isotope
When it comes to shabu-shabu in Asakusa, many people think of Imahan! However, when I'm in the mood for something more casual, I always go to Nabezo on Kaminarimon Street. This place offers all-you-can-eat options with prices ranging from around 3,000 to 5,000 yen per person, making it an affordable choice. I decided to try it out today as I was curious about this place that often comes up in search results. They offer four course options ranging from just under 2,000 yen to just under 4,000 yen, and I opted for the highest-priced Wagyu premium course where you can enjoy all kinds of meat. All courses include a vegetable bar, curry, udon, ice cream, and a drink bar. The vegetable selection was not as extensive as other places, but they were neatly arranged in a refrigerated shelf, which left a good impression. I chose Wagyu beef and chicken to start with. The Wagyu beef was incredibly delicious, but being thinly sliced, it tended to fall apart easily while cooking - still, the taste made up for it. The chicken was also sliced and tasted great with the broth. When I ordered pork belly and pork loin next, I was disappointed to find the Hokkaido-produced meat to be dry and lacking in flavor. It was a letdown after the delicious Wagyu. I ended the meal with another plate of Wagyu, curry, and ice cream. In the end, I ordered the premium course for both a man and a woman, along with a bottle of beer and a highball, totaling around 14,000 yen. While the Wagyu beef was delicious, overall, the service, taste, variety, and cost performance were all better at Nabezo, so I won't be returning. However, if you're looking to get your money's worth with high-priced Wagyu beef, or if you're dining with family and opt for the cheapest course, this place might be suitable. I also noticed that there were many foreign customers, including a group of 30 foreigners, possibly due to being featured in international guidebooks.