I was beyond disappointed in the service. While the food was amazing our waiter or lack thereof was atrocious. When questioned about one of the dishes he snatched the receipt from the back of the booth seat and argued we had received everything despite the kitchen finally confirming they had sold out. Something as simple as offering water was a daunting task. Selection of meats, seafood and veggies are fantastic but do not go if you expect any amount of service other than the delivery robot.
Dirty, poor service, food made us ill, overall disappointing. We were super excited about lunching here on a Saturday afternoon in May 2022 because we have been looking for a good hot-pot place, but when we arrived, we walked into the building which smelled like Lysol and some other solvent or cleaner. After about five minutes of being seated in the indoor dining area, we had to move outside because the odor was too overpowering. Once seated outside, an employee began mopping the floors, which introduced more Lysol smell into the air. However, we were extremely curious about this mopping for three reasons: 1) the area where the employee was mopping was ostensibly already clean 2) the real troublesome spots were/are underneath the chairs and tables, so in order to do that properly, you have the move the furniture around 3) why wasn't this done during off-hours so that the customers do not have the lingering mop smell in the air while they dine? See the below photos, there are/were dust bunnies, food particles, and other dirt lodged in areas near the base of tables and along the power cord that led from the table to the perimeter (why isn't this vaccumed regularly?). Also the vents for the hotpot tables are covered in decaying food (see photos), which was disgusting and may have contributed to the smell. Anyone that has ever worked in the restaurant business knows you have to clean everything at least once a day. Disgusting.Cleanliness aside, the service was a bit confusing. We tried communicating in Chinese and in English, but were not offered clear guidance as to how to navigate the menu or what the buffet-style bar of snacks/spices/oils work. Also they didn't offer any tea or any other beverages, we were given a pitcher of water and that was it for our entire meal. The food was OK in flavor (spicy), but we ended up feeling ill for the rest of the day.It were these things that made other parts of the experience just seem worse (maybe it's natural to pile on at this point, but buyer beware)-- the hostess never made eye contact with us just dropped off napkins and bolted. It felt like we didn't belong there or weren't welcome.This is a shame because hot pots can be a fun way to dine Chinese style, and you theoretically can cook many things in a hot pot (other meats, vegetables). Chengdu is an area of China known for its flavorful meals, so we wish this was different.
The soup base, side dishes and meat are on par and meet expectations. Stars were reduced for below expectations on snack/sauce bar, bathroom and stove. The fried snacks at the self service bar were very stale and most items were not refilled. The bathroom was out of hand towels and toilet paper for over 2 hours that I was there. There may be problem with our stove because it did not produce enough heat, most of the time our food was simmered.
Good quality food and decently large portions for the cost. We were pleased by our experience here as a party of four. I like their outdoor space.
For a restaurant of this price and quality, I had a rather unpleasant experience. Also want to mention I’m a rather picky person when it comes to these stuff.1. The food ordering system. Placed an order and waited 10 min before calling a waiter to see what’s going on. Waited another 10 or so for the waiter to come back and say the order wasn’t placed when I received a verification that it did. Sat and waited another 10 min to actually get the meat placed on my table. I guess their food just takes longer and customers are always expected to have more free time than usual.2. Waiter/waitress. I don’t know what’s going on but them walking around empty handed bothers me when my table is loaded with empty plates. Their words of apology sure doesn’t sound like one of adequate attitude, and that is one fine way to get me frustrated. Put the chopsticks paper wrap on the table for waiters to pick it up and throw it off along the way, but why bother. Almost felt the need to stand up myself and find a trash can.3. Food. The food is more on the salty side because of the origin of the hotpot in China. So if the food is salty, don’t be surprised that’s just how it is intended to be. Quality and texture is not out of this world, more like an above average sort of feel.Now that I think about it, I didn’t find any aspect of their restaurant to be outstanding. I suppose the ability for your to customize your own sauce is quite nice.
So good. So hot! Indoor and outdoor seating. All meats and veggies are fresh.
There are not lots of authentic Chinese hotpot spots in OC, which is why we often drive all the way to LA for the flavorful pots. I’m glad that we now have a new and great option. We stopped by and tried the golden chicken soup broth and it is so yummy. Fresh ingredients and nice environment. They offer plenty of snacks at the self-service station.
This is the best Chinese hotpot restaurant in Irvine. You can order food on your phone and send straight to the kitchen. They have robot coming out the serve food to you (very cute). The sauce and appetizers/ desserts bar has many options. Service is very friendly and good, price is affordable. Highly recommended!!
We came around 7 and the place was already packed with patrons.We were seated right away for outdoor seating. Indoor seating would require another 30 minutes wait at the time. The meats qualities are pretty good overall. We didn't dare to order the wagyu meat at 79.99. Maybe for special occasion. We left with full stomach and happy camper.
By far the best hotpot in OC. The facility is beautiful and clean. The staff is nice and welcoming. The broth is extremely flavorful and the meat of such high quality.