Nice to Meet You Skewer Hot Pot - Now AYCE

This review is long overdue! NTMY is my FAVORITE Chinese style Hot Pot in Irvne, if not all of OC! I come here religiously (avg 4-6 times a month) ever since they introduced their AYCE menu! It's literally the best deal out there! I absolutely love the amount of variety in menu choices! You can select up to 3 soup base split pot, choice of a premium item per person, multiple cuts of meat quality (& yes they do not skimp by giving cheaper cuts for additional rounds like some places), and the amout of self grab items are rediculous! Literally every visit feels like a new experience because I can try other varieties! The build your own sauce bar, cold appetizers, and dessert section are added perks! *Hint* must have the fresh sesame balls when they come out nice and hot! For the daredevils out there, must try the fres frog, duck tongue & pig brains!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The best hot pot in Irvine! I stopped by tonight with my friends for a small Galentine's Day celebration and this place exceeded my expectations. I loved everything about this place including the amazing friendly servers here.

The food was high quality and the soup bases were fantastic! I highly recommend the sour cabbage and pork soup base- so delicious!

The most important thing about self serve hot pot places are cleanliness and I loved that this place was super clean!

I highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

It’s been awhile since I went back and I was pleasantly surprised that it’s now AYCE! 🤤 The restaurant wait staff are very friendly and added to the comfortable vibe of my dining experience. Everything was plentiful, quality and most importantly, clean! Their self service bar was constantly restocked and there’s no haphazard mess you would normally see at a self service bar by careless customers. I forgot how amazing their sour cabbage pork broth was and it did not disappoint. Price was really reasonable for quality AYCE hot pot.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Belly, American Wagyu Skirt Steak

I've been a loyal customer of this restaurant for years, and the switch to the AYCE (All You Can Eat) option has truly taken this place to the next level! The variety and quality of meats offered are exceptional, and it's more than worth the price. Given the current inflation and compared to other AYCE spots I visit, this place definitely delivers fantastic value—if not more.

What sets it apart is that other places charge a premium for the high-quality meats you get here, yet the prices remain the same.

The selection of appetizers, fresh vegetables, and unique Asian dishes in the fridges is fantastic, offering something for everyone.

The atmosphere is always clean and welcoming, with attentive and friendly waitstaff who check in regularly to ensure you're well taken care of.

And let's not forget how well-maintained the bathrooms are—a rare bonus that truly enhances the experience, especially at an Asian restaurant!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

By far the best skewer hotpot I've had in my life.

Super clean, thick soup base, high quality meat and oh the duck tongue & intestine are to die for.

If you happens to stop by Irvine area, try it.

...and, it's AYCE.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Always a great meal at Nice to meet you. Good is fresh and delicious

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Spicy Beef Tallow

The best all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant in the United States. Meat and vegetables are fresh. The bottom of the pot is also delicious, my favorite is the sukiyaki pot. The cold dishes mixed with beef and edamame are delicious, and there is also authentic brown sugar glutinous rice cake after the meal. The waiters are very enthusiastic. I think it tastes better than Haidilao. I will come back next time.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Irvine! One of my friends recommended Nice to Meet You to me a few months ago, and now I can't stop coming back.

I love the whole concept and was so excited that here, they let you pick 3 soup broths! I've tried a few different ones across the times I've been here and they're honestly all so good, but I'd say my favorites are the pork bone, sukiyaki, and Thai Tom Yum.

The meat quality here is amazing!! I can't believe it's AYCE. I definitely recommend the Angus Beef Belly, Angus Beef Brisket, Prime Beef Chuck Filet, Angus Beef Rib Eye, and Wagyu Beef Top Sirloin. For the small bites, I love their karaage chicken! The meal also includes access to their self serve bar where you can get skewers and cold apps, sauces, etc.

I love eating here with friends because the quality and service are both incredible, and it's a super fun experience being able to customize everything and enjoy the hot pot at your table.

I usually come on weekends (I try to come right when it opens before it gets crowded for lunchtime), so it's $39 for the AYCE hot pot, but I know they also have a weekday deal $29 from 11:30-4, so I'll definitely have to come back on a weekday sometime. Highly recommend this spot!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Belly

This place gave me the worst food poisoning of my life. And I know it was from here because we didn’t eat anything all day in anticipation of eating AYCE here. The food tasted off but we just assumed it was because the they were not good in general but lo and behold, 4 out of 7 of us got food poisoning. Never eating here again. Service was terrible, had to wait ten minutes between receiving meats. Would not recommend this place to anyone.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I’ve visited this restaurant several times, and it has quickly become my absolute favorite Chinese-style hot pot spot. The food quality, taste, and variety are exceptional, and the option to choose from three different hot pot flavors is a bonus. The ambiance is inviting, and the service is consistently outstanding. Every time I dine here, I feel warmly welcomed and very much enjoy both the delicious food and the attentive service. It’s an experience I always look forward to.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had Zhang for most of the night and she was very helpful and polite! She answered all of our many questions and showed us how to cook a couple items. We were just traveling through and would go back again. All the staff should be commended!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Belly

Nice to Meet You Skewer Hot Pot is a fantastic spot for anyone who loves hot pot with a fun twist. The all-you-can-eat option allows you to sample an endless variety of fresh skewers and flavorful broths, making every visit feel like a new adventure. With friendly service and a cozy atmosphere, this place truly delivers a unique and satisfying dining experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

If you’re a fan of hot pot, Nice to Meet You Skewer Hot Pot is a must-try! The standout feature for me was the fridge packed with an incredible variety of all-you-can-eat skewers. From fresh veggies to perfectly marinated meats and seafood, there’s something for everyone. The flavors were on point, and I loved being able to customize my own dipping sauces. The vibe is casual and fun, making it a great spot to chill with friends or family. Definitely a place I’ll visit again!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Belly, Sauce Bar, Spicy Beef, American Wagyu Skirt Steak

This is currently my fav hot pot spot and for good reason! This ayce spot offers delicious broth flavors like sukiyaki, Thai Tom yum, and pork bone. They’ve got unlimited skewers of different meats and veggies, but they also have premium cuts of meat that you can order from your server like beef belly, rib eye, American wagyu, and flat iron. They even have special options like their lobster! The restaurant itself it’s very clean and modern while their servers are super friendly!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Beef Belly, Spicy Beef

Out of all the shabu and hot-pot places I have been to, Nice to Meet You Skewer Hot Pot is my favorite by far! From the service to the foods to the ambiance - all were outstanding! The wait time was 30 mins for a party of 2 at 12-1PM.

We went with the All You Can Eat Hot Pot menu today, and we ordered:

> The 3 Soup Bases: Pork Bone, Sukiyaki, and Thai Tom Yum

> The meats: Angus Beef Brisket, Prime Beef Flat Iron, Angus Beef Ribeye, Wagyu Beef Top Sirloin, and the NZ Lamb shoulder.

> The premium items: tiger prawns and abalone

> Small bite: karage fried chicken

The 3 soup bases that we got were all really good. They were light but remained flavorful. I especially liked the Sukiyaki base; it tasted like simmered dried longan, sweet and refreshing. All of the meats were fresh and tender; the NZ Lamb shoulder was not gamy.

Overall, I will come back here again to try other items like the skewers. Likewise, I highly recommend giving this place a try with your family and friends.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5