For my Manna Shabu Lewisville second visit review, I returned to Manna Korean BBQ & Shabu to try a different soup base and revisit the beef selections I enjoyed during my previous meal.
Although Manna offers both Korean BBQ and shabu shabu, I personally prefer coming here for shabu. When I want grilled Korean BBQ, I usually choose Moodaepo Carrollton instead.
During my first Manna visit, I enjoyed the Spicy Soup with tender beef and ingredients from the self-service bar. This time, I wanted to compare it with the Chicken Soup.
The Chicken Soup was mild and pleasant, but I gradually realized that I missed the stronger flavor of the spicy broth. That was the biggest difference between my two visits.
Fortunately, the Galbi, Brisket, Chadol, customizable dipping sauces, and Kalguksu at the end still made this a satisfying meal.
Returning to Manna Shabu Lewisville
On my first visit to Manna Shabu Lewisville, I was mainly interested in exploring the all you can eat shabu shabu system.
I enjoyed choosing my own broth, ordering additional meat, and picking ingredients from the salad bar. Beef belly and Galbi were particularly satisfying with the spicy soup.
For this return visit, I already knew what I liked about the restaurant. Instead of trying everything available, I wanted to focus on my favorite types of beef and experiment with the soup base.
I also appreciated the spacious dining area again. Shabu shabu involves cooking small portions of food at the table, so having enough room to eat comfortably makes a difference to me.
Compared with my experiences at the Carrollton location, I personally find the Lewisville dining space more comfortable. That is one of the reasons I enjoy returning here.
What I Ordered at Manna Shabu Lewisville
For this visit, I chose Chicken Soup instead of the Spicy Soup I ordered previously.
For meat, I mainly focused on Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol. I also used the sauce bar, selected additional ingredients from the self-service area, and finished the meal with Kalguksu and ice cream.
I liked that the meal still offered plenty of variety even though I did not try every meat or ingredient available.
Chicken Soup vs. Spicy Soup
Choosing Chicken Soup was the main experiment of this visit.
During my first meal at Manna, I selected the Spicy Soup and enjoyed the stronger seasoning it added to the beef and vegetables.
This time, I wanted to see whether a milder broth would be equally satisfying.
The Chicken Soup had a clean, gentle flavor. It was easy to eat with the beef because it did not overpower the meat.
I can understand why someone who prefers a mild soup would enjoy this choice. The broth allows the natural flavor of the ingredients to remain more noticeable.
However, as the meal continued, I found myself missing the Spicy Soup.
For my taste, the broth should contribute more of its own flavor. I enjoy having a little heat and stronger seasoning alongside the thinly sliced beef.
The Chicken Soup was not bad. It simply showed me that my preference for the spicy broth was stronger than I had realized.
My recommendation: If you prefer a lighter, milder broth, Chicken Soup is worth considering. If you enjoy a more flavorful and spicy shabu shabu, I would personally choose Spicy Soup.
After comparing both options across my visits, I would order the Spicy Soup again next time.
Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol
One of the reasons I enjoy Manna’s shabu shabu is the variety of meat available. During this visit, there were around eleven options to choose from.
However, I have learned that having more choices does not necessarily mean I need to order all of them.
I generally prefer tender cuts of beef over very lean meat that can feel firmer after cooking. That is why I mainly ordered Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol.
All three worked well with the shabu shabu cooking style because I could prepare a few slices at a time and eat them immediately.
Galbi remained one of my favorite choices. I enjoyed its beef flavor and tender texture, and it was satisfying even with the milder Chicken Soup.
Brisket was another cut I enjoyed. I liked how the thin slices cooked quickly in the broth, making them convenient for repeated orders throughout the meal.
Chadol also suited my taste because of its tenderness and rich beef flavor. Like the other thinly sliced cuts, it did not require much cooking time.
Rather than eating large amounts of unfamiliar meat, I was happy rotating between these three selections.
The experience also reminded me that I prefer softer textures when eating shabu shabu. Very lean cuts may appeal to other diners, but I tend to enjoy beef with more tenderness.
If you are visiting Manna for the first time, trying several cuts is a good way to discover your preferences. For my taste, Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol would be the ones I recommend starting with.
Making My Own Dipping Sauce at Manna Shabu
Another part of Manna’s shabu shabu experience that I enjoy is the sauce bar.
Instead of using only one prepared dipping sauce, I can combine different ingredients to make something that suits my taste.
I particularly like having ingredients such as cilantro and chopped green onions available.
Those additions may seem small, but they can change how the sauce tastes with cooked beef.
This became especially useful with the Chicken Soup. Since the broth itself was mild, the dipping sauce gave me another way to introduce stronger flavors to the meal.
I also appreciate being able to adjust my sauce instead of using exactly the same flavor with every round of meat.
For me, this kind of customization is one of the advantages of eating shabu shabu at Manna.
Salad Bar and Self-Service Ingredients
The self-service salad bar is another feature that makes Manna’s AYCE shabu shabu flexible.
There were many ingredients available, allowing customers to create different combinations depending on their preferences.
During my first visit, I enjoyed exploring the available vegetables, noodles, and other additions. This time, I spent less time trying different items because I was more focused on the beef.
I usually choose only a few ingredients from the bar rather than filling my plate with everything available.
However, I still appreciate having the choice. Someone who enjoys vegetables and noodles more than meat could build a very different meal from mine.
That is one of the reasons Manna can appeal to people with different preferences, even when everyone chooses the shabu shabu option.
For my own dining style, the salad bar is a useful addition, while the meat and broth remain the main attractions.
Finishing the Meal with Kalguksu and Ice Cream
One of my favorite ways to finish a shabu shabu meal is by cooking noodles in the remaining broth.
At Manna, I enjoyed Kalguksu as the final savory part of the meal.
After cooking several rounds of beef, the soup had been part of the entire dining experience. Adding noodles gave me a different way to enjoy the remaining broth.
I like this progression because I can focus on meat earlier in the meal and then enjoy noodles once I am nearly finished.
There was also an option to finish with Korean-style porridge, but I was already too full to try it.
I would be interested in trying the porridge on a future visit, especially if I remember to leave enough room after the meat and noodles.
After the Kalguksu, I finished with ice cream.
It was a simple dessert, but something cold and sweet felt refreshing after a filling hot pot meal.
For me, finishing with noodles and ice cream made the meal feel complete without needing to order anything else.
Price, Variety, and the AYCE Experience
What I value most about Manna’s all you can eat shabu shabu is the ability to build a meal around my preferences.
There were around eleven meat options during my visit, but I was satisfied focusing mainly on Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol.
The self-service ingredient bar and customizable dipping sauces gave me additional variety without requiring me to try every meat selection.
I also appreciated being able to finish with Kalguksu and ice cream rather than ending the meal immediately after the beef.
The restaurant had a dining time limit, but I was able to enjoy the meat, sauces, noodles, and dessert without feeling rushed.
For my preferences, the value comes from the complete experience rather than judging Manna only by the quality of an individual meat cut.
Atmosphere and Service at Manna Lewisville
The spacious dining area remained one of the reasons I enjoyed my second visit.
Shabu shabu is a meal that involves cooking small portions of food over time, so I prefer having a comfortable table and enough space to enjoy the process.
At the Lewisville location, I did not feel crowded by the surrounding tables.
The service also felt organized. Even with customers moving between the dining area and the self-service sections, I did not find the restaurant chaotic.
I appreciated being able to enjoy the meal at a comfortable pace without major interruptions.
Although the restaurant has a time limit for dining, it did not interfere with my experience during this visit.
That combination of a comfortable dining area and organized service is one reason I personally prefer the Lewisville location.
Overall Experience at Manna Shabu Lewisville
My second visit to Manna helped me understand my own shabu shabu preferences more clearly.
The biggest lesson was that I prefer the Spicy Soup over the Chicken Soup. Although the chicken broth was pleasant, it did not provide the stronger flavor I enjoy throughout a hot pot meal.
I remained satisfied with Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol. Their tender textures made them enjoyable choices for cooking directly in the broth.
The sauce bar was another positive feature because I could customize the dipping sauce with ingredients such as cilantro and green onions.
Finishing with Kalguksu and ice cream also made the meal memorable. I liked being able to enjoy several different parts of the shabu shabu experience without needing to try everything available.
Overall, this visit did not dramatically change my opinion of Manna. Instead, it helped me decide exactly what I would order the next time I return.
My Final Verdict on Manna Shabu Lewisville Second Visit
Manna Shabu Lewisville remains one of my preferred places for all you can eat shabu shabu in the Dallas area.
Broth comparison: The Chicken Soup was mild and pleasant, but I preferred the stronger flavor of the Spicy Soup from my previous visit.
Favorite meat choices: Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol. I enjoyed their tenderness and preferred them over leaner cuts.
Other highlights: The customizable sauce bar, self-service ingredient selection, Kalguksu, and ice cream at the end.
What I would do differently: Next time, I would return to the Spicy Soup and save some room to try the Korean-style porridge.
Why I like this location: The spacious dining area makes the meal comfortable, and the service has been organized during my visits.
Would I return? Yes. I would choose the Spicy Soup, focus on Galbi, Brisket, and Chadol, customize my dipping sauce, and finish with Kalguksu again.
Although Manna offers Korean BBQ as well, I personally come here for shabu shabu. If I am craving Korean BBQ instead, Moodaepo Carrollton is usually my preferred choice.
For anyone who enjoys a customizable shabu shabu meal with plenty of beef and ingredient choices, Manna Lewisville is worth considering based on my experiences.
Location
📍 2405 S Stemmons Fwy #300, Lewisville, TX 75067
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