Liuyishou Hotpot — Restaurant in Bellevue

new self serve bar! -

Food: 4 stars Price: 2 stars Service: 3 atars Ambiance: 3 stars Overall: 3 stars

I haven't been here for far too long, and I was surprised that they changed their business model. They are primarily all-you-can-eat now and you can order 5 types of meat from the server. You can also order fried pork, lamb/beef skewers, and glutinous rice cake with brown sugar for the regular option (you have to pick the premium AYCE if you want high-end meat like Australian/American wagyu or seafood like crab legs or oyster. It's about an extra $20 on top).

We picked the regular option and chose the spicy house special soup with the highest spicy level (3 pepper icons on the menu) and the signature pork tripe with black pepper and chicken soup base. The server was like "are you sure about that?" after I told him we want the super spicy option lol. He probably thought we are insane.. I never touched that side of the pot, but one of our friends was constantly sweating and they all said it was spicy.

There are 3 areas where you can get your food, the self-serve ingredients bar, the sauce bar, and the snacks bar. The snacks bar was hidden at the side, and the egg rolls that I got were cold. There are sesame balls, shrimp crackers (蝦片）and other stuff too. I like the self-serve area since you can get most of your ingredients on your own, including crown daisy, shrimp paste, mussels, squid, shrimps, bamboo shoots, seaweed knots, taro, potato, quail eggs, lotus roots, mushrooms, noodles, etc (around 35 options here).

Since we have no clue what meat was good, we ordered one of each for the 4 of us and those were the only meat we ordered, along with the skewers and the fried pork. We almost finished all the meat, but the friend with a big appetite was focusing on mussels instead.

The sauce bar is pretty standard, it has 3 side dishes/appetizers, 2 kinda of fruit (orange and cantaloupe when I was there), 2 kinda of dessert (mung bean soup and jelly/liangfen 涼粉). There also teach you how to make some sauces on the wall as well, with information on what sauce is good for spicy/non-spicy/all soup base. Thee sesame sauce for spicy soup was a life changer since the it helped coping with spiciness for my friends.

We dined for almost 2 hours and we were super full. I made a reservation the night before, and picked the last time slot available that's close to dinner time (5:15pm). We were late by 5 minutes, but they gave us a seat right away. The restaurant was about 20% full in the main dining area, and it was around 85% full when we left. There were also 3-4 groups waiting when we left around 7pm.

The price was a bit high for me, and I think it's slightly higher than happy lamb. I don't feel there is a significant difference between the quality of meat/food between the two places. However, I like the option of taking your own ingredients instead of waiting for them to bring it to you... It's more fun lol. My friends were constantly appreciating the food and how yummy it was, so it's worth it still. I read that the premium upgrade isn't worth it, but I can't comment on it without ordering it. However if you are a big mussels/shrimp person, the regular option is good enough without losing an extra...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Liuyishou hot pot, and I must say it was an extraordinary culinary adventure. From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional.

First and foremost, the ambiance of the restaurant was delightful. The modern decor combined with traditional elements created a cozy and inviting atmosphere. The attentive staff greeted us warmly and promptly escorted us to our table, ensuring our comfort throughout the evening.

The highlight of the evening, of course, was the hot pot itself. The extensive selection of ingredients left me spoiled for choice. From premium cuts of meat to fresh seafood and an array of vegetables, Liuyishou presented a true feast for the senses. The ingredients were incredibly fresh and of the highest quality, surpassing my expectations.

The broth options were equally impressive. Whether you prefer a rich and savory broth or a spicy and numbing one, Liuyishou catered to all taste preferences. I opted for the signature Sichuan-style broth, and it was an explosion of flavors. The carefully crafted broth infused every ingredient with a delightful blend of spices, creating a truly memorable dining experience.

The service at Liuyishou was impeccable. The staff demonstrated extensive knowledge of the menu and were more than willing to guide us through the hot pot journey. They took the time to explain each ingredient, offer cooking tips, and ensure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. The attentiveness and genuine hospitality of the staff added an extra layer of enjoyment to our evening.

Overall, I cannot recommend Liuyishou hot pot enough. It is a haven for hot pot enthusiasts and those seeking an extraordinary dining experience. The combination of delectable ingredients, flavorful broths, and top-notch service make Liuyishou a standout in the hot pot scene. Whether you’re a hot pot aficionado or new to this culinary adventure, a visit to Liuyishou is an absolute must. Prepare your taste buds for a journey of...

Came here with a couple people for AYCE hot pot experience. It was our first time visiting as we normally go to Chengdu Memory or Haidilao. I liked the food options for the all-you-can-eat menu and the hot snack bar was a nice touch. The meats were fresh sliced and good quality vegetables. My biggest issue was with the wait staff and overall experience. When we arrived, no one acknowledged us even when there were people behind the desk doing whatever so we didn't know how long the wait was for a table or if they even knew we were waiting to be seated. We even put our names on the waitlist and still didn't get any confirmation by the staff that they received our input. It was us and another family in the front and it seemed they gave favor to the Chinese guests. I feel like we got acknowledged finally when i started standing closer to their hallway where the staff were coming from and someone made eye contact with us.

I'll give them credit for coming at a reasonable time to collect our order. However it felt like we were ignored while other tables would have staff checking in if they needed anything or refills on broth/water. Kind of felt like they were annoyed every time we had to wave them down or say excuse me to get someone's attention that was zooming past our table.

Overall if it weren't for the bad service, I would have definitely came back since it's a lot closer to where I live compared to Chengdu but the experience really made us feel bad and unwelcome. I don't think I'll be coming here or...