If you can’t decide between yakiniku or hot pot, this new Waipahu eatery offers the best of both worlds.
916 Grill St. + ShabuZen opened recently in the former Outback Steakhouse Waipio restaurant space. The eatery features two dining experiences — all-you-can-eat hot pot is on one side, and a la carte yakiniku is on the other.
We’re told the “916” in the eatery’s name is a combination of the restaurant owners’ birthdays, and symbolizes synergy, success and growth.
The yakiniku experience features popular combo packages, including options that serve two to three, three to four and four to six people.
The yakiniku feast ($89.95) — designed to serve two to three people — is one of the most popular options. It includes brisket, spicy chicken, bulgogi, pork belly, shirmp and assorted veggies.
These combo packages also include the eatery’s daily selection of banchan.
If you want more meat, you can choose from the eatery’s a la carte menu, which includes options like kalbi (bone-in short rib), beef bulgogi, rib-eye steak, boneless galbi, spicy pork belly, spicy chicken, jumbo head-on shrimp and more.
Customers can also order appetizers like seafood pancakes ($15.95), 916 house fried rice ($18.95), Korean-style steamed egg ($12.95) — which requires about 10 minutes preparation time — and the 916 bi bim bap ($22.95). The latter includes housemade assorted banchan, sliced beef, a sunny side egg and steamed white rice; it’s designed to serve two people.
Meanwhile, the all-you-can-eat hot pot experience costs $25.50 per person during lunch and is $32.95 per person during dinner. Kids ages 5 years and under have free admission; children ages 6 to 10 years get 50% off.
Lunch is from opening to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. Dinner is served from 2 p.m. to closing, and the AYCE dinner price is available all day on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. There’s a 90-minute time limit for the all-you-can-eat experience.
Customers can choose from signature broths like tonkatsu, traditioanl (beef base with bonito finish), vegan tomato, creamy chicken, tan tan and shellfish miso. The latter two are only available during dinner.
Then, help yourself to a variety of proteins and veggies from the buffet bar. The selection includes bok choy, broccoli, imitation crab, mussels, lobster balls and Swai fillet. There are also sauces and garnishes like Sriracha mayo, ponzu sauce, hoisin sauce, chopped garlic and ginger, and spicy Gochujang sauce.
Once you return to your table, you can order meats like pork belly, beef brisket, chicken, beef chuck roll and boneless beef shortribs (served during dinner only). There are 2 to 3 ounces of each per serving.
During dinner, you can choose to add Shabuzen flavored oils to the broth — select from smoked bonito oil or smoked onion oil.
For an additional charge ($3), you can also add sake to your broth, resulting in a richer, more flavorful broth experience.
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CONTACT
916 Grill St. + ShabuZen
94-818 Uke‘e St., Waipahu
808-200-7316
Instagram: @916.restaurant
Open 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
