88 Pot — Restaurant in Bethlehem Township

We have eaten hot pot at the premier place to do so in Philadelphia (wagyu beef vibe), and this place beat it by yards if not miles. We were waited on by Joyce and a lovely girl with blue hair whose name I can’t remember. They were both outstanding, but at a place with good food and an all-you-can-eat policy, you expect to get durian ignored for two hours and then unceremoniously asked to leave. That’s just the way that goes. At 88 K-Pot, it did not go that way. We got checked on and offered food so many times it was borderline annoying. When our servers were preoccupied with providing the same excellent service elsewhere, our busboys, Nicolas, Manolo, and Roberto were there checking on us incessantly to ensure we were enjoying our food and provided with everything we needed to do so. All of those named were not only patient but kind and playful with our two young children. Best of all, speaking as someone who stayed well past their closing time, it was clear to see that everyone there generally enjoyed their jobs and took a deep pride in providing the excellent service that they provided. The best restaurant teams operate in such a way that their pride in their job and the enjoyment they take in working as a team, supersedes and erases their sense of it being a job. The terms passion and friendship overwhelm the terms work and team in the way that they think about what they do. It was a pleasure to be served by this team, and a really outstanding hot pot experience. We will back again, many times, and with friends. These compliments do not come cheap.

UPDATE Been back several times now, and with a few different groups of friends. Looks like this chain is expanding into Whitehall now, and good on them. I will say that as one criticism, the barbecue is a little lackluster. The grills don’t heat up hot enough, and things get confusing and difficult in large groups. I would encourage patrons and the establishment to stick to the hot pot, it’s a simple recipe and they execute on it well. I would also just give a second high five on having a great staff, and encourage management to do everything they can to hang on to their high-energy, positive employees. At the end of the day, this style of serving saves massive amounts of money on line cooks, chefery, etc, and streamlines the work for busboys and wait staff. Invest every bit of that in retaining the great employees you have, and encouraging them to do their absolute best and recruit their competent friends. There are a few winning staff members here who make the place what it is, don’t ever take that for granted. Tip your server...

1st time to 88 K-Pot and def not the last! Just be aware that all the people need to decide beforehand if they are doing Hot Pot, K BBQ, or both as they make it clear that the entire table must order the same cooking style. This was not a problem as we all wanted the K BBQ. You place your meat order with your waitress (Shout it to Danielle who was awesome and made us feel welcome- wait staff can make or break the experience and she def made it for us!!) They have a salad bar you can hit up before your meal- the lettuce wasn’t anything to write home about but the ginger dressing was pretty good. They also have a condiment bar with different sauces to choose- so many options but ultimately we all really like the 88 Special sauce the best.

They bring the selection on meats to the table, and no matter how many times she said which one was which I couldn’t remember. They have a grill that is more of a griddle style that you keep oiled and it worked fairly well to cook the meat but with watch it frequently as is it tended to burn quickly. The portions are ample and this might have contributed to the meat staying longer on the cooktop- you can fill up pretty quick. The meat quality was good. We dined at a Guy-Kaku in Hawai’i which is a similar concept with the grill your own food- their food quality was a bit higher and the grills they used were a metal mesh over more of a flame/heat source. Not taking anything away from 88 KPot, they are just both different dining experiences. My table mates really liked them Garlic shrimp and I loved the short rib and the bulgogi. Also note if you don’t eat the meat they bring they will charge you for waste. We did ok but next time i might ask for half portions of meat. They are currently BYOB (although they posted a sign they are applying for a liquor license) so we got the taro milkshake tea and strawberry lemonade all of which were great.

They have fruits and strawberry cake in the dessert buffet. They were all good- the lychee were my top choice.

Overall, it was a great dining dish and experience and we will def come back. It’s always nice when a new restaurant opens that’s not the normal pizza, sub,...

“Hotpot 88: All-You-Can-Eat Heaven (a.k.a. Why My Diet Starts Next Week)”

If you’re looking for a place where you can eat until you physically cannot anymore—welcome to Hotpot 88. We came for dinner ($29 per person before tax), and from the moment we walked in, it was clear we were in for a feast.

The Vibe:

Modern, stylish, and packed with giant screens playing sports (because nothing says “let’s eat more” like watching other people run around). The blue neon lighting gives the place a cool, futuristic feel—like you’re about to enter an elite food-eating tournament.

The Service:

Carter (the manager) greeted us and led us to our table, and Kevin (our server) took over from there. This guy deserves a raise—he explained everything, from the shabu-shabu hotpot to the Korean BBQ grill, like a true food guide.

The Food: • Soup Base: Tons of options, but the mushroom broth and mala (spicy numbing) soup stole the show. • Seafood Situation: I came for crab legs, only to find out they were an extra charge. But Kevin, being the legend he is, pointed out the cooked crab available on the buffet. Plus, every diner gets a Seafood Platter with one lobster tail and a scallop—not a bad deal! • Meat Madness: The Korean bulgogi was decent, but the high-quality sliced beef was the real MVP. If you love beef, you’re in the right place. • Sauce Station: Over 10 different dipping sauces to mix and match like a flavor scientist. • Snacks & Sides: A solid selection of appetizers, plus a whole buffet line of goodies. • Drinks Promo: During our visit, they had a $1 special drinks—perfect for anyone not driving.

Final Verdict:

Hotpot 88 is absolutely worth it. The variety, the service, and the overall experience make it a must-visit. And yes, they have a ton of ice cream flavors to finish off your meal. I’m already planning my next...