The Best Hot Pot in Austin!

I consider myself an expert when it comes to hot pot, not only because I grew up eating it at home about once a week, especially during the fall and winter. Growing up, Austin didn't have many hot pot spots, and the one I remember near the UT campus eventually closed. Over the years, though, we've seen more and more hot pot restaurants open across Austin, with some offering à la carte options and others offering all you can eat.

When I look for a good hot pot spot, I'm looking for a flavorful broth, a great selection of meats, vegetables, meat balls, and everything else you need for a good hot pot meal. The broth is especially important to me because if it doesn't have much flavor, you might as well make hot pot at home.

We still have hot pot nights at home, but this list is for those times when you want to go out and not deal with all the extra dishes especially when the weather is perfect for hot pot.

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Old Alley Hot Pot

Old Alley Hot Pot is my top go to spot for hot pot in Austin. I love their Golden Chicken Broth but they don’t offer all-you-can-eat, making this a pricier options for Hot Pot. Expect to spend around $80-100 for two people, which can increase if you go for premium meats. Their Vegetable Medley includes essentially every hot pot veggie you could want, and all their meats are shaved Fresh and high quality. We always get their combo with lamb and beef and then spam order additional beef. I love how they make their noodles in house too. You do have to pay for the sauce bar as well here.

I usually go with the Tri Color Broth option at Level 2 Spicy (Level 3 is too intense for me), choosing Sichuan, Tomato, and Golden Broths and adding Beef Tallow.

Overall for taste and quality I think it's the best in town but if you wanted a cheaper option I would go for AYCE!

Also try their bingsu, watermelon juice, and plum juice!

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Happy Lamb Hot Pot

Happy Lamb Hot Pot is a chain specializing in all-you-can-eat hot pot. They offer a AYCE style hot pot with additional cost speciality meats like wagyu and lamb shanks.

I particularly enjoy their hot bar section, which has a variety of Chinese fast food options, including veggies, meatballs, and even desserts. The tricolor broth is one of my favorites here.

While Old Alley Hot Pot has a slight edge in flavor, Happy Lamb Hot Pot is a solid choice, especially if you prefer the all-you-can-eat experience. Pricing starts around $22.99 for lunch per adult for classic options and $28.99 for dinner options. Lower prices for seniors and adults. I would place the soup broth here above Soup Leaf but feel Soup Leaf had more variety of veggies!

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Soup Leaf

Soup Leaf offers all-you-can-eat hot pot in Austin. Located in the Crescent, Soup Leaf serves a wide variety of meats presented on towers to maximize table space. The broth options extensive and I found some broths more bland than others like the tomato broth. I recommend the tonkotsu broth!

Their extensive selection of vegetables is one of the best parts of the experience. While it may not be my top choice overall, Soup Leaf offers the best variety of meats and vegetables, making it a great all-you-can-eat option.

The lunch option starts at 25.5 For AYCE hot pot and the dinner option starts at 36 with lower costs for buffet only or for kids.

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EJ's Hot Pot & Sushi

EJ's Hot Pot and Sushi is an all-you-can-eat hot pot and sushi spot in North Austin that has flown relatively under the radar.

I was pleasantly surprised by their all-you-can-eat sushi. For an additional $5 on top of their regular menu price, you can add all you can eat hot pot. Each person gets their own individual pot of broth, and they have a large assortment of meats, vegetables, and different add ons. You can choose 1 soup base, although you can't swap it out once you've selected it. Pricing starts at 22.99 on weekdays lunch and 34.99 for dinners and weekends, additional 5 for sushi.

The sushi menu includes different rolls, sashimi, small bites, and hot items. Personally, I thought the sashimi and rolls were both really solid, and I think the sushi is what really sets this place apart.

When it comes to the hot pot itself, I wouldn't rank the meats above places like Old Alley or Happy Lamb. I'd put it around the same level as Soup leaf in terms of overall flavor. The meat is also frozen. But when you add the sushi into the equation, I think EJ's levels up.

If you're looking for a place where you can get both hot pot and sushi in the same meal, EJ's Hot Pot and Sushi is definitely worth checking out.