Looking for a warm, cozy, fun place to grab a healthy lunch? Look no further than Shabu-Shabu USA, an interactive Japanese variant of hot pot within walking distance of The Shops at Mission Viejo.

On a brisk, overcast midweek afternoon, we decided a little Shabu-Shabu USA—tucked in the humble unit of a strip mall—might be just what we needed to get us through the week. Partner-in-crime and photographer Taylor Corner and I wobbled in through hanging drapes and were quickly escorted to a couple of tall chairs to get our grub on.

Before our visit, I had no idea what "shabu shabu" meant. Noticing my inquisitive stares at the boiling pots of water on the countertop, our lovely waitress was quick to comfort me and explain that "shabu shabu" meant “swish, swish,” in reference to the sounds that the chopsticks make when stirring the meat in the pot.

Continuing the process, we selected our meats and received a plate of shabu essentials, including cabbage, carrot slices, tofu, noodles, seaweed, scallions and shiitake mushrooms. Taylor opted for the thinly sliced sirloin beef, and I chose a plate of fresh shrimp ($15.95 a person), along with a bowl of warm edamame as an appetizer.

The freshness of the meats and vegetables enhanced the dining experience. So did the attentiveness of our waitresses. One in particular held our hand through the process (not literally; that would be weird), explaining that the pots contained nothing but boiling water and a quarter-inch of seaweed, making it one of the healthiest, fastest ways to cook meat.

She wasn’t kidding. Using her own chopsticks, she pinched a slice of the vibrant-red beef, dipped it in the bubbling water, and seconds later the same slice emerged, cooked and fully browned. With a bowl of white rice, hot sauce, and excitement brewing, our waitress left us at our most shabu-confident to fend for ourselves.

In between bites, we took some time to appreciate the cozy atmosphere and layout: two rows of bar seating that face each other, with a closed walkway down the middle of the restaurant for the staff to use. The decor was simple, with the same mentality being applied to the food.

With the fun, attentive staff and the healthy, fun eats that Shabu-Shabu provides, a return trip is certainly in our futures. With its intimate ambience and with beer and wine available, you can get toasty in more ways than one.

If you’re on the prowl for something a little different without sabotaging that up-and-down diet we all seem to be on, Shabu-Shabu USA is definitely a choice spot.

Shabu-Shabu USA

28201 Marguerite Pkwy., Suite 9

Mission Viejo, 92692

This is the first of a special series of video installments of local restaurants in partnership with foodbeast.com.