We’d tried to eat at Gokudo Shabu Shabu one time previously but the wait time was crazy so we ended up bailing and going across the street for dinner. This time around we came early. It’s located next to Pho 24 Express.
We dropped in on a Sunday (around 5:30pm) and were able to snag a table just before the rush. Took some time for one of the waitresses to acknowledge us.
They inform you about the 90 minute limit but we didn’t feel rushed. Service was friendly and they came by several times to refill our soup bases. The line outside when we left was massive.
The menu is simple; pick your entree (seafood, mix & match or vegan), make it a combo ($5.99 extra) and then choose your soup base. They’ve set it up in such a way that it forces you to add the combo, otherwise you don’t get the extra goodies. We didn’t realize that and for one our orders, we ended up paying $3.00 for just the soup base. Lame.
They offer a 10% happy hour deal (weekdays before 5:30pm or everyday after 9:00pm) off your entire bill. They also gave us a loyalty card (once you get 10 stamps, you get $20.00 off) which isn’t very enticing.
Sauce
2x Combo ($5.99)
M went a rice bowl and milk tea while B opted for the vermicelli and wintermelon juice.
The wintermelon juice wasn’t too sweet.
The assorted vegetable platter included napa cabbage, lettuce, enoki mushroom, kabocha, tomato, corn, shrimp, imitation crab, tofu, tofu puffs and a couple of balls. Decent but I would have liked to see some choy or leafy vegetables offered.
They both picked the house special chicken soup base, which B said didn’t have much flavour.
Japanese oden & meat ($19.95)
I opted for the vegetarian mushroom soup base ($3.00 extra) which also lacked depth.
The oden included chikuwa (Japanese fish cake), fried fish cakes and some types of fish balls. It would have been nice to see some daikon or fried tofu pouches. Decent though.
Mix balls & meat ($19.95)
You get 5 different types of balls (10 total). The beef ball was oddly tough but everything else was fine.
Shrimp & meat ($19.95)
This was the best value out of the three options that we ordered. There was a lot of shrimps (~8), all fresh and decently sized. Everyone went with the lamb slices – you get a total of 6.
I can’t comprehend why Gokudo is so popular. Expect to wait in line during prime time. At the price point, you’re better off going for AYCE hot pot.
Gokudo Shabu Shabu (Burnaby)
https://www.facebook.com/GokudoBby/
#5, 4250 Kingsway
Burnaby, BC
(604) 438-5598
CHERRY BOB-OMBS 