HE&C Tea + Pot — Restaurant in Palo Alto

Looking for a hot pot place in downtown Palo Alto? Look no further than HE&C Tea + Pot! This restaurant is now my favorite spot for a delicious hot pot in the peninsula.

We visited for lunch on a weekend, and while it wasn't packed initially, by the time we left, there was a waitlist! The atmosphere is perfect for a casual hangout. The floral wallpaper and well-spaced tables create a chill vibe, and the beautiful dinnerware with intricate patterns added a touch of elegance.

We didn't have a reservation, but we were seated right away. Ordering was a breeze – just scan the QR code and browse their online menu. Everything arrived quickly, and the server kept track of our dishes with the handy order receipt system.

Our lunch started off with a complimentary hot tea. The hot tea wasn't anything special, but it was complimentary, so we had no complaints there. Speaking of dishes, the portions were incredibly generous! We opted for the American Wagyu Business Combo for 2 ($87), which was a complete steal. It came with 2 drinks (we upgraded to the delicious Mango Sago for an extra $2 each!), 2 wagyu skewers, 2 lamb skewers, a choice of 2 broths (we loved the rich Original Chicken and the tangy Tom Yum Kung!), 2 meat selections (we chose the melt-in-your-mouth American Wagyu Chuck Roll and the decadent American Wagyu Short Rib – so good my friend became a member for the year!), a veggie combo for 2, tofu, noodles (we loved the Udon and Knife Cut options!), and even fried mochi for dessert!

The broths were amazing – flavorful and perfect for soaking up the noodles. The lamb and beef skewers were tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. The mango sago was a refreshing and not-too-sweet drink that perfectly complemented the savory feast.

We were so impressed with the quality of the meat, especially the wagyu short rib, that my friend decided to join their membership program ($24.99 annually). It comes with tons of perks – three coupons for future visits, a free serving of wagyu meat, and more!

Unsurprisingly, we ended up ordering additional meat because it was simply too good to resist. They also have a fantastic DIY sauce station ($1/person) where you can unleash your inner chef with a variety of options like satay sauce, kimchi, garlic paste, and fresh herbs. Bonus points for the watermelon and chips on the counter – a refreshing touch!

The service at HE&C Tea + Pot was top-notch. Our server was efficient, friendly, and kept our table clean throughout the meal.

Overall, we had an incredible experience at HE&C Tea + Pot. If you're looking for a delicious and fun hot pot experience in Palo Alto, this is the...

We wanted hot pot, and this seemed like the only option in the area.

We walked in at 4:59PM, they said it wasn't open yet (nitpicky about the one minute but ok). We took a stroll around the block and returned to an empty, but finally open restaurant.

The menu is a QR code. But it was difficult to tell the quantity of the meat per order (can't really zoom in on the picture, and no ounces or any other type of marker). One order of meat per person is probably enough, assuming you order a carb and vegetable too.

The four-tops were just enough space for two people--two pots, bowls, plates, cups and the food itself. Not sure how the four-top would actually seat four people.

The small pots, while aesthetic, were fussy and at a weird height (too tall for the dining table). We also wished the restaurant provided strainers, not just ladles.

We noticed that both the sliced lamb and the sliced beef had bone shards, which was annoying. Angus beef was fine, chuck beef tasted lower quality. The tomato soup base was not it--tasted like watered down Chef Boyardee. The sauce bar was also lacking, not as comprehensive as I would expect for a place this expensive. Two persons for dinner was $120 inclusive.

What annoyed me the most about this experience was the constant stream of (drunk, or otherwise having a really great time) people dining upstairs who came downstairs and helped themselves to whatever the restaurant had in the display case (beer, smoothie drinks, desserts). Several of them hopped behind the counter and tap tapped away their own orders into the POS. The only reason I went upstairs at one point was to use the restroom (restroom only on the second floor, might I add). Upstairs looked like a sort of clubhouse for the restaurant's owner and their friends. Tables were spaced widely apart, and the table settings were different. There was one table with what must've been five containers of high end loose leaf tea.

Anyways we gave it a shot, but won't...

Came here on a whim on Tuesday evening with a friend of mine and had the $80 hot pot beef wagyu dinner for two on the recommendation of the manager there because he said that we get a $40 coupon with that meal. When we two weeks later to redeem the coupon, the same manager told us of the incredibly limiting conditions and then offered another $80 hot pot beef wagyu dinner for two so we can get another $40 coupon. What he did not specify, and we learned the hard way was that $40 gift card had a list of conditions that followed - The coupon can only be redeemed if it's used within 15 days and at the stir fry section only, ok that's understandable. But then we can only use it on a weekday and only during lunch hours. In other words, unless you live close to downtown Palo Alto and work from home or you're a retiree/homemaker/have a day off, then you have a chance at redeeming the coupon. So it's a coupon with incredibly limited conditions that makes it so that you'll most likely won't be able to redeem it. And even if you do redeem it (which it took my friend two days to do BTW) you get what they choose for you, you don't get to choose.

While the food is great, but generally hot pot restaurants very good already so that's not surprising. I really wanted to like this place, but after going through a tedious process just trying to use the coupon and seeing my friend going back to the restaurant the next day at noon for them tell her it's dine in only even though that condition was not in the coupon (she later fought them over this and they relented in the end)...It's a lesson learned for sure. Their promotions comes with many strings/restrictions attached. We'll go elsewhere...