Shabu-Shabu, or syabu-syabu, is generally a “simple but delicious Japanese dish in which translucently thin slices of beef are dipped into a boiling broth of vegetables and tofu. A few seconds will do; just enough for the meat to turn pinky-grey”(Tasker,7). However, Even though Shabu-Shabu eating style seems to be related to Suki-yaki, The flavour of dipping sauces are different; Shabu-Shabu dipping sauce seems to be less sweet and more savory than those of Suki-Yaki and Hot-Pot sauces

 

Originating from the Genghis Khan period, which was around 13th century, Shabu-Shabu was developed for feeding the soldiers in the army of Mongols in a form of “Hot-Pot”. Since there was a big number of men in an army, they put a large pot with boiling soup on their campfire, provided each man a boil of thinly sliced meet, and then let those hungry soldiers do the cooking themselves by dipping the sliced meet in boiling soup. This process of cooking is agreed by many of the scientists that it is a very efficient way of feeding the troops, and it shows how the eating style of these Asian men evolutes. “Not only did it feed the troops notoriously and efficiently, but it also helped conserve the army's limited fuel resources. The thinly sliced meat was used primarily because of its short cooking time and its effectiveness in absorbing all of the nutrition in the meat” (Halushabushabu). Later on, this eating style spread through many of Asian nations, and each nation developed their own style of “Hot-Pot” as Japanese developed it into a form of Shabu-Shabu.

 

Many Japanese-food lovers might be familiar with the name of “Suehiro” restaurant in Osaka, another big city of Japan. Formerly, Shabu-Shabu was just one of the hot-pot dishes in Suehiro restaurant. Suehiro, himself, named this menu “Shabu-Shabu”, which came from the sound when dipping the slices of meet (swish-swish sound). Not quite a long time after he started serving this dishes, in 1995, Suehiro registered his trademark with the name “Shabu-Shabu”. As for the popularity of this dish, “Shabu-Shabu” seems to be the main dish which is normally served for many of tourist hot-spots in all over the country, especially in Tokyo. In these days, “Shabu-Shabu” isn't only a forever-favorite for only the Japanese, but for Americans, Canadians, Taiwanese, Chinese, and yes, Thais. As for us, who might have ever had Shabu-Shabu before, It's worth go having it once in your life since It has been a “must-try” dish for over 8 centuries!! ​

 

Reference: http://www.student.chula.ac.th/~53407772/history%20of%20shabu.html