Southwest District board and community members — not to mention mounted HPD officers and their mounts — looked on today (Feb. 6) as the District officially welcomed Shabu En, a massive all-you-can-eat hotpot restaurant, to Chinatown. Owner Sean Sohn (in apron) accepted a welcome plaque from the officials.

Shabu En, covering more than 9,000 square feet and seating more than 300 customers, opened last week at 9100 Bellaire Blvd. in the Diho Square shopping center, and the elegant but casual restaurant is already drawing large crowds for lunch and dinner.

Mounted police officers are on patrol in the District during the Lunar New Year period, when the   commercial area has one of its busiest times of the year. The District supplements law enforcement efforts with public safety programs such as the deployment of a private security force and the placement of security cameras on bustling properties.