Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hot Pot Hero

    4.0 (474 reviews)
    ModerateHot Pot, Chinese, Seafood
    Closed 11:30 am - 10:30 pm

    Order Hot Pot Hero Takeout or Delivery

    Hot Pot Hero Photos

    HOT POT HERO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials

    Recommended Reviews - Hot Pot Hero

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Veggie side
    Franklin C.

    I remember when it first opened a few years ago and coming back here after another business trip makes this place like a second home. We went for the AYCE hotpot and loved that the ordering is done thru the IPAD and the service was super attentive that we got all the foods and broth in less than 4-5 minutes. Now that's really something !!! The meat quality is so filling that I had to order two more platters and load up more on the different veggie/seafood sides. The cleanliness is immaculate and definitely like the open space to eat the hotpot. There was no heavy stench whenever eating hotpot so thank goodness my jacket still smell normal. Note; they don't have the regular ponzu or yuzu sauce so got to make do with black vinegar instead. Plus their dessert jello is so delicious it reminds me of back home that I went for more. Will be back again!

    The party room seats 12
    Amy D.

    Amazing, fast, friendly service, even with our group of 12. We rerserved the party room, which worked out perfectly. Good food and fun setting. Will be back!

    Emily T.

    This is my go to spot for hot pot in the area! I usually don't do the all you can eat and just order off the regular menu. The portions here are huge and it's never that expensive. We tend to also have a lot of leftovers too. They have a sauce bar and dessert bar. It gets quite busy during cold and rainy nights so make sure you book in advance! Even when there is a long wait, I just go to the shops nearby and walk around. This is probably the most authentic hot pot in Ellicott City.

    Clara K.

    When it comes to Hot pot this place is my go to spot. Out of all the hot pot place in HOCO, they have the most fresh meat and veggies. The bone broth is so flavorful and the mild spicy both so good. I recommend easy on ordering spicy broth. You don't get to taste much if it's too spicy. Great selection of choices for sauce, and service is fast.

    Qinyue H.

    I really like the flavors at Hot Pot Hero -- it's the best all-you-can-eat hot pot spot around for people living near Baltimore. I come here with friends after finals to relax, recharge, and enjoy a good meal. Don't forget to try their ice jelly dessert -- it's a must! The environment is nice, and the service depends a bit on which server you get, but overall, if you're craving hot pot, I highly recommend this place.

    Isabel A.

    Okay so this is probably one of the best hot pots I've had! Came out here a little further out after reading reviews and the wait was about 30 to 40 minutes -- but it was definitely worth it! The split broth pot is definitely cool and the servings are a lot fresher than other hot pots I've been to. I house broth was so good!! Definitely recommend and would come back.

    With the awesome Amy!

    We absolutely love coming to this place! More than the delicious food and cozy ambiance, it's Amy's warm and welcoming personality that keeps us coming back again and again. The moment we walk through the door, her genuine smile and impeccable customer service remind us why this is our go-to lunch spot. Thank you, Hot Pot Hero, for consistently giving us such a wonderful dining experience; and a special shoutout to Amy! The world needs more people like her.

    Menu
    Sydni R.

    My partner and I were in the mood for soup or ramen and this place was the perfect place for us. The staff were super friendly and gave us their suggestions. We got the 2 base pot (one spicy and one regular). At your table, you can do individual pots or a big pot (I believe you can have up your 3 different bases) and order all the veggies, noodles, and proteins you want. The food was so delicious. I will definitely be back!

    Spicy beef
    Sharon L.

    We had been to a place further down Route 40 that gets rave reviews and we were NOT impressed with them! You can find that review in my Yelp if you are interested. Because of that, I was very apprehensive about trying Hot Pot Hero. Turns out we probably should have come here first rather than going to the other place. We were shown very quickly to a table. This restaurant has a very cool vibe which we were definitely feeling! We were handed a iPad to order what we wanted. While the prices are a little higher on the all you can eat, we got a nice amount upon ordering, where in comparison, the place we had went to previously on 40 gave us a third of what we got at Hot Pot Hero for four people!! We ordered two of the spicier broths....when we go again, it will be one hot and one mild, if for no other reason, a break for the tastebuds! :) Even if you like hot, these are SPICY, so just know that going in. We ordered beef, chicken and pork belly along with an array of veggies to include King Trumpet Mushrooms. We got a lovely amount on the first round and when we ordered a few more things on the second, it was just as nice! Staff was very pleasant and it was a very nice switch up to some of the other Asian places in the plaza. Definitely no complaints! We will definitely be back!

    Sugar-free soju
    Starr D.

    There are so many hotpot restaurants in the DMV area, it can be difficult to choose when comes to which one is good and where to go. For us, there are certain criteria we look for when come to a hot pot restaurant. And here is why hot pot hero is one of our favorites. Meat: the most important. Beef and Lamb mainly. Thin, fresh, flavorful in a way you can eat it right after cook it even without any dipping sauce. Seafood: fresh, with decent variety. Veggies and others : they have to have the signature vegetables, mushrooms, variety of fish, and meatballs, corn, taro, quilt eggs, tribe, etc. Service: they don't need to be super attentive in a hotpot restaurant, because most the time when people go to a hot pot restaurant, they want to communicate and have a good time with the people they went with. It's completely different than if you go to a steakhouse. So the best is to leave these customers alone and only comes around when they need something. Cleanliness: eating hot pot can be messy, with sauce drizzled all over the table and seats, splatters come from the pots. Therefore a thorough cleaning after each customer is essential to keep a hot pot restaurant clean so the next customer can enjoy. And hotpot hero does meet these criteria which was confirmed after our several visits . Keep up the good work, highly recommend by @winedinenvacay

    Assorted mushroom and house herbal pots
    Ren H.

    My friend and I came here for dinner and chose the AYCE. We chose to share the Yin Yang pot and got the House Herbal Pot and Assorted Mushroom Pot. They have a tablet for you to order everything from which is super convenient as your order gets sent directly to the kitchen to get the items ready to be brought out. It took some time getting used to cooking everything in the pots and making sure to get them out in time and still eat. A lot of multi tasking going on but so worth it as everything was so tasty. There's a sauce station which you can mix different sauce flavors to dip your food in. The staff was attentive at taking away the empty dishes and bringing out new ones as we ordered. I definitely ate my fill but it was such a great and fun experience.

    If you like soup or broth in general then you will love hot pot. Originally Mongolian, but some would say perfected by the Chinese, hot pot offers a way to cook a bunch of different foods (meat, veggies, noodles, seafood, and more) in a base of your choosing. I like the seafood broth. There are also tomato broths and spicy options. It can be considered expensive by some people ($35 for dinner), but it's an enjoyable social experience from time to time. Hot pot hero has never disappointed me.

    Medium spicy broth but not spicy at all

    See all

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike S.
    185
    71
    37

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Fast service, great selection, definitely somewhere you can put on the list as a go to restaurant

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2
    Photo of J J.
    0
    2
    0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Good! Just a little bit too long waiting to get seated, definitely get in there earlier during weekend dinner time.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Wonderful service and food was amazing! 10/10 would come back when we visit Maryland! They seated all 9 of us and were extremely attentive.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan A.
    28
    367
    1033

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 12
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jody M.
    316
    698
    2684

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Wenqi C.

    Wenqi C.

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - Hot Pot Hero

    Are there gluten free options?

    The majority of the menu is meat, seafood, and veggies. They have rice noodles too.

    Is this a kid friendly spot, 9 yr olds?

    Yes, it is!

    Is this now an all you can eat place since it recently re-opened in 2021?

    They have 2 menus. One is "all you can eat."

    Is AYCE still offered?

    Yes 7 Days AYCE

    On google or on the yelp, it says that they are open 12-00:30 but when I got there, there was a poster on the door that says -2:30 and 5-12 or something. I do not remember the specific time. Do they open during 2-5 pm?

    We open 11:30 am to 10:30 pm non stop. No intermissions or break in between.

    How much is it per person and is it all you can eat?

    its not a all you can eat place. total price depends on how many dishes you order.

    Is it all you can eat or do I have to pay for each plate of meat and veggies I order?

    You have to pay for each type of meat and each type of veggie separately. This was far more expensive than any other hot pot I have ever been to. Quality was pretty good, but bring a big pile of cash if you want a typical plate of hot pot veggies… 

    I hear a lot of hot pot restaurants have pretty watered down flavorless broths, how strong are the broths here? And which ones should I choose?

    Their broths are not watered down at all! I've tried three of their broths and they are very flavorful. The Spicy Hero is not for the faint of heart. It is very spicy but has a great flavor. The House broth is a great classic with lots of flavor.… 

    View All 9 Questions

    Sea King Seafood Market

    Sea King Seafood Market

    2.7
    (88 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Our New Year's Day tradition centers on serving Hoppin' John black-eye peas with salt-pork, and we…read morelove to add fried catfish to that meal. We like Sea King Seafood Market for bbq and freshly-cooked crabs. They have specials several nights a week on crabs, crabmeat, and crab-cakes, and sometimes on shrimp. They offer takeout all day, and casual indoor dining after 4pm most days. Recently we noticed they have catfish on their menu! That takeout could save us prep for that dish, because we're making many dishes and taking them to feast with friends, so we decided to give them a try. Sea King has huge half-pound filets at $14/lb, cooked sweet and tender, breaded in a light coating of simple traditional flour and cornmeal seasoned with salt and pepper, nearly the same recipe we use at home. We bought two pounds, and popped them into the fridge so we could transport them about 30min. Then we laid them on a wire rack over a cooking pan, and heated them about 20min at 300°. They crisped right up and stayed tender and juicy. Very delicious! Thank you, King Family!

    Not sure I feel about this place , guess I should I go back . As a first timer, I didn't have much…read moreexpectations . But I love the fact that they served fresh seafood and offered plenty of items on the menu . The fried fish and fries was I opted for . The wait was quick and the service was good. The only thing my meal lacked was season. The fish and fries both were bland . But the place has more to offer and I would make a return .

    Photos
    Sea King Seafood Market
    Fresh seafood
    Fresh seafood
    Outside patio

    See all

    Outside patio
    Wild Seafood

    Wild Seafood

    4.3
    (120 reviews)
    9.3 mi
    $$

    Our go-to fish mongers/fish market. Have not tried the hot food but the people in line look…read morepretty psyched every time we go, The shellfish (muscles, clams, oysters, shrimp) and fresh fish options are great with plenty of frozen options too. Call ahead if you questions or requests to save yourself time, the standards will be in stock. The people and the service you get is as good as it gets. If the place is not crazy talk to this great bunch of nice folks who know their stuff. When it gets crazy be patient please because seafood takes time and is hells hard work. Enjoy! Don't pick up the damn crabs you heathens !!!!

    It's been a min since we've returned. Unfortunately customer service has drastically changed. We…read moreencountered very RUDE service over the phone. No greeting just silence and then got hung up on after a second of them picking up. I called again and they finally young lady decided to answer with a greeting. Upon arriving to grab our LG dozen... we've always been able to stack military discount and the online coupon for $5 off since our last visit. I even confirmed with the cashier during our last visit because I thought that was really nice of them. The young lady cashiering this time around had no remorse or explanation but a "NO" just military or the coupon. If you're okay with this type of customer service and can over look it plus this place being a bit $$$ definitely try their steam crabs and fish they got here. Customer Service definitely needs work. Its very awkward coming inside to an awkward staring contest with everyone behind the fish counter and cashier ( NO GREETING OR HELLO) as if your trespassing into the building or hi how can we help you today? Are you looking for anything specific???. ... Anyways ... not sure when we'll return..

    Photos
    Got the scallops
    Got the scallops
    You stop at a a gatehouse, and let them know you are going to the first shop. Plenty of parking!
    You stop at a a gatehouse, and let them know you are going to the first shop. Plenty of parking!
    Store front

    See all

    Store front

    Hot Pot Hero - hotpot - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...