Shabu Lion

Shabu Lion in Phuket is a neat, modern shabu buffet with several pricing tiers (starting at around 599 THB and going up to premium sets, including options with unlimited A5 wagyu). The dining area feels airy, tables are spaced comfortably, and the air-conditioning is gentle rather than freezing.

The main event here is the hot pot: you can choose from multiple soup bases — typically options such as clear broth, “black” broth, tonkotsu, mala, and tom yum. If you’re dining solo, the restaurant may limit you to just one broth. Meat arrives thinly sliced; the beef (including brisket and shoulder cuts) is tender and cooks in seconds in the boiling soup. Seafood and pork are reliably fresh, and orders come out quickly.

One of the highlights is the build-your-own sauce bar. With a wide range of dips and mix-ins — including a particularly good soy-based sauce — you can tailor flavors to match any meat or seafood. Beyond shabu, the Japanese lineup is strong: sushi and sashimi (especially the salmon) are well executed, there are solid items like eel, and the shrimp tempura is served hot and crisp.

There’s also a soft drink and juice station, a dessert area with ice cream, and a small pancake corner; instead of Thai tea bingsu, they offer honey toast. For groups, there’s a VIP room (best suited for parties of five or more), and parking is located behind the restaurant.

A few things to keep in mind: some items can sell out, and closer to closing time the last call for ordering may be earlier. The ordering and payment process requires attention, as does the policy on extra charges for leftover food. On very hot days, some of the vegetables on display may look a bit tired.