New Springfield hot pot restaurant nears opening

A new hot pot restaurant is slated to open on the south side of Springfield next week.

John Ngo, who is helping his mother, owner Kelly Ngo, open Shabu Hot Pot, said a soft launch is scheduled Sept. 17-20, with a grand opening around Sept. 21.

Shabu Hot Pot, located at 4560 S. Campbell Ave., Ste. 136, in the Shadowood Shopping Center, would allow customers to "create their own dining experience of Asian culture," said John Ngo, who will work front of house at the restaurant.

"We wanted to bring out something new, something different, something fun for families, friends and the people of Springfield to enjoy," he said.

Ngo said Shabu Hot Pot customers would select a soup base, with a variety of options, including spicy, chicken herbs and pork broth, and use that as the base to cook meats, noodles and vegetables. Servers will take orders for various cuts of meats, including beef, chicken and shrimp prawns, and customers can choose items from a conveyor belt that runs throughout the restaurant, he said. A sauce bar also will be available.

Adult prices are roughly $20 for lunchtime and $30 for dinner, with prices ranging $7 to $15 for kids, said Ngo, noting the menu is designed as an unlimited offering with a single price. Discounts are planned during the soft opening.

Ngo declined to estimate startup costs for the roughly 3,500-square-foot restaurant in space that formerly housed Bellacino's Pizza & Grinders. Terms of the lease with building owner Diversity Commercial Investments LLC also were not disclosed.

Shabu Hot Pot will have around eight employees to start, Ngo said.

Ngo said his family has previous restaurant experience, having operated China House in Ozark for more than a decade. They sold it around 14 years ago, he said.

The Shadowood Shopping Center is located between an Andy's Frozen Custard store and 7 Brew Coffee shop, across South Campbell from stores such as Academy Sports & Outdoors and Sam’s Club.