Shabuzen

Shabuzen Restaurant Review:

Located in the basement of a small hotel off the trendy Shibuya entertainment area, Shabuzen is large and noisy, and a favorite of those seeking good-value shabu-shabu (hot pot of thinly sliced meat and vegetables) meals. It's also gained some fame as a filming location for the movie "Lost in Translation." Don't let the student groups and backpack tourists throw you off---this place is an established distributor of top-grade Omi beef, from the black-haired cows grazing on the plains of Shiga Prefecture in Western Japan, and it's available to those willing to pay a premium. Skip the cheaper dinner sets consisting of imported or ordinary local beef, and order the expensive but very special Omi.