Shabu Shabu Zen and Sake Bar

This is my new go to in the Palm Springs area! Living in LA and working out here I have been wanting shabu when I’m here for work and Unilocal did not steer me wrong. The ponzu is to die for. Their owner is involved and amazing she makes all of their desserts herself and they are delish.
If the food isn’t reason enough to come the staff is wonderful. They are attentive and helpful. As a seasoned shabu goer they were very helpful and all of the meats, veggies and noodles are high quality.
Don’t forget to get your soup at the end it’s the best part!

I stumbled upon this place after a very long and hot day on the golf course. As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were greeted by the owner, Miho. She walked us through the entire menu and we decided on the Wagyu and a bottle of their finest sake. What an experience! I felt as though I was dining in Japan. The quality of the food and service was incredible. The meat simply melted in your mouth. My friend and I tried to convince her to open up a shop in LA. It would easily rank in the Top 5.

The. Best. Shabu! I’ve tried many shabu shabu restaurants and usually had great experience. But no one compares to this one! From the quality of the meat/​veggies/​broth to the ambience and vibes, this place worths 2 hour driving from downtown LA. And I love the fact that a lot of Japanese families come and eat here! I would come to Palm Springs just for a dinner at Shabu Shabu Zen. The fried chicken is amazing– we order at least 2 every time; except once it was overcooked and bitterish.

Very impressed! Customer service was extraordinary. Had never tried hot pots before. The staff graciously explained everything to us in extensive detail. Everything was perfectly executed, from a sake flight to appetizers to dessert. The staff bent over backwards to make sure everything was done perfectly. Really enjoyed! Quite the dining experience. The wasabi guacamole and garlic edamame apps were delicious! I can’t wait to go back.

We really enjoyed this restaurant! It was our first time having shabu shabu and we loved it. The beef was so tender, the seafood was really fresh, and the veggies crisp. The broth (reg. Miso and spices miso) was very tasty and at the end they put the noodles in and made a soup. Kyoko was our waitress and she was great! She explained everything to us and provided excellent service. We will defiantly return to this restaurant. It was more then a meal, it’s an experience! Highly recommend!

Really good! Worth the Taxi ride from our hotel! Upon arriving my wife and I were greeted very nicely and moments after waters down we received flutes of bubbly with a raspberry, Welcome followed from our waitress. The Waygu Beef comes from Japan so you just have to have an order to split between two. But we started with the app of Octopus 3 Ways– crispy battered fried tentacle heads, garlic saucy served cubed in a glass, and sliced sashimi style over ripe avocado slices!
Next we decided on the Waygu and Yellowtail Tuna in the Shabu Shabu broth! So excellent! Wagyu was so succulent! Tuna too! The vegetables to dip flavored the broth. My only wish was that I had a Premium Japanese Whiskey it’s beer and Sake no liquor. I had Sapporo — awwww poor me LOL! we’ll be back anyway! See you in 2017!

Wonderful setting. Great and friendly service. The best beef ever! The Wagyu and Ribeye were our favorites. Waitress Janice and the owner Miho were super friendly and fun to talk to.
We’ll return for sure.

Came here with the family over Christmas. This was our first shabu shabu experience, everyone loved it. The hostesses and management were wonderful. We’ll definitely be back!

Had dinner here with my wife and my parents on 12÷30÷15. We made reservations for 5pm but they weren’t yet full so we would have been just fine without them but we came up from San Diego so we didn’t take the chance.
We were greeted right away and taken to our table. Our waitress, Karina, was awesome! She helped us choose our selections and they were spot on. My Dad got the Miyazaki Sukiyaki ($ 77) and the rest of us got Shabu Shabu of various sorts. At first my Dad complained that we ordered him the most expensive but after tasting it, he commented that is was some of the best he’d ever had. Coming from him, this is a great compliment considering he’s traveled the world over many, many times and has dined with Kings, literally.
We also all have wonderful selections of sake where you get three saki glasses of varying grades. It’s well worth getting these samplers. Trust me.
For dessert, we got Green tea brûlée, Sake ice cream, cheese cake, and a sorbet & ice cream combo. All make in-​house and all incredibly awesome!
The owner, Miho, and her husband, Suma-​San, take great pride in their restaurant and it really shows. They put their heart and sole into this place and treat their customers as if they were special friends in their own home. Hats off you all of you!

You never know how your culinary dreams will come true. We met the owner of this eatery, Miho at a screening of «The Birth of Sake». This film told the story of a 150 year old Japanese brewery named Tedorigawa and the men who hand craft this remarkable beverage.
The film — which involved filmmaker Erik Shirai embedding himself ²⁴⁄₇ for a year at the brewery — first screened at Tribeca last year, and premiered at the Palm Springs Film Festival this week.
We were invited to taste the Sake and enjoy a meal at Miho’s Japanese style restaurant. The term «shabu shabu» translates to «swish swish», which is the technique used to cook your food. Some say the technique originated with Genghis Khan — never met the guy so I can’t be sure.
I would compare this experience to elegant, romantic «Melting Pot» dining (or Mongolian hot pot), but replace the skewers with chop sticks. (oh yeah– and skip the cheese and chocolate…).
An elevated counter with bar stool seating dominates the front of the sake bar with a wide selection of gleaming Sake bottles sitting proudly in front of each diner. Behind the tasting counter are two neat rows of shorter tables with chairs. In front of each seat there’s an electric heating element to place pots of boiling water.
We started with the wasabi guacamole with fried won-​tons while we waited for our broth to heat up. Then, we began to shabu shabu. This involves grabbing some of the brightly colored food with your tongs or chop-​sticks, and swish-​swishing it 3 or 4 times back and forth in the broth.
By submerging these razor thin slices of grass-​fed Oregon ribye into the boiling water, the meat cooks almost instantly. Tender, buttery heaven.
We were also served an assortment of vegetables, noodles, and tofu that are also cooked in the water and served with rice and dipping sauces. TIP OF THE DAY: cook a few pieces of meat first to flavor the broth…
Add to this delicious meal a Sake ice cream and 1 or 2 or 4 Sakes– and we were lovin’ life…
And with this new appreciation for the 2000 year old Sake making tradition (and Genghis Khan) — I will be savoring every sip of Sake I’ll be lucky enough to have from this day forward.
#BirthofSake
#SwishSwish
#IWasLikingADish
#GenghisStyle

Highly recommend this restaurant. Food quality was great! The staff and service were top notch. No complaints!

This place was amazing! The service was superb. The owner was so helpful and accommodating. All the serves were very attentive. The quality was spot on. The green tea crème brûlée was absolutely amazing! I would most certainly dine here again!

OMG! The selection of meats is more than I’ve seen at other Shabu shabu restaurants. The quality and cleanliness of the establishment is incredible.
We enjoyed the shabu shabu miso broth (spicy) he had the ribeye, I had the Wagyu.
We ordered a pitcher of Sapporo and a bottle of Dassai 50 Nigori sake (smooth and sweet).
Our server was so attentive, actually all the people were attentive. A great experience that I’m sure we’ll duplicate again and again when we’re in the desert.

Shabu-​Shabu has always been my favorite meal and I feel that we are fortunate that this is the only restaurant in the Coachella Valley, because Miho prepares authentic Shabu-​Shabu where everything is hand-​make, by Miho.
I’ve enjoyed Shabu-​Shabu for 20 years in many different places, and I’ve gotten to know quality Shabu-​Shabu when I have it, and this quality. And my second visit didn’t disappoint. Like last time, the food was excellent and the staff was very warm and friendly.
It was my birthday today so I thought I would treat myself to my favorite meal. I tried the miso broth this time with the Shabu Shabu and it was delicious. They also had my favorite dessert, Coffee ice cream, but it was literally vanilla ice cream with coffee. I love having a great meal out.
If you’ve never tried it, you should, it’s delicious.

One of the best meals I’ve had. The staff is extremely passionate about providing a quality experience. Start to end, the appetizers, sake, wine, shabu ingredients, dessert, and service were absolutely superb. Make sure you call ahead for reservations because they were jam packed on a Tuesday night at 6:00 pm.

Unbelievable! Truly amazing service, quality of ingredients, and experience.
We arrive expecting to try This style of Japanese service. I have not done Shabu Shabu before.
However the owner here takes care to source excellent ingredients and prepare all the sauces onsite (therefore you can be assured there are no strange ingredients).
The homemade gyoza are amazing and a must have.
On our visit they had a special featuring Kobe A5 beef from Japan. AMAZING!
I would go here again.

I can’t rave enough how fantastic this little gem is! Beautiful décor, has a romantic vibe and very clean. The owner is very sweet and passionate about her restaurant. You can tell it’s important to her for each customer to have the best experience possible. I’ve been to a few shabu restaurants in Orange County and I can honestly say this is the best one by far.
Foods fresh and the quality is good. The specials are constantly changing to what’s in season. I absolutely love the yellowtail ceviche so when it’s on the menu I always swing in. I also love the sake samplers
Everyone should come check this place out. It’s a bit expensive if you order a lot and are drinking but it’s well worth it.
MUST TRY THE WASABI GUACAMOLE!

I’ve only been to a similar restaurant once before, in Boston. As such, I don’t have much depth in shabu shabu style dining to be able to speak as to how authentic this place is from a Japanese perspective. However, authentic or not, this place was absolutely delicious. Mind you, it takes a bit of work; You are quite literally cooking every mouthful you eat, just before you eat it. This happens in a bowl of one of their delicious broths which are kept at a near boiling point thanks to the induction heating elements built in to the table. Overall it is an experience not to be missed, with friendly, exemplary service and great food.
I’ll definitely be back, and I’ll keep this review updated as I try new dishes.
I one thing that’s important to note is that it would be tough for young children to handle. Make sure you are prepared to spend some time helping any kids you bring to cook their food.

I am stuffed like a turkey. I was not expecting to cook the food, but it was fun. Especially for the kids. I highly recommend the coffee ice cream too. They dump espresso on vanilla ice cream. The wasabi guacamole was a must too.
Even when I had called to come in, the lady on the phone was exceptionally friendly. I highly recommend this place, and we will be back on our next vacation.

Reservations recommended during the ‘season’.
Lovely sake flights
Nice beer and wine list
Thoughtful service
For the food …
We enjoyed a sukiyaki and shabu shabu original. The shabu shabu comes with some sauces — that you flavor to your tastebuds. First up sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle — you’ll grind the seeds to your liking, then a sesame sauce is poured over and you’ll add in your own minced garlic. Second is a brown liquid that I can’t recall the name of (could very well be soy) to this you’ll add scallions and radish. See — we’re having fun with our food already!
Now the boiling pots — sukiyaki is flavored so you won’t get sauces. The meat is top grade finely sliced and served along side a bowl of udon noodles, tofu and assorted veggies. You’ll cook your protein and veggies in the boiling pot. Here’s my suggestion, big mushroom and carrots, cabbages first, then Bok choy — save the enoki mushrooms, udon and tofu for the end — they cook fast! You can do as much or as little as you want — it’s your pot!
You’ll get a rice bowl. We shared the shrimp and prime beef. I would suggest shabu shabu miso and beef. The shrimps are good — but the beef was that much better!
Your check will be presented with a couple pieces of toffee — but all desserts are housemade!
This is a lovely spot for a date, or to chat it up with friends! Service is patient and kind. You’ll have fun here sharing and exploring your own flavor creations and your friends!
Happy to discover this gem and happy to add my 5-​star review to the others — they are all well deserved!