Happy Lamb Hot Pot, Austin 快乐小羊 — Restaurant in Austin

Currently at soft opening, so maybe things will get ironed out over time. Overall, a warm and bright place with some really great food and great staff. Premium dinner price with tax and 18% tip =$43.43. Regular dinner price with tax and 18% tip =$35.76.

Pros: AYCE meat, hotpot ingredients, and drinks were great. The quality of the meat and ingredients such as seafood, veggies, noodles, and fishballs was good. The crispy baked lamb shank and shrimp paste alone pretty much make the upgrade to premium worth it. The broth was very flavorful and love that we could get a 2 broth option for no extra cost, especially since it is a shared pot for the entire table. Appreciated the staff that came by fairly often and proactively asked if we wanted to order more when our table didn't have many plates from the kitchen. The crispy fried rice cakes were a nice finishing dessert with soybean powder dusting and sweet soy sauce drizzle.

Cons: Went on a Monday evening. They did not take any reservations and refused to seat us until the full party arrived, so 10 people were kept waiting in the lobby area while waiting on the one person running 20 mins late. It seems like the tables are also a bit limited, so it may be an extremely long wait for large parties on a non-week day. There's a large room in the back with more tables, but no one was using it. Potentially only for large events. Since we had 11 and the large tables only seat 6, we split into 2 tables, which is fine, but we were also told after the fact that we would only be able to select one meat tier as a group, not separate by table. Would have been nice to know up front. It may also be worth it to invest in some tiered racks to place on the table for meat plates. When the first round of meat for the table of 6 came out, there was barely any table space left and the plates of meat ended up being stacked on top of each other. Would also appreciate at least a second ladle as a communal utensil for a table with 6 people, moreso because there were 2 different broths in the pot, but we had to use the same ladel for both. A ladel with holes would be nice as well so that we could scoop our items without including all the broth. The prepared food warming on the side was very underwhelming. The sesame balls were not warm even they were under the warming lights. The options could be increased. Two of the slots between the fish cakes and noodles were taken up by garlic beef and chicken fillet that could be ordered with the rest of the meat from the table. Personally sad there weren't any tofu skin options as those are my favorite. There are a couple additional appetizers and orange slices in slots on the sauce counter where they're easily missed. There's a freezer of generic vanilla ice cream next to the drinks. Not the best ice cream, but it's there for the people who enjoy a cold sweet treat.

Still a good place I'd go to occasionally if I'm feeling hotpot with a smaller group. Looking forward to improvements at the...

Happy Lamb offers both a regular and premium menu, the main difference is the inclusion of wagyu and more lamb in the premium option. Whether the premium upgrade is worth it depends on your preferences. The wagyu is well-marbled, so if you're not a fan of lamb, I recommend ordering plenty of wagyu to make the most of it.

Tips:

If you choose the premium option but don't like lamb, order extra wagyu. Order multiple servings of crispy fried rice cakes, as the portion size is small. Don't miss the chest-style freezer, it holds small cups of nostalgic ice cream that are easy to overlook. Take full advantage of the sauce bar, as it offers a great variety of mix-and-match flavors. Arrive early to ensure you get your choice of broths, as some options may run out.

The Experience: The service was exceptional, and our servers were attentive throughout the meal. The lamb shank was not only delicious but also Instagram-worthy in presentation. We originally wanted the Best of Three soup broth, but it was unavailable, so we went with Best of Both Worlds, which turned out to be an excellent choice. The bone broth stood out with unexpected depth and flavor, making it a highlight of the meal.

My wife especially enjoyed the sauce bar, which allows for customization at no extra charge, unlike a competitor we visited that offered a less varied selection and charged extra.

The Food:

Crispy Fried Rice Cakes – A surprise favorite. It had just the right amount of sweetness, making it almost like a dessert. My wife assumed it was meant to be one. Since each order only comes with two pieces, I highly recommend ordering multiples. Veggie Bar – Standard hot pot selections, but the all-you-can-eat format makes it a great value. Hot Food Bar – Limited selection, but well-prepared. The crispy spring rolls were my favorite. Ice Cream – Served in small cups, reminiscent of school days. It’s easy to miss, as it’s stored in a chest-style freezer, but definitely worth grabbing.

Final Thoughts: Happy Lamb Hot Pot delivers a great balance of variety, quality, and customization. The service was attentive, the broth flavors were rich, and the sauce bar alone makes it worth a visit. While the premium upgrade might not be for everyone, the wagyu quality is high enough to justify it if you're not into lamb. Whether you're a hot pot veteran or a first-timer, this is a spot worth...

Discriminatory Waiter Experience!

The food was great, and the atmosphere—with its lovely music—should have made for a very enjoyable meal. Unfortunately, our experience was completely overshadowed by the rude behavior of one particular staff member: a tall, heavy-set male waiter who spoke Chinese.

There were four of us, and we ordered a three-piece hot pot. Everything seemed promising at first. However, when we asked for an additional serving of lamb, he snapped at us, saying, "Don't rush to add more food before I finish cleaning the tableware on the table." After that, he completely ignored us for the rest of the meal. Thankfully, a kind young waitress with glasses stepped in to help us instead.

When it came time to pay, the same waiter reappeared. We asked if we could pay separately, and he looked visibly annoyed, as if this simple request was somehow unreasonable. He stared at us for a long 15 seconds, then frowned and muttered, "Pay the bill separately?" in a clearly impatient tone.

Then, without a word, he threw the POS machine down in front of us and stared at us coldly, as if warning us to leave a tip. One of my friends handed him a card and said politely, "Here is my card, please swipe it." Because of the layout of the POS screen, my friend mistakenly thought the transaction had already reached the tip screen, which caused a slight delay. The waiter’s attitude turned even worse. He was clearly frustrated and hostile, and his bad energy made the entire table uncomfortable.

All the other waitstaff were courteous and professional—but everyone seemed to avoid this tall male waiter. His behavior made us feel singled out and discriminated against.

It was truly disappointing. We left with the impression that this waiter treated us unfairly and unkindly, and it deeply affected what should have been a pleasant...