Quite pricey. Two people, we didn’t order much, 170… I was shocked when I see the bill. The taste wasn’t really good, had a lot of foam on the soup when it cooking, I didn’t what it was. Overall? I think I would not go back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Lily L.
Came here to celebrate lunar new year. This place is amazing and the food portions are huge. Definitely a must if you're in the Irvine area.
James
The snack and sauce bar is self serve, the food is ordered through a web app and contact with staff is minimal. You can expect good quality and good sized portions for the price. However, it would not be the cheapest hot pot place in Irvine, do expect a two person meal to run over 60 or 70. Their broth choices are exception and the dish variety is wide. Definitely a must try.
Caroline Colesworthy
We tried this by accident and a happy accident it was!! I can't wait to go back. The owner happened to serve us and teach us all about it, as we knew nothing of Chinese hot pot. What a special treat!Dietary restrictions: Can easily accommodate vegetarians or grain free.Kid-friendliness: I think my kids will love this place. A little loud and boisterous. I saw lots of kids.
Zack
One of the best hotpot in LA
Tina T.
One of my favorite hot pot places ever! The meat is high-quality. We had the lamb shoulder, Kurobuta pork belly, beef belly, fish fillet, mushroom combination and udon noodles. All were delicious with the spicy house soup and bone soup. I'm glad they give an option to have both because the spiciness of the house soup was balanced so well with the savoriness of the bone soup, Both were so full of flavor, you didn't even need extra sauces. But of course, because they're so awesome, they do have a sauce station with an large array of options along with your crispy sesame balls, crispy onion chips and many more! The staff were SO nice and on-point. We ordered through their QR online ordering service and left for the sauce station. It must have only been 3 mins before we were back when we came back to our table and found all our 8-10 items there ready for us. Sneaky. Lol. Their owner is also the warmest, kindest person. He was so attentive to our needs, asked how we were doing and got us everything with the utmost care. If restaurant hotpot could feel like home and luxurious at the same time, he did it. Along with everything and everyone else being amazing, the decor was also beautiful. A modern take on Asian aesthetics that made dining here so enjoyable and fit the ambiance perfectly. Definitely coming back and bringing my other friends!(My pictures don't do it justice because I actually just took screenshots from my video )
Steve N.
Came to Chengdu LaoZao Hotpot after a long road trip back from San Diego and had the weirdest craving for spicy food. We decided to take a pit stop in Irvine to eat... so when we arrived, we were seated immediately. The great thing about this restaurant is that you don't deal with the waitstaff directly unless you don't have any napkins or utensils. All food and drink items are ordered via mobile on their ordering site, so you can have everything brought out to you by a robot.Everything that we ordered came out in a timely manner and the staff was semi-helpful in navigating us around the sauce/snack/appetizer/dessert bar. All of the broths we tried have just the right amount of spicy with a nice aroma to it. It really hit the spot! If this is your first time, I would recommend getting a half non-spicy base/half spicy. It's not in everyone's interest to go all spicy, but hey... be my guest if you think you can handle it!If you're in the Irvine area and are looking for Chengdu style hotpot, I highly encourage everyone to try this place if you enjoy the hotpot experience.
Jeff C.
I've had my fair share of hotpot in Asia and the US. Chengdu Laozao Hotpot's style feels both luxurious and down to earth.Don't miss the snack/appetizer bar above the sauce station. Great Chinese snacks like mahua, mini wonton, and mini fried chicken pieces go great with a Tsingtao beer before your soup base arrives. I enjoyed the House Tomato Soup and Zao's House Spicy Soup. They don't pull any punches with the heat.
Tabitha Estes
I was beyond disappointed in the service. While the food was amazing our waiter or lack thereof was atrocious. When questioned about one of the dishes he snatched the receipt from the back of the booth seat and argued we had received everything despite the kitchen finally confirming they had sold out. Something as simple as offering water was a daunting task. Selection of meats, seafood and veggies are fantastic but do not go if you expect any amount of service other than the delivery robot.
Brenda L.
We were looking for pet-friendly restaurants in the Irvine area since we had our dog with us, and decided to go to Chengdu as a result! The food and the service here were phenomenal - we were able to chat with the owner for a bit, and he was so kind! He even offered to make us some sauces at the sauce bar, and brought water out for our dog which was greatly appreciated. The restaurant was bustling with people during our visit! To order, you scan a QR code on the table and food is brought out shortly afterwards. The sauce and snack bar is extra here, but was very worth it - I've never seen a hot pot restaurant with so many snacks before! They had gyoza and so much more. We had the bone broth and it was literally one of the cleanest hot pot soups I've had. All of the ingredients tasted so fresh, and the meats were so tender too! The staff here are all warm and welcoming. I honestly enjoyed the food here more than the Haidilao's I've been to. Thank you to the owner for a wonderful hot pot experience + some good food too!! :-)
If I could give this place 6 stars I would... From the service to the food to the cleanliness, everything was perfect! Our server Leon was very attentive and checked up on us often. We ordered the Zao's House Spicy Soup medium and fell in love! The broth is so spicy and flavorful you technically don't need to pay to use their sauce bar, but do so anyway because they have good snacks and appetizers. Definitely will be coming back!
Andy V.
Great service and friendly staff. I really enjoyed my time here. I thought I could handle spicy but i was wrong. Medium really kicked my a*** Next time I'll get mild.
Janette N.
I'm honestly genuinely impressed. I came with barely any expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I honestly think chengdu is better than hai di lao and gets you more for your buck. Although it's still relatively pricey, 70 per person to make you feel stuffed, I can really taste the quality! Although you have to pay a fee to use the sauce bar, its worth it because it comes with chinese desserts like red bean rice porridge and fried snacks like gyozas! It's a self serve place (you place your own order using a qr code) and also has robots to deliver your meat so I can't speak much on the service. I would definitely come back and maybe next time only order two plates of meat as three was a bit of an over kill.
Andrew L.
Lots of choices of soup base, lots of choices of food. Clean environment, allows waitlist online. All positives for me. The beef with egg thing was cool and popular but the meat itself was too salty for me. I prefer beef belly and prime angus. The spicy soup base does give you a kick. We only went with mild that day but it was very enough. However, we accidentally went with non-spicy base in the small pot... it would've been better the other way around. Contactless ordering but it would've been nice to let me know when you noticed that I forgot to order soup base ya know... Instead of having me wondering why there's no soup and pot for like 5 minutes... I know it was part my fault but it doesn't hurt to be a little more proactive? Anyway, will be back, highly recommended.
andy flick
Dirty, poor service, food made us ill, overall disappointing. We were super excited about lunching here on a Saturday afternoon in May 2022 because we have been looking for a good hot-pot place, but when we arrived, we walked into the building which smelled like Lysol and some other solvent or cleaner. After about five minutes of being seated in the indoor dining area, we had to move outside because the odor was too overpowering. Once seated outside, an employee began mopping the floors, which introduced more Lysol smell into the air. However, we were extremely curious about this mopping for three reasons: 1) the area where the employee was mopping was ostensibly already clean 2) the real troublesome spots were/are underneath the chairs and tables, so in order to do that properly, you have the move the furniture around 3) why wasn't this done during off-hours so that the customers do not have the lingering mop smell in the air while they dine? See the below photos, there are/were dust bunnies, food particles, and other dirt lodged in areas near the base of tables and along the power cord that led from the table to the perimeter (why isn't this vaccumed regularly?). Also the vents for the hotpot tables are covered in decaying food (see photos), which was disgusting and may have contributed to the smell. Anyone that has ever worked in the restaurant business knows you have to clean everything at least once a day. Disgusting.Cleanliness aside, the service was a bit confusing. We tried communicating in Chinese and in English, but were not offered clear guidance as to how to navigate the menu or what the buffet-style bar of snacks/spices/oils work. Also they didn't offer any tea or any other beverages, we were given a pitcher of water and that was it for our entire meal. The food was OK in flavor (spicy), but we ended up feeling ill for the rest of the day.It were these things that made other parts of the experience just seem worse (maybe it's natural to pile on at this point, but buyer beware)-- the hostess never made eye contact with us just dropped off napkins and bolted. It felt like we didn't belong there or weren't welcome.This is a shame because hot pots can be a fun way to dine Chinese style, and you theoretically can cook many things in a hot pot (other meats, vegetables). Chengdu is an area of China known for its flavorful meals, so we wish this was different.
Quite pricey. Two people, we didn’t order much, 170… I was shocked when I see the bill. The taste wasn’t really good, had a lot of foam on the soup when it cooking, I didn’t what it was. Overall? I think I would not go back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Came here to celebrate lunar new year. This place is amazing and the food portions are huge. Definitely a must if you're in the Irvine area.
The snack and sauce bar is self serve, the food is ordered through a web app and contact with staff is minimal. You can expect good quality and good sized portions for the price. However, it would not be the cheapest hot pot place in Irvine, do expect a two person meal to run over 60 or 70. Their broth choices are exception and the dish variety is wide. Definitely a must try.
We tried this by accident and a happy accident it was!! I can't wait to go back. The owner happened to serve us and teach us all about it, as we knew nothing of Chinese hot pot. What a special treat!Dietary restrictions: Can easily accommodate vegetarians or grain free.Kid-friendliness: I think my kids will love this place. A little loud and boisterous. I saw lots of kids.
One of the best hotpot in LA
One of my favorite hot pot places ever! The meat is high-quality. We had the lamb shoulder, Kurobuta pork belly, beef belly, fish fillet, mushroom combination and udon noodles. All were delicious with the spicy house soup and bone soup. I'm glad they give an option to have both because the spiciness of the house soup was balanced so well with the savoriness of the bone soup, Both were so full of flavor, you didn't even need extra sauces. But of course, because they're so awesome, they do have a sauce station with an large array of options along with your crispy sesame balls, crispy onion chips and many more! The staff were SO nice and on-point. We ordered through their QR online ordering service and left for the sauce station. It must have only been 3 mins before we were back when we came back to our table and found all our 8-10 items there ready for us. Sneaky. Lol. Their owner is also the warmest, kindest person. He was so attentive to our needs, asked how we were doing and got us everything with the utmost care. If restaurant hotpot could feel like home and luxurious at the same time, he did it. Along with everything and everyone else being amazing, the decor was also beautiful. A modern take on Asian aesthetics that made dining here so enjoyable and fit the ambiance perfectly. Definitely coming back and bringing my other friends!(My pictures don't do it justice because I actually just took screenshots from my video )
Came to Chengdu LaoZao Hotpot after a long road trip back from San Diego and had the weirdest craving for spicy food. We decided to take a pit stop in Irvine to eat... so when we arrived, we were seated immediately. The great thing about this restaurant is that you don't deal with the waitstaff directly unless you don't have any napkins or utensils. All food and drink items are ordered via mobile on their ordering site, so you can have everything brought out to you by a robot.Everything that we ordered came out in a timely manner and the staff was semi-helpful in navigating us around the sauce/snack/appetizer/dessert bar. All of the broths we tried have just the right amount of spicy with a nice aroma to it. It really hit the spot! If this is your first time, I would recommend getting a half non-spicy base/half spicy. It's not in everyone's interest to go all spicy, but hey... be my guest if you think you can handle it!If you're in the Irvine area and are looking for Chengdu style hotpot, I highly encourage everyone to try this place if you enjoy the hotpot experience.
I've had my fair share of hotpot in Asia and the US. Chengdu Laozao Hotpot's style feels both luxurious and down to earth.Don't miss the snack/appetizer bar above the sauce station. Great Chinese snacks like mahua, mini wonton, and mini fried chicken pieces go great with a Tsingtao beer before your soup base arrives. I enjoyed the House Tomato Soup and Zao's House Spicy Soup. They don't pull any punches with the heat.
I was beyond disappointed in the service. While the food was amazing our waiter or lack thereof was atrocious. When questioned about one of the dishes he snatched the receipt from the back of the booth seat and argued we had received everything despite the kitchen finally confirming they had sold out. Something as simple as offering water was a daunting task. Selection of meats, seafood and veggies are fantastic but do not go if you expect any amount of service other than the delivery robot.
We were looking for pet-friendly restaurants in the Irvine area since we had our dog with us, and decided to go to Chengdu as a result! The food and the service here were phenomenal - we were able to chat with the owner for a bit, and he was so kind! He even offered to make us some sauces at the sauce bar, and brought water out for our dog which was greatly appreciated. The restaurant was bustling with people during our visit! To order, you scan a QR code on the table and food is brought out shortly afterwards. The sauce and snack bar is extra here, but was very worth it - I've never seen a hot pot restaurant with so many snacks before! They had gyoza and so much more. We had the bone broth and it was literally one of the cleanest hot pot soups I've had. All of the ingredients tasted so fresh, and the meats were so tender too! The staff here are all warm and welcoming. I honestly enjoyed the food here more than the Haidilao's I've been to. Thank you to the owner for a wonderful hot pot experience + some good food too!! :-)
Restaurantji Recommends
If I could give this place 6 stars I would... From the service to the food to the cleanliness, everything was perfect! Our server Leon was very attentive and checked up on us often. We ordered the Zao's House Spicy Soup medium and fell in love! The broth is so spicy and flavorful you technically don't need to pay to use their sauce bar, but do so anyway because they have good snacks and appetizers. Definitely will be coming back!
Great service and friendly staff. I really enjoyed my time here. I thought I could handle spicy but i was wrong. Medium really kicked my a*** Next time I'll get mild.
I'm honestly genuinely impressed. I came with barely any expectations and was pleasantly surprised. I honestly think chengdu is better than hai di lao and gets you more for your buck. Although it's still relatively pricey, 70 per person to make you feel stuffed, I can really taste the quality! Although you have to pay a fee to use the sauce bar, its worth it because it comes with chinese desserts like red bean rice porridge and fried snacks like gyozas! It's a self serve place (you place your own order using a qr code) and also has robots to deliver your meat so I can't speak much on the service. I would definitely come back and maybe next time only order two plates of meat as three was a bit of an over kill.
Lots of choices of soup base, lots of choices of food. Clean environment, allows waitlist online. All positives for me. The beef with egg thing was cool and popular but the meat itself was too salty for me. I prefer beef belly and prime angus. The spicy soup base does give you a kick. We only went with mild that day but it was very enough. However, we accidentally went with non-spicy base in the small pot... it would've been better the other way around. Contactless ordering but it would've been nice to let me know when you noticed that I forgot to order soup base ya know... Instead of having me wondering why there's no soup and pot for like 5 minutes... I know it was part my fault but it doesn't hurt to be a little more proactive? Anyway, will be back, highly recommended.
Dirty, poor service, food made us ill, overall disappointing. We were super excited about lunching here on a Saturday afternoon in May 2022 because we have been looking for a good hot-pot place, but when we arrived, we walked into the building which smelled like Lysol and some other solvent or cleaner. After about five minutes of being seated in the indoor dining area, we had to move outside because the odor was too overpowering. Once seated outside, an employee began mopping the floors, which introduced more Lysol smell into the air. However, we were extremely curious about this mopping for three reasons: 1) the area where the employee was mopping was ostensibly already clean 2) the real troublesome spots were/are underneath the chairs and tables, so in order to do that properly, you have the move the furniture around 3) why wasn't this done during off-hours so that the customers do not have the lingering mop smell in the air while they dine? See the below photos, there are/were dust bunnies, food particles, and other dirt lodged in areas near the base of tables and along the power cord that led from the table to the perimeter (why isn't this vaccumed regularly?). Also the vents for the hotpot tables are covered in decaying food (see photos), which was disgusting and may have contributed to the smell. Anyone that has ever worked in the restaurant business knows you have to clean everything at least once a day. Disgusting.Cleanliness aside, the service was a bit confusing. We tried communicating in Chinese and in English, but were not offered clear guidance as to how to navigate the menu or what the buffet-style bar of snacks/spices/oils work. Also they didn't offer any tea or any other beverages, we were given a pitcher of water and that was it for our entire meal. The food was OK in flavor (spicy), but we ended up feeling ill for the rest of the day.It were these things that made other parts of the experience just seem worse (maybe it's natural to pile on at this point, but buyer beware)-- the hostess never made eye contact with us just dropped off napkins and bolted. It felt like we didn't belong there or weren't welcome.This is a shame because hot pots can be a fun way to dine Chinese style, and you theoretically can cook many things in a hot pot (other meats, vegetables). Chengdu is an area of China known for its flavorful meals, so we wish this was different.