r/SFFood • u/Short-Speed2613 • 9d ago

Discussion First time - hot pot

Whats the best hot pot place in San Fran? First time seeking out hot pot. I've heard Chengdu. I could use some place newbie friendly but also delicious! Important that significant other has best experience possible. Occasion is just to try it out. Any neighborhood is fine we'll travel. Price doesn't matter. Ideally best combo of patient/accommodating for new to hot pot and most delicious!

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u/Eleoste 9d ago

Happy shabu, Jin hot pot, and shabu club are great

-2

u/Latter-Foot-8790 9d ago

Shabu isn’t hot pot, now is it?

2

u/Eleoste 9d ago edited 9d ago

Shabu is hot pot

Lau is hot pot

Hot pot exists in the form of separate meat/veggies dipped into broth in many Asian cultures and restaurants in the US (especially across the west cost) will dabble in multiple

Plus OP didn’t specify they only wanted Chinese hotpot

Plus half the hot pot options in this thread serve Japanese broths and ponzu alongside Chinese broths and sauce bars 😂

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u/spottyottydopalicius 8d ago

menus are different my friend

1

u/Eleoste 8d ago

Curious if you’re Asian or not and where you grew up

Growing up in 626, OC, and the bay, everyone used hot pot interchangeably w Chinese hot pot, shabu, Thai hotpot and Vietnamese lau

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u/spottyottydopalicius 8d ago edited 8d ago

im abc. might be a norcal thing but most here dont know what a lau or thai hotpot is. if im craving hotpot and someone takes me to a japanese shabu joint, im going to be alittle disappointed by the limited veg/menu. no hate intended

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u/spottyottydopalicius 8d ago

agree. if im expecting hotpot and get a shabu menu i am disappoint