There’s two places I always need to hit up when traveling to a new city: the local Chinatown, and any nearby shabu shabu restaurant.  There’s nothing quite like paper-thin slivers of tender, fatty beef luxuriously bathed in crisp, citrus ponzu to earn its title as my absolute favorite meal of all time.

(YUM. It’s such a shame I’ve been deprived of this basic pleasure since I now live so dang far from everything! This may be incentive enough to seek new residence.)

My cousin recently asked me for a restaurant recommendation — the one place in Los Angeles that I consider without a doubt to be the best. This challenge was a lot harder than I thought and in the end, I could only settle on a Top 5:

1.) Kagaya

418 E 2nd St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1016

If I was forced to name a winner, this one would probably take the cake. With Kagaya, it’s more about the collective of exquisitely prepared dishes rather than the isolated shabu itself. It’s the ultimate culinary experience with a complete, six course menu that starts with two delicately crafted appetizers and a soup du jour. Next comes the shabu meat (choice of prime beef, wagyu, even a super Premium wagyu) for the event highlight. Either an udon or rice porridge is whipped up with the residual broth, and the meal is capped with a sinfully delicious sweet treat. It’s heaven in a rundown shopping plaza.

Tip: If you’re dying for Wagyu, save your dollars for a thick slab at Mako instead. The basic beef menu option here is impressive enough, Wagyu is overkill. And I love fatty beef as much as the next girl, but Wagyu shabu is a shame since you lose the best parts.

2.)Shin-sen-gumi – Torrance

1695 W Artesia Blvd
Gardena, CA 90247
(310) 532-0728

Shin-sen-gumi doesn’t really place second, I would call it more of a tie. They’re simply too different for a comparative analysis, and both are equally good in their own right. It’s shabu basics done to perfection. There’s nothing I hate more than a weak sauce, but here the ponzu is a harmonious balance of lemon, vinegar and soy. The sauce is just as important as the beef, and is often neglected at places of inferior rank. Oh, did I forget to mention the goma? This is a common occurrence, I only really taste it when I’m waiting for a ponzu refill.  However at Shin-sen-gumi, the sesame sauce is pleasantly rich and creamy in flavor, spiked with buttery peanut and hints of garlic. Weirdly enough, other Shin-sen-gumi locations dish up epic fails so make sure you hit up the right one in Torrance.

3.) Mizu 212

2000 Sawtelle Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90189
(310) 478-8979

Mizu 212 garners a lot of hate from Yelpers for some strange reason, and based on the reviews alone, I nearly wrote this place off entirely without even trying it out. Luckily, a lot of Yelpers don’t know what the heck they’re talking about. Bottom line, the food is good, there’s hardly ever a wait, and the price is fair. Yes, it could be cheaper. Yes, it could have bigger portions. And yes, if you’ve never had shabu shabu and are offended with the whole “cook your own food / boiled beef” concept, then this probably isn’t the place for you. Without trekking to OC, DTLA or SGV, Mizu 212 is your best bet for shabu on the west side.

4.) Shabu House

127 Japanese Village Plz Mall
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 680-3890

For the price and the quality, Shabu House simply be can’t be beat. $17 a plate is a damn steal, but the problem resides in the tiny cramped space and the perpetual long lines that plague this worthy establishment. The average wait time I’ve been subjected to is roughly 1.5 hours, which is far too long to kept hungry and cranky for the sake of saving a few bucks. For those who don’t mind braving the crowds, Shabu House does not disappoint but expect to be rushed through the meal if you dilly dally. This place is all about turnaround.

5.) Kushi Shabu

123 Astronaut E S Onizuka #305
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 621-0210

Although I’m not a particular fan of the meat, I find myself dining here more often than I’d like. I prefer to savor the delicacy and marbling of the beef, rather than compulsively rack up empty plates in my own personal eating contest. All you can eat always seems like some sort of grade school dare, it’s really hard to exhibit self-restraint and moderation despite my better judgement. Don’t get me wrong, I love AYCE. But sometimes it’s best to avoid it altogether.  $26  for unlimited (somewhat decent) beef is dirt cheap, and as the only AYCE shabu joint in LA, it deserves at very least an honorable mention on this list.

Protip: A 20% discount is offered Tuesdays and Wednesdays, given diners show up before 7pm. It pays to upgrade to premium meat option, the taste difference will be worth it.

Swish swish, and enjoy!