Metropolitianmindset

Recently, I had the chance to try something I had on my bucket list for a while: hotpot. Winter is probably the best time for you to get Hotpot. I went with a group of friends to Lao Jie Hotpot in Chinatown, Manhattan.

For those who aren’t familiar, hotpot is a popular East Asian cooking style where diners cook their own food in a simmering pot of broth. It’s interactive, fun, and incredibly flavorful. Originating in China, it’s a social dining experience where you get to choose from a wide variety of ingredients (meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, etc.) to dip into the pot, letting them cook right at your table before enjoying them in a rich, flavorful broth.

Lao Jie Hotpot is known for its vibrant atmosphere, especially in the heart of Chinatown. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, but one of my friends arrived early, put her name down, and gave the host her number. The wait wasn’t too long at all, especially considering it was a busy Saturday night. We ended up waiting about 30 minutes, which didn’t feel bad at all. When our table was ready, we were ushered to a cozy spot, and the real fun began!

Here’s how hotpot works at Lao Jie: You’re given a two-hour time limit for all-you-can-eat, which is plenty of time to explore the vast menu of ingredients. First, you choose your broth. I went with the spicy beef broth (and oh, it was spicy—just how I like it). Then, you pick from the menu what you want to dip into your broth. There’s everything from various cuts of meat, seafood like mussels and shrimp, to tofu, mushrooms, and veggies. The best part? You let everything cook in the pot and then just scoop it out once it’s ready to eat.

The fun didn’t stop there. There was a special sauce bar where we could mix and match different condiments to make our own dipping sauces. It was such a cool touch! You could go as mild or as bold as you wanted with the flavors. I personally loved the combination of soy sauce, garlic, and sesame oil—it was the perfect complement to the rich flavors of the broth.

As for my favorite items? The mussels were an absolute hit—so tender and full of flavor once they cooked in the broth. But if I had to pick one standout dish, it would definitely be the fatty beef. It cooked so quickly and was incredibly tender, melting in your mouth with every bite.

We wrapped up our meal with a mango-flavored jelly dessert, which was light, refreshing, and the perfect way to end our hotpot experience. But honestly, my friends and I were still craving something sweet, so we decided to head to Heytea for some bubble tea. And wow, I have to say, it was some of the best bubble tea I’ve had in my entire life. The tea was super fresh, the pearls were chewy and perfectly sweet, and it was the ideal treat to end the night.

Overall, my first hotpot experience at Lao Jie Hotpot was a total success. The food was delicious, the atmosphere was lively, and the whole process of cooking and eating together was so much fun. If you’re in Chinatown and craving something interactive and flavorful, I highly recommend giving it a try. You’ll leave with a full stomach and a huge smile on your face!