Qiao Lin Hotpot - Seattle

Qiao Lin has a parking garage in between them and Cheesecake Factory. You get 3 hours free with validation which is pretty nice! Qiao Lin gives me Hai Di Lao vibes with their menu (not AYCE) and service. The broths were also very flavorful and delicious. We got the signature platter which has a bit of everything - quail egg, gizzard, tripe, pork hock, shrimp paste, beef/pork meatball, marinated beef, marinated pork, and beef. There was also some veggies and other items. During out meal, there was even a server coming around with snacks and jelly drinks. There's also a sauce bar, dessert area (mango sago), and snack area (wood ear mushroom, veggie egg rolls, pig ear). The restrooms are single stalls for men and women so the line can get pretty long. Service was on the better end however they seemed super busy. There were actually a few items we never received so we ended up cancelling them as it took too long.

- much better than HDL - This place was somewhat new, and their reservation slots were all taken.. I called and they told me to get on the wait-list, so I did that 1 hour before going there. We still waited in the restaurant for about 30 minutes at the back though since it's a crazy Saturday night. Food: Since you can try more broth with the same price, we got 3 broth (spicy, golden chicken, and the mushroom one). The spicy broth was very good and better than elsewhere. The other two somewhat lack flavor, but the issue is solved if you dip them in the spicy broth afterwards lol. We were thinking about the giant beef platter, but skipped it in the end. Our friend ordered the all you can drink option and had 3 bottles of beer, and that was worth it. Everything we ate here were delicious and fresh. Price: 4 starsThe price here is cheaper than elsewhere, but the meat quality is better than avg. Service: 2 starsThey were too busy, so nobody really come over to ask if we need anything. We pulled a waitress and asked about the all-you-can-drink, and that's how we found out you can just grab the beer yourself from the self-serve fridge. There's really not much service here. Ambiance: 3 starsLike other hot pot places, the ambiance is meh. They do have quite fancy decorations like golden dragons on the ceiling though, which you can't find elsewhere.

This is hands-down, my favorite Hotpot place in Seattle due to the customer service, which is very quick efficient and friendly (I even befriend one of the server whose name is Seeson)! The selection of broth is great and every single broth is very flavorful. You have options of either doing one, two or three different broth in a single pot to share with the whole table or you could choose to sit at the bar which can be an individual pot for yourself. Often times I come here with a group of friends or my family with me. It is a bit tight to get six people in a booth, but it works for us.The sauce bar is incredible with the selection they have including desserts and appetizers, such as wood mushroom salad , freshly cut fruits, like melons, watermelon, and oranges. The one time I came there was fried shrimp balls was incredible. I hope they bring it back soon.We often time stick to the Szechuan style broth, and I would highly recommend going with the mild selection and not the hot because it is extremely extremely spicy. Our second best option for broth would be the pork tripe which seems odd, but it's very flavorful. My fiancé, other favorite is the tomato based broth. As always, you get to pick and choose what kind of produce, protein, seafood, starch you'd like to add into your pot. Some of our favorite selections are the shrimp paste, mushroom platter, seafood platter, which comes with muscle shrimp, squid, and scallops for $20. I enjoy the fried bean curd which soaks up all of the broth when you dip it in for a few seconds my mom loves to eat her hot pot with vermicelli noodles, they also have fresh handmade noodles and rice as well. This restaurant is a bit small and you can't fit larger groups in the space but for a downtown location this works for me and I love it here. I highly recommend you try out Qiao Lin! There's parking in the garage in the building, right side of the restaurant. You still have to get a code and pay five dollars but for downtown it's not that bad.

We were seated really quickly on a Wednesday night. Everything is ordered thru your phone so it gets to you pretty fast. I highly recommend the marinated lamb!It was soooo good!I love the panda plushies they have hanging around the restaurant. The sauce bar does cost extra to use though.

Found Qiao Lin Hotpot via Instagram so I was super excited to try them out. Sadly, I was disappointed with this experience.PROS:-You have one shared pot. You can split one or two or three and its same price with any broth you get.-If you order a bunch and the food plates overcrowd the table they have a side table where you can place your extras.-The menu is on your phone. You can scan to order at your table and the QR code is linked specifically to your table's cart.-They provide aprons for free while you dine in.-Most hot pot places we go to dont offer takeout boxes. Here, if you cant finish they provide boxes to take uncooked or cooked items home and containers to take your broth(s) home.-There are parking garages available across and next to it. CONS:-The sauce/dipping bar are an extra cost ($3 per person) and honestly without the sauce, the meat and veggies itself taste a bit odd.-Bathrooms are one stall for each gender. Sometimes there will be people in line just waiting for a stall to open.-Heard there was a dessert at the end but never got one. Maybe it was because we never could finish it.Overall, I am willing to try them out again in the future since this business is pretty new (opened in summer 2023). Hopefully next time this place is better. Still pricey for hot pot when i have had better experiences at a similar price.

I was in town from Houston for a conference. Being in town for five days and being a foodie, I searched for a Hot Pot restaurant. The young man who greeted me was friendly but look concerned that I might not understand the restaurant. Being from Houston, we have all types of foods and I love different types of foods. I ordered the Hot Pot for one, chicken broth, seafood, vegetables, and a hot tea. The restaurant is a good place to bring friends to enjoy a meal together or alone. Or meet someone. I met a conference goer from New Jersey. We had a good chat since we were solo. I did take pictures which I will upload. I enjoyed my lunch! If anyone is ever in Houston, i recommend going to Tan Tan for hot pot.

I am constantly in search of good hot pot places in Seattle. While Hai Di Lao has been my go-to choice, after a meal at Qiao Lin it is definitely rising the ranks on my hot pot list and has the potential to overthrow hai di lao.During our visit, my friends and I chose the four-broth option, featuring two mild selections (tomato broth, pork bone broth) and two spicy options (Chongqing spicy broth, pepper pork broth). The waiter told us that the pepper pork broth was not as spicy but we found it to be the spiciest of the lot. We ordered the beef combo and the presentation was one of the best I've seen at hot pot. The combo arrived on a golden cow and even had a cool fog experience for the first few minutes it was on the table. Every cut of beef on that platter was a delight, especially the Wagyu. Since the platter was pretty filling we only ordered a few other items: quail eggs, skewers, noodles, and meatballs. These were good but honestly didn't compare to the wagyu from the beef platter. The wait staff were exceptionally friendly and responsive throughout our entire dinner. Their patience was notable especially when they graciously waited for us to finish our meal and didn't push us at all even though we were the last party to leave. I will definitely be back to Qiao Lin, primarily for the remarkable beef platter and the commendable service.

We ordered only the two hotpot soup. I didn't know that both the golden chicken and pepper pork actually had meat in it. The golden chicken had actual chicken while the pepper pork had tripes in it. I still love their golden chicken one definitely very tasty and rich broth. We ordered meat , mushroom, some veggies. The service is good and they were attentive. The parking is just street parking so you need to be creative.We will definitely come back here for another hot pot sesh!

It has been a while since I visited Seattle Downtown. Absolutely love to see a new hot pot spot right across Regal theatre.So one tip for anyone who wants to try out this place: reserve your seat first & make sure you arrive on time. Otherwise the wait time could be crazy.

I can't get enough of this hot pot spot! The spicy broth is as authentic as it gets, warming you up from the inside out. What's great is that you can choose from three levels of spiciness: mild, medium, or spicy. Another favorite of mine is the golden chicken broth; it's so rich and satisfying.My absolute must-order is the chongqing crispy pork stick. I'm addicted to its crispy, flavorful perfection. And when it comes to drinks, the strawberry smoothie is my go-to - so fruity and refreshing.Their fresh-cut short rib and marinated beef tongue are always my favorite, tender, and full of flavor. If you're into tofu, give the bean roll a try; it's a Chongqing specialty and definitely worth it. And let's not forget about the seafood platter; it offers such great variety for the price!The restaurant itself boasts some cool Chinese decorations, and the sauce bar is a fun touch with a wide variety of appetizers. As for the service, the staff are always friendly and welcoming. I'm absolutely in love with this place!