Seapot
If you want to try hot pot with a conveyor belt like system then you need to head to Seapot in San Mateo, California.
This place has been around for about a year or a little over that and when I first heard about it I knew I had to go and try it out for myself.
So they are a Chinese style hot pot restaurant that lets each patron get their own hot pot and you can take whatever you want from the small dishes coming down the belt.
This was my fifth visit to Seapot and it was pretty much the same as all my previous visits.
I have been during lunch and dinner, and it honestly gets busy during both those seating times.
This past time I arrived around 11:30 and they were able to seat my friend and me right away.
*TIP* If you arrive before noon you should be seated right away. They do fill up fast and then they have a wait list for people who arrive once all the tables are full.
They will ask you what soup base you want and if what meat you want.
I've tried the Thai Pot, House Spicy, and Japanese Miso. The Thai Pot is the only vegetarian option according to the waitress we asked there.
So my friend who is a vegetarian gets the Thai Pot soup base, which reminds me of a tom yum soup.
I used to get the House Spicy but it is too spicy for me sometimes so I just get the Japanese Miso and add chili sauce to it to make it spicier.
Sauce Bar
They do have a sauce bar in the back of the restaurant by the banquet rooms.
Lots of variety in pastes, sauces and extra condiments like eggs as well.
Hot Pot
The hot pot is good but flavor isn't out of this world or anything like that.
I would definitely reccomend Seapot for the experience.
It is fun to have the food come around to your table on the conveyor belt and you can pick and choose what you want.
All meat you have to order from the waiters or waitresses.
*TIP* Seafood options continually come around on the conveyor belt.
Pricing
For lunch Monday - Friday they charge $16.99 which is a pretty good deal for hot pot in the Bay Area.
For dinner Monday - Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday they charge $28.99.
They do offer more meat selections during dinner as well.
Overall Rating | ★★★★✩
Seapot is great, reasonable prices and they have all the basic necessities you would need for hot pot. Their meat doesn't taste the most flavorful to me so not really my favorite. I love their veggie selection and sauce bar. It's not the most amazing hot pot you will ever eat, but I would highly recommend it purely just for the experience to use the conveyor belt.
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