Hokkai Shabu Shabu Ginza

You don’t have to go all the way to Hokkaido to have the region’s famous shabu-shabu hotpot, when you can have it right in the middle of one of Tokyo’s most upscale districts. Aside from the standard pork and beef, Hokkai Shabu Shabu’s Ginza branch is most famous for offering thin-sliced lamb as well — a menu offering first introduced in 1967, and one that has remained its most popular order for over 50 years. The meat lacks the typical gamey smell associated with lamb and mutton, and is sliced so thinly that it melts in the mouth. The highly-marbled, Hokkaido-raised kuroge wagyu beef vies with the restaurant’s luscious, plump snow crab for second place. But the restaurant’s regulars know better than to agonize over which to choose: the guest in the know orders all three for a truly sumptuous feast. And what better way to indulge in shabu-shabu than in your own private space? Regular Japanese-style table seats aside, those looking for a more secluded experience can take advantage of Hokkai Shabu Shabu Ginza’s reservable private rooms.