Urban Hot Pot

I am writing this review while still seated in the restaurant, which typically signals either an exceptional or disappointing experience. Unfortunately, this visit falls into the latter category. The overall dining experience has been subpar. The food was, at best, average — lacking flavor and distinction. My wife ordered the Tom Yum Soup, my son chose the spicy soup with chicken and beef, and I selected the three-seafood combo. Having lived along the Gulf Coast and spent considerable time in South Carolina’s Low Country, I have a clear understanding of what a quality seafood boil should taste like. Regrettably, the dish I received was a major disappointment. The seasoning was either absent or ineffective, resulting in a bland, flavorless meal. It was akin to eating steamed crabs without

Sept 2024 We were spending the day in Baltimore and decided to check out the Columbia location. I called ahead to make a reservation, since we were going to be dining during busy dinner hours on a weekend. The person on the phone was polite and professional, though they got a bit flustered when I asked them to confirm the details I gave them. They sent me a text confirming my reservation. The restaurant is part of an apartment/retail complex, but I'm not sure if they have an attached garage. They are right across a small street (with a crosswalk) from the parking lot of a mall, and I noticed a lot of customers parked there. It takes a bit of hunting to find parking, but there is enough parking. The restaurant is on the corner of the building. They have a few tables and chairs outside, li

I rarely leave negative reviews, but my experience at Urban Hot Pot in Columbia was truly awful. The servers had an incredibly bad attitude from the moment we walked in — unfriendly, impatient, and almost rude when we asked basic questions about the menu. It felt like they didn’t want to be there and definitely didn’t care about customer service. Unfortunately, the food was just as disappointing. The ingredients didn’t seem fresh, the broth lacked flavor, and the sauces tasted off. For the price they charge, I expected much better quality. The entire experience felt rushed and unpleasant. Overall, both the service and the food were terrible. I would not recommend this place to anyone. There are plenty of other hot pot restaurants nearby that actually care about their customers and serve

Hot Pot is my go-to comfort spot — and honestly, it never disappoints. What I love most is the personal touch: your own dedicated burner, total control over the heat, and the cozy warmth of customizing your meal just the way you like it. The food quantity is generous, and the variety of options keeps things exciting. It’s also a great place to celebrate events — fun, social, and yes, that little robot that comes around singing? Adorable. I kind of love her. You don’t see that often, and it adds such a fun vibe to the experience. The consistency is impressive, and they’re not afraid to switch things up — like rotating desserts or trying a new appetizer or pre appetizer snack options. Just FYI , The spicy Mala broth? That’s Thai-level spicy — my Indian friends, consider that your warning.

First time at a hot pot. It was not easy to find. We parked in the mall parking lot but you should park toward the street and walk across the road to get to it. Ordering was easy via touchpad. We ordered many different times throughout the meal. The waitstaff was polite, helpful and attentive. I chose the spicy soup base. It was spicy as described. I found the little dishes a little too small for placing the cooked food on, but it looks like I could have found a regular plate judging from other review pics They had a robot server bring out the item plates. Interesting. The controls on the hot plate were not straight forward. Mine were in Chinese. The burner next to mine was in English. They have a sauce fixing bar. Grab some salt while you are there because the soup needed