What to Eat in Fairfax, VA: California Shabu Shabu
When Duke Nguyen opened California Shabu Shabu in Fairfax, VA 3 years ago, he had no idea the Japanese concept would take off.
Traditional shabu shabu consists of cooking thinly sliced meat, tofu, seafood, or vegetables piece-by-piece in a hotpot at the dinner table.
Guests dining at the restaurant are given a plate of assorted vegetables and in-house sauces made entirely of Japanese ingredients. A goma and ponzu sauce (gluten free options include soy ponzu or teriyaki) make up the major flavors shabu shabu loyalists come back to again and again.