If you’ve ever thought, “You know what I need? A boiling cauldron of broth, a bounty of wafer thin beef, raw vegetables, seafood and tofu deliciousness, blended with the adrenaline of a MasterChef final, then Shabuway in Haymarket is your culinary companion.
First Impressions: A Saliva Generating Umami Scent steams through the air
Walking into Shabuway is like stepping into a steamy, umami-scented heaven. There’s hissing steam, clattering chopsticks, upbeat buzz in the air, waiters whizzing past, and diners so focused you’d think they were performing open-heart surgery—not dunking enoki mushrooms. It’s glorious.
You’re seated in front of your own bubbling hot pot— cleverly split into two. So if you’re a little bit spicy then the spicy mala broth is for you, or if you’re looking for soul-soothing then the Japanese Sukiyaki it is. After gently pouring in your both, hoping frantically not to cause a scene, the fun begins. Choose your destiny: sliced meats, seafood, tofu, dumplings, veggies, noodles and even fried chicken, noodles and sushi.
Inspired by Japan, Korea and China, this is Sydney’s first self-serve all-you-can-eat Japanese hot pot buffet.
The Beef: Paper-Thin Perfection
The star of the show? That marbled wagyu beef. It’s rolled up like tiny meaty scrolls of joy, ready to be dunked into the bubbling broth for a 10-second spa treatment. Tender, juicy, and so delicate it practically dissolves on your tongue while whispering, “You’re welcome.”
The Other Options
The space is like an ad for the fresh food people. There’s fish balls, rice cakes, tofu wrapped fish cakes and plain old tofu – if beef is not your persuasion. Plus bountiful noodles and vegetables, including an impressive selection of mushrooms and chinese vegetables. Our absolute must-haves were the enoki mushrooms. The somewhat surprising winner of the shabu-shabu dinner was the Chinese cabbage. The most understated and undervalued of vegetables absolutely sings like a soprano after dancing in each delicate broth.
The Aroma: Soup-Scented Happiness
There’s something primal about the scent here—savory steam rising up, fresh herbs perfuming the air like pho’s older, bolder cousin. If someone bottled this and sold it as “Eau de Broth,” we’d wear it with pride.
Ferociously Fun
You’re grabbing, dunking, stirring, timing, dipping, and devouring- yet the pace is yours to set. You can still, amongst the heavy lifting of your chopsticks from plate to mouth, manage conversation and master a little battle over that last fish ball or tofu skin (another must have).
Final Slurp
It’s a full-sensory adventure. Arrive hungry and curious. You’ll leave with a full belly, possibly a broth-scented jacket, and definitely the urge to come back next week.
Because once you go the Shabuway, you never really go back.
Shabuway: Shop 35/1 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW 2000
