do the yakiniku thing. I drive past this place all the time, so it’s nice to see what it looks like from the inside! Thanks for sharing, Cat!

  • Reply nonstopmari August 27, 2010 at 12:49 am

    this review is still making me hungry.

  • Reply MaxMaxMax August 27, 2010 at 4:55 am

    Fuud Pix Friday AND a Waipio Little League win… does it get any better? 😉

  • Reply MaxMaxMax August 27, 2010 at 4:59 am

    I can’t help but be reminded of the ’80s album by INXS, “Shabooh Shoobah!”

  • Reply harrycovair August 27, 2010 at 7:29 am

    Never got to go to Toraji (no parking like Cat said) and now won’t get to go either.

    Good to know that you have a choice of flavored broth. Some Shabu Shabu places only give you some type of broth (hot water) and Konbu. You season the broth with what you cook.

    Another option for a more healthy dinner one night.

  • Reply cat August 27, 2010 at 8:21 am

    I like to think shabu shabu is healthy… Is it, right? I mean, I eat it so often, I would HOPE it is! 🙂

  • Reply Annoddah_Dave August 27, 2010 at 8:30 am

    CAT,

    Aaaiiiyyyaaahhh! Fuud Pix! Tenks! I wondered why Toraji closed, the fuud was decent albeit a bit overpriced. It seemed popular but I guess once the novelty wears off, a lot of these types of restaurants fade. Across the street the Wasabi izakaya is changed as well. The pix of raw ingredients is guud but it seems no different than other places…the sauces however, appear to be intriguing. I think lack of parking may kill this place as harrycovair or is it haricovert (in French)?, pointed out.

    • Reply cat August 27, 2010 at 9:19 pm

      @Annoddah_Dave I only went to Toraji once, actually, right when it opened. The parking was always a problem… But now that you can park at Safeway, everywhere on Kapahulu is fair game!

  • Reply Shabu Shabu Bangkok | KapahuluAvenue.com September 11, 2010 at 10:58 am

    […] fun — and the company was great! — but we weren’t knocked off our chairs….” (Full review from FUUD) « Finally! Side Street Inn On Da Strip […]

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About Me

About Me
Born and raised on O‘ahu, Hawaiʻi, Catherine Toth Fox has been chronicling her adventures in her blog, The Cat Dish, for more than a decade. She worked as a newspaper reporter in Hawai‘i for 10 years and continues to freelance—in between teaching journalism, hitting the surf and eating everything in sight—for national and local print and online publications. She’s currently the editor of HAWAIʻI Magazine.

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