RM32.80++ Shabu Shabu Buffet @ Nagomi, Menara Hap Seng

I am sure you know the problem with steamboat buffets. The ingredients are often not fresh and the soup is usually laden with ajinomoto. Luckily Nagomi decided to serve Shabu Shabu buffet and despite being 50% more expensive than the average steamboat buffet restaurants, the price is justified because the expected quality is there.

For RM32.80++ per adult (exclusive of drinks, green tea is RM3) you get to choose from over 80 types of ingredients to swish in the dashi hot pot. Well, that’s what they claim. I did not count but the spread certainly did not look like it consisted of anything near to 80 choices lol. Among all, we enjoyed the tiger prawns the most. Although they were frozen, they were still fresh, tasted sweet and the shells could be peeled off easily after being cooked.

Other seafood included slipper lobster, oyster, bamboo clams, clams and fish slices. Like the tiger prawns, these were also frozen but still managed to taste fresh and good. One exception would be the clams, some were found to be a bit sandy.
I read from the other blogs that live yabbies (freshwater crayfish), pomfrets, crabs are available too but I didn’t see them anywhere. Taken off the spread maybe? And of course there are also the processed stuff like meat balls, fish cakes etc but those are pretty much left untouched by the patrons. I didn’t bother too.

Quality broth and dipping sauce aside, the key to delicious Shabu Shabu lies in the vegetables you put in the broth before you even start cooking the meat and seafood. It is always good to include generous amount of Japanese leek, lettuce and mushrooms to sweeten the broth as it cooks. You could try to compare the broth’s taste before and after you place the vegetables, you shall find the difference is quite significant.

The other reason I came to Nagomi is for the Salmon sashimi, which is served from 8pm to 9pm only during dinner session. Unlimited, if you are wondering. Alas, the salmon was not as fresh as I expected and had a slightly gristly texture. Still acceptable for buffet standards, nonetheless.

A variety of Maki is also available but my advice is, don’t waste your stomach space on them and just focus on the shabu shabu. For desserts, there are jellies, local fruits like watermelon and honeydew and soft serve ice cream from a self-service vending machine.

After including the miscellanous charges (tax, service charge, green tea) the meal worked out to about RM41.50 per pax. Not exactly cheap, but no regrets because we were satisfied with the food, which was good in overall. Hopefully the shabu shabu buffet promotion will stay on longer, so I get to return again to ‘sapu’ the tiger prawns.

Nagomi Japanese Restaurant
Suite 1-19, 1st Floor, The Podium,
Menara Hap Seng, Jalan P. Ramlee, 50250 KL
GPS Coordinates: N3 09.165 E101 42.442
Tel: 603-2141 6332

Shabu Shabu Buffet available for Dinner daily.
Lunch available on (Weekends & Public Holidays)
Adults RM32.80++, Children 5-12 years old RM18.80++
Reserve ahead to avoid disappointments