A1 Premium Shabu Shabu Greenbelt Review: Tender Wagyu and a Big Menu

The short version: A1 Premium Shabu Shabu in Greenbelt 3 is one of the better shabu-shabus in Manila, with soft, tender Japanese wagyu, good portions and far more meats to choose from than most. The broth could use a little more flavor, service can be on the slower side (the call button helps), and the room is simple rather than special. Lunch for three, with three sets and extra meat and fish, came to about ₱5,860, roughly ₱1,950 a person. It’s a fair value, but for shabu-shabu I’d go to Ganso first.

I had lunch at A1 in Greenbelt with two others on a Tuesday in October 2026. We paid for everything ourselves.

Pros

• Soft, tender Japanese wagyu
• Good portion sizes and a long list of meats, seafood and add-ons
• A call button on the table to bring the servers over
• Greenbelt to walk around before or after
• Usually not too crowded, outside peak dinner times

Cons

• The chicken herbal broth is a little mild; it could use more flavor
• Service can be on the slower side
• A simple room, not a special-occasion space
• The Australian lamb is sliced a little thin

Getting there

A1 is on the 2nd floor of Greenbelt 3 in Makati, with a lot of the other restaurants. The easiest way is to get dropped off at the main Grab pick-up and drop-off by the Hermès store, then go up the stairs past Din Tai Fung.

The setting: 7.5 out of 10

Greenbelt is a great place to walk around, day or night, so I’d recommend a stroll before or after your meal, especially if you eat a lot. A nice tip: there’s a Pinkberry and an arcade upstairs.

The restaurant itself is simple and comfortable: a normal size, with a little area in the back where they make the food, and a Southeast Asian style, with green and white leaf patterns. It’s usually not too crowded, which is good too, though it can get a little busy at peak dinner times and on weekend evenings.

The food: 7 out of 10

We ordered two beef karubi sets and a fresh chicken set, plus Japanese wagyu, Australian lamb and lapu-lapu fillet, with the chicken herbal soup, the vegetable soup and the collagen soup as bases.

Japanese wagyu: 7.5 out of 10. Very soft and tender, and it tastes pretty good. Quite thinly sliced, with a good portion.

Beef karubi: 7 out of 10. Also good, and also a good portion.

Australian lamb: 7 out of 10. Fairly soft and tasty, though I’d have liked it sliced a bit thicker.

Chicken herbal soup: 6.5 out of 10. Decent, but a little mild. I’d have liked more flavor, maybe even a bit more salt. A nice touch: they give you an actual piece of chicken to put in it.

Corn: 8 out of 10. The sets come with a lot of vegetables, and the corn is my favorite: actually quite good, and a nice size. There are glass noodles, enoki and other mushrooms, tofu and fish balls too, but I’m not a huge vegetable person, so I skipped them. The rice was good.

Overall, good, though it could use a bit more flavor, especially the broth. The beef was the highlight, especially the wagyu.

Service: 6 out of 10

Good, though it can be a bit slow at times. One nice thing is the button on the table that calls a server over, which makes up for it. The staff are polite, if not as warm as at some other places.

What it cost

Two beef karubi sets, a fresh chicken set, Japanese wagyu, Australian lamb, lapu-lapu, an extra collagen soup base, rice and drinks came to ₱5,860 with the 10% service charge, about ₱1,950 a person for three. We ordered more than you normally would; the sets on their own start at ₱800.

Value: 7 out of 10

Roughly the same as Ganso, though not quite as good as China Blue or Din Tai Fung. There, I think the food is better quality, you get more, and the settings are the same or better. That said, compared to US prices it’s still quite good, so it’s fair for a tourist, and plenty of Manila restaurants at a similar price aren’t as good.

Vs. Ganso and the rest

Ganso Shabuway has better beef. The setting is about a toss-up, but Ganso feels a tad more special as an outing, and its service is better. If you’re looking for shabu-shabu, I’d go to Ganso over A1.

Service is a little better at most of the other restaurants I’ve reviewed, too. For Filipino, I’d go to Lampara or even Milky Way; for a date, China Blue, where you’ll get more quality.

Who it’s for

Groups who want a lot of meat to choose from, families, or anyone already in Greenbelt who wants shabu-shabu without much of a wait. If you’re bringing small kids, note that I didn’t see a kids’ menu or high chairs. It’s good for occasions, too: my friends took me here for my birthday, so it has good memories for me. It feels like a fairly happy place, though that may be my own good experiences talking.

Tips if you go

• Get dropped off by Hermès and take the stairs up past Din Tai Fung.
• Go before peak dinner time on weekends if you don’t want to wait.
• Use the call button; it’s the fastest way to get service.
• Order the Japanese wagyu.
• Walk around Greenbelt afterward; there’s a Pinkberry and an arcade upstairs.

Verdict: 7 out of 10

Tender wagyu, generous portions and a big menu, in a simple, happy room. The broth could use more flavor and service can be slow, but it’s a solid choice in Greenbelt. I’d go back, though for shabu-shabu I’d pick Ganso first. This restaurant is in my Where to Eat in Manila guide, with all fourteen ranked and matched to occasions.

FAQ

Where is A1 Premium Shabu Shabu in Greenbelt?

On the 2nd floor of Greenbelt 3, Ayala Center, Makati. Get dropped off by Hermès and go up the stairs past Din Tai Fung.

How much does A1 Premium Shabu Shabu cost?

Sets for one start at ₱800, plus 10% service charge. Our lunch for three, with three sets and extra meat and fish, came to about ₱1,950 a person.

What should I order at A1?

The Japanese wagyu, and a beef set with the corn.

A1 or Ganso?

Ganso, for better beef, better service and a slightly more special outing. The value is about the same.

Does A1 have other branches?

Yes, including BGC, Parqal in Parañaque and Opus at Bridgetown. This review is of Greenbelt.