Start to 'Swish, Swish' at Kobe An Shabu Shabu on Friday

It's been almost two years since husband-and-wife team Marco and Michelle Trujillo first looked at the building that formerly housed Little Pepinas, and has eventually become Kobe An Shabu Shabu. Now opening on Friday, the nearly 2,000-square-foot space has received a top-to-bottom overhaul to house the Japanese eatery.

The couple previously took over Kobe An in Lakewood, which Michelle's mom opened in 1981. After she returned from out of the country and resumed working, Michelle and Marco set their sights on opening a shabu shabu-style restaurant.

The concept of shabu shabu, which translates to "swish, swish" in Japanese, is a one-pot meal that gets its name from the swishing of beef in the pot as it's cooked, akin to a version of fondue. Diners choose from three levels of thinly sliced beef—rib eye, Aspen Ridge natural beef or Snake River Farms American Kobe—that they cook at the table with fresh vegetables and noodles, served with two dipping sauces and steamed rice. The two sauces, ponzu and goma dare, come from family recipes and can be seasoned with chili pepper and more. The is also a vegetarian preparation available, as well as gluten-free sauces for an up-charge.

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Marco Trujillo will also put his training in Los Angeles as a sushi chef to use with a rotating board of sashimi appetizers and small plates. And bartender Mark Mangold, formerly of the Green Russell, is in charge of the cocktail list that features drinks like the Sakura Cooler—a mix of Momokawa silver sake, cranberry and grapefruit juices and house-made grenadine.

Kobe An Shabu Shabu is located at 3400 Osage St. and will be open Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday from 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations can be made through the widget on the restaurant's Yelp page.

· Kobe An Shabu Shabu [Facebook]
· Construction Progress at Kobe An Shabu Shabu [EDen]
· New Age Food Court in LoHi: Avanti Food & Beverage [EDen]