Where: 5158 Geary Blvd., San Francisco

What: Japanese

The Japanese love to use onomatopoeias. Many everyday phrases in the Japanese language are derived from the attempt to simulate a perceived aural experience using words. So it makes perfect sense that these very same rules should apply when inventing names for Japanese cuisine.

I am referring to the popular Japanese dish shabu shabu, which involves cooking thinly sliced cuts of meat in boiling water. The name allegedly comes from the sound the meat makes as you swish it back and forth in the boiling water with your chopsticks.

I was fortunate enough to recently visit the Shabu House on Geary Street in San Francisco. I couldn’t have been more pleased with my visit to Shabu House.

The menu was pretty diverse for a shabu shabu place, with a decent selection of appetizers as well as pre-prepared dishes for diners who don’t want to cook for themselves. For the shabu shabu they offer three types of meat: pork, lamb and of course the Kobe beef. The gyoza were fried and crispy on the outside, but soft and juicy on the inside with great flavor.

Half of the enjoyment of shabu shabu is in the experience itself, and I had a lot of fun cooking my own meat and vegetables with the quick “shabu shabu” of my chopsticks. The meat was delicious when combined with the two dipping sauces, and the vegetables and noodles added a nice variety when I needed a break from the meat.

After eating at Shabu House, I can’t imagine why I would go anywhere else for shabu shabu. So the next time you find yourself in the mood for an interactive dining experience, give Shabu House a try. Just be sure to brush up on your chopstick skills first.