First time coming here with a group of 4. Arrived around 7:30-8:00pm and there wasn't a wait. It's all booth like seating so don't come expecting tables. There are many broth options and upgrades available. All the guys commented on how good the angus beef was. One guy said pork was good too but angus beef was definitely better. You can choose white rice, brown rice or mixed. My friend and I both really enjoyed their brown rice. We felt it was fluffy and not gritty or dry at all. Don't forget to ask for hot drops if you like spicy! Kudos to Tammy for warning us but also willing to keep giving us more when we asked for it. She definitely went above and beyond in regards to service, just enough personality but not too overbearing. Overall great experience, would definitely come back.

Came by here with my friend for a quick weekday lunch before we headed up to the office! This is my friend's favorite shabu place and she was excited to finally introduce it to me! We were greeted once we entered by the owner Lamson who quickly seated us at the bar. We let him know we were on a bit of a time crunch and he made sure our food came out immediately! The service was incredible and the food was top notch! I got the certified angus beef and white miso + tonkotsu mixed broth which was so flavorful! The shabu experience here is really fun since you get your own individual pot, assorted veggies, and rice. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a fun shabu experience!

Good food and decent prices but amazing service the staff was so attentive and fun. the general vibe inside there was so great

I came here for a party of seven for my birthday dinner. We were seated outside, which was fine with me. The table for seven didn't seem too bad, until the food came out. The majority of our party ordered multiple meats, leaving little to no space on the table. Everything was extremely crowded and it only got worse as the vegetables came out. I would invest in larger or wider tables. The pork belly kept on falling apart as I was putting it in my broth. The sukiyaki broth was light and sweet, I would definitely recommend it. It even comes with a raw egg if you like egg drop in your soup. I appreciate the honesty that the waiter had when it came to me asking about what broths he recommended. They do offer spice drops, so definitely get that if you want your soup made spicy. Vegetables came at a decent portion. I didn't leave the restaurant feeling full, but I feel like that's usually a given when you eat shabu at a non AYCE place. There were a few time where we had asked our waiter for something, and he'd forget about our request.

Antonio was our favorite server ;) food was great as always been coming back for the sukiyaki since they opened. L and the crew have always been super hospitable. The best vibes with the best shabu in OC

**This is probably the only Kaizen review you need to read (just kidding), but my review for this restaurant is long overdue! Let's highlight some of my personal favorites -- * SMALL BITES: calamari is seasoned and fried perfectly here - combine it with their garlic cilantro sauce! I also enjoy the takoyaki - for $1 extra you can do a wasabi roulette for laughs ~ and their garlic edamame is the perfect light appetizer to snack on. If you're feeling a little big back.. order their beef skewers or shrimp ceviche - they are chefs kisssss. * BROTHS: the only broth that matters is their tom yum. This is the ONLY tom yum broth that I enjoy because there's so much flavor - add in a side of coconut milk if you're feeling a creamier broth :) I also like their beef bone broth if I'm feeling something a little more light and hearty. A little combination I like to do sometimes is a mix of spicy miso and sukiyaki too. * PROTEIN: kurobuta pork + salmon for the tom yum broth, and angus beef + prime rib eye for the beef bone broth or mix of spicy miso/sukiyaki. I also LOVE adding in raw fish balls to my broth and hot drops!! (1-2 drops is perfect for me and my spice tolerance is around medium/hot) * DESSERT: the green tea white chocolate fondue with fresh fruits is soooo delicious. their icecream dessert can be made special if you know, you know * DRINKS: the toasted sesame espresso martini is one of the best espresso martinis I've had!! I also really like the mango man for a tangy refreshing cocktail ~ Every person I've introduced to Kaizen, has been obsessed with this spot and you'll understand why once you dine here! The hospitality and atmosphere at Kaizen is top tier - say hi to Lamson and Jake for me!!

Always have a great time here. We made reservations for 8 same day and can't say enough great things about how helpful and amazing the staff is here. Upon arriving they immediately took our drink orders and we took advantage of the Mexican sake (tequila). Lamson the owner is one of the greatest host in the restaurant game as he is always walking around checking in on all his guest. Our go to order is always the tom yum soup base with large order of angus beef, vegetables and a side of ramen. Honestly one of the best options for soup base for all the hot pot/shabu places. Make sure to get the calamari and wings for appetizers too. The atmosphere is great and they play some great music and It isn't blasting like some other restaurants in OC. You may even catch the staff dancing along haha. But do yourself a favor and come here next time you're craving soup.

One of the Shabu places I love . The place have great vibes, good food, and great customer service! They give rice, sesame and ponzu sauce, garlic green onions and minced radish (I think) toppings, and a bowl of veggies to go with your chosen meat. The veggie plate includes broccoli, kale, carrots, cabbage, tofu, mushrooms, onions, a corn, and udon. I ordered the 5oz (1 row of meat) and it was enough for me . Typically 10oz is 3 rows of meat. Parking is tougher since there's been construction and no parking lot. But we were able to find nearby free parking on the streets.

Been coming here for 3 years now and every time we come eat, it has always been a good experience. Sometimes the boss would walk by and offer us free hot sake. I'm pretty sure he does that randomly for everyone. Very friendly gesture, but also a smart marketing tool. I got drunk from 2 free hot sake that I bought two more bottles of alc because the vibe was lit. Our favorite broth is the Tom Yum soup mix with the Tonkatsu soup and it tastes delicious. Yes, at Kaizen, they allow you to mix two broth instead of getting one. That means there's many flavors to create and explore. On to the meat, I pretty much tried the highest grade beef to the lowest one and I must say all of them taste good regardless of the price point. Gotta eat like a boss, right? lol. By the way, their fried calamari is the BEST here. The squid is battered and cooked in with beer then stir fried with the Jalapeño and garlic. I always make sure to order that appetizer. It's a must try people, trust. I've taken many people here to try and they all enjoy it. I gotta get some discount for that too, lol. Service here is quick and attentive even though it can get very busy. Also, the restroom inside is clean. Thank god for cleanliness. People come thru for good time and good food!

What a flavorful shabu experience! Our first trip to Kaizen was with a group of 4, so we got to try multiple appetizers and proteins: Stir Fried Green Beans: garlic and shrimpy and packed with so much flavor! Rolled Crispy Shrimp: fried to perfection and very pleasant with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. Calamari: loved the crispy batter on this and the calamari has great texture too. Beef bone broth: aromatic and fatty (in a good way) and reminiscent of a luscious pho broth. Tonkotsu: one of the best and most savory pork broths I've ever had at a hot pot or shabu place! Our friends also ordered the Tom Yum and Santa Ana Szechuan - I didn't try these but they looked and smelled amazing. For proteins, we tried the ribeye beef, sashimi grade salmon, and kurobuta pork. Everything was prepared with care and tasted fresh and delicious. Cocktails: BIG K OLD FASHIONED: Hibiki Harmony, simple syrup, bitters - very well balanced. BUTTERFLY IN THE GARDEN: Martin Miller gin, butterfly pea tea syrup, pamplemousse - looked beautiful (didn't try this one but our friend loves it!) PASSION OF THE SHITO: Shishito infused Mi Campo tequila, passion fruit, pamplemousse - excellent flavors and not too sweet. Our waiter said the flower flew off when he was bringing it, so there is supposed to be a floral garnish normally. We had an excellent first visit - thank you for the wonderful service!