One of the best hotpot meals I've had. Lots of ingredients I've never tried before. If you want to try interesting ingredients highly recommend the All a carte over the AYCE option (but it can get pricey really quick). We loved the mushroom broth, good umami option for those that can't handle spice too well. Ingredients are super fresh for everything. Tried a bunch of new things, favorites were duck blood, snakehead fish, lamb, duck tongue. Servers spoke very limited English but everything came out pretty fast. A little sad that they served us the vegetables at the end of our meal though. Leg room in seating is a bit uncomfortable but good ambiance otherwise! read more

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Came here with a big group of friends to celebrate spring and the dip in the warm weather. Love coming here for AYCE and their food bar with sauces and dessert and snacks. Love that you can order on your phone as service is quick and fast. read more

Personally, I love extreme spicy hotpot and it took me so long to find a good place here in OC. We got 1/2 tomato and 1/2 Szechuan (level 4). Food was amazing, staff were nice and always checked up on us. Definitely will be coming back here. Me and my fiancé's new to go hotpot restaurant. read more

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We came in on a weekday for lunch. Located in a strip mall on Barranca, parking can be quite difficult during certain hours since there are so many businesses in the area. Parking spaces can also be a bit tight for larger vehicles. Restaurant is nicely decorated with indoor dining areas, private rooms, as well as outdoor areas. With this type of hot pot, wear light clothing as it will make all your clothes smell like it afterwards. Staff is friendly and attentive. It's definitely pricey for the quality of food you get, but it was a fine experience. There's an open bar area to make dipping sauces and a variety of snacks from edamame, red bean paste balls, and desserts, but I think if you don't purchase the combo, it's an additional cost Food wise, they have a mix of combos or a ala carte items. We ended up getting the four person combo and rib eye ala carte. While the combo is a lot of food and variety, I find it lacking meat options. It's a mix of one choice of meat, veggies mix, mushroom mix, meatball variety, tofu, and an "appetizer" (we got crispy pork), fish plate, and a beef/egg plate. Also a pitcher of plum or orange juice and rice and/or noodles. It's a lot and definitely worth it if you're looking for a nice spread, but for someone like myself, I'd rather just plates of meats, veggie/mushroom plate, and the crispy pork to eat. Meat quality is good, not amazing. The broths are good, though I did find the bone broth lacking flavor a bit. The spicy broth, we got level 3 (1-5) and it was good. It's enough heat while not making you suffer. If you're hesistant, maybe go with a lower spice level or ask them to add more plain broth to it after. I love that mala spice so it's a good choice. It's one of those places I did enjoy. Would I come back often probably not, but I would come back as it's a pleasant dining experience. read more

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Let's be real, this place is pricey for what you get, but the quality, environment, and service made it worth it for me. The staff checked in from time to time, refilled our soup (actual soup, not just water), and overall felt attentive without hovering. The highlight for me was the Golden Fish Maw Chicken soup base. Rich, deep chicken flavor, with pieces of chicken included to add in, so comforting and flavorful. It paired perfectly with everything else we ordered. We ordered with the Ma Tou Combo for 2, plus a few add-ons from the regular menu. Everything was fresh, delicious, and on par with Haidilao quality-wise (if not better), definitely better than any homemade hot pot I've made/had. My only minor complaint: the staff didn't offer to pack our leftovers. We had quite a bit of ingredient, soup and dessert left, and while we didn't ask, there was this subtle "food packing isn't allowed" vibe, though never confirmed if it was true. Would've been nice if they offered, but not a dealbreaker. Would recommend! read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Price - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

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Wow, this place feels authentic and the flavors are spot on. Visited on a Saturday for lunch and it wasn't too crowded. This is a great alternative to other hot pot places, especially if you enjoy spicy hot pot. Just know that as the broth continues cooking, the spice level will continue to grow! Since we ordered the max spice level for half of our hot pot, I felt like the beginning spice level was good but toward the end of our meal, it was a bit too intense for me. :P Service was friendly and efficient. Ambiance was casual but still felt really nice. Ingredients were fresh, and there was great variety. The sauce bar and other buffet items were well organized and easy to grab. Will definitely come back! I also like that there are additional hot menu items you can order, such as fried meats and fried rice. A great way to supplement your hot pot items and get a bit of variety too. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - half spicy half bone broth - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

We had dinner here tonight with my two sisters and our cousin. First time for me but they all have been here before. Hubby decided not to join as the menu sounds too exotic for him. I got there a bit earlier than them; however, I was thirsty so decided to go to OMOMO to get a tea. Since there was such a long wait at OMOMO, I came back a bit late and they already started to order and began to eat. My cousin tends to always order a lot of foods. So much more than we can eat. We had wagyu beef, rib eye slices, beef tongue, kidney, brains, intestines, tripes, quail eggs, baby ribs, tofu, and many kinds of veggies. And no, it's not Ayce or buffet style, you pay for everything you order. Everything was delicious but I didn't really care for the kidney and was scared to try the brains. :) He ordered the bone broth and the medium spicy broth. That sure was not medium at all. It was super spicy and I usually can handle super spicy foods well but my mouth was burning! I also loved the dessert. It's very unique. The one made with soft jello like and all types of little seeds, red dates, and yellow raisins. That was really good and cool the heat in our mouths a bit. The restaurant was busy by the time we left but not so crazy. They also have tables in the patio. It was expensive though since it was not all you can eat. It was $256 for four of us, tip not included yet. I would be back again sometime but not too soon. My mouth is still on fire. read more

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4/5 I love it here. Can get crowded on weekends and holidays, you can get on the waitlist if you are within 1 mile radius ( wait can be 60 mins) The sauce section is self serve and they have a handful of desserts option you can choose from. Menu: Try tofu skin, bean curd sticks , mini pork sausage, beef ribeye, beef tongue ;or if you dont know what to choose, order the beef Combo. Soup: I like Tomato soup and Bone broth, ( the spicy soup base is a bit too spicy for me ). Portion is good and price is reasonable ( average $50-$60 per person if you want to eat full). read more

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Similar to hai di Lao- buy each item. You order on an iPad and they just bring it to your table. Meat quality was decent. Nothing to rave about imo but my friend really liked the fish. Sauce bar was kinda dirty and lacking. I went back a couple times and they'd be missing something. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

老碼頭，沒事我們來都很多人，但是我也可以了解因為他們家的湯頭真的非常的好吃，菜色覺得也不錯，而且我也喜歡他們家前面可以叫的那些小東西小菜，最好吃的應該是豆皮的部分還有肉的部分也是我最喜歡的，有機會喜歡吃麻辣火鍋的人，這家真的是可以來試的餐廳 read more

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Great hotpot. I love the flavor and quality of the meat. Quality alone, i prefer this over Hai Di Lao, Nice to meet you, or chubby cattle hot pot. Service is decently good. Nothing outstanding. Ambience: nice decoration but seating space is a-bit tight. read more

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Not as good as the one in Rowland Heights. The quality and the value aren't very great compared to nowadays there are so many other options. Quite disappointed. Maybe if they offer AYCE option soon? The service was mediocre rarely any staffs checked up on us. The ambiance was nice. Spacious and pretty decors throughout the restaurant. The presentation of the food was still on point read more

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The meat quality is generally Ok but the spicy broth is kind of bland, not as good as other good one in SG valley areas. The service is not that good and the snack bar variety is limited. read more

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Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot has everything I look for in an authentic hot pot place. Deeply flavorful broth, tender beef, fresh ingredients and a killer appetizer bar! What really put Lao Ma Tou over the top was the fast and friendly service. Everyone was super accommodating and helped us replace an order when my baby threw a plate on the ground! I'll be coming back if i'm ever nearby. read more

This is my favorite hotpot spot! I've been to many hotpot places in Orange County, and this one has the best and most authentic soup base, which is essential for a good hotpot. They offer a huge selection of hotpot items, so it's best to go with a big group to try a little bit of everything. The service here is great. The servers check on you throughout the meal to ensure you have enough soup and that everything is satisfactory. They also provide aprons to protect your clothes from splashes. There's a small charge for the sauce bar, but it includes snacks, desserts, and fruits, which I love. Ordering is convenient with a QR code system. Everyone can order on their own phone and see what others have added to the order, reducing miscommunication and helping track the table's total order. The food usually comes out pretty fast; by the time I'm done getting my sauce, some items are already at the table. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

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One of my favorite hot pot spots in town. I love the variety items in the menu. My favorite orders are: 1. Beef tongue 2. Pork brain 3. Fish roe 4. Mushrooms read more

The food was so good. Omg. Our waitress was so kind worrying about the spiciness of the hot pot. Thank you~ we ended up getting the least spicy spicy soup. The restaurant was clean, the dip bar was great, overall, an amazing supper. Thanks! read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Beef - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

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Good service and delicious food! Ordered half spicy at 3 stars and half mushroom broth. The broth tastes phenomenal.

I did enjoy the food here, BUT be very cautious upon check out. They changed my tip amount! I had marked $0 on the credit card because I was looking for our server who took such great care of us. We had a baby with us who made a huge mess and our server kept everything clean and still served us with a smile. I appreciated that so I handed $25 cash to thank him directly (food totaled $100). A few days later I noticed my credit charge was $140, not the flat $100 I signed for. So including the cash tip, my total for that meal $165 instead of $125 :( Did they change it because they thought I wasn't going to tip? I will add that I did not call in to complain about that as I didn't think it would result in anything. There's a language barrier and also I did not keep the receipt. I don't know how to prove I only signed for $100 or how to prove that I actually handed the server $25 cash. I don't like calling people out publicly and I didn't say anything for some time, but my brother made a good point about leaving a review to let other diners know so it doesn't happen to them. If you really want to dine here, maybe pay all cash so you're in control of how much money you're giving them. I will not be dining here again. read more

It's exactly what I want, spicy and delicious. The dipping sauces are amazing too, and the portion sizes are generous. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

2 star - the spicy soup is too spicy even at level 2. The pork broth is tasteless. There is no chicken. Service is so so.

Food was goooood here! Really enjoyed the bone broth soup and the ribeye! My bf got the spicy soup base level 1 and he was already sweating so much haha. We also got this beef and lamb combo plate but that was definitely not as worth than getting a ribeye. The combo plate meat, it shrinks a lot! I really enjoyed the the selection they had for the sauce bar too. The wait wasn't too bad compared to Rowland Heights. It's about the same size as the Rowland heights restaurant, and parking is easy as well! This is definitely one of the pricier hot pot places to eat at but really good experience! read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot pot night - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

This is a traditional Chinese hotpot place with one big pot in the middle and the option of splitting in middle for two different soup base. I like how they take order electronically using QR code like many other Chinese restaurants. The service was average, I had to ask for broth refill many times when my soup is getting really thick. They didn't offer apron upon arrival until I asked for it. Sauce bar is self-service. I think the food is not very fresh compare to other hotpots I have been to. The soup base is comparable to other places like HaidiLao. It didn't really stand out. Their highlight is the crispy pork 現炸小酥肉，it was very crispy and fresh. One thing to note is that although it seems like a huge plate, there were barely any mouthfeel of pork. When you take a bite, I feel like i only had batter. The decor of the restaurant is nice, like any other Chinese hotpot place with some elements of red. Again, nothing stood up for me. This is not a place I would get out of my way for. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Spicy and tomato soup base - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

Their service were terrible server force to let you take to go and even laughed at you when refusing to take the left over home. It is unhealthy to take unfreshly food from the restaurant. It's also hard to find parking spot. Highly not recommend read more

There's plenty of parking (depending on the time and day you go). We had a group of 5 people and ordered about $160 worth of items (it is NOT AYCE). It's expensive, but if more people split, it's not that bad. Once you go in, you'll be seated and you can scan the QR code on the table to order. You can order 2 broths since the pot is halves, perfect for those who like to try different things. Once you order your food items, you can make your sauce at the sauce bar. They have different types of sauces, desserts, and appetizers for you. Overall, everything was delicious and the service was great! Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of parking (depending on time and day you go) - Make your own sauce at the sauce bar - This is NOT an all-you-can-eat (AYCE) place - Restrooms available read more

I came here twice and this is a solid hotpot place in Irvine. Food: The self-serve bar is a bit lacking compared to other hot pot places I have been too. The sauce bar is good and they refill it often, and the desserts are solid. But the small dishes were less satisfactory and more basic compared to other hotpot places in Irvine(e.g. Shancheng Lameizi) . For $4 a person for the self-serve bar, it's a bit disappointing. However, their hotpot soup base and meat quality is very good. You can definitely taste the flavor in hotpot, and it doesn't taste watered down. I suggest getting the half spicy, half bone soup. For meat, I suggest getting the, USDA prime ribeye , and angus beef short rib slice. Both of those are fair prices and are actually quite large slices. I also suggest getting the shrimp paste balls, sweet potato noodles(really chewy) and crown daisy(vegetable). I also suggest coming around 5:30-6:30 for dinner because there's usually little/no wait. By 7:00 it gets very busy. And I also want to mention than after eating, your clothes will definitely smell like hotpot(there isn't much ventilation inside). Overall solid, and I would come back again. read more

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I really liked this place. The interior design is nice and the food is really good. We got the combo for 2 people. Since it was our first time there the waiters were really helpful and nice and walked us through everything we get with the combo and the sauce bar. i recommend this place. It is on the pricier end but i think its worth it. Fair warning the spicy broth is very spicy. Youve been warned. The tomato broth was really good read more

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With so many places to pick from this has got to be on your list of hot pots to try! The broth is rich. The restaurant is nice. And the staff are always ready to get you your next plates of yummy food! read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

From food to service everything was amazing. i come here a few times a month, today was for my birthday and they made the service amazing. Food came out super fast as per usual. I mainly just wanted to write a yelp review about the service. The two guys that were mainly taking care of our table were extremely friendly and very fast. They also threw in a birthday treat at the end. Very happy with this place. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

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Really like this hotpot restaurant! Amazing food and service! Kids and husband Approved. We will be back! read more

Hot pot heaven! Loved this spot--great quality, generous portions, and a cozy ambiance. It might seem pricey at first, but the portions make it totally worth it. Plus, the service was on point! Definitely coming back. #HotPotLover #FoodieAdventures read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

The hot pot and shabu options in Irvine and the surrounding area are plentiful, but Lao Ma Tou is by far our family's favorite and we keep coming back! After you order from their extensive menu, head over to their self-service bar for everything from snacks, sauces and condiments to desserts. Because this is authentic Chengdu hot pot, they don't mess around with their spice levels. I can handle spice and my tongue felt like it was on fire and my nose was running after I tried their lowest spice level...you've been warned! A split pot may be the way to go if you're concerned about how you will handle their spiciness, and it's also a good excuse if you want to try two different broths. Lao Ma Tou offers premium meats and authentic, as well as exotic, dishes. By far the favorite menu item our family would recommend are the Homemade Shrimp Balls. The service at Lao Ma Tou is top-notch, and their staff is both friendly and attentive. Special shout out to Ming who always seems to go out of her way to make sure our family enjoys our hot pot experience each time. I believe you get what you pay for so if you have an appetite like I do, you can expect to pay a small fortune for your entire meal. It's all good though because in exchange you will have the opportunity to taste high-quality and flavorful Chengdu hot pot! read more

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Wow! Their spicy is real spicy no joke lol we picked level 2 spicy, and we were sweating even after 3 pour of the broth. Everything we ordered was good. The only downside is their sauce bar. When we went, cilantro/ onions/ fruits/ side dishes were all pretty much empty and not refilled. Side dishes like seaweed and fruits were not fresh and even before we left, still not refilled. Don't think sauce bar should even be charged lol. Service was quick and they were all nice. Will be back but please improve on the sauce bar section and keep it clean. read more

Came here for dinner on a Saturday night with 3 adults and 2, 6 year olds. Broth and meats were and of good quality, however we will not be returning as they charged us $15, per person for the sauce bar. How do you charge 6 years $15 for the sauce bar? They only got soy sauce. That's probably about less than 25 cents. read more

Came here with some friends for the first time and it was fun. We ordered the half tomato soup base and half pork bone soup base. The soup so yummy and savory, service was nice too. Food is ordered though your phone and each table shares a tab. So multiple people can order what they want and everything is brought to the table.Definitely would come again! read more

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Overall, a very solid Chinese hotpot place. Probably on par or slightly better than haidilao. Surprisingly there was no wait on a Saturday evening at dinner time. The meat was very tender and there was a lot of variety. Food came out fast. The spice level here is VERY spicy, we ordered level 1 spice (lowest) and our mouths were burning. Even after requesting more soup to dilute the spice, I couldn't put any more food into the spicy broth towards the end LOL. Price was reasonable too! I also like the interior design. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

This was a pretty authentic hot pot business i've ever tried here in Cali. Due to my previous experience at meizhoudongpo, i didnt expect too much on this, it just turned out to be surprisingly good! The servers were also friendly and nice. Probably we visit again, but just not indoor tables, you get pretty smelly after you have hot pot :) read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Guodi ( broth) - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

Great meat quality and service. Food is ordered though your phone and each table shares a tab. So multiple people can order what they want and everything is brought to the table. There is an open sauce bar for you to create your own sauce, and even has chips for kids who don't want to eat hotpot for some reason. Theres a cool cotton candy machine outside as well, and mouthwash in the bathrooms, really nice touch. read more

Lao Ma Tou Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Irvine, California

Half spicy/half bone for soup base - holy moly cow, my table felt the spice up our nostrils. it was burning our booty holes SO MUCH that we spent a good 10 minutes skimming out the chili oil that floated to the top but it was never ending T_T. by the time we skimmed most of the oil, our broth was half gone so we had to ask the server to add bone broth. the other half with bone broth was excellent, salty and rich. They take orders electronically which I like but I do get confused whether my orders went through or not. Staff were super friendly and accommodating. Sauce bar has tons of options (but they will charge you additional $3.99) and includes Chinese appetizers like garlic pickled chicken feet (BOMB.COM). This is very similar to Hai Di Lao. Definitely recommend the fish ball with salted egg (a game changer!!) and fish tofu! read more

Solid hot pot place here in Irvine. My favorite is the meat selection and shrimp balls. Pricey, so be prepared if you are coming with a big appetite. The spicy is pretty spicy, even for the lowest level, so be warned about that. The bar area is lacking in appetizers/small eats. Still, good food and service, and I would definitely come back. read more

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