Haru Shabu Shabu is a Japanese-style hotpot located at 5095 Yonge St. in North York, Toronto's northern borough, in the Empress Walk right across from North York Centre subway station. Haru Shabu Shabu has a bright, modern interior and is in the same mall as Ichiban Asian AYCE which we've already reviewed, and in the same premises as Shinto BBQ that we haven't yet. Pop is $2 canned not AYCD. There is a two-hour time limit. Menu is digital through a QR code, so be sure to bring your smartphone. Reusable chopsticks are used, thankfully; I find most hotpots go with them as they are longer than the disposables, so less chance of the patron being scalded should they go fishing around in the broth with them. Ponzu sauce is excellent with a wonderful aromatic floral flavour.
Mishy loved the seaweed salad and said “Mmm” often while eating it. However she said that the lettuce in the green salad may have been unwashed, although I didn't notice this at all and that it was pungent. I loved the salad and thought it was very fresh and had good dressing.
Thin sliced pork belly was delicious and didn't need anything after. Beef and beef balls were of course very good being beef and all. Fish tofu was surprisingly good especially in the wonderful ponzu sauce. Takoyaki was excellent and Mishy loved it; it has a slightly ketchup-flavoured sauce but was nonetheless delicious and we had seconds. Cabbage and spinach were both excellent when cooked in the sukiyaki sauce. Pumpkin needed a little dip in the ponzu sauce which is rapidly becoming a favourite to lighten up.
Mushrooms which were a larger version of the long skinny enoki mushroom which can be found in rolls were quite enjoyable after being cooked in the sukiyaki sauce. Radish wasn't bad, but I'm not a fan of radish, so I don't even count that. Glass noodles are slick and more difficult to pick up with the chopsticks, but I managed and they are excellent just about the best noodles we've ever had.
For dessert, Mishy could not finish the durian balls because of the odour, but of course anyone who knows what durian is is already used to that. I had never had tried it before, and it does have a bit of a natural gas/mercaptan aroma but just breathing out through my mouth blew that away and it wasn't bad, although I probably wouldn't order it again but it was worth a try. As well there are Melona bars, of which had coconut, and crème brûlée which we both found excellent. Price is $29.99 weekday and $31.99 weekend lunch, which is including broth. This latter part is welcome as so many hotpots tack $10 or more on the price by requiring broth to be bought separately. With this and the general quality of the offerings this was an excellent lunch.
Rating: 8.5 - 9 / 10
