Solid hot pot + amazing Sichuanese. De Tasty is a staple for Cornellians and Ithaca folks alike. The hot pot is comforting and consistent. The broth could be more flavorful. Garnishes (veggies, noodles, mushrooms) are a bit sparse but adequate for a small solo pot. They have a small sauce bar on the side for $2 as well. Sichuanese here is always a hit and very authentic. Highly recommend the Mapo Tofu or Spicy Fish Stew. The family-style portions are perfect for sharing. Would recommend the entrees here over the hot pot. Prices are reasonable given the portion sizes and quality. HEADS UP: There is a 15% service charge automatically included in the check. Perfect place for large family/friend outings and cold snowy days. Will definitely be coming back read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Mapo Tofu - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Mixed feelings-Went there a few times for sit down, and everything was great, so we went back for hotpot, which was mediocre at best. Tough not very flavorful meat, and just unfrozen, not good quality seeming seafood. We asked for our money back, and they seemed annoyed, and like they didn't want to give us a refund. Really want to like this place, so maybe will come back soon to try again! read more

Wow I was really impressed by this place! All the dishes we ordered were delicious. I especially love the lamb dish and the pork belly dish was also good. The string beans were also really flavorful. We went during a weekday for an early dinner in the summer so there wasn't a lot of people and the service was prompt and the food came out fast. The restaurant itself is at the bottom of some stairs so you might miss it if you're not looking for it. The inside has lots of seating and it feels like your typical Chinese restaurant with a somewhat of a dark interior. read more

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Came here for lunch, note there are no lunch specials. All the same menu. I ordered the snow pea veggie dish, which came with a side of rice. It was spot on. Loved the healthy option this place offered. The potion was gigantic, must've been at least a pound of the veggie. So definitely good value! read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Snow V3. Sauteed Pea Sprouts with Chopped Garlic - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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The p1 is one of my favorite dishes of all time. Ambience is not the point. Good food, fast service, no ops. Don't get the hot pot. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Certain YouTuber was raving about this place - so I decided to visit. The place is in the basement and I felt unhealthy going there with boxes piled up in one corner and dark lighting, not many people there during weekday night ,things were not looking great. We were seated in one of the dark corners. There were some tables that had better lighting, but I guess it was for bigger group. Very uneven lighting in there.. We ordered mapo tofu, and beef brisket noodle soup. It came pretty quickly. Mapo tofu was decent. Kind of Taiwanese style I'd say - sweet, garlicky, bit spicy with numbing Sichuan peppers. Too sweet. for my preference, but still it was ok. Better was the noodle soup. It was pretty good. portion size was good and I would not be hungry as a man. For people eating less, single order might feed multiple people.. Good value. read more

WOW. This place deserves 6 stars. If you like szechuan/spicy Chinese food, you NEED to come here. Seriously. Came in half an hour before closing and every single dish was amazing. I'm from NYC, which has no deficit of authentic Szechuan restaurants in flushing and Manhattan, but I can honestly say that this place is one of the best and it's a shame that I don't live in Ithaca to eat here more often. It's the perfect combination of great food and great prices. The prices here cannot be beat. Most of our dishes were less than $20. The food: again, every single dish we got was great. Beef stir fried with hot chili peppers, popcorn chicken with chili peppers (la zhi ji), lamb with cumin, and mao xue wan were all 10/10. The egg drop soup with beef was delicious too. The owner is really humble and came to ask for feedback after the meal and said that he uses customer feedback to improve their food. But honestly, I would come back just for the food alone. Price is a bonus. Note that they changed owners about 10 months ago. read more

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Amazing place authentic Chinese food in Ithaca, great prices too. Service and ambiance are whatever but the food makes up for it

I really love this place, hot pot is tasty and affordable. Service is efficient and they have a good system going. They didn't used to charge for the sauces but now they do. Spacious and lively setting. read more

Located in a basement storefront, I'm giving this place 4 stars instead of 3 simply because of the relative dearth of other Chinese food in the local area. We ordered a dry pot fish filet, which had decent spicy seasonings and a mix of vegetables but the pieces of fish filet were on the mushier side. We ended up ordering the dry sautéed string beans after we were told they were out of both the snow pea leaves and Chinese spinach... the string beans were flavored well but were limp and over cooked. The dumplings in red chili sauce were pretty good. Overall, a just-okay meal at just-okay prices read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - A2. Dumplings in Red Chili Oil - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This was such a fun experience!! If you're in the area and are looking for something authentic, unique, delicious, and fun, check out De Tasty Hot Pot! I have to admit we chose this place solely because of the name. I was looking for something good to eat on a girls trip and the name popped out at me. So I looked up the menu and looked good so we thought why not?? The door to get in is downstairs, like down below street level! So at first we thought it wasn't open when we arrived. When we got in we didn't know to ask for a hot pot table versus regular Chinese food menu. So we were at a regular table. Know this when you go if you will want the hot pot. Once we got to our table we ordered the beef combo hot pot because we were overwhelmed with all the different options! We figured this way we would be able to try the specialty. Also it was refreshing to see so many students there of different cultures all enjoying this food! It was like fondue with broth instead of cheese or oil! Everything was good, the beef was delicious, the different sauces were a nice addition so we could make it more for our own flavor. Advise- if you haven't been, ask them to explain! The servers were nice but to the point! read more

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I came here a while ago, but this place has the most authentic Chinese food in Collegetown. The location is definitely hidden from a lot of places and even I will forget about it from time to time. However, if you want good Chinese food, come here. I'm not familiar with their hotpot at all, so I cannot comment on that. Food: They have a good selection of vegetable, meat, and seafood dishes. They were all tasty. Service: It was great! They were attentive and was always happy to help when we needed something. Price: Not too bad and is reasonable for dishes at Chinese restaurants, and even more reasonable for something in Collegetown. Ambiance: Nothing too special and pretty standard for Chinese restaurants. Lighting is somewhat dim. read more

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The food was overpriced for what we got and our server was very rude and did not explain how the pricing and add ons worked.

There is public parking near by, and this restaurant is in the basement. There is plenty of space inside and there are designed table for hot pot. I chose the spicy dishes and they were all very delicious. Their price is reasonable for a Chinese restaurant and tip is already added to the final bill. I want to try their lunch special next time. read more

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This is the only restaurant I have ever been to in the US that was exactly like being in China. The Sichuan food is super authentic and delicious. I enjoy going there periodically when I go to Ithaca. read more

The people there do not speak English very well except for this one younger girl. Service isn't the best but the food is so good. I love getting their la zhi ji and the dry hot pot beef. This is a must-go. The portions are generous and the dishes are flavorful and perfectly spicy. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - chicken with chili and beef dry hot pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Came for hot pot with a pretty good sized party and left disappointed and still hungry. Portion sizes on hot pot items are very small and it's very easy to end up paying a lot for what seems like little food. read more

Looks are below average Food was excellent! Price seemed to be quite high. All in all it was well worth the visit read more

Absolutely authentic Chinese restaurant!!! Very easy to pass by this restaurant and missed it because it locates in the basement ! This tofu casserole dish very delicious and satisfying with lots of different kind of vegetable and plenty of tofu, all the ingredients are perfectly balanced with each other , make sure to put the gravy on the rice too, highly recommend if you are vegetarian ! read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Tofu vegetable casserole - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

The 8 of us were there on a Wed for lunch. The food was pretty authentic and delicious. We didn't order from the lunch menu. We ordered from the dinner menu. The restaurant owner treated us the hot and sour soup that normally only comes with lunch. The dishes we ordered were mostly Sichuan flavor. Considering the restaurant is in Ithaca, NY, it's very special to be able to get authentic Chinese food there. The restaurant is located in the basement with a slightly steep stairway, and the hot and sour soup was too salty, which were the two minor drawbacks. If I am in Ithaca again, I will definitely go back to this restaurant. read more

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Great hot pot spot right in Collegetown! Perfect for a fun evening with friends making your own hot pot, it's a nice change of pace if you typically go to other types of restaurants. Definitely recommend if you live in Ithaca and haven't been here yet! read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Not sure where all these great reviews are coming from. This is probably the worst stop for Chinese food in Ithaca. Before we would come here because there service was good and it was closeby, but after they changed management even service is bad. Last time we waited 45 minutes for some yangzhou fried rice, which was basically just fried white rice with nothing else. Do yourself a favor and go to haihong, chengduyingxiang, or golden bayou. At least you know what your paying for. Will never come back here EVER again! read more

In basement with outside stair entrance. Stairs were quite steep.Varnish on tables coming off and sticky, many fruit flies, menu hard to understand and staff was little help, no bowls provided with hot pot making it difficult to eat. Price was extremely inflated compared to food quality. 15% service fee was added to bill when card was used for payment - we didn't see this posted anywhere - they need to call this out all over the place. 2 person vegetable hot pot combo and one order of house fried rice was $72.00. If you're looking for a KPot experience this isn't even close. read more

Tip for 20% automatically without asking. Use prices higher than the menu without any prior notice (not until I see the bill, and they say it's inflation). Total menu price around $70, ended up paying $105. Considered not paying but did not want to waste attorney and police's time for this troublesome restaurant. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Where: totally unassuming, slightly run down Collegetown basement location next to Level B. What: the best Chinese food in Ithaca. How: Get all your friends. Get the spicy hot pot. Get all the things. Eat until you cannot. It's simple, and it's good. Staff are attentive and accommodating, adding broth and checking burner temperatures throughout the meal. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I was so happy when this place opened up. This restaurant has some of the most authentic chinese food in Ithaca. Plus, I love spicy food so now I can get some delicious, spicy noodle soup. The hot pot isn't bad, but it's expensive for how much food you get. You also have to pay extra if you want to get a bowl of sauces for your veggies and meat. Personally, I love their spicy fish and tofu (豆花鱼). It's tasty and the portion size is perfect AND it's under $10. Another favorite is their beef noodle soup. You get authentic, chinese noodles when you order their noodle soups. They're perfectly chewy and taste homemade. So happy that there is a restaurant in college town where I can get some authentic Chinese dishes. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Spicy fish and tofu (豆花鱼) - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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Loved this place- tried the beef one with lots of veggies. The beans are awesome as well. Dnt forget to order the dumplings- it's a great place for a crowd too! read more

I've had hot pot here ... And it was okay ... But ... Their Chinese food is the best in Ithaca in my opinion! Sichuan style, but plenty of other dishes common around China. Favorites include sautéed snow pea shoots and fish in chili oil. Having gone to many a Chinese restaurant in LA with my grandfather (who is from Shanghai and quite the gourmand), this is as close to some of those places as I've found here in Upstate NY. read more

Got the House Spicy Soup, it tasted like they loaded it with a full container of some random spice. My tongue bubbled after tasting the soup, so much that my water tasted like soda. The service was fast, but the woman disappeared after she took our order. Ordering food was super confusing, and the server did not help much. read more

Awesome hole in the wall spot! Order the chicken tossed in wok with chili peppers, the sautéed beef and scallion, and the whole fish in spicy bean sauce. The whole fish is outstanding. 10/10. read more

We order the Dongbei Guo Bao Rou (Crispy Sweet & Sour Pork) and Spicy Fish. The food was wonderful and really authentic and made our Chinese stomach satisfied. The owner is outgoing and very friendly. The only issue I need to point out is that this place doesn't have or didn't turn on the A/C. They used fans instead, and it is not cooling at all. read more

I was visiting Cornell and stopped by here for dinner because it was open late. I didn't order hotpot because they were closing soon and it would have taken too long. The food was super tasty and the service was quick. The total for three generously sized dishes was $43 not including tip. I thought that the food was a bit greasy, but other than that, I really enjoyed my meal. The Dan Dan Noodles had a good chewy texture and nutty flavor and the shredded pork was good as well. The broth of the spicy lamb stew was very oily, so I probably wouldn't recommend that dish. But if you're looking for a quick, relatively inexpensive Chinese restaurant, I would recommend this place! read more

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Surprisingly good Sichuan restaurant in College Town. Lunch specials are $8.95 for rice, hot and sour soup, and a main. We tried the Kung Pao Chicken and Mapo Tofu, both were reasonably authentic renditions of these classic dishes, the mapo tofu especially had a good amount of both heat and numbing. Oddly the rice was stale and the soup wasn't very good, and the service is bad. Lots of Sichuan classics on the menu, including hot pot, which I'll have to come back to try. read more

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I used to like this place for their tasty and authentic Chinese food despite of their unattentive service. However, I was totally disappointed this time. My husband and I ordered two Chefs Special entrees: braised pork with preserved vegetables and stir-fried kidney with squid. Both come in appetizer portion and poor quality. The braised pork belly they used for the entrees is exactly the same as what they use for the hot pot. That is too thin for braised pork! The pork is too salty and the preserved vegetables is blend. The squid taste as like rubber. The two entrees cost around $15 each. However, I still feel hungry after the meal! This gonna be my last visit. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Braised pork with preserved vege - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Beyond amazing! I come here almost every weekend. I get the lamb and spicy hot pot and it is delicious. There are many sauces available. I personally really like the vinaigrette. The chicken and vegetables are really good too and staff is so sweet with us each time. read more

This was probably my favorite place to eat in Collegetown, or even Ithaca for that matter. I always order these two dishes and the portions are huge. I'd usually go with one other friend, but I think two dishes could easily feed three people to satisfaction. The dry sautéed string beans - pretty self explanatory. It's a vegetarian dish with I think fermented cabbages which adds something extra special to the dish. Not spicy at all. And then the three peppered chicken. They're boneless and crispy and a whole lot of peppers. The dish can sometimes be inconsistent; sometimes with or without crispy garlic and peanuts but most of the times, the chicken doesn't fail. I've eaten here probably 10+ times and I was only disappointed with this dish once because the chicken wasn't as good. As someone whose spice tolerance is average, I'd say this wasn't THAT spicy. Yes, I had to sip water a few times, but totally doable and still delicious. If you like spicy, then eat the peppers too. The dishes are a bit pricey, but not much of a surprise there, since it is collegetown. There's lunch specials though. Monday to Friday. The restaurant is in the basement and once you walk down those steps and enter the restaurant, it feels completely different than the rest of collegetown, in a good way. You just have to go and experience it yourself to understand what I mean. Overall, would def go back and eat this again. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Three pepper chicken (don't fret, not that spicy) - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This restaurant is amazing. Food is great, and service is great. I am a New Yorker who has been to most of the best Szechuan restaurants in NYC, and have found this place the best! The taste of each single dishes were fabulous. My boyfriend, who studies at Cornell, and I have been here for more than five times in the past week. And we tried more than 10 dishes and hot pot. I would think that the regular menu tastes a little better than the hot pot menu mainly because of its variety. But don't get me wrong, the herbal broth here is the best!!! Expect to wait a little bit, though, for the regular menu, since they try to save spots for people who want hot pot. And just to solve the confusion about combo price, the broth price is NOT INCLUDED. So expect to pay $17 for a combo. I don't write much reviews because I am lazy. But the quality of the food here made me feel that writing a 5-star review for them is extremely necessary. read more

De Tasty Hot Pot - Menu here is quite traditional. But the traditional dishes were all great! This is Ma Po Tofu. - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

bad service They gave us the wrong dish but refused to provide the correct one without additional charge. Getting worse with the new management read more

My favorite restaurant in Ithaca. Strongly recommend the hotpot: half wild and half spicy. You wont be able to find any better hotpot place nearby. read more

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This is one of those, next to the train station, run-down, shady, and absolutely don't-give-a-f' about healthy ingredients type of place you would find in Asia- love it. Definitely not a place for non-adventurous, non-imbibing vegans with OCD. The food- it's OK. Considering every other restaurant on Dryden Road being slightly better than having a microwavable box meal, this is the best Chinese or Asian food you'll find in Collegetown. Expect lots of oily, fatty, meaty, spicy goodness. Recommend coming after lots of drinks and trying the fish in spicy sauce, braised beef short ribs, and the hot pot accompanied by lots of more drinks. read more