Houston & Humble · Firsthand food guide
Houston Hot Pot I’ve Tried: Shabu Zone, Shabu En & Yama Kitchen
If you’re choosing a hot pot meal around Houston, these three visits gave me different reasons to go back. Shabu Zone is one of my favorites for beef belly. Yama Kitchen in Humble surprised me with its hot pot, Korean BBQ and buffet variety. At Shabu En, I enjoyed the thin-sliced meat and shaved ice, but I’d change my broth order next time.
This guide compares my own meals, with links to the full reviews and videos. It covers two restaurants on Bellaire Boulevard in Houston and one in Humble.
Which hot pot would I choose?
For my favorite beef belly
Shabu Zone. The number 11 Wagyu beef belly was the thin, fatty cut I kept ordering. I liked building the broth’s flavor with sauces, vegetables and meat.
For BBQ and hot pot together
Yama Kitchen. I could grill meat, cook hot pot and explore the buffet in one meal. The tom yum broth with udon was a standout for me.
For lunch and shaved ice
Shabu En. I left full after an AYCE lunch and finished with shaved ice and condensed milk. Next time I’d try tonkotsu instead of tom yum.
Shabu Zone: the beef belly I return for
Shabu Zone was already a repeat stop for me. During the lunch in my February 2024 video, I ordered number 11 Wagyu beef belly and number 8 pork belly. The beef belly was soft and tender after a quick cook, and it was the cut I wanted more of.
I started with tonkotsu broth. It tasted fairly plain on its own, so I added spicy ponzu and a tangy, fiery sauce to get the sour, citrusy flavor I wanted. Mushrooms, cabbage and other vegetables added more flavor as they cooked. Udon and wood ear mushrooms were musts for me, too.
My pick: beef belly, udon, mushrooms and vegetables. If you enjoy fatty meat and adjusting your broth at the table, this is the visit I’d start with.
Location visited: 11201 Bellaire Blvd, Suite 2, Hong Kong City Mall, Houston.
Read my full Shabu Zone review and watch the visit →
Shabu En: thin-sliced meat and a different broth next time
I tried Shabu En for lunch after a viewer recommended it. I liked how thinly some of the meat was sliced and how quickly it cooked. I added vegetables, mushrooms and udon, keeping the noodles in the pot briefly so they wouldn’t overcook.
The tom yum broth had sourness, but it didn’t have quite the flavor I wanted. I adjusted it with sauces and seasonings. Next time I’d start with tonkotsu. The imitation-crab claw wasn’t a favorite either; I’d concentrate more on sliced meat. Shaved ice with condensed milk was a fun finish.
My pick: thin-sliced meat and shaved ice, with a different broth on a return visit.
Location visited: 9110 Bellaire Blvd, Ste B, Houston.
Read my full Shabu En review and watch the visit →
Yama Kitchen in Humble: hot pot, Korean BBQ and buffet variety
Yama Kitchen was a change of plans that turned into a meal I’d happily repeat. The tom yum broth didn’t taste exactly like the version I was used to, but I loved its lemongrass flavor, sourness and spice. I drank almost all of it, and the udon soaked it up beautifully.
We also had New York strip and beef tongue for the grill. I enjoyed the tongue’s texture and grilled flavor, though I thought it needed some salt. The spicy octopus had a texture I liked, and I thought the salmon from the buffet was good for an all-you-can-eat meal.
My pick: tom yum broth with udon, plus grilled meats and seafood. I’d choose this visit when I wanted variety and both BBQ and hot pot. I still preferred my favorite Shabu Zone cut to the thin-sliced meat I tried here.
Location visited: 224 Farm to Market 1960 Bypass Rd E, Humble.
Read my full Yama Kitchen review and watch the visit →
What did these hot pot meals cost during my visits?
| Restaurant | Price recorded | Video published |
|---|---|---|
| Shabu Zone | $21.99 per person for AYCE lunch | February 2024 |
| Shabu En | $21.99 per person for AYCE lunch (They have lobster, but it’s not included in the AYCE) | August 2024 |
| Yama Kitchen | $19.99 lunch; $30.99 dinner; $5 extra for both BBQ and hot pot ($35.99 dinner with both) | January 2026 |
These are different visits and meal options, so I wouldn’t use this table as a current cheapest-to-most-expensive ranking. Check the restaurant’s current menu and what your chosen meal includes.
Before you choose your hot pot meal
- Start with what you want to eat. My reason to revisit Shabu Zone is the beef belly; my Yama highlight was the broth and variety.
- Check lunch versus dinner. Confirm that the cuts and extras you want are included in the meal you’re booking.
- Choose the location that fits your plans. Shabu Zone and Shabu En are on Bellaire Boulevard; Yama Kitchen is in Humble.
- Watch the original visit. Each full review links to my video so you can see the food and hear the complete impressions.
Want a broader range of all-you-can-eat options? Browse my Houston buffet guide or explore all my Houston food guides.