Shabu Shabu House (CLOSED)

The waitlist fills up early at this tiny 24-seat counter in Japanese Village Plaza, where Yoshinobu Maruyama has served a no-frills, fairly affordably priced version of traditional hot pot for over three decades. Once seated, choose between medium and large plates of USDA Choice Black Angus and swish around the slices of beef, assorted vegetables and udon noodles alongside ponzu and sesame dipping sauces and a bowl of white rice. Open Tuesday through Saturday, it’s an ideal way for solo diners or pairs to get a budget-friendly shabu-shabu fix—though we suggest coming close to opening, since there’s essentially always a wait for a seat.