Please stay in business forever. I just moved to another state and I miss this restaurant dearly. The people who worked here were always so kind to me and the food is always fresh and amazing. I get the same thing every time. Spicy broth with a ton of veggies and meat/shrimp, and a foreign beer. Next time I come to CT I’m coming straight for hot pot.
Cece Hernandez
OK, when I do a review, it’s because I honestly want people to know what I experience. That way they will understand if they like it or not. Honestly, if I can give this place zero stars I would. That’s just because of the service. So we came here because my younger sister wanted to eat at Hotpot. She said she has been there before and she wanted me to go with her. I said of course let’s go right. We get there and the waitress says have you been here before. My younger sister says yes. I obviously say no. Anyways, because my sister said yes, she just figured that we would know what to do. However, I’m always willing to learn and was excited because my sister was excited to be here. I told them that it would be for four people. Since I also had my two younger children. The gentleman/waiter said that this is a hot pot so you get a hot pan essentially in front of you and that might be dangerous for the children. So I said OK, can I get two one for myself and one for my sister. Since she is old enough to understand what caution you should take with hot things. She would be fine to have one of her own. My younger sister gets the menu and she goes ahead and starts filling out what she wants, a few minutes later the waitress comes out and gives us one hot pot, with water broth. So I am still confused but kinda getting what’s going on so you essentially get these toppings/helpings and you dip it into the pot and it boils it. So you essentially are making almost like a soup or you could eat it straight from the pot. Again, they only gave us one and I told him that I will be paying for my sister and I. The sign on the wall also says that you cannot share the pots. So of course because we are trying to listen to the rules I asked them where my sister‘s pot is and the lady catches an attitude and says well I thought you only wanted one. Why would I want one when my sister is old enough to eat on her own and I said I am paying for two.Then this woman says well, do you want soup/broth in it. Confused at the question I said well if I get an option of broth or no broth, give me no broth and give me some butter. I’ll fry this myself. Lol She then catches another attitude and says what you have no broth, to which my younger sister says you have to have broth. Again, I’m trying to be respectful, and I honestly feel bad because I hate to feel so dumb. Eventually the guy came over and explained how everything works, what to do. He also then said we have toppings/ seasonings up front so you can add it to the broth for more taste. Awesome, I wouldn’t know that. thank you. While sitting and eating for a while, I realized we never got water, and/or offered water. So I called the service button that they have on the wall. Well, it took me at least three times and waiting 5 minutes apart. of pressing the button to finally get someone and the same waitress with the same attitude comes up mad that we are bothering her and I asked her for some water and a sprite. She comes back 5 minutes later, with two waters and walks away with out saying anything. Okay .. I didn’t have time to ask her for my sprite. Next time I press the button the waiter comes by from now on(presumably because she told him too.) because you can tell that this lady had no intention of providing us with decent manners. Anyways, I usually tip 20% on any of my tabs when I go out to eat however at this place I gave them less than 10% because the guy was atleast very nice.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Bernie Buck
Great selection of proteins, veggies, and soups to choose from. Servers were great and very attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nysos Kylar
Cramped, zero information on custom ordering process. Anything additionally needed you must fetch your self.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
David Laufer
Great selection of broths is a plus, smaller than average sauce bar and a decent selection of veggies and proteins. I liked the ordering system where you fill out a menu and then press a button and give it to the waiter, but sometimes it took a couple button presses to get a waiter and they missed multiple things per order we put in.Vegetarian options: Lots of tofu and vegetable options along with veggie based brothsDietary restrictions: Minimal dairy in the food here if any at all, you basically make your own soup so you choose the ingredientsParking: Shopping center lotKid-friendliness: The hotpots aren't sunk into the table so it would be easy for a kid to knock the pot of hot liquid over
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Soup
Tracey Holton
I've never experienced such low quality in food...literally the meat was paper thin, some of the meat selections were spam and Vienna sausage...3 of the items we checked off were not even on the trays, said jumbo shrimp it literally wouldn't pass for medium size. The crab meat was imitation. We spent $32 p/p for all you can eat and if it didn't take us 2 hours there we would have stopped somewhere else to eat on the way home?because the food was unedible. Also they charge you a $10.99 per pound charge if you have to many leftovers. Actual 0 stars!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
D K
We were a party of 4 celebrating my wife's birthday. We really had a great time. Place is somewhat kitchy, small family run restaurant. Service in an all you can eat place is a little different but when we had requests they were met with a smile. Food is not the greatest I've ever had but that's not what you go for. It was
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Hot Pot, Assorted Veggies, Szechuan Hot and Spicy Broth
Winnie Yeung
I've never written a Google review, but this place was so awful that I had to write one to warn others. Do not come to this location!!!! The beef was old, pork slices had a weird texture, and meatballs were rubbery. They only have individual pots, so it took away from the whole hotpot experience where you share food with your family and loved ones. Even the boba drinks weren't up to par. The boba balls were jelly and had a weird crunch to them. Our waiter was rude and unhelpful. The bathroom sink was falling apart and I felt dirty just standing in the bathroom.Save your money and go somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Elizabeth Rhoades
Wanting for lunch on a Tuesday. One server was up front. She seemed very annoyed that we were there and was unwilling to explain the procedure or what we could eat as vegetarians. After a significant period of being ignored, we finally got up and left. So I have no idea if the food was
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
Mike Johns
I had the ox tail broth it was perfect. The choices of add-ons was a lot the veggies was fresh. If you like to kick up your broth stock and give it a zip. I recommend adding peanut butter sauce mixed in with a little spicy sauce and some fresh chopped chives. Stir it into the broth stock. Not only is it yummy it will clear your sinuses. Highly recommend this place.
I never been here before but today I have business trip to Wallingford with my husband. But I was hungry main Asian restaurant was closed on Monday. But I found this place from Yelp. Only me and my husband are customers I ordered All you can eat buffets at rate 32$ per person. I selected Kimchi soup and my husband oxtail soup. I ordered many items from the menu but I found they didn't bring it complete some items was missing but I did not care for that. When I finished 1and 2 tray I started to order 2 more tray. Recommend beef , chicken and pork slide for main dish shrimp and mussels squid for seafood. Meat ball and sausage doesn't recommend I don't like it. Vermicelli veggies and eggs that good choice. You should ask for small blow for made your soup cold and easy to eat. If you need anything please ring the bell on your table. Staff will come to service you. Don't order to much because they will charge back to you for wasted foods. But for me that's ok we're professional for Buffet 555 .
Ian L.
As new Hot Pot restaurants are appearing out of nowhere, I decided to try the place that is suspiciously straight to the point with their very creative name : "Hot Pot".To start off my journey, I took the drive down to Wallingford and pulled into a very depressing plaza. It looks old, abandoned, complete with a large empty parking lot. However, it actually has an Asian market, Big Lots and even an old movie theatre that I have never heard of. So yes I would consider this restaurant to be a hole in the wall in between three (3) large but rather empty businesses. Maybe it was just an off day.As you walk into Hot Pot, you'll realize that this restaurant is quite small and you'll hope to God the ventilation is decent with all these steaming "Hot Pots" in a small space. Luckily, the ventilation was fine and they utilize the space to the best of their ability while cramming as many tables in here as possible. There are also these curtains that provide privacy in between each booth complete with a button that you press to call your server. Yes you get a button to call your server so that you may be left in peace to eat until your broth runs dry or you need more water as your broth is too spicy for you.Curtains and a server summoner (the button)? Sounds very similar to how they do so in East Asian countries whenever I watch a video of "Authentic Ramen Restaurant in Japan" on YouTube. If I had no idea where I was and simply woke up in the booth I was in, I would think I was on some expensive trip to downtown Tokyo or somewhere in Taiwan. It was a nice refreshing out of the country but yet still in the country experience. Very authentic, or just different from everyone else, for me at least.Now to compare with the place that is literally taking over this state by storm The Hungry Pot, that's the difference. Hungry Pot has a more Americanized and trendier theme to it as it looks like a familiar restaurant but with a unique concept to it. It's great in its own way because Hot Pot itself is new to many people in this area and they make it easy for you, but here at Hot Pot in Wallingford, any prior experience would help you with the tight spaces, limited sauce bar and complex menu items. Also, the sauce bar didn't really have any instructions or suggested recipes. You were just expected to know what to do because you've done this before. Limited options but they had most of the essentials.The Hungry Pot restaurants that I have been to or heard of all appear to be much more casual, busier, louder and the servers were trained to treat everyone like first timers because well, while I was there apparently it was everyone else's first time. It was a great beginner experience. Here at Hot Pot in Wallingford it is much quieter and intimate. The servers here didn't instruct until asked to do so. They are very kind! But they appear to be used to a more intermediate level of Hot Poters. I guess ill use that term. Hot Poter: a person that enjoys eating Hot Pot.The food itself at any Hot Pot place is hard to elaborate on because if it's not good, it could easily be user error since you do all the work. A few things you can easily compare is the quality, variety and complexity of menu options. Here at Hot Pot, they have a rather large menu with an All You Can Eat option, Combos and Dim Sum.Initial broth quality is also a huge deal because it can determine your entire meal! I have never had a bad broth from anywhere but just keep in mind Hot Pot had a broth for everyone. Sweet, creamy, spicy, salty, purposely bland, whatever you want. It can always be altered by your choice of meats, vegetables and sauces from the sauce bar.In conclusion, I had absolutely zero quality issues with anything that I ordered. I am also pleased that they serve Dim Sum options so late in the day and even though it's not as good as Dim Sum would be from a Dim Sum specialty restaurant, it was very good and the fact that they serve it late, say less.Anyways before I get even further off track, I
Onoh Udensi
Not bad, first time I’ve had to cook my own food at a restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bill Miller
I keep seeing people leave a 1 star review because they had to "put their own ingredients into the pot" , so make sure you read the bad reviews before deciding. Between my family we order 5 different things and they were all delicious. It's about $25 per person, but I could barely finish my meal and the rest of my family couldn't. Make sure you get up and visit the sauce bar because that adds a lot . I was completely satisfied with everything and , being my 1st hot pot , I thought it was a pretty cool experience. Definitely try it at least once
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sauce Station
Wong G.
Descent foods, except we got plastic on our dumpling and they didn't do anything about it. If you like clear broth, then you will enjoy it more than our party (I understand that this is very subjective). However, we were turned off by the service. We called to understand if there were other options other than hot pot, and they kept wanting to cut off the call. When we were there, we asked for spoons and forks. They would grab the spoons for us, but told us to grab the forks ourselves at the sauce station. I just don't understand the logic here. Having previously working in restaurant, I would try to help my customers in little little things like this.They separated each table with curtains, and the light was very dimmed. The curtains made it feel cramped, especially with low lighting.Not my type of place.
Please stay in business forever. I just moved to another state and I miss this restaurant dearly. The people who worked here were always so kind to me and the food is always fresh and amazing. I get the same thing every time. Spicy broth with a ton of veggies and meat/shrimp, and a foreign beer. Next time I come to CT I’m coming straight for hot pot.
OK, when I do a review, it’s because I honestly want people to know what I experience. That way they will understand if they like it or not. Honestly, if I can give this place zero stars I would. That’s just because of the service. So we came here because my younger sister wanted to eat at Hotpot. She said she has been there before and she wanted me to go with her. I said of course let’s go right. We get there and the waitress says have you been here before. My younger sister says yes. I obviously say no. Anyways, because my sister said yes, she just figured that we would know what to do. However, I’m always willing to learn and was excited because my sister was excited to be here. I told them that it would be for four people. Since I also had my two younger children. The gentleman/waiter said that this is a hot pot so you get a hot pan essentially in front of you and that might be dangerous for the children. So I said OK, can I get two one for myself and one for my sister. Since she is old enough to understand what caution you should take with hot things. She would be fine to have one of her own. My younger sister gets the menu and she goes ahead and starts filling out what she wants, a few minutes later the waitress comes out and gives us one hot pot, with water broth. So I am still confused but kinda getting what’s going on so you essentially get these toppings/helpings and you dip it into the pot and it boils it. So you essentially are making almost like a soup or you could eat it straight from the pot. Again, they only gave us one and I told him that I will be paying for my sister and I. The sign on the wall also says that you cannot share the pots. So of course because we are trying to listen to the rules I asked them where my sister‘s pot is and the lady catches an attitude and says well I thought you only wanted one. Why would I want one when my sister is old enough to eat on her own and I said I am paying for two.Then this woman says well, do you want soup/broth in it. Confused at the question I said well if I get an option of broth or no broth, give me no broth and give me some butter. I’ll fry this myself. Lol She then catches another attitude and says what you have no broth, to which my younger sister says you have to have broth. Again, I’m trying to be respectful, and I honestly feel bad because I hate to feel so dumb. Eventually the guy came over and explained how everything works, what to do. He also then said we have toppings/ seasonings up front so you can add it to the broth for more taste. Awesome, I wouldn’t know that. thank you. While sitting and eating for a while, I realized we never got water, and/or offered water. So I called the service button that they have on the wall. Well, it took me at least three times and waiting 5 minutes apart. of pressing the button to finally get someone and the same waitress with the same attitude comes up mad that we are bothering her and I asked her for some water and a sprite. She comes back 5 minutes later, with two waters and walks away with out saying anything. Okay .. I didn’t have time to ask her for my sprite. Next time I press the button the waiter comes by from now on(presumably because she told him too.) because you can tell that this lady had no intention of providing us with decent manners. Anyways, I usually tip 20% on any of my tabs when I go out to eat however at this place I gave them less than 10% because the guy was atleast very nice.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Great selection of proteins, veggies, and soups to choose from. Servers were great and very attentive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cramped, zero information on custom ordering process. Anything additionally needed you must fetch your self.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great selection of broths is a plus, smaller than average sauce bar and a decent selection of veggies and proteins. I liked the ordering system where you fill out a menu and then press a button and give it to the waiter, but sometimes it took a couple button presses to get a waiter and they missed multiple things per order we put in.Vegetarian options: Lots of tofu and vegetable options along with veggie based brothsDietary restrictions: Minimal dairy in the food here if any at all, you basically make your own soup so you choose the ingredientsParking: Shopping center lotKid-friendliness: The hotpots aren't sunk into the table so it would be easy for a kid to knock the pot of hot liquid over
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Soup
I've never experienced such low quality in food...literally the meat was paper thin, some of the meat selections were spam and Vienna sausage...3 of the items we checked off were not even on the trays, said jumbo shrimp it literally wouldn't pass for medium size. The crab meat was imitation. We spent $32 p/p for all you can eat and if it didn't take us 2 hours there we would have stopped somewhere else to eat on the way home?because the food was unedible. Also they charge you a $10.99 per pound charge if you have to many leftovers. Actual 0 stars!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
We were a party of 4 celebrating my wife's birthday. We really had a great time. Place is somewhat kitchy, small family run restaurant. Service in an all you can eat place is a little different but when we had requests they were met with a smile. Food is not the greatest I've ever had but that's not what you go for. It was
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Hot Pot, Assorted Veggies, Szechuan Hot and Spicy Broth
I've never written a Google review, but this place was so awful that I had to write one to warn others. Do not come to this location!!!! The beef was old, pork slices had a weird texture, and meatballs were rubbery. They only have individual pots, so it took away from the whole hotpot experience where you share food with your family and loved ones. Even the boba drinks weren't up to par. The boba balls were jelly and had a weird crunch to them. Our waiter was rude and unhelpful. The bathroom sink was falling apart and I felt dirty just standing in the bathroom.Save your money and go somewhere else.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Wanting for lunch on a Tuesday. One server was up front. She seemed very annoyed that we were there and was unwilling to explain the procedure or what we could eat as vegetarians. After a significant period of being ignored, we finally got up and left. So I have no idea if the food was
Atmosphere: 1
Service: 1
I had the ox tail broth it was perfect. The choices of add-ons was a lot the veggies was fresh. If you like to kick up your broth stock and give it a zip. I recommend adding peanut butter sauce mixed in with a little spicy sauce and some fresh chopped chives. Stir it into the broth stock. Not only is it yummy it will clear your sinuses. Highly recommend this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hot Pot
Restaurantji Recommends
I never been here before but today I have business trip to Wallingford with my husband. But I was hungry main Asian restaurant was closed on Monday. But I found this place from Yelp. Only me and my husband are customers I ordered All you can eat buffets at rate 32$ per person. I selected Kimchi soup and my husband oxtail soup. I ordered many items from the menu but I found they didn't bring it complete some items was missing but I did not care for that. When I finished 1and 2 tray I started to order 2 more tray. Recommend beef , chicken and pork slide for main dish shrimp and mussels squid for seafood. Meat ball and sausage doesn't recommend I don't like it. Vermicelli veggies and eggs that good choice. You should ask for small blow for made your soup cold and easy to eat. If you need anything please ring the bell on your table. Staff will come to service you. Don't order to much because they will charge back to you for wasted foods. But for me that's ok we're professional for Buffet 555 .
As new Hot Pot restaurants are appearing out of nowhere, I decided to try the place that is suspiciously straight to the point with their very creative name : "Hot Pot".To start off my journey, I took the drive down to Wallingford and pulled into a very depressing plaza. It looks old, abandoned, complete with a large empty parking lot. However, it actually has an Asian market, Big Lots and even an old movie theatre that I have never heard of. So yes I would consider this restaurant to be a hole in the wall in between three (3) large but rather empty businesses. Maybe it was just an off day.As you walk into Hot Pot, you'll realize that this restaurant is quite small and you'll hope to God the ventilation is decent with all these steaming "Hot Pots" in a small space. Luckily, the ventilation was fine and they utilize the space to the best of their ability while cramming as many tables in here as possible. There are also these curtains that provide privacy in between each booth complete with a button that you press to call your server. Yes you get a button to call your server so that you may be left in peace to eat until your broth runs dry or you need more water as your broth is too spicy for you.Curtains and a server summoner (the button)? Sounds very similar to how they do so in East Asian countries whenever I watch a video of "Authentic Ramen Restaurant in Japan" on YouTube. If I had no idea where I was and simply woke up in the booth I was in, I would think I was on some expensive trip to downtown Tokyo or somewhere in Taiwan. It was a nice refreshing out of the country but yet still in the country experience. Very authentic, or just different from everyone else, for me at least.Now to compare with the place that is literally taking over this state by storm The Hungry Pot, that's the difference. Hungry Pot has a more Americanized and trendier theme to it as it looks like a familiar restaurant but with a unique concept to it. It's great in its own way because Hot Pot itself is new to many people in this area and they make it easy for you, but here at Hot Pot in Wallingford, any prior experience would help you with the tight spaces, limited sauce bar and complex menu items. Also, the sauce bar didn't really have any instructions or suggested recipes. You were just expected to know what to do because you've done this before. Limited options but they had most of the essentials.The Hungry Pot restaurants that I have been to or heard of all appear to be much more casual, busier, louder and the servers were trained to treat everyone like first timers because well, while I was there apparently it was everyone else's first time. It was a great beginner experience. Here at Hot Pot in Wallingford it is much quieter and intimate. The servers here didn't instruct until asked to do so. They are very kind! But they appear to be used to a more intermediate level of Hot Poters. I guess ill use that term. Hot Poter: a person that enjoys eating Hot Pot.The food itself at any Hot Pot place is hard to elaborate on because if it's not good, it could easily be user error since you do all the work. A few things you can easily compare is the quality, variety and complexity of menu options. Here at Hot Pot, they have a rather large menu with an All You Can Eat option, Combos and Dim Sum.Initial broth quality is also a huge deal because it can determine your entire meal! I have never had a bad broth from anywhere but just keep in mind Hot Pot had a broth for everyone. Sweet, creamy, spicy, salty, purposely bland, whatever you want. It can always be altered by your choice of meats, vegetables and sauces from the sauce bar.In conclusion, I had absolutely zero quality issues with anything that I ordered. I am also pleased that they serve Dim Sum options so late in the day and even though it's not as good as Dim Sum would be from a Dim Sum specialty restaurant, it was very good and the fact that they serve it late, say less.Anyways before I get even further off track, I
Not bad, first time I’ve had to cook my own food at a restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I keep seeing people leave a 1 star review because they had to "put their own ingredients into the pot" , so make sure you read the bad reviews before deciding. Between my family we order 5 different things and they were all delicious. It's about $25 per person, but I could barely finish my meal and the rest of my family couldn't. Make sure you get up and visit the sauce bar because that adds a lot . I was completely satisfied with everything and , being my 1st hot pot , I thought it was a pretty cool experience. Definitely try it at least once
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sauce Station
Descent foods, except we got plastic on our dumpling and they didn't do anything about it. If you like clear broth, then you will enjoy it more than our party (I understand that this is very subjective). However, we were turned off by the service. We called to understand if there were other options other than hot pot, and they kept wanting to cut off the call. When we were there, we asked for spoons and forks. They would grab the spoons for us, but told us to grab the forks ourselves at the sauce station. I just don't understand the logic here. Having previously working in restaurant, I would try to help my customers in little little things like this.They separated each table with curtains, and the light was very dimmed. The curtains made it feel cramped, especially with low lighting.Not my type of place.