In this economic climate, having a buffet restaurant in a shopping mall that offers unlimited dining time and a relatively low price per person is a great option that can significantly improve our lives. Sometimes, we just want to eat our fill, sit comfortably, chat leisurely without rushing, and avoid spending a 500-baht bill that would leave our wallets feeling thin, our hearts heavy, and the rest of the month financially challenging, right? T_T

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And Shabu Smile (Shabu Smile) is a shabu restaurant that I find interesting because of this. The main features that I want to summarize briefly from the beginning are:

1. Extensive menu with over 60 items.

2. Unlimited time! Sit and eat for as long as you want.

3. Affordable price at only 320 Baht/person net (299 Baht + 7% VAT). Please note that this price does not include drinks and desserts.

4. Choose from four different broths: clear, black, yen ta fo, or tom yum. If you're looking for something unique, try the yen ta fo or tom yum.

5. Four dipping sauces are available, covering all flavor profiles: ponzu, sukiyaki, seafood, and jaew!

6. Unlimited cheese. Order as much as you want.

Dive into the Full Review: Unveiling the Pros and Cons

Now that we've explored the highlights of this establishment, let's delve deeper into the comprehensive review to uncover every nook and cranny. This will provide a holistic understanding of the advantages and disadvantages, empowering you to make an informed decision before stepping through the doors.

Shabu Smile: A New Dining Experience at The Mall Ngamwongwan

Shabu Smile, a popular shabu-shabu restaurant, has recently opened its second branch at The Mall Ngamwongwan, 5th floor. This new location boasts a modern and inviting atmosphere, with a spacious layout, clean design, and playful decorative elements adorning the walls.

The restaurant has approximately 20 tables, accommodating around 80 guests. It offers both buffet and à la carte options. While the à la carte menu features reasonably priced dishes, the buffet option provides a more cost-effective and enjoyable dining experience.

The buffet menu price displayed at the restaurant is 299 baht + 7% VAT, which comes to 320 baht net. This price does not include drinks or desserts. For those who would like to enjoy refillable drinks, an additional 39 baht per person will be charged. Alternatively, bottled water is available for 20 baht per bottle.

The restaurant offers a variety of refillable beverages, including carbonated drinks and herbal teas such as pandan, bael fruit, butterfly pea flower, and chrysanthemum. The flavors are mild and not overly concentrated, with a slightly sweet taste. Therefore, those who do not prefer sweet drinks may find them unappealing. It is recommended to opt for carbonated drinks or plain water instead.

The menu features a diverse selection of 60 items, including 2 types of beef, 6 types of pork, chicken, shrimp, fish, crispy squid, vegetables, meatballs, dumplings, rice, and eggs. Shabu Smile offers a wide variety of meatballs.

Food Presentation and Taste

The appearance of the various meats was impressive for a shabu-shabu restaurant in this price range. Other food items, such as vegetables, meatballs, and garlic fried rice, also looked appealing. In terms of taste, most of the dishes were good and easily passed the test considering the price paid. The dishes that impressed me the most were the marbled beef, pork neck, pork liver, shrimp, garlic fried rice, and various meatballs. It's important to note that the number of meat slices in each dish wasn't very large, but you can order in larger quantities, such as 5 or 10 portions. The restaurant will then combine them into a larger plate, saving you time and frustration from waiting for refills.

Note: The color of the meat trays in this restaurant differs from other restaurants. Pork is served in black trays, while beef is served in white trays. Therefore, those who do not eat pork should be careful.

The Delicious Broths of Shabu Smile

Shabu Smile boasts an impressive selection of four distinct broths: clear, black, spicy, and Yen Ta Fo. Diners can choose two broths per pot, allowing for a delightful exploration of flavors.

The clear broth is characterized by its delicate sweetness, while the black broth avoids the excessive saltiness often found in similar offerings. The spicy broth delivers a vibrant kick with a hint of sourness, and the Yen Ta Fo broth offers a unique and refreshing experience, reminiscent of the popular noodle dish. Adding crispy squid and various noodles further enhances the resemblance to Yen Ta Fo.

Note:

The four dipping sauces cater to the diverse preferences of various groups. Ponzu, a staple in many shabu-shabu restaurants, offers a classic flavor. The sukiyaki sauce boasts a balanced and slightly sweet taste. The seafood sauce stands out with its tangy and spicy notes. Finally, the jaew sauce, with its blend of sour, salty, sweet, and mild spiciness, is likely to please many palates.

Regarding dipping sauces, feel free to choose your favorites and try them all. You can mix and match to your liking, dipping different meats in different sauces to avoid monotony. For the broth, choose the standard clear or black broth if you prefer a classic taste. If you're looking for something unique and unavailable elsewhere, try theเย็นตาโฟ (fish ball noodles) orต้มยำ (spicy and sour soup) broths.

Before we wrap up, there's one more menu item that I can't help but mention: cheese! The cheese comes in dice-shaped cubes served in cups, and you can order as much as you want. If you're a fan of dipping pork or beef in cheese, you'll definitely enjoy this. However, if you're dining with a large group, I recommend asking for an extra ladle from the restaurant so that everyone can dip their cheese without having to wait for the ladle to be passed around.

The Shabu Smile buffet price does not include dessert. If you want dessert, you will need to pay extra. The restaurant offers "yelato 44c" ice cream for 45 baht per cup. There are many flavors to choose from, and the names of the flavors are quite funny and confusing. I tried 4-5 flavors myself, such as Aoi (milk), Osaka Jelly (Yakult Pipo), Red Bull (Red Bull), and Beer. Overall, the taste is delicious and worth the price. If you have room in your stomach and want to have dessert after your meal, you can try it.

Let's now summarize the review of Shabu Smile, The Mall Ngamwongwan branch. We'll go through each aspect one by one.

Date of consumption: Sunday, May 21, 2017

Time: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Number: 7 people

**Taste of the food:** The taste is good, almost every dish is delicious, especially the marble beef, pork neck, pork liver, shrimp, and meatballs with lava filling. However, the taste that I said is good is good at this price range. Because if compared to restaurants that are 100-200 baht more expensive, it would be difficult to compete.

Food Variety: The selection is quite extensive, with 60 menu items excluding drinks. This is more than enough for a satisfying meal. Even with a group of 7, we couldn't finish everything. ><

Cleanliness of the Restaurant:

The restaurant was impeccably clean and visually appealing, as expected from a newly opened establishment. The only minor issue was that the floor tiles were slightly slippery when I visited, requiring some caution while walking. However, I am pleased to report that the restaurant has since replaced the flooring with a safer and more comfortable option.

Staff Service:

The restaurant has a large number of staff, with employees seemingly everywhere you look. However, due to the recent opening, many staff members appear to be still learning the ropes. This resulted in some instances of incorrect or slow service. However, this is likely not a major issue and should improve as the staff becomes more familiar with their roles and responsibilities.

Accessibility:

The Mall Ngamwongwan is not located directly next to a train station, making it slightly inconvenient for those who rely on public transportation. However, there are various alternative options available, including buses, vans, motorcycles, and taxis, catering to different preferences.

Value for Money:

At 320 baht net (excluding drinks and desserts), Shabu Smile faces stiff competition in this price range. However, its unlimited, all-you-can-eat format with no time limit, unlimited cheese, and high-quality ingredients for the price point set it apart. The diverse and comprehensive selection of dipping sauces and broths further enhances its value proposition.

Therefore, I consider Shabu Smile to be a cost-effective option. The unlimited dining duration alone gives it a significant edge over many competitors.

Summary: Amidst the proliferation of new shabu restaurants, Shabu Smile stands out with its unique selling points, making it a strong contender for many customers' hearts. Its key strengths lie in its affordability, innovative soup bases, and unlimited dining time, appealing to those seeking a novel experience and leisurely dining without the pressure of time constraints. While not aiming for Michelin-star quality, the food maintains a decent standard, ensuring value for money without breaking the bank. For those seeking a satisfying and affordable shabu experience, Shabu Smile is an excellent choice. The combination of its unique cold tom yum and yen ta fo soup bases, paired with the delectable cheese-dipped pork and spicy jaew dipping sauce, guarantees a delightful and worthwhile dining experience.

This concludes my review. I apologize if there are any omissions or errors. This review is based solely on my personal experience on the day I visited the establishment. Each individual's experience may vary.

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See you again in the next review. Goodbye.