Am I the only one who doesn't like hot pot restaurants?

[SueInBoston]

Asian hot pots are awesome, There are a couple local places that we frequently eat at. one place, each person gets their own pot of broth and plate of stuff. then there is a very popular (they open at 5pm and the line starts at 4:30) AYCE (meat are extra) that we like as well. I like it because due to the volume, they have tons of very fresh veggies that I like,

Hotpot is also my favorite entertaining for at home, you just do all the prep, no cooking required, no need to be a "good" cook...lol

 

[amcnj]

This was becoming a thing by me a number of years ago, and we enjoyed it. I don’t seem to see them as much anymore. Maybe I am just not looking in the right places.

 

[Annabell]

We enjoy it but only at places where you can have your own pot.

 

[nile455]

Love Hot Pot, it gets better as things evaporate and the broth thickens into a nice soup. The broth turned soup is very unique to the participants so that is the fun of it. For us it is a fantastic way to linger over a meal and enjoy your family just like when having Fondue. Hot Pot is not for those who prefer quick dining nor is Fondue so if you like to eat and go it will probably be annoying to you.

Didn't say anything about quick dining. I, too, like to linger with my party. But as far as the food, I like it when a good chef makes the meal, and a delightful waiter/waitress delivers it and it's artistically presented.

 

[tasha99]

I love Chinese hotpot! I love cook your own Japanese or Korean BBQ too. Those are 3 of my favorite restaurant (and at home) foods. I have to control myself in a group and only cook for me and my husband, though, because my natural inclination is to cook it all. My best friend told me to knock it off once, and she wasn't wrong. I just think it's fun.

 

[mamamary]

We’ve never gone to them and we have one about 5 minutes away- no desire to go.

 

[john7994]

It’s not my first choice, nor is it my last choice in a dining experience. I don’t solely dine out to avoid cooking at home - so not sure that part really resonates with me.

 

[China Expat]

I lived in CHina for five years and was always at hot pot places with colleagues. The day I saw duck blood streaming out of my friend's mouth from a duck blood cube in the hot pot, I could never eat hot pot again.

 

[CynBeth]

I am not familiar with them and with food allergies in my family probably would not go to one anyway.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Way too much work for me. Isn't the point of dining out so that the restaurant can do all the work? When I'm at a restaurant I prefer to focus on conversation with my party rather than whether I'm overcooking the steak. Maybe I'm just not good at multitasking.

Not a big fan of it. Seems a large price to pay for what you get.

 

[disykat]

I have never been to one, which is surprising because we have a lot of Asian food in our area. I think it's because we don't have one locally and would need to go into the city. But when we go into the city we tend to have other things since we eat a lot of Asian food at home. We'll have to look into it, but in general I think I'd only want to go if it was just DH and we had the time to really enjoy the experience. We do have Korean BBQ and it was fun once, but now we just have them cook our food if we go there. We enjoy fondue, but only as an "experience" on vacation not really thinking of it as just a meal. We also like teppanyaki places where they cook your food in front of you, but once every couple of years is plenty.

 

[mjkacmom]

Not a big fan of it. Seems a large price to pay for what you get.

Around here I think it’s like $25 for ayce. Maybe more, but it’s pretty cheap.

 

[starvenger]

Hotpot is also my favorite entertaining for at home, you just do all the prep, no cooking required, no need to be a "good" cook...lol

This is pretty much the way to go. Up here in the Toronto area you can go to a T&T or another Asian supermarket and pick up everything you need for hot pot, right down to the butane/induction stove and the pot. Our basic staples are sliced chuck/ribeye, sliced pork neck, udon and napa cabbage. There are spicy soup packages available but honestly some no salt added broth is good as well - it gets flavoured as you keep cooking meat in the soup.

 

[tasha99]

Asian hot pots are awesome, There are a couple local places that we frequently eat at. one place, each person gets their own pot of broth and plate of stuff. then there is a very popular (they open at 5pm and the line starts at 4:30) AYCE (meat are extra) that we like as well. I like it because due to the volume, they have tons of very fresh veggies that I like,

Hotpot is also my favorite entertaining for at home, you just do all the prep, no cooking required, no need to be a "good" cook...lol

I love it for at home date night for the same reason. I can make some plates up in less than 20-30 minutes, and then we can just relax and cook at the table.

 

[SpaceMan5]

I have never heard of this - I must Google it

I am right there with you. I am not familiar with this concept

 

[Karin1984]

I had to google it as well, never done it. But this concept of cooking at the table is BIG in the Netherlands. Families do this at home at Christmas.

In the Netherlands, with Christmas a lot of families will either use:
- Stone grill plate
- Gourmet, not sure what the English translation is. But everyone has their own mini pan to cook/bake/grill their stuff.
- Fondue. In oil, cheese fondue is not that common here.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I've never been to one.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Never heard of this, and don’t know if there is such a restaurant near me.

I have been to The Melting Pot a few times and enjoyed it.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Never heard of this, and don’t know if there is such a restaurant near me.

I have been to The Melting Pot a few times and enjoyed it.

Hot pot is different from the melting pot.

 

[AppleDumpling]

Hot pot is different from the melting pot.

OK, but I thought the concept of cooking your own food is similar. (And others on the thread have also mentioned MP/fondue.)