Midtown Lunch

Shabu Shabu, the dining experience that required diners to dip raw food into broth until cooked to the desired temperature, is popular in other major cities but has not yet made it big in Philly. There are a handful of Chinatown restaurants who offer hot pot and shabu shabu on the menu, but month-old Simply Shabu, is the first to offer only this high heat meal.

To get the most out of your shabu experience, you will probably want to go with a group and order a la carte. The pre set menus come with a bunch of vegetables you might not really want. Instead, we picked the rib eye beef, which was rolled up slices of marbled meat that cooked almost as soon as they hit the broth, so don’t blink. We also shared the shrimp, which take a little longer to cook. To make a more balanced meal, we also added tofu, bok choy, and mushrooms. Every ingredient looked fresh and was showcased elegantly on long white plates.

If you are seated at a table, your party will share one big bowl of broth. If you are seated at the bar, each person gets their own little broth with settings located under the counter to control the heat.

The house broth does not have much of a flavor. It will be up to you to create your own concoction to either add to the broth or to dip the pieces of boiled food in to. Sesame and chili oil, scallions, bbq sauce, and garlic are all available for you to create your dream sauce.

If you are into a more interactive dining experience, check out Simply Shabu. It would certainly give you a lot to talk about on a first date. But, if you are less of a do it yourself-er or if you prefer to leave the flavor development to the experts, you are better off getting a meal elsewhere.

THE + (What somebody who likes this place would say)

• Healthy and fun meal to share with friends

THE – (What somebody who doesn’t like this place would say)

• House broth is bland on its own
• Only open for weekend lunch

Simply Shabu, 1023 Cherry Street, 267-273-0354