Shabusen: Cook It Yourself Goodness

Posted by Jen
Filed in Food, Restaurants
December 20, 2006

There are two Shabusen locations in Vancouver, and all of my apartments have always been only steps away, but before last week, it had been years since I went into one.

With a friend visiting from Ontario, I was in need of a restaurant that would showcase the city's super sushi scene (so much better and so much cheaper than it is "back east") while also making sure the place we went to would have something to pacify the raw-fish fearing friends who would also be attending.

Shabusen was the answer. And it was a completely rad choice.

The three best things about it:

1. Amazing tuna sashimi (especially for a place with an all-you-can-eat menu).
2. The fun of the do-it-yourself Koren barbeque pit in the centre of every table.
3. The all-you-can-eat thing. Suiting to even the hungriest of boys.

The three worst things about it:

1. Not enough ventilation means if you're not careful you cloud your table in smoke.
2. The do-it-yourself thing can get a little old after the novelty wears off, especially if one person is stuck manning the grill the whole time. (They don't get to eat! It's best to take shifts.)
3. Forgetful service. The waiter forgot part of our order and brought us stuff we didn't order twice over the course of the meal. That said, the mistakes were quickly rectified.

The restaurant is almost always noisy and crowded (think crying babies and potentially long waits if you don't make a reservation), and it can be pricey, particularly if you order drinks. Expect to spend at least $20-$30 per person. Other reviewers agree.

Anyway, we had a great time. People in Vancouver seem to want to have sushi a LOT, and sometimes it gets to be a bit much for me, so I like that there are places where I can happily eat other stuff without putting the sushi fanatics out. In fact, Shabusen might be my favourite Japanese place in the city, even though I'm sure it's not the best. I just feel like it really does have something for almost everyone.

Shabusen Yakiniku House Restaurant
2993 Granville St.
(604) 737-6888

755 Burrard St.
(604) 669-3883

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If you get bored with grilling meat, you can always amuse yourself by slapping a little sashimi on the fire for that seared-tuna experience.

Posted by: Kirsten at December 20, 2006 10:05 AM | Quote Comment

That place is funny, every time I've gone there with a group, the server has said that our order was too big, and when the food comes a few things will invariably be missing. No big deal, because you can just order again, but it is sort of funny. They must get a lot of people buffeting it up Vegas-style and wasting food.

Posted by: Jeff

at December 20, 2006 2:21 PM | Quote Comment

That's exactly what I've noticed! I think the servers are actually judging your order a little, like a mother might, thinking your eyes might be bigger than your stomach. It is funny, but not terribly annoying.

Posted by: Jen at December 20, 2006 4:05 PM | Quote Comment

The sushi was surprisingly good, as you say, for all you can eat. The meat wasn't amazing, Also, I don't like the mesh grill for the bbq pit. I find the conical iron kind works much better, as the meat doesn't stick so much. I managed to wreck a bunch of chicken when I was having lunch at the Burrard location friday.

Is it really "so much better" than T.O.? I've definitely noticed some improvement in things like mall sushi, but it's not a quantum leap, at least in the low to mid range. And any pleasure of derived from that has been cancelled out by the pathetic and overpriced falafels. $3 to have it microwaved? I can spend $2.50 on Bloor and walk out with something much better, or splurge and get the amazing $3.25 one down the street, and I'd have to pass by a third vendor to reach it! And don't tell me that $7 crepes are a satisfactory substitute!

Posted by: Wrenkin

at December 20, 2006 7:17 PM | Quote Comment

We have cheap sushi here, too, for sure. It's practically fast food, with locations seemingly on every corner.
But you absolutely notice the difference in quality when eating sashimi, and when eating at better restaurants. There's no substitute for freshness.

I love Toronto and lived there for a long time, and while I think you kick our ass in many food arenas, I stand fast in my assertion that the sushi here is far better.

Posted by: Jen at December 20, 2006 7:37 PM | Quote Comment

I live in Vancouver... so I was talking about Vancouver :) But it's fast food in Toronto too.

Are there any conveyor sushi places other than Tsunami here? I want to try the one in Toronto over the holidays, as even tea is self-service there.

You're right about sashimi (especially tuna,) but there's so much more mayonaisey crap you have to sift through here. It's good qua food, but I roll my eyes when people eat *that* and immediately regurgitate the "*sushi* here is better speech." And really, even if the sushi is better, that doesn't begin to account for the almost entirely pathetic state of cheap hand-held food: pizza, falafels, and non-cheese-infused street meat.

Posted by: Wrenkin

at December 20, 2006 8:08 PM | Quote Comment