When I heard that a new restaurant had opened up in town, I was already excited, but when I heard the food they would be serving was hotpot, a food I had always wanted to try, well, let’s just say I was more than willing to go there and try the food. This new restaurant I was so eager to try is called Shabu Hotpot, located at 4560 S Campbell Ave in Springfield. 

   When I first stepped into the establishment, it was bustling. Music blasted as people were waiting to be seated while others ate their dazzling dishes. Thankfully, my mom had made a reservation since we knew that on a Friday, it would be busy. On top of this, it was also Valentine’s Day. After a short wait, we were seated at our table at the far side of the restaurant. Our waitress greeted us with a warm smile and, since we had never been there before, kindly explained how the restaurant worked. We then ordered our drinks as well as picked our broths for the hotpot. They came out in a flash. Me and my mom began cooking our noodles that we also choose off of a, wait for it… conveyor belt! That is one of the reasons the place is so popular. It is an all-you-can-eat destination with a conveyor belt brimmed to the max with anything your heart desires. I had picked the House Broth as my base for the evening. There are multiple other broth options, though, for whatever your palate craves that evening. Meats were later laid out on the table that I had picked earlier that evening, and they were some of the best quality cuts I had ever seen. Before I started on the wild adventure of this dinner, I went to their complementary sauce bar, where there are endless combos of ingredients to help jazz up your hotpot experience.

   Once I sat back at the table, I took my first bite. It was a symphony of flavors on my tongue like nothing I had ever had. The “House Broth” turned out not to be my personal favorite. It was slightly too sweet for my liking due to its pineapple undertones. Besides that, the meat, as I had said before, was amazing quality. The other items I had put in my broth to start cooking, like veggies and noodles, were also quite pleasant. Besides the hotpot in front of you, there is a mini grill to help warm some of the fried items they offer on the conveyor belt: Mandu (a type of dumpling), spring rolls, eggrolls, and sesame balls (mochi like balls filled with red beans and then coated in sesame seeds). These were a nice addition to the meal since they added a different texture to the experience. Now, I can’t sit here and name everything that was on the conveyor belt, but it included things like fresh fish, tofu, vegetables like carrots and bok choy, varying noodles and meatballs, quail eggs, and much more.

    I imagine some of you are thinking this place is either a dream or a nightmare. I will say it is not for the picky eaters out there; if you want to try something new, however, then it’s perfect. Though I’ve shared a lot about this new place, I haven’t gotten to the best part: They have free ice cream. Is there truly any better way to end a meal than the creamy delight that is ice cream? Besides the food, the environment is bright with poppy music and neon lights. The restaurant was super tidy from what I could see. A person was coming and picking up the dirty dishes consistently. The service was impeccable. My drink glass would barely get empty and my waitress was already on it getting my refill. The place the business is located in is quite small, but not once did I feel crowded or overwhelmed. My one issue was I felt there was not enough space under the table to put my legs due to the heating elements placed under the table. This was just an issue my family faced, but it would not necessarily be an issue for everyone. 

   The night I was there, the owner was present and was helping the staff. The price point of the restaurant is on the higher side, at $20-$35 per person. Overall, I give Shabu Hotpot a 3.9/5. It was an enjoyable experience, but for my mom and me to spend upwards of $80 to eat somewhere we wouldn’t necessarily enjoy, it’s questionable if we will return. This score is also being affected by the fact that I did not like my broth choice. I may like to return to see if I like another better. I will say this score is not based on the service or quality because both were spectacular. All in all, I think Shabu Hotpot is a nice place to go and try with your family on a fancy occasion. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to try something new, wants to be a little adventurous, or simply likes asian cuisine.