<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>As a lover of Asian cuisine, I'm always looking for great spots to experience authentic — or as close to authentic — food as possible, and after moving to the Tampa Bay Area, I'm thrilled to have so many delicious Hot Pot restaurants at my fingertips!
Whether you're new to the Hot Pot experience or are a frequent enjoyer, we've got the rundown on Hot Pot, what goes in it, and where to find it!
What is Hot Pot?
Hot Pot (or hotpot) is a traditional Chinese dish that consists of a flavorful soup/stock, usually served inside a large metal pot, with a heart source on the table and items like raw meats, vegetables, and soy-based foods.
Typically, the meats are sliced thin to cook in the broth in just a few seconds, while the veggies are usually plopped in the broth to simmer and add flavor throughout the experience. It's common for Hot Pot to be all you can eat since there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to enjoying it!
Korean BBQ is usually offered at most Hot Pot locations, which is also typically an all-you-can-eat situation, but that's a different beast for a new date night adventure!
What can I put in my Hot Pot?
Now, here's the fun part: Hot pot is all about tailoring and cooking your ingredients to YOUR liking! You can decide your broth flavor, the metal dish can sometimes be divided in half, to separate two different flavors of broth, perfect for date night!
Once you select your broth and ingredients, you can begin cooking your soup right at your table — personally, I find this a very enjoyable part of the experience! Add your thicker and heartier veggies into the pot early so that they have ample time cooking in the flavorful broth.
There are additional sides you can add in, like dumplings, noodles, eggs, shrimp, meatballs, tofu, spinach, mushrooms, and much, much more — it's quite crazy the number of ways you can customize your experience.
From there, you can dip in your choice of meat, options usually include pork, beef, lamb, and chicken. Since the pot is actively boiling on the table burner, it only takes a few seconds for the thinly sliced meat to cook through!
Where can I have Hot Pot?
We've rounded up some Hot Pot locations all over Tampa Bay and the surrounding area for a fun and delicious date night!
Tampa
Boil Spot Hot Pot and BBQ
1120 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
Daily from 12 p.m.-11 p.m.
$30-50
Hot Pot World
15463 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa
Monday-Friday, 12 p.m.-11 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, 1 p.m.- to 12 a.m.
$30-50
LaMeiZi Hot Pot & BBQ
2502 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
Daily 12 p.m. to 12 a.m.
$30-50
Hong BBQ & Hot Pot
5840 E Fowler Ave., Tampa
Daily from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.
$30-50
Brandon
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
1025 W Brandon Blvd., Brandon
Daily from 12 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
$30-50
Hong BBQ & Hot Pot
804 Providence Rd., Brandon
Daily from 1 p.m. to 12 a.m.
$30-50
Umi Hotpot Sushi & Seafood Buffet
1528 W Brandon Blvd., Brandon
Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
$30-50
St. Pete/Clearwater
Nine Spices Hot Pot & Korean BBQ
6851 66th St. N, Pinellas Park
Daily from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
$30-50
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
2456 Tyrone Blvd. N, St. Petersburg
Sunday-Thursday, 12 p.m.-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday, from 12 p.m.-11:30 p.m.
$30-50
On the hunt for dessert after a great meal? Check out our ultimate list of dessert spots for date night or our run-down on The Yard Milkshake Bar in St. Pete!