Yuan’s Hot Pot Amsterdam Ferdinand Bolstraat 袁记串串香阿姆喜力博物馆店 — Restaurant in Amsterdam

TL:DR - The food is expensive for the small quantity, the broth was flavorless or extremely spicy, and the service was disinterested in our order to put it nicely.

Despite my initial anticipation of what seemed to be a wonderful opportunity, this hotpot experience left me utterly disappointed. To summarize my many thoughts on the experience I just had:

•The food and drinks are expensive, like really expensive; coming here you will probably average €30-€40 per person and what you recieve is not worth that much money. The plates of meat/sides were small and the meat itself was paper-thin and there wasn't much for the price.

•The broth was almost entirely flavorless. The non-spicy side is cucumber/mushroom water (literally) and while the spicy side had a little more flavor, the lowest level spice was way too spicy for my companions and I ended up being the only one able to eat it.

•The final nail in the coffin was our terrible experience with the staff. To clarify, no one was rude, but it was like no one cared about us or our order. We got our first plates of food (some dumplings and a few shrimp) after about 10-15 minutes which is fine because the place was very busy, but what was not fine was that after that we waited approximately 45-60 minutes for the rest of our food (our main items such as pork belly, sliced beef, etc. that was ordered at the same time as the food we had previously recieved) even after asking about it multiple times. Also, there is a request server button that I used no less than 3 times while we were waiting and not a single time did a server actually come over nor were we checked on. Instead we had to flag down a server to try to get the rest of the food we had ordered (we actually had to do this twice because the first one still managed to not bring our food). Finally, at the end of our meal we still had some small items leftover (dumplings) that we wanted to take with us and decided to try to ask about whether they had to-go boxes. Luckily for us, there was a waitress at the table next to us and I decided to ask her. It took me nearly shouting to get her attention even though I was directly in front of her. After asking about whether they had boxes or not, I asked the waitress to grab a to-go box when she had a moment, and then we had to wait 5-10 more minutes just to have to ask a second waitress for a box (who thankfully got it for us quickly).

Overall, I don't know whether this is typical or not. It is hard to imagine that it is given the incredible reviews, but this experience was bad enough that even if I had the option to return again...

Step into a world of flavor explosions and culinary bliss at Yuan Hotpot. From the moment you walk in, you're greeted by the tantalizing aromas of simmering broths and fresh ingredients. The vibrant atmosphere sets the stage for an epic dining experience that will leave your taste buds dancing with joy!

The selection of premium meats, seafood, and vegetables is unparalleled, ensuring that every bite is a perfect harmony of textures and tastes. The DIY hot pot concept allows you to customize your meal to perfection, making each visit a unique and exciting culinary adventure.

The service is top-notch, with attentive staff who are eager to guide you through the hot pot experience with warmth and expertise. Whether you're a hot pot aficionado or a newcomer to this delectable tradition, Yuan Hotpot will exceed your every expectation.

Our waitress Jennesy's passion for serving goes beyond exceptional as she skillfully assists you in navigating the tantalizing menu, offering valuable recommendations and ensuring that every aspect of your dining adventure is nothing short of perfect. Her attention to detail and friendly demeanor elevate your meal to an extraordinary level...

Chinese food in Amsterdam is usually completely unrecognizable as being Chinese because all of the Dutch influences. However, this place has managed to keep everything as authentic as possible. It is food of the Sichuan region, known for its use of chillies. I have to say, this is one of the best meals in Amsterdam I have had in AGES. It was spicy, oily, and fragrant, and XIANG! Just how Chinese food can and should be! The list of ingredients you can choose is impressive. It also includes exotic things such as duck tongues, beef tendon, or pork intestines. These things are common in parts of Asia, but for an Amsterdam restaurant, it speaks of courage that they include these kind of things. We chose the "very spicy" option which I didn't find that spicy at all. They however offered to make the broth more spicier according to taste. This is a GREAT sign of service. There were a LOT of Chinese customers. If THAT isn't a sign of good Chinese food, I don't know what is. A minor critique is that they don't seem to have enough tablets (thats how you order) for their tables. I had to lend out mine for other customers. All in all, its great though. They will...