WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA — A downtown restaurant space that has sat empty for more than two years is getting a new tenant — and a very different kind of dinner.
Shabugo, a Japanese-style shabu-shabu hot pot restaurant, is taking over the former California Pizza Kitchen space on South Main Street, according to a new Diablo Dish report.
For anyone who remembers grabbing pizza there, the next chapter will involve steaming broth and cooking at the table.
A New Chapter for the Former CPK Spot
The former California Pizza Kitchen address is 1325 South Main Street, diagonally across from Original Joe’s.
CPK closed back in 2024.
That makes this opening worth watching for two reasons: a familiar downtown address is headed back into use, and the incoming restaurant will offer a dining experience built around the table itself.
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What Is Shabu-Shabu?
If you haven’t tried shabu-shabu, think of dinner arriving as ingredients you cook in a simmering pot of broth.
Thinly sliced meat and vegetables go into the hot liquid at the table. Diners cook ingredients as they eat, making the process part of the meal.
Northern California operator Shabu Shack describes the Japanese hot pot tradition as tableside cooking with sliced meats, fresh vegetables, and simmering soups. (To be clear, Shabu Shack is a different restaurant than what’s coming to WC.)
Those are the basics of the style, however. Shabugo’s specific broth choices, proteins, prices, and service format have not been independently verified. An all-you-can-eat offering should not be assumed.
When Will Shabugo Open?
There isn’t an announced opening date in Diablo’s October 6 report.
For now, this is a restaurant to put on your watch list. The name, concept, and planned location have been reported, but diners will need to wait for more details before planning a visit.
For a space that has been dark since 2024, the prospect of a new hot pot restaurant is a welcome next chapter.
Generally hot pot works like this, a set price per person gets you all the veggies/tofu you want – you might pay more for other than the basic soup mix … you pay separately for the meat and seafood (per plate). Some places charge a higher price that includes X number of meat/seafood plates (and veggies/tofu) – you pay for anything extra (or higher end meat like wagyu). They also have tiers like “regular” buffets that cost extra for access to lonster, etc …