The best hot pot in chicago. And prices are affordable. Stuff is friendly and helps with everything really quickly

this is literally the best hot pot i've ever had. the quality of everything is divine. the cut short ribs were my favorite. literally melted in my mouth (but not in a fatty wagyu type of way). they also have boba here, i got a grape slush and it was very very sweet but still extremely good (sweetness level could not be adjusted). i just kept adding water to it to dilute it which helped. we had to wait about 45 mins to get seated (walk-in) but it was most definitely worth it. and omg this place is HUGE. there were so many twists and turns, it felt like a maze. but it was aMAZing. it didn't feel real. truly was so impressed with everything read more

WOW! Incredible visit on Sunday, 5/7. Our server was attentive and really kind, shout out to you (didn't get her name unfortunately). Enjoyed a really delicious meal with loved ones while passing thru Chicago- spacious restaurant, clean, great sauce bar, employees ran out food quick and superbly, broth was great, rice was so delicious lol! Make sure to make an rsvp as the restaurant got packed fast! They also provide ginormous bibs so you can protect yourself from all the flavorful sauce splashing, lol! read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Spicy broth, spice level 2 (bottom left), tomato broth (bottom right), chicken broth (top) - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I usually don't even like hot pot like that but this spot actually made me understand the hype. Everything tasted super fresh and the tomato broth was ELITE. Thick, flavorful, comforting... easily the best hot pot broth I've ever had. The Chongqing broth with level 1 spice wasn't too spicy, but I realized I'm just not a huge fan of that style of broth in general. The vibes were honestly great too. We sat by the windows and the AC was perfect so you don't get blasted with hot air while cooking like most hot pot spots. It was loud since everyone comes in groups. The biggest downside was the wait. We got seated 32 minutes after our reservation on a Monday night and the walk-in waitlist was already 80+ minutes. Apparently Mondays usually aren't even this busy. They also charged us for the sauce station even though we didn't use it, but they removed it after we noticed. The giant beef feast had insane presentation and the meat tasted super fresh, but for $98 I expected a little more consistency because some cuts were way better than others. 7.5/10. The house meatballs were surprisingly delicious too. 7/10. The abalone tasted fresh and the rice cakes with brown sugar were PERFECTTT 9/10. The only thing I really didn't like was the matcha latte. The foam tasted like cheese foam and the matcha itself tasted artificial. 3/10. Overall this spot definitely made me love hot pot more... but for ~$230 total it's pretty pricey for what it is. Still one of the best hot pot experiences I've had though. read more

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Was walking around navy pier and was craving some hotpot so we walked over to try this spot. The wait wasn't too bad when we arrived around 7pm for 2 people. Only waited 35 mins. We ordered a little of everything beef and veggies. Wasn't sure about the portion size at first but by the end of the meal we were so full. It was pricey but the meat quality was good! We also order cocktails and they were strong. I would come back again if I visit Chicago! read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We came for after dock, which gives you 31% off after 9:30 PM. Great time to come because everything is so affordable then the broth is so tasty and they also have lots of different sauces and appetizers. You can get the meats amazing very marbled very tasty service is good and the great pot is you can get three different suitcases for the same price and the pot is massive. Definitely will come back. read more

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I've enjoyed a decent amount of hot pot chains and locations, but was really impressed with the overall vibe and food quality. Very modern and trendy interior which felt very welcoming, with some nice booths overlooking the street below and windows all around. Mikey was our server and was not only very attentive and helpful, but really upbeat and made the whole experience so fun. We had the Chongqing level 1 broth and the Golden Chicken broth and both very really flavorful while not being overbearing. Was pleasantly surprised at just how much chilies and spice were in the Chonqing level 1 broth, and the chicken broth was rich and delicious. The meat quality was also very fresh and tender and same goes for the veggies. A standout favorite for our table was the crispy fried sticks (didn't get the exact name unfortunately) that absorbed some of the sauce and we're absolutely delicious. Pretty nice assortment of apps and sauces at the sauce stations scattered around. We had a few cocktails and they were also a nice treat and went well with everything. Overall great presentation and vibe and for a pretty fair going price that these premium hot pot places. This would just seemed to be a notch above the others on a relatively quiet Saturday afternoon. Would come back read more

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Hands down best hot pot in the city. Quality of the ingredients and variety of offerings! Definitely my go to hotpot in Chicago, hope they open one in the burbs maybe in Evanston please. read more

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Wintertime is the PERFECT weather for hotpot (though I do like to enjoy hotpot all year round:). This downtown location is a bit tricky to find (the entrance is tucked away a bit). I will say even though it's not AYCE hot pot and it can be pricey, Qiao Lin does have great quality broths, meats & ingredients. The sauce and appetizer bar is also massive, which is always appreciated read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tasty selection! Try the combos to easily get the both, meat, rice/noodle, veggies and sauce bar! We came before where everything was à la carte so the combos really simplify things. You can still order off the menu; we enjoyed the crab xiao long baos and shrimp paste too. There are several soups that are pretty flavorable. It's a pretty big space all both seating. Reservations recommended and Yelp waiting list. read more

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Qiao Lin is my favorite hotpot in the city with their meat quality and broth choices! I don't come that often since it's à la carte and pricier but great for coming with friends. This location is more spacious than it looks from the outside. There is also an area for solo diners, which is a nice accommodation. I recommend ordering the short rib and one meter sliced beef cuts. They provide baskets by your table you can put your bags and jackets in so it doesn't smell like hotpot. You can also request aprons while you eat. I can always expect excellent and quick service at both this and the Chinatown location. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Parking validation - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was a cold day and my family were craving hot pot so we decided to find the closest one near us. We found Qiao Lin and decided to give it a shot. Luckily when we got there, we were seated immediately. The interior is beautiful and super nice and clean. It was happy hour so we decided to order some cocktails. I got the forbidden city and it was pretty good! For the food, we did two broths: spicy and mushroom. We ordered the beef, lamb, tripe, shrimp and a side of udon. There is a sauce bar as well that comes with some appetizers too. The broths were good and the beef looked stunning and it was delicious. The problem I had was the service wasn't good. We rarely saw our server at all. While we were eating, some of the employees started cleaning up around us which is fine but they would grab plates with meat still on it. I had to stop them. Extremely disrespectful. It made the experience pretty disappointing. Not sure if I'll recommend this place to people. read more

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The better choice of Qiaolin in Chicago. Maybe because this place has more space so that's it's much better experience than the Chinatown one. Also, their broth tastes better. Service is great but because of the restaurant's wired floor plan, the staff might hard to see you when it's not hot hours. read more

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Qiao Lin was a solid spot for hotpot in the Downtown area and is a more affordable option than Hai Di Lao without compromising the quality. My group of 3 opted to get half/half of the herbal chicken (delightful, btw) and tomato broths. We ordered an assortment of veggies, noodles, and the meter-long beef that left us feeling so full! The sauce bar had a large variety of options, and I liked the dessert selection (mango sago, mango cake, fruits). Service was quick too. Our table was situated in a private booth, so ambiance wasn't chaotic at all. The wait time was my only qualm! My group and I stopped by on a Saturday evening around 6pm and waited over 2 hours, but were able to enjoy drinks at the bar while waiting and to avoid the brisk weather. I'd recommend joining the Yelp waitlist ASAP or making a reservation if available. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service is amazing! Todd at the bar made us such yummy drinks and the host and server were so accommodating and helped us decide what to get and grabbed ice cream for us at the end when we were frantically trying to finish before they closed. The food is also so fresh. I loved the broths - golden and spicy (the spicy one was a little spicy, we probably should have gotten mild rather than medium). The vegetable platter was perfect and I'm a big fan of the hand cut noodles. Also there was so many free sides and desserts. Inside, the space is much bigger than I thought. There's room under the seats for jackets and bags so they don't smell like hotpot. Sauce options are convenient and plentiful. If I could, I would come here every week! read more

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This was my first time trying Qiao Lin, and it was superb. I think it's on par with Liuyishou in the bay area (CA) that I've had and the new Feng hotpot in the bay area. The soups here are flavorful which is a must for high quality hotpot. The place is super nice and modern. The server was really nice as well! There's a lot of sides available and basically every condiment for sauces there! This place definitely is on the pricey side for hotpot, though. read more

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Been a fan since their original Chinatown location. Deceptively big with many tables, pro tip though get on the Yelp waitlist early if you know when you'll arrive. The sauce, appetizers and dessert bars are great. My favorite is the golden chicken broth! Top quality ingredients and now in a prime location. read more

My friend and I were brave (or insane) enough to go for hot pot in the middle of summer. But hey - Asian soul food doesn't check the weather report. She was extra excited since her boyfriend's not a fan (aka she never gets it), so this was her golden opportunity. Totally impromptu, no reservation, but they called us after a 10-15 min wait. Location: E Illinois St and N St Clair St. We got mildly lost finding the entrance, but saw that it's near the roundabout by Cityfront Plaza Dr. Parking/getting there: Looked like a few spots here and there, but since the restaurant's tied to a condo building (?), I'm sure a parking structure exists somewhere. Can't judge much since we walked. Atmosphere: Classic hotpot atmosphere with a slightly swanky twist. The condiment station had dangling ornaments that screamed Christmas - festive, confusing, but charming. They offer both shared and personal pots; we went solo and scored prime real estate in front of the condiment station. Food: While waiting, we eyed the spread of meats and veggies and happily checked off our choices on the menu. I chose the "mild" Chongqing Spicy Bomb, and my friend went with the Golden Chicken Soup with Collagen. The add-ons included beef slices, mushrooms, lettuce, tofu, udon, meatballs, bok choy, and rice bowls. My "1 pepper" broth was the equivalent of sticking my tongue directly into a volcano. The peppercorns made it less "pleasant kick" and more "mouth-numbing blaze." The mango sago at the condiment station was my lifesaver - until round two involved a dead fly who was also a fan of mango sago. A worker buried it under a fresh scoop, so I like to think it ascended straight to dessert heaven. My friend's broth was like chicken noodle soup's fancy cousin. Guess which one I preferred? Drinks: Water = hydration = survival. They had other options, but my taste buds were in full crisis mode. Service: Quick with both broths and ingredients, plus staff swooped in when we fumbled with the burners. We packed up leftovers... well, my friend's leftovers, since my broth and I had officially filed for divorce by that point. Price: Pretty standard hotpot pricing, nothing shocking. Would I return? Yes, but I'd personally ditch the inferno of a soup and go for something gentler. Honestly, sample sips could've saved the pitchers of water that kept me alive. For those with a high spice tolerance, dig in and enjoy; the rest, proceed with caution. read more

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Delicious! It had been years since I'd done hotpot, and came here with two colleagues that were in town for a meeting. Our server, whose name I forget was good. He did seem a bit 'scattered' when trying to explain the menu (though to be fair, it is an overwhelming menu!). Sometimes things moved a little slowly, like when we asked for drinks or extra utensils, it took a while for him to bring them. The food was excellent. We did three broths: tomato, chicken, and mushroom. I ordered wayyyyy too much food: quantities weren't clear on the menu so what I ended up ordering for myself probably would've fed the whole table. I was able to still cook it all up and just take it home for leftovers, so at least it didn't go to waste. My favorites were the quail eggs and the shrimp balls with egg (sounds weird, but quite flavorful), and of course, the scallops. Everything was good, though. I got a White Panda (I think that's the name) to drink, and it was okay. All I tasted was vodka and none of the other elements/flavors. The dessert, something mango, was also fantastic. It's a bit of an awkward setup, though that's hotpot in general. We did have one large 'bowl' in the middle for all three broths (with dividers), which made it a bit tough to try to cook things (my colleague said she's seen where each person gets their own littler pot right in front of them). You also have to be really careful of broth splashing-they gave us bibs, which was much appreciated, but even still, if it splashes on your skin it's hot! Overall, it is a great experience. It is pricey-almost $300 with tip for the three of us, though that is also with me ordering too much food. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The first thing you notice when you're on the way to get seated is how big the restaurant is -- our server kept walking us down hallways, turning corners, passing so many other diners on the way to our table. We stopped by for an early Sat dinner (around 5:30 with a res) and were able to get seated roughly immediately, and the place really filled up while we were there! One of the highlights was the ridiculously expansive sauce bar selections. Other than the typical set of hot pot sauces and condiments, they also offered pickled radish, mung bean soup, bing fen 冰粉, a variety of fruits and candies, chicken nuggets/fries, and countless others that I'm surely forgetting. Honestly feels like that could just be the whole meal haha Overall, our meal was delicious and filling -- portion sizes were very big for the prices, and we definitely ordered too much (!) Some highlights: -- The chicken broth was amazing -- really rich and aromatic flavour without being too heavy. The mala broth was really spicy but a bit too oily; it kind of weighed everything down a bit. (And we even ordered the lowest level of spicy!) -- The 1 meter sliced beef is a must-try. Other than the creative presentation on a Looong Plate, the meat was tender and juicy (and esp cooked in the chicken broth, just so flavourful). -- I quite liked the knife-cut noodles. Thick and chewy in the perfect way, it was a great neutral palate "cleanser" at the end of the meal. -- The various veggies we ordered (cabbage, potato, radish, etc.) were all very fresh and tasty, but nothing particular to note otherwise. Price point was fantastic -- it came out to around $30-something a piece for such a yummy meal (and we were absolutely stuffed afterwards). Apparently they also have some sort of membership program that gets even further discounts, too.  Will definitely plan to come back next time (and on an emptier stomach, too)! read more

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I joined a friend here for a restaurant week lunch. We got the golden chicken broth, pork tripe broth, and hot and sour broth, with the restaurant week wagyu beef toppings special. I also got an osmanthus oolong tea. Service was attentive, refilling our broth as needed. There is a buffet of dipping sauce toppings, side salads, and desserts. As a gluten free eater, the menu was clearly and accurately labeled, as were the dipping sauce ingredients, which I appreciated. The ambience is upscale and relaxing. Overall, I recommend dining here for an upmarket hot pot experience. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Wagyu beef, Sliced Lotus Root, Enoki Mushroom, and other assorted toppings - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing hot pot. One of the best hot pot experiences in a long time. Surprised this level of good in the middle of America. Better than haidolao. No question. read more

I got Maocai (single serve hot pot) for takeout from this place. You can choose your own meats and vegetables (6-8 options) which I loved. The flavor was great, and having hot soup in the winter was absolutely perfect. The interior was bright and well decorated, it would also be a nice spot for a proper hot pot. They have a great drink menu too so I almost mistook it for a boba shop! I also learned that they also have a store in Boston and Atlanta too on top of the 2 locations in Chicago. read more

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The service was great. We had a wonderful waiter who kept the broth refills coming. The food was great! It's better to come in a larger group than as a date since you order by ingredient type and the service size is quite big. If you want to try a lot of different ingredients, coming in a group is the way to go. The buffet bar was not as large as some of the other hot spot spots. Their sauce options were 1/3 of the buffet bar - but there were some new/interesting ones I hadn't seen elsewhere. There are no rices available in the buffet bar like other hot spots. However, you can order a bowl of rice of $0.50. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

That was delicious. I had the American wagyu combo and the shrimp paste with the chicken, collagen soup. The soup was delicious. It was super thick (I could feel my skin getting tighter) and really flavorful. Very rich. The meat was good quality and the veggies were fresh and there was a good variety. The shrimp paste was just ok. I like it when the shrimp has a bouncy/snappy/crunchy texture. I don't know why some are more than others, maybe the type of shrimp. This one was just ok. Oh, the fixin's were also good. Overall, really good meal. read more

This was our first time out for hotpot in Chicago and it didn't disappoint. Our waitress was incredible. Taking the extra time to walk us through the entire menu and make recommendations while she went. Each of her recommendations were on point. We ended up doing the three broths which I highly recommend even if you don't end up using the third broth it's a great option to get different flavors at no additional cost. We did two spicy and one regular. We did the Kobe beef and the garlic chicken and while I preferred the Kobe beef, the garlic chicken and was great. Highly recommend this place and will be back. read more

This place has such a fun vibe, great view and cool tables. The staff were nice but our waiter was overall slower than preferred at the end, not bad just wanted to leave. Definitely plan to be here and relax for a while, the food is incredible, the veggies are fresh and so good. The meat is also fresh looking, definitely use their cooking recommendations for how long to cook everything. We got the level 1 spicy broth (I am a spicy lover and could have made it to level 2 but if you're not a spicy person stay at 1 it's still got a lot of heat). We also got the mushroom and tripe broth. All delicious! We got almost all the veggies, tofu, garlic chicken, beef skewers, scallops, dumplings, and spring rolls. Our spring rolls were hot on the outside and very cold on the inside. For drinks I got an Ube Colada, it was very sweet, but good, and my partner got a whisky flight. This place is great for a date night. Definitely make a reservation, we made one a week prior for 6:30pm on a Friday. read more

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The service and food were both A1. Our server, Eli, provided impeccable service. We ordered the 2 meter beef, pork belly, and an assortment of veggies and other side items. Everything was delicious and I have 0 complaints. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Soup with veggies - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went there tonight and loved it - it is a great location just a block off Michigan ave., there is a young crowd and the vibe is upbeat. More importantly, the food was great. We chose the mushroom broth and the chicken broth, then ordered and assortment of meats, vegetables, mushrooms, and noodles to cook in the broth. It was all good, and the pricing was reasonable for an upscale environment in downtown Chicago (for 5 people with plenty of food and drinks the total was around $300 with tip). We will Definitely be back read more

Loved our visit to Qiao Lin Hot Pot. The broth was rich, the spice levels were spot on, and the portions were generous. The yellow chicken broth is our favorite since it's so flavorful you hardly need sauce. Huge shoutout to Todd, Ariel, and Kris. Todd made the best Negroni, Ariel kept everything running smoothly, and Kris was so sweet and understanding as it got late. They were always smiling and helping. These three made the whole experience even better. Highly recommend! read more

Amazing hot pot! The food was so delicious and all the flavor. There was a wide array of dishes to put on. They also had free appetizers and desserts at the main station which was also incredibly tasty. The service was friendly. It felt like such a chic and cool place. Of warning, there can be a long waitlist. read more

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It is always a great time going to Qiao Lin for hotpot. My girlfriend and I took my cousin here for her first time trying this place and our first time trying this location. Had a little wait, as expected for Qiao Lin. We sat at the bar and ordered some personal favorites, Moody Tongue's rice lager but on tap! My girlfriend tried some cocktails and tasted great! Inside looked beautiful and the booths were extremely spacious. The sauce bar didn't feel crowded like the original location which was great! Food of course was excellent. The flavors are consistent and so was the quality of food from the original location. Our server was extremely attentive and accommodating as my cousin has a nut allergy. Rarely do you find restaurants where you feel you are getting the bang for your buck. Qiao Lin, in my opinion, always makes you feel good about what you're spending and it's not overly expensive. read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food & service! Janette was very friendly and helpful. I enjoyed my lunch here. I would definitely come back. I lien the sauce bar and lunch combo read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very excited to take my husband to this hot pot place. Waited for 30 minutes and got two seats at the bar table. The hot pot is overall very delicious. They asked a few times if we are good with the spicy level 3 soup-base, and it turned out not that spicy. The frog legs are so tender. Food came with great quantity and we ended up ordering more dishes than we can eat. Had to cancel the dessert because we were too full. Really great service. Thanks for taking care of us. read more

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The food was great. Nothing to complain about the food quality. A few notes that the floor is slippery when we were then and out table were far from the hot bar so we were struggling whenever we brought the sauce back to our table and the hallway is narrow. The parking might be difficult to find for first timer or out of town. The boba is good. We had an amazing meal. we got their chicken golden broth and tomato and the spicy (the triple flavor pot). The tomato broth is thick and flavorful! read more

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Beautiful dining experience thanks to incredible friendly professional waiter, Jonah, who explained thoroughly the abundant choices of sauces, proteins, vegetables, and more! Atmosphere is bright and cheerful with clean, abundant dining spaces. As a solo diner, I was seated at a very quaint bar like counter. Food was presented beautifully and an extraordinarily fresh variety. Plenty of leftovers for the next wonderful meal. read more

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Great spot to dip in if you're downtown. Drinks are strong, food was tasty , great decor and friendly service. They do have parking validation if you park on lower wacker area. Love the hampers at the table to protect your clothing from all the delicious smells. read more

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I love hot pot and this place did not disappoint! The ambiance, service, and quality of food was really nice! I was shocked when they said they'd only been open for about 9 months?? Our waiter was super sweet and informative in explaining the menu. Everyone who came by was so kind and helpful. The proteins and broths were really tasty. This place is clean as well which is something i always look for especially when it comes to the sauce bar. We got the mushroom & chicken broth and really enjoyed them. The smoothies were fresh and so good! Definitely will be back to try them out. Would recommend if you're in the mood for hot pot! read more

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This is one of my favorite places for hot pot in the city! The servers are kind and accommodating. The interior of the restaurant is bright and spacious, making it a great place for large groups. I also like how they offer individual pots for solo diners. All of the ingredients are fresh, but I am always impressed the most by the thinly sliced meat options. The golden chicken collagen soup is also a must! read more

Qiao Lin Hotpot - Chicago Downtown - Hot Pot Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was so much fun! I opted for the spicy broth since it's one of the more popular options, and you better like spicy foods if you're getting this one! It was a wonderful mix of chili spice and the numbing spice - I figured that was from those Szechuan peppercorns I saw in the broth. The garlic chicken was succulent, but the most outstanding hotpot items were the homemade pork meatballs and the mushrooms! The sauce bar has all of the things you could ever want. Plus, there were some cold salads like the wood-ear mushroom, seaweed, and tripe salads. I also enjoyed the little packaged snacks around the sauce bar. There's this gummy candy (Haocaitou Sour Gummy Candy) I got from one of the jars and I'm obsessed. I have no idea where to buy them, so I might go back just for those candies. The best part was all those shrimp chips you could get! The drinks menu is extensive. I opted for a Thai milk tea, which was a classic and came out quickly. The service was awesome. Jonah was my server today, and he was attentive, engaging, and knowledgeable! This is a sleek-looking restaurant, and I can imagine how great it would be for groups. read more

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