Haidilao Hot Pot Cupertino — Restaurant in Cupertino

I went to Haidilao Cupertino on Sept 24, 2025 with a friend, expecting a casual hotpot night. What I got instead was one of the most unsettling dining experiences I’ve ever had.

Food & Pricing Beef slices were about two-thirds fat. The $24.99 “all you can eat” didn’t include soup base (half was still $20) or sauces ($4 per person). Two people with one soup base still ended up at $80.

Privacy Shock The food was disappointing, but the real nightmare came later. Less than 12 hours after I posted an anonymous review elsewhere — on a Sunday — I got a text on my personal phone from someone connected to the restaurant.

On the surface the tone was polite, but the message was clear: “We matched your words to your identity, and we can reach you.”

Inside the restaurant, HikVision cameras point directly at tables. Haidilao is a multinational listed in China, with vast operations there. That alone raises red flags about where this surveillance data goes.

And there’s more context: screenshots widely circulated online (not mine, but easy to find) show Haidilao’s internal customer-note system logging things like “20–30 years old, pale skin, long hair” or “round face, likes to complain on apps.” I didn’t see that used on me, but it made the speed of how I was tracked down feel disturbingly plausible.

Too Good to Be True? Look at their Google page and social media: endless glowing reviews, 4.8/5 ratings, photo after photo of “perfect” looking meat, endless praise. Think of your favorite restaurant — even the absolute best one you’ve ever loved. Do they really have that many flawless reviews, that much staged-looking positivity, without a single dip?

It feels less like genuine customer feedback and more like an ecosystem carefully managed to bury bad experiences like mine.

Why This Matters To put the speed in perspective: Even Amazon Prime — with my address, phone number, and a full logistics network — can’t deliver something I order at 1:30 AM and get it to me around 2 PM.

Yet a hotpot chain, starting only with an anonymous post and maybe some surveillance footage, managed to text my personal phone in less than half a day.

It’s like stealing someone’s credit card and, before you even leave the store, the bank texts you — the thief — saying: “Please don’t steal again. Next time we’ll treat you special.” Not even an AmEx Black Card concierge reacts that fast.

Final Thought On the surface, their message looked “welcoming.” But it wasn’t hospitality. It was surveillance. The unspoken signal: “We know who you are, and we can reach you anytime.”

Between hidden charges, fatty food, suspiciously “perfect” reviews, and the chilling sense of being profiled, I cannot recommend this location. Even in California, my anonymity and freedom of speech lasted less than 12 hours.

FYI: Attached screenshot is from another platform that what they are tracking even you look. You can ChatGPT and translate to English. IT...

Please don’t listen to the negative reviews: PLEASE COME AND EAT HERE NOW YOU’RE MISSING OUT IF YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO HAIDILAO

My recent birthday dinner at Haidilao Cupertino with my parents and sister was an exceptional experience that left us all thoroughly impressed. From the moment we stepped in, we were struck by the restaurant's impeccable cleanliness and welcoming atmosphere.

The service at Haidilao was nothing short of extraordinary. The staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and efficient, ensuring our needs were met promptly throughout the evening. They were particularly accommodating to my parents, who were first-time Haidilao customers. The servers patiently explained the hot pot concept, guided us through the menu, and offered helpful suggestions, making my parents feel comfortable and excited about the dining experience.

One of the most notable aspects of our visit was the restaurant's cleanliness. Every surface gleamed, from the dining area to the restrooms. The sauce bar, in particular, was meticulously maintained and constantly restocked, allowing us to create our dipping sauces with confidence in its hygiene. The overall cleanliness of the restaurant significantly enhanced our dining experience.

Delightful Soup Bases

The highlight of our meal was undoubtedly the flavorful soup bases. We opted for the tomato soup base, which was absolutely delicious - so good that it's "literally to die for". The rich, tangy flavor of the tomato broth served as the perfect foundation for our hot pot experience, enhancing the taste of every ingredient we added. We also tried the spicy beef soup, which packed a serious punch - a thrilling option for those who enjoy heat.

Birthday Celebration

The staff went above and beyond to make my birthday special. They decorated our table with "Happy Birthday" decor, which was a delightful surprise upon our arrival. Their attention to detail and willingness to accommodate our requests made the celebration truly memorable.

In conclusion, Haidilao Cupertino provided us with an unforgettable dining experience. The combination of exceptional service, pristine cleanliness, delicious soup bases, and their ability to accommodate first-time customers made it the perfect choice for my birthday celebration with my family. I highly recommend Haidilao Cupertino for anyone looking for a unique and satisfying hot pot experience, whether you're a seasoned hot pot enthusiast or a curious...

Haidilao (meaning scooping up from the sea bottom) is an experience best shared with at least 3 others. Ours was a group of 10, which made it very festive. The staff competently handled our birthday cake (refrigeration needed) and, in addition to the plating & cake knife, they also brought out the singing staff & celebratory placard to make things more fun. Due to the size of our party, we also got a "personalized" demo of the hand-pulling of noodles which, frankly, wasn't all that delicious. But it was fun to watch, if a bit gimmicky.

Like other hot pot places, you order your plate(s) of stuff - from meats to seafood to tofu products to veggies - and a selection of "soups" kept hot at the table. Dunk the plates of food in (sequentially so you can keep track of the meats in order not to overcook), and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Indeed, you are actually cooking your own food at the table, so conversation can be inhibited because everyone is minding their own pot of soup and food prep.

There is also an extra sauce table, where for $4 pp, you get some more premium ingredients. We enjoyed a combo of sesame paste, scallion, ginger, soy & hot sauce that helped concentrate the flavors of the cooked meats.

The seafood was fresh (shrimp cooked in hot pot sauce was particularly succulent), chicken breast devoid of fat, tofu & veggies (we had bok choy & spinach) all high quality. I didn't like how fatty the beef was; lamb was far less fatty. Highly recommend the fried tofu rolls - the texture made it easy for the tofu to soak up the flavors in the soup. In comparison, the tofu skin was way too bland. Cellophane (bean) noodles were extra tasty as the dinner progressed.

Experienced hot pot diners choose low-spice soups, e.g., chicken or mushroom (one in our party chose the spiciest soup; his puffy red face & teary eyes said it all!) This is so that, as you dunk more and more ingredients into the pot, the soup gets more umami & flavorful. In the end, you'd want to drink from that pot. With that in mind, I would go for the $4 premium extra ingredients so I can customize the flavors.

The venue itself is spacious but a bit loud (due to the hardscape in which sounds reverbrate). The restaurant is well lit, and the atmosphere...