About.com Rating

The Bottom Line

All-you-can-eat sushi is a staple in Vancouver, but Shabusen doesn’t just offer sushi and Japanese food on its $21.95 all-you-can-eat menu, it has Korean barbecue too. And you get to cook the meat right at your table. The barbecue beef is particularly yummy.

Shabusen Yakiniku House
202-755 Burrard Street
Vancouver, V6Z 1X6
604-669-3883

Pros

• Japenese & Korean dishes
• Cook Korean BBQ right at your table

• Great for large parties
• Vegetarian options

Cons

• Quality of fish (sushi/sashimi) varies
• Crowded at dinner; reservations needed
• Street parking can be difficult to find
• Service can be slow (especially on crowded nights)

Description

• Open every day
  11am - 2:30pm for lunch
  5pm - 11pm for dinner
• All-you-can-eat sushi & Korean BBQ menu for $21.95
• Family friendly

Guide Review - Shabusen Yakiniku House

While the sushi/sashimi at Shabusen is fine, it's true claim to fame is its Korean barbecue. You can try the barbecue chicken, pork, or seafood, but the beef is particularly outstanding. You get a big bowl of uncooked marinated meat that you cook at your own table; each table has its own mini-grill and tongs (even the sushi bar). Unless you cook Korean barbecue at home regularly, there's a real novelty in cooking it yourself, and it's so easy even kids can give it a go.

The expansive menu has all the typical Japanese staples: great vegetable tempura, teriyaki, udon bowls, etc. There's also a truly diverse all-you-can-eat menu, for $21.95 per person, which includes fish often missing from similar all-you-can-eat extravaganzas, like eel and yellow tail.

One caveat: The fish quality in the sushi/sashimi varies from visit to visit, from "OK" to too chewy. But you can never go wrong with the barbecue beef.

Popular among big groups--the barbecue is perfect for sharing--Shabusen can be very crowded at dinner, especially on weekends. Save yourself a long wait (or from being turned away) by making reservations in advance.