The newly opened all-you-can-eat Japanese restaurant, Mikiya Wagyu Shabu House, is located on the upper level of Hillsdale Shopping Center’s North Block, right above Lululemon. This chain restaurant, famous for its high-quality Japanese A5 Wagyu, offers three tiers, starting from $55 to $98 (without membership) or $48 to $88 (with membership). We ordered the gold Wagyu set. For the broth, we chose two types: House broth, a sweet-flavored broth, and spicy miso.
Japanese A5 Wagyu Chuck Ribeye (limited: one per each person)
The texture is soft and is perfectly sliced. After 3-5 seconds in the boiling soup, the meat is good to eat. Even without the dip, the flavor of the meat is just right, with the lipids melting quickly, emerging with the fibrous and chewable meat.
Japanese A5 Wagyu Shoulder Cut (limited: one per each person)
This choice is definitely the signature of the restaurant. The portion is quite big, with eight slices. The pattern of the lipid is delicate and evenly distributed on the surface. Similarly, these can be cooked in seconds; any longer will shrink the meat.. The texture is softer than the ribeye, and you don’t have to chew, as it melts in your mouth, leaving a gentle but satisfying finish.
Japanese A5 Wagyu Brisket (unlimited)
Compared to the previous ones, the brisket is fatter and contains most lipids on the side. The meat is still tender, but the meat and the lipid are not as balanced as the previous ones. It might feel too oily if you eat this a lot. Recommend 1-2 plates per person.
Full Blood M9+ Australian Wagyu Chuck Ribeye & Full Blood M9+ Australian Wagyu Shoulder Cut (unlimited)
They have less lipids than the Japanese Wagyu, making the meat more chewy and tighten. They are delicious, but compared to the Japanese Wagyu, they are a little ordinary. The Ribeye has a more beautiful texture than the shoulder cut. I would recommend trying the ribeye after all the Japanese Wagyu if you are almost full.
Seafood Platter & Seasonal Pearl Grouper
The seafood platter is also satisfactory, with a variety of combinations of fresh shrimp to crab. The scallop is the best among all, with its delicate, subtle and clean taste and tender texture. The seasonal pearl grouper is decent and fresh as well, and it is limited, so it is worth a try.
Others
Due to the recent avian flu outbreak, the restaurant does not serve pasteurized eggs, meaning that there is no Wagyu Tartare or eggs for dipping. Instead, for specialty dishes, we ordered the Shrimp Sashimi and Wagyu Bone Marrow. The shrimps were fresh, and you can taste the sweetness, but each portion is only a pair of them, which is a little disappointing. The Wagyu Bone marrow was beyond expectations, and I would strongly recommend it. The garlicious bone marrow, served with crunchy toast, is an excellent combination, neutralizing the saltiness of the bone marrow. The oil in it moisturizes the bread, making the texture soft and flavorful. There are also various drinks and appetizers. And for dessert, they have taro-flavored and sesame-flavored ice cream. The taro one is a little too sweet, but the sesame one is authentic and rich.
Environment and Service
We waited about 15 minutes to be seated. The interior decoration is very atmospheric. They also have an outdoor section, which is an option if there are too many people. The restaurant was still crowded at 2 o’clock. However, everything is orderly out of chaos. There was a 90-minute limit for dining, but we did not eat in a rush. Each table was assigned one server and the server paid high attention to the customers. They also served quickly so you can eat to your satisfaction.
Overall it was a pleasing experience, and I would recommend trying. However, considered that the price is a little high, going on a holiday or family celebration might be a good choice.
