Chong Qing Hot Pot — Restaurant in Honolulu

TL;DR vs Shabuya

Go here for: Healthier options, vegetables are super fresh and big, more "authentic" options, personal pots are bigger and deeper vs Shabuya.

Go to Shabuya for: Tastier broths and want to just pig out on meats, more options at the self serve area as well. And most importantly, Cheaper.

Got a recommendation to try here from a friend. It's pretty much a revamped "little sheep" which was here awhile back. The place is nice and clean and theres ample space outside to wait for a table. Reservations are only for parties of 4 or more, other than that you just sign in on the clipboard inside the restaurant.

Straight to the food, it's "dim sum" style where you put the amount your party would like next to each item on a piece of paper/clipboard. You also choose which broth each person would like. I got the "Original Marrow" broth and I'd give it about a 2/5. It really didn't taste like much up front compared to something like the sukiyaki from Shabuya which is my favorite.

There's also a self serve area with... not much. There were Pineapple, Oranges, Jello and... Chicken Feet? That was different for sure haha. On the top there were shrimp chips and some kind of fried dough as well. You can also find your sauces here: Chili Oil, Green Onion, Ponzu, Goma etc. I will say the Goma Sauce here is much more authentic vs Shabuya which is sweeter and tangier. This Goma was legitimately sesame and almost bitter. Might be nice for people who are into it, I think the best sauce there was the Sweet Garlic Sauce.

After ordering everything comes out pretty much all at once on a platter, I will say the veggies were extremely fresh and cut fairly well. It's not too much of an issue with the size due to the bigger pot you have your broth in.

The Meats were decent, they did have lamb but they were in small little triangles vs big slices. The usual Beef, Pork Belly and Chicken were there, but pales in comparison to Shabuya.

The Service was great though, they frequently checked for orders/waters etc. and were fairly friendly even during the busy dinner hour, so service is definitely an A+.

Overall, I couldn't help but feel like I had to compare it to Shabuya. For almost $40 per person I expected more, but was disappointed in the broth and mostly just felt hungry for...

This is now my favorite hotpot restaurant on the island, mainly because of the variety, price point, and service. I got the spicy marrow broth, which honestly isn't that spicy. I honestly can't remember which beef is which, but I enjoyed the fatty beef slices and the lamb. Personal faves are also the trip, spam, bean curd sticks/rolls, and their plethora of seafood and veggies. They have a few special items that aren't included in the buffet price, but I haven't tried them yet. DIY sauce bar is a treat because each person can personalize to their own taste. They also have some bar items like kimchee or Seaweed salad up for grabs, as well as dessert items like fruit. Soft drinks are included and free refills, but make sure you don't fill up on carbonation! What I particularly liked about this place is that each table has a cart at the end of it to extend the space for all the hotpot items as they come out. Reservations are advised, but the restaurant is pretty spacious and had lots of tables. Parking is within the Ward garage complex which cam be a hit and miss. Will definitely be coming back for more...

Alright, let me tell you about this place, Chong Qing Hot Pot. It's tremendous, just tremendous. The food, it's the best, the freshest, the most delicious Asian food you've ever had. Believe me, I know good food, and this place, it's unbelievable.The variety, it's incredible. You got your hot pots, your meats, your seafood, everything. And let me tell you, it's all so fresh, so high-quality. These people, they know what they're doing. They're the best in the business.And the place itself, it's beautiful, it's upscale. Clean, modern, just gorgeous. And the staff, they're fantastic. So friendly, so attentive. They really take care of you, believe me.And the prices, you're not going to believe this, but it's not expensive. For Hawaii, this is a steal. You're getting top-notch, five-star quality at prices that are more than fair. It's unbelievable.So if you're in Hawaii, you got to check out Chong Qing Hot Pot. It's the best Asian food you'll find, I can guarantee it. Tremendous place, tremendous food, tremendous value. You're going to love...