Shabu shabu

Shabu-shabu means “swish-swish,” which is the sound made when cooking thin slices of beef, chicken and seafood in hot pots of boiling broth. Shabu-shabu is a wonderful low-fat, interactive meal to have with friends--and, thanks to the counters in shabu-shabu restaurants, an excellent way to dine alone.

* Mizu 212: A classy new cleverly named Westside shabu-shabu house, all aluminum and wood, offers regular- and large-size servings of USDA choice beef, plus chicken and/or vegetarian meals, all of which include nappa cabbage, baby bok choy, carrots, green onion, chrysanthemum leaves, enoki and shiitake mushrooms, tofu and udon noodles. (Shabu-shabu, $10.99 to $15.95.) Mizu 212, 2000 Sawtelle Blvd., West Los Angeles, (310) 478-8979.

* T T Shabu: In addition to the traditional thinly sliced beef, this bright, cheerful Chinese-owned Japanese shabu-shabu restaurant offers pork, lamb, seafood, chicken and a lavish vegetarian meal. Specials include live lobster, king crab, jellyfish, seaweed and octopus. There’s also Kobe beef, which is running at the bargain price of $42 a serving; it’s usually more than $70. Dinners come with vegetables, noodles and “UCC” (a brand imported from Japan) iced coffee. (Shabu shabu, $9.50 to $42.) T T Shabu, 141 N. Atlantic Blvd., No. 1008, Monterey Park, (626) 282-6795.

* Ka Ga Ya: Here, in Honda Plaza, is a very focused, beautiful, traditional shabu-shabu house with a short menu: prime or Kobe beef, seafood (Alaskan king crab, oysters and clams) and combinations of beef and seafood. Each meal includes appetizers, soup, assorted fresh vegetables, udon or rice soup, house-made pickled vegetables and dessert. (Shabu-shabu, $29 to $88.) Ka Ga Ya, 418 E. 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 617-1016.

* Shabu Shabu House: Many of us started eating shabu-shabu here, at this reasonably priced, highly popular Little Tokyo cafe. The selection is small: beef with vegetables, noodles, rice, pickle and UCC iced coffee. (Shabu-shabu dinner: regular, $10.99; large, $13.58.) Shabu Shabu House, 127 Japanese Village Plaza, Los Angeles, (213) 680-3890.

* Shabu-Shabu Garden/Yoshi’s Restaurant: This comfortable Valley restaurant serves six kinds of shabu-shabu: vegetarian, mizutaki (chicken), joyanabe (pork), beef, prime beef and yosenabe (seafood), all with vegetables, tofu, noodles, rice and two house-made sauces, ponzu and sesame. (Shabu-shabu, $7.95 to $18.50.) Yoshi’s Restaurant, 13573 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks, (818) 995-1660.

* SHaaB: A full-service Japanese restaurant and sushi bar in Pasadena’s Old Town, SHaaB also has a shabu-shabu counter serving Eastern choice beef, prime rib beef and seafood nabe or Japanese-style bouillabaisse with green mussels, littleneck clams, salmon and shrimp. All three choices come with vegetable, rice, noodle and sauces. (Shabu-shabu, $12.80 to $18.50.) SHaaB Japanese Restaurant, 77 N. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 683-1150.

* Zakuro: A stylish newcomer to Little Tokyo, this shabu-shabu and sukiyaki house offers beef, chicken and seafood shabu-shabu dinners, which come with vegetables, noodles and sauces. Or, you can order kaiseki, the chef’s special, a multi-course dinner that includes salad, sashimi and dessert. (Shabu-shabu, $13.50 to $27.50.) Zakuro, 356 1/2 2nd St., Los Angeles, (213) 680-0003.

First Impressions will return next week.