If you’re a frequent JB visitor, you’ve probably noticed that Arashi Shabu-Shabu has a loyal following — and after my recent weekday evening visit to their Johor Bahru City Square outlet, I can confidently say the hype is justified.
Even on a weekday, the restaurant was buzzing with diners. I waited around 15 minutes for a table, which honestly made me even more curious — packed restaurants usually mean good soup, fresh ingredients, and comforting flavours. And true enough, this City Square branch didn’t disappoint.
I actually prefer this outlet over the one nearby at Komtar JBCC, despite both being convenient for Singaporeans. The difference? The soup base. At City Square, the soups taste noticeably fresher, lighter, and more balanced. Over at JBCC, the flavour tends to be much stronger — borderline salty and overpowering, especially when the restaurant is quieter with fewer customers. Perhaps the turnover of soup pots makes a difference.
This time, I ordered the Pepper Chicken Soup base (top-up of RM14), and it arrived bubbling away with a fragrant aroma that immediately reminded me of homemade herbal chicken soup with a peppery punch. The broth had a nice warmth — spicy enough to wake your appetite, yet still carrying a slow sweetness from the chicken. Very shiok on a rainy evening.
Each shabu-shabu set costs roughly RM36–40, depending on whether you pick meat or fish. For the price, the portion is very reasonable: a colourful plate of fresh vegetables, assorted mushrooms, and about 8 slices of fish or meat neatly rolled and plated. Everything looked fresh — crisp greens, plump mushrooms, and generous slices of protein ready for the hotpot.
I also tried their Tom Yam soup, which had an authentic tang and aroma. It was delicious at the start, but as with many tom yam broths, the flavour gets saltier after repeated boiling, especially when the ingredients release their natural flavours into the soup.
One pleasant surprise was the Hong Kong–style chilli sauce from the condiment bar. It had a slight dried-shrimp flavour — almost like a mild hae bee hiam — giving each dip a savoury, aromatic kick. Perfect with the meat slices.
All in all, it was a comforting and satisfying dinner, especially before heading back to Singapore. For a full hotpot meal with premium soup base, fresh ingredients, and free-flow condiments, paying under RM50 per person feels genuinely worth it.
It may not be perfect, but for a straightforward, comforting hotpot meal in City Square, this outlet does the job well enough.
𝗔𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘀 (𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗕𝗮𝗵𝗿𝘂)
𝗔𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂 — 𝗝𝗕 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗲
Address:
Lot J4-13, Level 4, Johor Bahru City Square Mall,
106-108 Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Operating Hours:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
𝗔𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂-𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗯𝘂 — 𝗞𝗼𝗺𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗝𝗕𝗖𝗖
Address:
Lot L2-117, Level 2, Komtar JBCC Mall,
80000 Johor Bahru, Johor
Operating Hours:
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Daily)
