Hanoi Hot Pot — Restaurant in Hillsboro

We were really looking forward to trying Hanoi Hot Pot, and to be fair, the hot pot broth was delicious—the flavors were well balanced, and the veggies and meat were fresh and tasty. There was potential for a great experience. Unfortunately, the service and overall vibe completely ruined it.

We came in at peak dinner time on a Saturday night and were surprised to find we were the only customers in the restaurant. That should’ve been our first clue. Another group came in shortly after we ordered (who seemed to be either family or close friends of the staff) and from that point on, it felt like we were second thought.

We had ordered the all-you-can-eat hot pot, and we’d seen online photos of a well-stocked appetizer and veggie and noodle bar. We were excited to try some fresh spring rolls (they’re listed on the menu), so I asked the waitress about them. She brushed it off and told us “they’re coming.” What eventually arrived was underwhelming at best: a small plate of tater tots and deep-fried spring rolls that looked and tasted like they came from a Costco freezer bag. Meanwhile, the group that came in after us, also doing the all-you-can-eat, was served a generous selection of appetizers, including chicken wings and a variety of fresh-looking veggie sides.

To top it off, the waitress spent most of the meal sitting and eating with that other group, occasionally glancing over at us to see if we needed something. It felt awkward, like we had wandered into a private gathering that wasn’t meant for us.

The sauce bar and veggie buffet were also poorly stocked. For a Saturday night, it was honestly surprising how empty and unkempt everything looked. Even the meats for the hot pot came out slowly and inconsistently, and we had to rely on what little was available at the bar to fill in the gaps.

We won’t be coming back. There are plenty of other spots in Orenco that treat their customers like they matter. This one just...

UPDATE: I will just let the owner's response speak for itself, if they are going to label feedbacks and reviews as fake and scam.

Last week, a group of us ventured to a new hotpot joint in town, riding on the coattails of our usual haunt, Happy Lamb. Expectations? High, given the price point mirrors that of our favored spot. The reality? An unmitigated culinary disaster.

The promise of a diverse meat and soup selection, as touted on their website, quickly evaporated into thin air upon arrival. The spread? Lackluster at best - a few meager cuts of meat, a buffet bar that seemed more like an afterthought with its hodgepodge of meatballs, veggies, and what they dared call wings and ribs. And the mango lassi? A sad, sugary imitation of what it should be.

We settled on their so-called 'hot and spicy' and 'Vietnamese beef' broths. The broths arrived quickly enough, but that's where any semblance of efficiency ended. The meat - when it finally graced our table in embarrassingly sparse quantities - was a culinary insult. Less than ten slices of beef? A trickle of pork and chicken, doled out in intervals calculated to drive one to fill up on the subpar vegetables.

The quality of the meat was abysmal. The broths, flavorless. It's as if the kitchen had forgotten the very essence of what makes hotpot a coveted dining experience. The service, sluggish, though I'll tip my hat to the hostess for her efforts.

The crowning indignity? When a friend reached out to provide what should have been seen as valuable feedback, the response from the owner was nothing short of appalling. Accusations of scamming, verbal attacks - this isn't hospitality, it's a masterclass in how to alienate your clientele.

Bottom line: We paid for an experience that was far from top-notch. Instead of a sincere apology for the subpar food and service, we were met with hostility and baseless accusations. Disappointing doesn't even begin...

Overall I really enjoy this place, I went again since the other location closed and this new one opened even closer to my home lol. Food is yummy. I'm big on veggies so the buffet style for those is suuuuper nice! Veggies/fish balls/noodles are buffet style, while meat is brought out and ordered. The broth is great, we do medium or hot spicy and the flavor is really good. They have a sauce bar with generally what you would want. MY biggest downsides are that the tables are a bit small, especially if you have 4 people (Our plates hardly fit on the table lol we were fighting to find spots for stuff), and I really wish water would come around more often. Even when I asked for more it took 10+ minutes to get a refill while I was lost in the spicy broth and chilli sauce. It sort of feels like front of house isn't staffed enough/or at least not helped enough (This was an issue at the old location too for me). Please offer water more I'm begging lol! Or automatically give pitchers to larger groups maybe. If it wasn't for that I'd give a higher rating. Staff was very friendly otherwise and quick to help and explain how it works when we first came in, which will be nice if you're...