Food in Japan · Tokyo

Shabujo in Shinjuku: Shabu-Shabu with an Amazing Sesame Sauce

Want to try shabu-shabu in Tokyo, but worried about ordering in Japanese? Here's a place in Shinjuku I'm happy to recommend.

I went to Shabujo about a month ago. Here's what I liked, and some simple tips for enjoying shabu-shabu for the first time.

The building in Kabukicho with Shabujo signs on the 3rd floor — Shabujo is on the 3rd floor of this building. Photo by Kick.

What is shabu-shabu?

Shabu-shabu is a Japanese hot pot dish. You dip thin slices of meat into a pot of hot broth at your table, swish them back and forth a few times, and then dip them in sauce. The name comes from the "swish-swish" sound.

A shabu-shabu hot pot with vegetables, marbled beef, and dipping sauces — The pot, vegetables, beef, and dipping sauces at our table.

A tall pile of thinly sliced, beautifully marbled beef on a plate — Beautifully marbled beef, piled up like a mountain.

What I liked about Shabujo

They really care about their meat. You can tell the meat is carefully chosen.
The sesame sauce is the best. This was my favorite part. If you go, don't skip it.
Good drinks. The drinks were delicious too.
A menu for international visitors. They had a menu made for visitors from abroad, which makes ordering much easier.
A Japanese-style interior. The inside of the restaurant feels very Japanese, so the meal feels special.

Two dipping sauces in blue bowls: a light sesame sauce and a darker sauce — The light-colored one is the sesame sauce I loved.

A private booth with a round window and a wooden table — A cozy booth with a round window.

Glowing paper sliding doors along a wooden floor — Paper sliding doors (shoji) give it a Japanese feel.

If you're in Shinjuku, I really recommend it.

How to eat shabu-shabu (simple steps)

Wait for the broth in the pot to start bubbling.
Pick up one slice of meat with your chopsticks and swish it in the broth for a few seconds, until the color changes.
Dip it in sauce and enjoy. Vegetables take longer, so put them in the pot and let them cook.

Thin meat cooks very quickly, so don't leave it in the pot too long.

A plate of thinly sliced pork for shabu-shabu — Thinly sliced pork, ready for the pot.

Things to know before you go

It's in Kabukicho. Kabukicho is Shinjuku's busy nightlife area. Go straight to the restaurant, and ignore people on the street who try to bring you into other bars or shops.
Dinner only. It opens in the evening.
Booking. You can book by phone or on the restaurant's own online booking page.

Quick facts

I checked these on the official website in October 2026. Please check the latest information before you go.

Name	Shabujo (しゃぶ叙)
Where	3F, 2-26-10 Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo
Food	Shabu-shabu with A5 Wagyu beef; private rooms available
Hours	Mon–Sat 17:00–23:30 / Sun & holidays 17:00–23:00 (closed Jan 1–2)
Booking	Phone: 03-5272-8817 (from 16:30), or online on the official site

Official website: Shabujo (Japanese)

Two small white rabbit-shaped sweets on a glass plate — Cute rabbit-shaped sweets.

Summary

Carefully chosen meat, a sesame sauce I still think about, good drinks, and a Japanese atmosphere. If you're in Shinjuku and want to try shabu-shabu, Shabujo is a great choice.