Huo Guo Hot Pot

"Chicken nuggets" "yum yum sauce" "peanut butter sauce"If you know authentic hot pot or any authentic Asian food, you'd know these are terms that describe the Americanization of Chinese culture. It's horrible and the quality of food is mediocre.

Admittedly, I've mainly had hot pot here but their kbbq options aren't that bad. In fact, because their shabu meat is of a higher quality, I know it's the same meat for their kbbq, so I know it's good. But I just prefer the hot pot option. Making my own sauce out of the house sauce with ShaCha, minced garlic, green onion and parsley is my greatest weakness. So close to how I eat with my family at home... Their service is friendly, their foods are well stocked, and their desserts are nicely chosen. Yes, the cozy and intimate ambiance is always what I look forward to. My friends and I feel like we have privacy and are in our own world while eating and chatting freely,

3.5 in my opinion, but twas only my second time doing Korean BBQMet a friend for early dinner so for $30 we got the all you can eat and cook it yourself BBQ. I was advised it was "Korean bbq" but used a different sauce so maybe "chinese" bbq? (Drink not included)When I arrived the sauce and spice were already on the table, so not sure if I had an option of choosing my own sauce/spices like the first place I went to. But it sufficed so I didn't ask They brought tasty "chicken nuggets" and unremarkable kimchi (not bad/good: I vaguely remember it) to the table before the main meats/veggiesLoads of meat options, I went with spicey beef, bulgogi, and beef ribs as my first round, with onion mushroom garlic pumpkin and lettuce to wrap. A small bowl of rice was also brought to the table Table for "four" I can't imagine 4 trying to sit and cook and eat simultaneously, but it was perfect for two. The waitstaff was attentive, removing dishes, changing out the cooking tray, and binging anything we asked/needed. The beef cooked nicely and didn't take long. Purportedly spicey, it was seasoned, but def not too spicey for my buds, even w the "spicey seasoning and sauce". The ribs had a sweet tinge The vegetables cooked ok, the pumpkin still had the rind, and cut in "quarters vs slices" took longer to cook than expected,,but once singed/blackened, we're goodChose chicken bulgogi for the second go round: thinly sliced, it too cooked quickly. Wrapping the items in large leaf lettuce is messy, but tasty. Eating fresh cooked veggies and meat, even with the white rice (brown is not an option) I left full, but not bloated nor miserable. We didn't leave anything on the table to be charged any "waste fee", and only opted for water. We were advised that dessert was part of the meal: small ice cream or sherbet options in a cooler and basic fruit on a buffet table- I got the lemon sherbet- basic Not sure why the soup option cost $7 more than the BBQ, but I might return in the future to find out. 4-5p on a Friday wasn't crowded at all..maybe 2 families and one couple. Maybe the crowd comes later in the evening. 3.5 isn't bad, and I'd likely return: to try the hot pot soup option

Fantastic food and super cool experience! We went for a date night and I love the AYCE aspect. You do have to pick either hot pot or bbq or both for the table- you cannot split and one person do bbq and the other so hot pot. We did bbq.Bulgogi is always the best and that applies here too. Definitely get it! The appetizer chicken and pickled veggies were slightly sweet and so yummy. I asked for more of those little chicken nuggets like three times, they're so good. Always get a veggie with your meet or else it will be meat overload! I recommend getting the pineapple worth your last order of food so it can be like a sweet little dessert. I wish they gave you some sauces or seasonings for the veggies though. That was one of the only downsides. Also, the lights were VERY fluorescent. But cool place and good food! They had one giant circle table that seems like it would be fun for a big group or celebration.

Soft opening for this place in the Festival that has had a sign up for more than a year. The website implies a Korean bbq component but for now, it is just hot pot.I am not very familiar with hot pot. But you start by choosing a soup base, which is what you'll be cooking everything in at your table right in front of you. You get your own personal stove that is built in the table. You then go to the food buffet and bring back anyghing you want to cook in the soup base. I chose the pork bone broth, which was very mild in flavor. My friend chose the mushroom soup, which was even milder. The Thai Tom Yom or the hot chili seems to be the way to go if you want more from your soup.There is a wide range of meats and veggies. Seafood from snow crab, lobster sections, scallops, clams, mussels, and oysters. Thin slices of beef and lamb were popular and quick to cook in the broth. There are other offerings not often found in restaurants -- frog legs, tripe, organ meat. Various tofu. Different types of noodles, mushrooms, and greens all looked very fresh. The meats were often frozen. The next thing you need is to make your sauce from the sauce bar. Customize your own by mixing from choices like soy sauce, hoisin, sesame oil, sriracha, and others. Mix in green onion and cilantro.Put things in soup. Take out when cooked. Dip in sauce. Eat. Repeat. It gets messy. At least for me.Fruit in the dessert section was plain and not special -- grapes, oranges, cut up melon. The hersheys ice cream is very nice though.Service was good. They often come around for drink refill, taking away plates, checking on your broth.Price is high for what you get. 38 bucks is just too much, even with the seafood offerings. Two of us without drinks paid $95 total. There are other meals in BelAir I'd rather spend that kind of money on than a self serve hot pot. I am hoping that the Korean bbq component does materialize for the same price. That might make it worth it then.It's not bad to try it out. The place is very clean. Bathrooms clean. Enjoy as it's unique.

Cheery and bright, great selection of fresh meat, seafood, veggies, noodles, and dumplings to choose, all you can eat. You cook hot pot (several broths to choose from) or grill BBQ at your table. The key is making a custom sauce to your liking (server also brings some ready-made sauces). Lunch is $21, does not include drinks. Includes Hershey's ice cream (lots of flavors) and fruit for dessert. Shrimp, mussels, clams and imitation crab at lunch (crab legs and lobster at dinner only, I think that is $39). Very nice staff. I loved it and thought everything was delicious, plus it was fun! Can't wait to go back, this time for dinner.

This place is great for groups/families to come and enjoy a meal sitting at the same table and talking over food. They have many options as far as seafood poultry beef and the list goes on with fresh vegetables to choose a sauce, bar and ice cream to top off the meal there's some thing for the whole family. I highly recommend the Szechuan broth and the Wagyu beef. I also had frog legs for the first time here and they were amazing. I'll be back just like I always do.

Great service ! I'm some what of a hot pot connoisseur, it all stared in Kāne 'ohe Hawaii. At Kongo Ani. Where that rsturant became my absolute favorite! Hot pot is so good. It's pricey but in my opinion it's worth it. This place has excellent service and an outrageously awesome selection!! The food was amazing and I was so pleased with the cleanliness of the restaurant. The sever checked on us multiple times and was happy to answer any questions. I would definitely recommend.

Great new hot pot restaurant in Bel Air. The ambiance is beautiful and the service is friendly. They seem to take food safety very seriously as all of their food is on ice and properly covered and stored. They also have forks and spoons for people like me who can't use chopsticks lol. The spicy beef is delicious, as are the dumplings. Give this place a a try!

This is very authentic hotpot. Soup base is good . I got the pork bone and husband got the mushroom with ginger. No msg in the soup. The ingredients are all fresh with crab legs, fish, frog legs, and all sorts of authentic Chinese hot pot ingredients. Vegetables were washed very clean. I'm pretty impressed all of this is offered in suburban Maryland. The restaurant is very clean, including bathrooms, and the service is good! They asked about food allergies before bringing us the sauces (there's a peanut sauce) and they cleared our dishes and brought over ware for soup. We never had to wait that long for service. I saw the waitresses sign happy birthday with a big light up happy birthday sign in English and Chinese. It was very cute. The buffet is a tad higher than other hot pot places but the quality of the ingredients makes it a good value.