Highlights
About
Shabu Sai (しゃぶ菜) is a Japanese all-you-can-eat hotpot restaurant operated by Create Restaurants Holdings — a major Japanese restaurant group listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 3387). The name combines "shabu" (the sound of swishing ingredients in boiling broth) and "sai" (菜, vegetables), reflecting the restaurant's emphasis on both premium meats and fresh produce. At Compass One #02-31, Shabu Sai brings authentic Japanese shabu-shabu and sukiyaki to Sengkang, offering a communal dining experience that is hard to replicate at home. Create Restaurants Holdings also operates Maccha House in Singapore.
The buffet format offers seven rotating soup bases — classic Tonkotsu (pork bone broth), sweet Sukiyaki shoyu, Laksa Paitan (local fusion), and monthly specials like Yuzu Salt Beauty and Spicy Kimchi. Load up from the buffet line with thinly sliced premium meats (beef, pork belly, chicken) served on elegant bamboo-style trays, fresh vegetables, mushrooms, seaweed, tofu, udon noodles, and a selection of sushi and mini chirashi dons. The meat quality is a cut above typical hotpot chains — slices are thin enough to cook in seconds when swished in the bubbling broth. Split pot option (+S$3) lets two diners enjoy different bases.
Pricing is genuinely family-friendly: children under 100cm eat completely free, children 100–140cm pay a reduced rate (~S$14.90++), and there is a height measuring scale at the entrance — no arguments about age. Weekday lunch is S$22.90++ (adults, 70-minute limit), weekend and dinner S$26.90++. Free-flow soft drinks and ice cream available for +S$2.50++. The sauce station offers ponzu (citrus soy), goma-dare (sesame), and chilli — essential for the authentic shabu-shabu experience. Total family cost for 2 adults + 1 toddler + 1 child: approximately S$55–65++ for lunch.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday Lunch Buffet AYCE shabu-shabu & sukiyaki · 70 min · Mon–Fri | S$22.90++ | Best Value |
| Weekend/Dinner Buffet AYCE shabu-shabu & sukiyaki · 70 min | S$26.90++ | |
| Kids (100–140cm) Reduced rate children 100-140cm height | ~S$14.90++ | |
| Kids (under 100cm) Free with paying adult | FREE | 🎉 |
| Free-Flow Drinks+Ice Cream Unlimited soft drinks and ice cream add-on | +S$2.50++ | Recommended |
| Split Pot (Dual Soup) Two different soup bases in one pot | +S$3.00++ |
* Prices subject to 10% service charge + 9% GST. Menu may vary.
Practical Info
Dietary Info
Your Visit
Choose Your Soup Base
Seven rotating bases: Tonkotsu (pork bone, signature), Sukiyaki (sweet soy, ideal for beef), Laksa Paitan (local fusion), and monthly specials like Yuzu Salt Beauty (collagen) and Spicy Kimchi. Opt for the split pot (+S$3) if your group can't agree on one base — you get two different soups in a divided pot, perfect for mixing things up.
The Art of Shabu-Shabu
Hold the meat with chopsticks, dip into simmering broth, swish back and forth — "shabu shabu." For thin beef: 3-5 seconds (medium-rare). Pork: 8-10 seconds (fully cooked). Vegetables: drop in and simmer 1-2 minutes. Dip in ponzu (citrus soy, bright finish) or goma-dare (sesame, rich nuttiness). The key is to cook and eat continuously — don't wait for everything at once. 70 minutes goes fast!
Family Strategy
Toddlers under 100cm eat FREE — there's a height scale at the entrance. Kids 100-140cm pay reduced rate. Sweet sukiyaki broth is more kid-friendly than rich tonkotsu. Order free-flow drinks+ice cream (+S$2.50++) to keep kids happy. Supervise young children around the boiling pot. Best timing: arrive at 11:30am weekend opening for no queue. Total family cost 2 adults + 1 toddler + 1 child ≈ S$55-65++ lunch.
Pro Tips for Maximum Value
Go weekday lunch (S$22.90++ vs S$26.90++ dinner) — same food, fewer people. Start with vegetables in the broth first to build flavour base, then add meats. The sushi and chirashi don from the buffet line are underrated — grab them early before the fresh batch runs out. Don't fill up on rice/noodles too early — prioritise meats first. The bamboo meat trays refill quickly during busy periods.
Shabu-Shabu Culture
Shabu-shabu became popular in Japan in the mid-20th century. Unlike Chinese hotpot with thicker cuts and longer cooking, Japanese shabu-shabu uses paper-thin slices cooked for mere seconds — preserving tenderness and natural flavour. The communal aspect of gathering around a bubbling pot makes it inherently social: a meal designed for sharing, talking, and celebrating. Shabu Sai's backing by Tokyo-listed Create Restaurants Holdings (also operates Maccha House in Singapore) ensures authentic Japanese standards.
Photos
Map
Editor's Note
Shabu Sai at Compass One is the only genuine Japanese hotpot buffet in the Sengkang-Punggol area, and it fills that niche admirably. The meat quality — particularly the beef — exceeds expectations at this price point, and the seven rotating soup bases provide variety across visits. The kids-eat-free policy for under-100cm is a genuinely clever family draw. At S$22.90++ for weekday lunch, it is good value for unlimited Japanese hotpot. The main caveat is the 70-minute time limit — it can feel rushed for larger groups, and weekend dinner queues require strategic timing. But for a family birthday or group celebration in Sengkang, this is the obvious choice: interactive dining, unlimited premium meats, and the backing of a Tokyo-listed restaurant group.
Compare: Group Japanese Dining near Sengkang
| Restaurant | Price/Pax | Specialty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shabu Sai | S$22–29++ | Shabu-shabu & sukiyaki AYCE | Groups, families, celebrations |
| Gyu-Kaku (Punggol) | S$30–50++ | Japanese BBQ yakiniku | Premium yakiniku |
| Genki Sushi | S$12–25 | Conveyor belt sushi | Sushi lovers |
Shabu Sai offers the best value for group dining with unlimited meats at a fixed price. Gyu-Kaku at Waterway Point is premium yakiniku. Genki Sushi is lighter dining without the buffet commitment.
About Create Restaurants Holdings
Shabu Sai is operated by Create Restaurants Asia, the Singapore arm of Create Restaurants Holdings — listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE: 3387). The parent company runs 1,000+ restaurants across Japan. In Singapore, they also operate Maccha House (matcha café). This corporate backing ensures supply chain stability and quality consistency — the tonkotsu recipe follows exact Japanese HQ specifications. The company's public listing provides transparency and accountability that smaller independent operators cannot match.
Sengkang Area Guide: Japanese Dining
Compass One houses over 10 Japanese dining options — from budget gyudon at Yoshinoya (halal, S$5.80) to quality conveyor sushi at Genki Sushi (S$12-25), DIY teppan at Pepper Lunch (S$10-22), solo yakiniku at Yakiniku Like (halal, S$10-20), and premium Japanese burgers at MOS Burger (S$5-12). Neighbouring Waterway Point in Punggol adds Sushiro, Gyu-Kaku, Ichiban Boshi, and Warabimochi Kamakura (Japanese mochi desserts). For Muslim diners: Yoshinoya, Yakiniku Like, and Sukiya (Waterway Point) are all MUIS halal-certified.
Sengkang is one of Singapore's youngest towns with 250,000+ residents, predominantly young families. Compass One is the primary mall, directly integrated with Sengkang MRT/LRT station. Key amenities include Sengkang Public Library (Levels 3-4), Cold Storage supermarket (B1), and a children's playground (Level 4). Waterway Point in neighbouring Punggol is a 5-minute LRT ride away. Together, these two malls provide the northeast's most comprehensive Japanese dining ecosystem — covering every category from budget bowls to premium yakiniku to all-you-can-eat hotpot.