Hot Pot City
Drop the ingredients into the boiling stock, let ’em bob up and down while you watch and chat, tak’em out and whack’em on top of a wad of noodle, pour a ladle of broth, and inhale the sweet steam… So what constitutes a good hot pot? Well, the stock is of course the key, then it’s common practice to have some meat, seafood, vegetables (some kind of leafy greens and mushroom), some noodle for the starch base. But there is no set rule. Whatever you want in your mouth, you can put into the hot pot. We opted for the half-and-half stock: Vietnamese lau and Japanese shabu. The two are quite similar, but the Vietnamese lau has tomato and is slightly more seasoned. Both stocks contain green onion and sweet onion, the taste is neutral, neither too salty nor too sweet, just downright savory. In increasing order, you can add more tomatoes, pineapple, or tamarind to make it sour, and any kind of chili pepper until your eyes water.
Canadian style thin egg noodle went well with everything. As for the add-ons, we also picked the moderate route, with beef rib eye, beef meat ball (hidden behind the Napa cabbage), broccoli and spinach, fish ball and tiger prawn, a garlic sesame oil sauce (suggested by the waitress but did little to enhance the flavor). Opinions split about the fish balls: Mother and Mudpie like their soft, almost gummy texture, while the rest of the crew voted for the firm and definitive beef balls, which I believe contain ground bits of tendon.
We forwent beansprouts and mushrooms to make room for the yau ja kwai (or dau chao quay, Chinese deep fried bread sticks, usually accompanying soups and porridge). Its misleading name in the menu, “Chinese donuts”, gave the impression of sugar glaze, perhaps even rainbow sprinkles and chocolate? Asian cooks are inventive, but we are not that Picassoesque. No, they are just simple crispy oily sticks of dough to jazz up yet another texture in the variety. Their fluffiness soaks up the broth, delivers it to your mouth packaged and speedy. I remember dau chao quay in Saigon are a tad more salty and less flaky than those served here. The owner of this restaurant is Chinese, so perhaps he prefers it the original way.
Address: Hot Pot City
8300 W. Sam Houston Pwy
Sugarland, TX 77478
832-328-3888
Price:
1 Half-n-Half soup base for 6: 8.95
3 Noodle: 3 x 3.50
+ beef rib eye slice, beef meat ball, fish ball, tiger prawn, napa cabbage, spinach, broccoli, dau chao quay, garlic sesame oil sauce
= total +tax: 57.72
The bill is softer (~$35) if you order the pre-selected combinations and let the kitchen surprise you with what goes into your bowls. Either way, hot pot might just be the easiest solution for a small gathering, as everyone can pick their favorite ingredients, cook and enjoy at the table in their own way without the worries about preparation and post-party cleanup. It can be problematic if a member has some hard feelings against soups or anything cooked in liquids. They would then have to enjoy the posh fractal designs on the walls and Lady Gaga’s rhythmic gnarling in the background, since the menu here offers nothing but hot pot.
Woah! I’m really loving the template/theme of this blog. It’s simple, yet effective. A lot of times it’s very difficult to get that “perfect balance” between usability and visual appearance. I must say that you’ve done a very good job with this. Also, the blog loads super fast for me on Chrome. Excellent Blog!
1I do agree with all the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
2An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!
3Outstanding post, I conceive blog owners should acquire a lot from this site its rattling user pleasant.
4Very interesting topic, regards for posting.
5Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was wanting to know your situation; many of us have developed some nice methods and we are looking to swap methods with others, be sure to shoot me an email if interested.
6Thankyou for helping out, superb information.
7magnificent submit, very informative. I wonder why the other specialists of this sector don’t realize this. You should continue your writing. I’m confident, you’ve a great readers’ base already!
8I’m impressed, I need to say. Really not often do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you will have hit the nail on the head. Your concept is outstanding; the problem is something that not sufficient persons are talking intelligently about. I am very joyful that I stumbled across this in my seek for something relating to this.
9Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the excellent work!
10I think this is among the most vital information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is great, the articles is really nice :D. Good job, cheers
11Hello.This article was extremely motivating, especially because I was investigating for thoughts on this matter last week.
12I carry on listening to the reports speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the best site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i find some?
13I’ve been exploring for a little for any high quality articles or blog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Studying this info So i’m satisfied to convey that I’ve a very excellent uncanny feeling I discovered exactly what I needed. I so much surely will make sure to do not put out of your mind this site and provides it a look regularly.
14We’re a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your web site provided us with useful info to paintings on. You’ve done a formidable process and our whole group might be grateful to you.
15WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..more wait .. …
16Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my good old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this write-up to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
17After study just a few of the weblog posts in your web site now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website record and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as effectively and let me know what you think.
18Wonderful goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely magnificent. I actually like what you’ve acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is really a great web site.
19Would you be excited about exchanging hyperlinks?
20I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!
21I am glad to be a visitant of this thoroughgoing web blog! , thanks for this rare information! .
22Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great pattern. “Better by far you should forget and smile than that you should remember and be sad.” by Christina Georgina Rossetti.
23Excellent items from you, man. I’ve remember your stuff prior to and you’re just too magnificent. I actually like what you’ve got here, really like what you are stating and the way in which wherein you say it. You’re making it entertaining and you continue to care for to keep it sensible. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a tremendous site.
24Very interesting topic, regards for putting up.
25Dead written content, thankyou for entropy.
26I visited a lot of website but I conceive this one has got something special in it in it
27I am not really great with English but I come up this real leisurely to interpret.
28It’s really a nice and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.
29Hola! I’ve been reading your site for some time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Atascocita Tx! Just wanted to mention keep up the great work!
30Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your web site in internet explorer, may check this… IE still is the marketplace chief and a large component of people will omit your great writing due to this problem.
31hi!,I like your writing so much! share we communicate more about your article on AOL? I need a specialist on this area to solve my problem. Maybe that’s you! Looking forward to see you.
32Good site! I truly love how it is simple on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I might be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your RSS which must do the trick! Have a great day!
33I admire your work, appreciate it for all the great blog posts.
34I enjoy examining and I believe this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it! .
35Awsome site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am bookmarking your feeds also.
36Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out much. I hope to provide something back and help others like you aided me.
37I am forever thought about this, thanks for posting.
38As I website possessor I believe the content material here is rattling wonderful , appreciate it for your hard work. You should keep it up forever! Good Luck.
39Excellent read, I just passed this onto a friend who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch as I found it for him smile Therefore let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “How beautiful maleness is, if it finds its right expression.” by D. H. Lawrence.
40Some really nice stuff on this web site, I like it.
41Hi there! I simply want to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice data you could have right here on this post. I shall be coming again to your blog for extra soon.
42Greetings! Very helpful advice on this article! It is the little changes that make the biggest changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
43Very interesting info !Perfect just what I was searching for!
44I am impressed with this internet site, very I am a fan.
45I really appreciate this post. I’ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You have made my day! Thanks again!
46I will immediately grab your rss feed as I can’t in finding your email subscription link or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me realize so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
47Hello.This article was really motivating, especially since I was searching for thoughts on this topic last Wednesday.
48Merely a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw great design. “He profits most who serves best.” by Arthur F. Sheldon.
49Very interesting points you have noted, regards for posting. “The best time to do a thing is when it can be done.” by William Pickens.
50