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Chong Qing Yao Mei

4.3 (373 reviews)
PriceyHot Pot, Chinese
Closed • 11:30 am - 10:00 pm
Updated a few days ago

About Chong Qing Yao Mei

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CHONG QING YAO MEI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Trendy
Moderate noise
Good for kids

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Greens Platter
Lynn H.

I really recommend this place if you're looking for a hot pot spot! This place is located in Old Town Pasadena and based off of first impressions, it is a little run down, however, the food completely makes up for it. My husband and I got seated right away when we got here, and the restaurant was a pretty empty, but it did start filling up as time went on. We were greeted as soon as we got through the door, and the waiter explained that we will order our broth with him, but all other food will be ordered through the iPad. It's always nice when restaurants utilize the iPad, because it just makes the process so much easier! We ordered the Tom Yum broth, which was incredible--it was so rich in flavor and the perfect spice, too. It's one of the best Tom Yum broths I've had. We ordered quite a few things on the iPad: greens platter, ribeye, marbled beef, fish roe balls, corn, rice, and handmade noodles. Their sauce bar is at the entrance of the restaurant, and there's quite a few options that they have. All their veggies, noodles and meats were pretty high quality. Would definitely recommend getting the Ribeye! The service there was top notch. The workers there would grab empty plates almost immediately, move plates closer to us as we finished other things on the table and filled our broth quickly. Overall, I would definitely recommend and return here! It was such a great option for hot pot!

Cindy N.

Chong Qing Yao Mei in Pasadena has become one of our regular hot pot spots, and it's easy to see why. If you love authentic Sichuan-style hot pot, this place delivers--not just with the food, but with the entire experience. The restaurant is beautifully designed with a 1930s Chinese-inspired theme that gives it a unique atmosphere you don't often find at other hot pot restaurants. It feels immersive and adds to the overall dining experience. We always order the half-and-half broth with the spicy beef broth and pork bone broth--a perfect balance of bold, numbing spice and rich, comforting flavor. Our usual spread includes greens, mushrooms, corn, tofu skin, their famous rose shrimp balls, plus thinly sliced lamb and beef. One thing that really sets Chong Qing Yao Mei apart is their grilled specialty skewers. They're cooked fresh outside to order, and my boyfriend absolutely loves them. Every time we come, he can't resist ordering a whole bunch! They're smoky, flavorful, and definitely worth adding to your meal. The sauce station is another highlight. My boyfriend is a big fan of their pre-made dipping sauces, while I always make a beeline for the snack section. I especially love the pickled cucumbers, pickled cabbage, and the sesame balls--they're the perfect little bites before (or after) the hot pot. The service has always been attentive, friendly, and accommodating, which keeps us coming back just as much as the food does. Between the authentic flavors, fun atmosphere, delicious skewers, and consistently great service, it's no surprise this has become one of our favorite and most frequently visited hot pot restaurants.

Shallom L.

If you're looking for authentic Chongqing-style hot pot in Pasadena, Chong Qing Yao Mei is definitely worth checking out. The broths were rich and flavorful, and I loved being able to customize my own dipping sauce at the sauce bar. They offer a great selection of meats, seafood, and fresh vegetables, so there's something for everyone. What really stood out to me were the grilled skewers, which are cooked fresh and start at just $2.99. They pair perfectly with the hot pot and add another layer of flavor to the meal. The skewers are available starting at 5 PM Tuesday through Thursday and all day Friday through Sunday. If you're a fan of spicy food and authentic Sichuan flavors, this spot is worth a visit.

Dee L.

Food was great -- especially the fresh frog, freshly sliced fish, house-made shrimp balls, and beef tongue. Service was friendly throughout and the staff provided good service overall. The ambiance was traditional and cozy, with partial brick wall partitions that added some character and separation between tables.

The tablescape
Scott J.

First time trying Hot Pot and absolutely loved it! Service was really friendly but could have been a bit more helpful in guiding us as this was our first time and didn't know where everything was (or all that was offered at Hot Pot) You select everything on an iPad. We added different proteins and veggies to a pot of flavored soup/broth that you pick at the beginning of the meal. We had one broth (I think it was a spicy beef - way too spicy for us) and the other broth was Thai flavored and was delicious. They had a little self service bar with sesame balls and other things to add to your meal that we discovered on our own halfway through the meal. Environment is very casual and fun, would definitely come back here again!

Stefany W.

Really great experience with good quality food. We came for lunch and it was surprisingly empty. The selection was varied and had a lot of options. The price was also really nice and reasonable. The service was very good too but probably cause the place was fairly empty lol. I do wish they had a larger prepared food section but that's extra. I'll definitely be back.

Lamb, Home Style Fried Pork, and beef
Rebecca T.

I'm usually not big on hot pot, but I was sold on Chong Qing Yao Mei! Delicious broth that packs a powerful punch (especially the spicy ones), as well as quality meats, flavorful bar sides (I loved the seaweed salad and spicy cabbage), and tasty sauces. The Home Style Fried Pork was delicious as well, sort of like chicharrón with an excellent cumin spice for dipping. Service was nice and came around from time to time to clear plates and replenish napkins. Definitely a legitimate hot pot spot that's reminiscent of those in China, and it's a solid A+.

Combination soup and some sides.
Juliet U.

Been coming here a few times now, and this place never disappoints. The ambiance is beautiful and makes you feel like you're dining out of state--very cozy, modern, and relaxing. The food is absolutely amazing. We ordered the combination soup with bone broth and the spicy tomato soup base. We went with medium spice, and it was really spicy but in a good way--full of flavor and definitely satisfying. If you enjoy heat, medium is a great choice. If you love intense spice, you won't be disappointed. One of my favorite parts is the sides buffet, where you can choose from a variety of dipping sauces or create your own custom sauce. They also offer peanuts and other snack options, which is a nice touch while waiting for your food. The quality, flavors, and overall experience keep us coming back. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys great food in a fun, elevated atmosphere!

R C.

The staff was attentive and helpful. The sauce and snack bars pair nicely with the hotpot. The dining space was clean. We were happy with the hotpot options. Street parking available- come and give it a try!

Yiyi H.

Not super authentic, but I appreciate their efforts in making the experience palatable for foreigners, while keeping to the essence of Chongqing hotpot. My table ordered the spicy broth in medium spice, and it was a lot milder than I expected from Chongqing hotpot broth. In general, the broths are quite tasty, though. The meat is also very fresh. The service is a 10/10 for me. My table jokingly ordered all the meat options, and had forgotten to remove the excess items. The staff went out of their way to let us know we'd ordered too much meat for our table and asked if we wanted to remove a couple selections. And I'm glad we did. The portions for each plate were larger than you'd get from other establishments. One of the items we'd ordered (and kept) was pork brains. While cooking this in a ladle, the staff came by to say it would take 15 minutes to cook. You can tell (from the surrounding tables and the staff's actions) that they are accustomed to having customers who are not super familiar with hotpot, and they try their best to make it a great experience.

Melinda C.

This place is really good. I'm new to hotpot, so I'm not a pro or fluent with everything in regard to hotpot. First, the fried rice is so good and could easily feed 4 big backs. My favorite meat dish was the one with egg. It was so tender. The squid balls were delish. 'They were very filling , I thought the texture would be similar to fish balls but they weren't. The sauce bar had many options. I just threw sauces together. Also, tried sesame ball for the first time from the appetizer and it was so good. Also, the fruit tea was so good and refreshing. The only thing I was not a fan of was the egg dumpling. It wasn't bad but not my favorite. The flavor was very plain compared to other items. Also, the parking is 15$ in the two near by lots. Definitely, look for street parking.

Combo Soup Base - Bone Broth and Tomato Broth
Christina T.

I was in the area and wanted to check out a new hotpot place with a friend. When we arrived on late Sunday afternoon, the staff was relatively friendly and seated us very quickly. There was a few parties there but wasn't too busy. They quickly explained the menu is through a website that can be accessed on the QR code for each table. The only thing that wasn't able to be ordered through the code was the soup which we opted for the bone broth and tomato soup option. Overall the interface was relatively easy to use in terms of ordering. Multiple people can join the table ordering and you are able to see who ordered what. I would recommend looking over the set offerings before ordering. Cause I made the error of ordering full orders on the veggies as opposed to being able to try more on variety. It was also a lot of food for a full order, so we did run into problems of completing. Soup was flavorful. The snack bar was self service which had a few Asian snacks like shrimp chips, spicy peanuts, edamame and cucumber salad to just name a few. There was a sauce bar had a standard offerings not too extensive. Inside had a unique vibe there was colorful wall decorations. There's indoor and outdoor seating. Multiple tables big enough for larger and smaller parties. We just parked in one of paid parking lots in Pasadena. It was a short walk away from the restaurant. There multiple lots around the area. Not sure if the restaurant validates since we didn't ask.

Rob C.

Plenty of good food that is served and I definitely will be back. Hot pot broth was excellent. I love how the flavors blended together, nothing was over compensated or over salted which was good. The skewers I enjoyed were good. They have a deal on them $8.99 and they throw it on the grill. Ordered lamb, beef, shrimp, plus the meatballs were heavy too. They don't skimp here and that's a good sign. Don't sleep on the sauce bar here either they've got some good choices plus their in house sauce hits. I left full and happy.

Marbled beef!

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Chong Qing Yao Mei Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Chong Qing Yao Mei

When do they have the face changing show? My kids really would like to see.

It's on Fridays around 7pm

How's the parking situation?

There is street parking on Green St or you need to park in a nearby structure like the one on De Lacey.

What is that spicy chex-like cracker snack at the appetizer/snack bar? That stuff was delicious but I don't know what it is!

Is this ayce?

No it’s not

Any schedule change due to COVID-19 outbreak?

We no longer have dine in services and are working toward to go orders on Uber Eats and other online platforms. Updates will be available on Instagram @chongqingyaomei

Do they serve hotpot for 1pax?

Yes, you can dine as a party of 1

Is it ayce?

No, at the moment we do not have AYCE option

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