Qpot Hot Pot & BBQ 自助火锅烧烤 — Restaurant in Short Pump

Friendly owner. Unfortunately, while the food quality was good, the service experience from our server was lacking, and from a liability standpoint, potentially hazardous.

Our visit was marred by a staff member who demonstrated a lack of social/situational awareness and professionalism on multiple occasions. Specifically, the server argued with us after notifying our family that she was changing the grill. While this might seem like a minor misstep, it’s actually a significant issue when it comes to safety. At every other Korean barbecue restaurant I’ve visited, servers properly call out when they’re changing the grill, as this is a dangerous procedure involving high heat. Even chains like The Cheesecake Factory take care to notify customers of potential hazards during service.

Grill changes are a critical safety measure, and proper communication is not only about customer comfort but also about protecting both staff and guests from injury. The perceived confidence of the server aside, this basic standard of calling out a grill change should be part of staff training. Failure to do so exposes the business to potential liability issues, which is both preventable and necessary for a smooth and safe dining experience.

Service-wise, I cannot give more than one star due to this situation.

As for the food, while overall it was of good quality, I had specific issues with some items. The miso soup, for instance, had an unexpectedly sweet flavor, which deviated from the traditional savory and umami profile I expect in a standard miso soup. Similarly, some of the sauces had a clear preference for sweetness, which might appeal to some palates, but I would have preferred a more balanced and authentic flavor profile.

However, the argumentativeness and lack of awareness from this particular staff member overshadowed what could have been a much more...

Most of the burners do NOT work/frequently malfunction. The Chinese buffet lacked flavor and tasted old. The raw meat was exposed and placed next to cooked food. There was a significant amount of flies around ALL of the food. There was a large amount of cross contamination due to lack of utensils for the raw meats. I had to use the same tongs for multiple different items. A variety of foods and sauces were not labeled or had labels that were peeling off. There was a lack of guidance as to where everything was located and where to grab our utensils. We were given menus that had multiple foods/drinks crossed out and then were immediately taken away from us. The plates were horribly designed and kept tilting over and spilling the food. Our used plates were not being picked up so we had to place them on another table next to us. Out of our party of six, two ended up vomiting in the bathroom after finishing their meals. We’ve all been to multiple hotpot’s/KBBQs and have never experienced anything like this. Paying $33.99 per person for this subpar service and meal options is absurd. Do not waste your time, energy and money on this place and go somewhere...

5 stars on our first visit 2 weeks ago, and again today. Kid friendly and fun! Absolute home run for my two elementary school aged kids.

Loved the hot pot cooking (particularly the thinly sliced chicken). My 2nd child went all in on the crab legs, steak and shrimp on the grill, and tried many of the dumplings, etc without hesitation. Wrapped up with ice cream for dessert. Asked him if he wanted to come back again.. “oh yeah!!”.

Both visits I had mostly seafood. The fresh fish cooked in the hot pot was amazing. (Extra spicy pot for me). Garlic shrimp on the grill was perfect. Ribeye, Tenderloin, and Beef Bulgogi was a hit with everyone at the table.

They do have fully cooked Chinese items on the buffet like chicken fried rice. Fresh and great quality. Kids couldn’t resist a few French fries.

Family review - quality food, very good selection for the price, and kids love the “cooking at the table”. We’ll make this great restaurant a regular stop in Short Pump, Virginia. 5 Stars....