“This is an all you can eat shabu restaurant that has an enormous selection of veggies, noodles, sauces, dips, and proteins. For an extra fee you can get thinly sliced meat to cook as well. The ingredients have always been fresh and it's up to you to create your own tasty soup/meal.Unlike some other shabu establishments, you get your own individual pot, so this is good if people in your party have different dietary preferences. For example a vegetarian might want to start with a vegetable broth, while non-veg might want a pork- or other meat-based broth. There are a handful of broths to choose from. Or if you really want to customize, you can start with a pot of hot water and make your own broth using soy sauce, salt, spices, etc.This place tends to be super busy on the weekends, easily an hour wait sometimes during the most popular times. And during popular times you are supposed to finish your meal within 90 minutes of being seated. But if you go during the week, the waits are often shorter, especially after 8pm.Your meal is topped off at the end with self-serve soft-serve ice cream. It's usually a choice of vanilla or green tea ice cream - both are great!Vegetarian options: There is a huge selection of greens, roots, noodles, and sauces that can work with any vegetarian and vegan diet.Dietary restrictions: Your meal is 100% customizable. If you don't like the premade broths, you can start with a pot of hot water and make your own broth in short order. After that, you pick and choose what you want to cook in your broth.“
“I have been introduced to this place years ago and I'm unsure why I'm leaving my first review. Love this place and I tend to come back multiple times a week for some spicy broth and crab sticks. Service is amazing here and the quality is superb. Currently forming this review now as I head there now with my partner for the second time this week and it's only Tuesday. Night time is definitely much more busy than the day time but the ambiance at night made it so much cozier than the times when we come in for lunch. Thanks la mei!“
“The mild spicy is really spicy and may be considered as “medium”. Delicious and a variety of choices for the source/ dip. The reason for one star off is that 2/5 people have a symptom of diarrhea in one or two hours after dinner. While the true reasons are unknown which may also vary by the underlying differences in individuals, this is noteworthy to mention.“
“Great place, great food, ok prices, but the wait times can get crazy and they don't use their waitlist app.Wheelchair accessibility: Not a very wheelchair accessable place as the aisles between tables is very narrow. They do have a wheelchair lift to get inside but the door without steps is locked from the outside so you have to go up the steps to get inside anyway.“
“Who else hasn’t eaten bean sprouts and egg fried rice? It’s like a state banquet. I’ll be really sad if someone doesn’t pack a portion to take away when someone comes. It’s so delicious. It’s worth walking ten minutes in the cold wind to buy egg fried rice. (Egg fried rice can be bought separately without having to eat hot pot. Those who are too lazy to turn on the fire are in luck)“
“Possibly the best hotpot place in the boston area. I’ve been to many and each offer a unique style and value. Shabu Zen is all all around win with excellent quality, great value, many choices and a wide appeal where anyone can find something they will like.“
“Found this place via Instagram. The staff are all nice and food was great. Small seating area but when I went in the evening was able to sit. Staff told me there are two other locations which I will have to check out in the future. Will be back !“
“I have been to DLY several times this past year and it is one of my favorite mala hotpot places. It is a newer spot and I like it's small, nicely decorated atmosphere.The first time I went I was shocked by how spicy the medium spice mala broth is (in a good way)! They do tell you it is spicy and it makes me sad to see people give lower reviews only because the broth was spicy because that's what szechuan/chongqing broth is! Theirs is especially spicy though even compared to medium at other places in Boston.I only get the spicy mala broth here. One thing I like is that after 10 they give 20% off discount! Prices are still comparable to other premium hotpot places but the late hours and discount sets it apart from other places.I love their knife cut noodles and it's only $1.99 per order. Other ingredients I have gotten are the beef plate and boneless short rib, bok choy, tofu skin, tofu puff, and enoki mushrooms. They also have other specialty dishes like milky beef, beef tripe, etc. Although it is not my favorite spot of all time in Boston, I think the late night hours and late night discount make it better than other places in some ways. The service here is quick and everyone is friendly and attentive to all your needs. Highly recommend this spot but definitely don't get the spicy broth if you don't like extremely numbing spice.“
“I recently had the pleasure of dining at Happy Lamp Hot Pot, located in the vibrant heart of Central Square, and what an experience it was! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere promised a fun and engaging dining experience, and it certainly delivered.The hot pot itself was absolutely delicious. The broth was rich and flavorful, creating the perfect base for all the fresh and high-quality ingredients we could choose from. Whether you're a meat lover, seafood enthusiast, or vegetarian, there's something for everyone, and the adventure of cooking your food right at your table adds an exciting twist to the meal.What stood out to me, apart from the delectable food, was the sheer fun of the experience. Happy Lamp Hot Pot is the ideal spot for a group of friends or family looking to enjoy not just a meal, but a truly social and interactive dining experience. The staff was friendly and helpful, guiding us through the menu and making recommendations that enhanced our meal.The Central Square location is perfect for anyone looking to dive into the local culture and enjoy a lively dining scene. It’s easy to get to, and once you’re there, you’re in for a treat“
“We stopped in on a Saturday late afternoon and there was plenty of seating available. The space was bigger than expected with booth seats and table seating. We were seated at a booth and it was quite comfortable. We ordered the Beef hot soup and the Sichuan Flavor Hot Soup. No substitutions allowed but we chose to omit a couple ingredients. The medium spicy is quite spicy so I would recommend going milder and using the chili dipping sauce on the side. Both broths were flavorful enough that you don't necessarily need the soy garlic sauce provided. I immediately turned off the flame under the hot pot because I didn't want the beef to overcook. I do wish there was an option to turn it back on without having to call someone over to light it again. Lunch meals come with a choice of iced green tea or black tea and choice of white rice or vermicelli. Tea was already sweetened, might've been a tad sweet for my liking though. Wait staff was efficient and friendly. There is a call bell on the table that alerts staff that you need something, otherwise they are not really checking up on you. Overall a solid satisfying lunch!“
“The food there is always so delicious and the staff there are always so polite!!! The friendly man (not sure if he is the owner) took good care of us by providing us plastic aprons in case we stained our shirts, gave me another spoon without me having to ask, and overall provided great service. Food + service was a 10/10! My fav place to go now!!!“
“At Tasty Pot in Allston, MA, we were delighted by the hot pot experience. We loved the inviting ambiance, which made us feel right at home. The fresh ingredients and preset options allowed us to enjoy our meal with little hassle, and the flavorful broths were a highlight. We appreciated the option to customize spice levels to suit our taste. The attentive service and reasonable prices made our visit even more enjoyable. Tasty Pot is definitely a place we’d return to for a cozy and satisfying meal.“
“Food is fresh. Price is reasonable. I should have given it 5 stars for the good value. That's the good part. But, the service is BAD. The cashier/counter staff is RUDE. Maybe they expect every Asian-looking customers to speak Mandarin, maybe their English is just poor. Either way, the two women servicing the counter really did a very poor job at it. That's why I never leave tip, they don't deserve it. So, I average this out to a 4-star. I'll visit again, for the food. But, no tip...unless they improve their freaking attitude.“
“Busy evening, accommodation was easy as I was solo. Instructions were simple, ordered the crispy pork, some skewers and got some side plates. The fruit tea was free. Ordered the medium spicy and I thought that was a bit too much for me; I’m also a former spice addict and now can’t handle it like I used to. They have stations for the seasoning and spices and fridges to take the food from. A la carte. Good for people to browse and see it for themselves. They offer frog legs, which definitely makes it for an interesting first time date night to come here! Experience was great and will come back again.“
“Very good hot pot and barbeque restaurant. Pre-cooked hot pots comes with just the right amount of everything and comes in all levels of spiciness. Takoyaki here is great as well! Price is very reasonable.Vegetarian options: Vegeterian hot pot is offered here.“
“If you're new to Korean BBQ this is a good place to start! The menu isn't overwhelming and the food is tasty. They're always pretty packed, but we managed to get a table for 5 on a Saturday night. There's a 90 minute table limit which helps with the turnover.“
“I like this place. My husband and I went there for Valentine's Day. They were super busy. We made a reservation for a table online, however, when we came in our table was not ready because they were too busy. And then they had a line after us. But the manager somehow resolved the situation and we did not wait for so long. The service was great, and our server was nice. We ordered some meat and meatballs that we never tried before. The meatballs were supposed to be varied, however, it tasted all the same in my and my husband's opinion. It was not an issue. Everything was great. We had a great time and enjoyed the food.“