Shabu Zen Allston

The OG of Boston Hot Pot.

Having grown up in Boston when I think of Hot Pot, Shabu Zen immediately comes to mind mainly because of them being the first hot pot restaurant in Chinatown. Then came Kaze and a whole slew of hot pot focused businesses in the early 2000’s. This Allston location is their second and it appears a new generation of hot pot restaurants are either on the way or have opened within the last year to Allston. So how does the OG compare to their younger and hipper brethren?  

Restaurant Type: Casual Dining.

Food (65%)
Taste to price 4/5
Quality to price 4/5
Portion to price 4/5
Average = 4

Service (20%)  
Friendliness 4/5
Promptness 4/5
Average = 4

Cleanliness (15%)
Bathroom 4/5
Dining area 4/5
Kitchen area 4/5
Average = 4

Overall Score = [F(.65)]+[S(.20)]+C(.15)]
   = [2.6]+[0.8]+[0.6]
   = 4

What else to know: To answer my question, they are still holding it down after almost 2 decades! This is still the hot pot restaurant to go to. The quality is there. Sure, portion sizes have decreased and prices inflated but one would expect that with the changing times. My biggest surprise is how they’ve managed to stay consistent all these years. For some time, it felt like Spring Shabu Shabu would have threatened their business but I haven’t seen any difference. If anything, the competition is keeping Shabu Zen on it’s toes. With a Mala Kung Fu Hot Pot and another one down Harvard Ave opening before the end of this year, hot pot is heating up some more (pun intended). As customers we’ve got to kick back and enjoy this second golden era of hot pots. What a time it is, to be alive for hot potheads.