Upon arriving, we were immediately greeted by such friendly staff members. We were shown our table, and after stating it was our first time, we were adequately told how things worked in terms of ordering, receiving orders etc. We were told at the front of the restaurant is their sauce bar, alongside with appetizers and desserts. We walked up, grabbed our sauces and took a quick look at what they had to offer for appetizers and desserts. Unfortunately, the items looked dreadful. The appetizers consisted of fried chicken wings, french fries, sesame balls and a seafood boil consisting of crawfish, mussels, shrimp and corn. All the items looked dehydrated, old and way past their prime. Nevertheless, we came for the all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ and we started ordering items off the iPad and they quickly made their way to our table. A very convenient plastic bottle of oil was at every table which made cooking on the grill that much easier. We placed in a handful of different cuts/marinated meats and seafood. Everything we ordered was phenomenal. Our top favourites were the kalbi (Korean short ribs), bulgogi and scallops. I'd like to mention the service here is top notch and impeccable. We were constantly checked on, and servers were ready to clear plates off our table to avoid it being overcrowded and their attention to whether our grill needed swapping out with a fresh new one was top shelf. Overall, we had a great experience here. From the most delicious meats and seafood to the great service; we'll gladly return next time we're in the area. read more

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Let me preface this with that we only had the BBQ and not the hot pot. Back in Ithaca, and we were tickled by the fact that something like this exists now in town. We would have loved a place like this when we were on campus. This is probably an Ithaca 5. As in, for where you are, this is a good spot. When evaluating this place to a comparable offering in a bigger city, and it falls short. Staff were awesome. They came by when asked and were great. My favorite part of the entire place is the tablet ordering. I love places like that. You're not left waiting for someone to hopefully come by. Even refills and the check can be requested through the tablet, and that's great. As for the options on tbe menu when it came to BBQ, I wish they were a little better. The marinated meats lacked a little something that would take it to the next level for flavor. I found myself wishing for just a tiny bit more, but that's in comparison to coming from a bigger city with plentiful options. They had a self serve area with some foods and dessert. That was great as well. read more

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I enjoy the all you can eat scenarios. This allows the consumer to try and taste various types of food on the menu. To continue with my birthday celebration, Joseph suggests we come here to try the food. What a good choice! For my soup base, I choose the mushroom broth. It comes with light green onions and a touch of cilantro. By itself, the mushroom broth tastes delicious. From the menu, I pick the various mushrooms, broccoli, bok choy, watercress, shrimp and sole filet. It tastes like a feast! Joseph orders the meat selection which contains coby beef, and brisket. He orders the lotus root for me. In the back, Hot Pot Meets BBQ set up a sauce station. This station features various Asian sauces such as soy, cilantro, bbq, ponzu sauces. In the middle of the station, customers can choose various fruits such as pineapple and green melon. Near the end of the station, the staff sets up a seafood tray. The tray includes a mixture of shrimp, mussels, and cut corn in the cob. The wait staff explain to us of how to order the food. I give the wait staff an A+ for their service. The servers notice all the goes on in their restaurant. They quickly answer our questions. A fun part of dining here: Hot Pot Meets BBQ uses a robot to serve and take finished trays back. That deserves a star. Come and bring dates, friends, or even family. read more

Good spot for Kbbq and kimchi in Ithaca! I have been craving kimchi (good kimchi specifically) and had yet to find any until coming to Hot Pot Meets BBQ. Even though it is definitely not the main attraction of the restaurant their kimchi is delicious! Best that I have found in Ithaca (the ban chan at every other Korean restaurant I have tried in the area has been disappointing at best). As for the actual food, both the hotpot and the bbq were delicious! Lots of variety to choose from and very good service! The staff members were very attentive and helpful! Honestly, no complaints. I have come here a couple times and it has been very consistent! Overall, I would highly recommend if you're looking for Kbbq/hot pot in Ithaca! read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - hotpot/bbq - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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A well done theme restaurant! If you've never done hot pot before this is a great introduction to it. Super helpful and friendly staff explain both the hot pot and the bbq process. The food was very good. Fresh vegetables, seafood and mushrooms were our choices. All were top quality. I like spicy food so I chose medium spicy. It was a bit much for me but I drank lots of water and washed it down with their Summer Special, a $3 draft of Stella Artois. Afterwards the sauce bar offered fresh fruit to cool me down further. I was glad we didn't order bbq as well. It would have been too much food for 2 people. But if you come with a group, I'd definitely try the bbq as well. The restroom was very clean, as was the whole restaurant. Overall a pleasant experience. Next time I'll order mild! LOL! read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Thai broth with veggies, mushrooms and seafood - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

First time at this restaurant and this place is amazing. Wife, son and I all enjoyed the spicy hot pots at our own levels. Staff were very friendly. Returning soon for the BBQ read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Ramen Noodle Hot Pot Spicy & Sour meat broth with Kobe Beef and a bunch of fixings - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

There were many empty tables probably because it was Monday night. It was below freezing and the hot soup really hit the spot. We did not opt for the BBQ addition for $5 more per person. It was AYCE so we were leaving with our bellies stuffed no matter what. They had a decent selection of meats and veg for upstate New York. You order from the iPad and the items come pretty quickly. There was wagyu on their menu, although I'm 99.9% sure that none of the meats that they served were actually wagyu. Despite that bit of false advertisement and that the different cuts of meats were not discernible, I still enjoyed the experience. read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hotpot - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

Wide selection for hot pot and bbq. Staff was super attentive and nice. We really enjoyed this dining experience! read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

it was a new experience. We received the ordered ingredients for soup and BBQ. We mixed and cooked/fried them ourselves on hotplates installed right on the table. Also at the end of the hall there is a sauce bar and trays with sweets and fruits. The soups were delicious, but we did not have enough skills for BBQ The meat was tough. I want to note the interior. We liked it. The waitress explained everything in detail about how to order the ingredients and cook them. We had very good impressions of this restaurant read more

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My wife & I drove down from Marcellus, NY and spent the morning & early afternoon out exploring the waterfalls in the area. Come lunch time, I do what I always do when I'm away from my area... I opened YELP in order to find something new and started searching for options. Bottom Line Up Front - I am a massive fan. I spent 2 years in South Korea back in the day and spent many a night in a Korean BBQ restaurant....this place took me back to those days. The service was exceptional...fast, courteous, non pushy & simply spot on. The food was outstanding and the sauce bar was very good. I've got nothing negative to say about my experience...I just wish I did not live so far away. read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

I'm a big fan of Teppanyaki and Yakiniku in hot pots so having all those elements at one place is kind of great for me. We decided to do the hot pot tonight. It was it was cold out, so it was a great meal to have. The interior is very modern and clean booth seating. The tables have heating elements in it for the soup and grill. Service was friendly and courteous. There was enough servers helping us at once. They also had like an AI automated robot busser that would bring orders and take your plates and stuff which is pretty cool. They had some premium cups for dinner, including brisket and Kobe beef. Everything was pretty tasty. The vegetables are really fresh the sauce bar. I had a variety of sauces, including some of my favorite desserts like little tiramisu and like the little sesame balls, the mochi type sesame balls. I mean good stuff for the price you get a lot of food. I mean, I wanna go back and do the grill next time but definitely great for parties. They have an extensive drink menu. They have a lot of space there too. I like it. I think we probably do better in the commons or something. You know where you have a lot more traffic though just know I would love to see a spot over there read more

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I pretty much ate biweekly here during my senior year. This was my first time having hot pot which definitely made the harsh Ithaca winters more bearable. Every time that I've come here, I've always enjoyed having both the hot pot and kbb. There are times when I'm in the mood for one over the other but majority of times having both has always been better. The owners have done a wonderful job maintaining this place and have always been welcoming to my friends and family. The best spot to eat here in Ithaca especially since it's super clean and well maintained. Also, if you do get BBQ, here's a tip: season the meats with the salt & spice rub. Add the oil all over the grill and ensure it's hot. Add the minced garlic and onions and caramelize them before adding the meats to ensure a good crust. Marinating the shrimp with a sauce is also a good tip. Now in terms of the hot pot, making the sauce is and to do so choose what you like best. I would suggest to explore every soup base if you have the chance. The more items that you try the better. The more you limit yourself, I would argue you limit your experience so do not be afraid of exploring the menu. Going to miss this place! read more

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Ithaca, you've done it again. An AYCE hot pot and KBBQ spot has arrived, and it's EVERYTHING I didn't know I needed. The price is around $40 per person after tip, which is a dream wrapped in a delicious, sizzling, never-ending feast. For that price, I felt like I was doing my wallet a favor while stuffing myself with all the meat, veggies, and broth my heart desired. In a town like Ithaca, where AYCE spots are rare gems, I will personally support this place with every fiber of my being. Like, take my money. Take all of it. The service is FAST: blink and your food's already on the table! It's like they hired Speedy Gonzales as their server. Seriously, I ordered, and bam - plates of meat and trays of veggies appeared as if by magic. Fast doesn't even begin to describe it. The workers are friendly, helpful, and sparkling clean. The staff made sure we were well taken care of, which just adds to the whole experience. If you're looking for AYCE hot pot and KBBQ in Ithaca, this is THE place. I'm already planning my next visit because, let's be real, AYCE + Ithaca = dream come true. read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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This was lots of fun! Go with your friends! Try lots of things! Share and enjoy! We had never been there before and the staff was very helpful explaining everything to us. There are so many options! The meats range from plain to spicy, and then there is the spice bar to fix things to your individual taste! The house red sauce went well with everything! It is spacious and well designed, very modern. I saw the service robot but it didn't bring us anything. Maybe next time! read more

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Love love love! This is such a yummy and fun experience! Fear not when it comes to cooking yourself because it's all apart of the experience! The food is fresh and they even give you a cooking guide right at your table to tell you how long to cook specific foods for. They have a sauce bar that is endless, many different soup choices, and all the toppings you could hope for! Hot pot easily became one of my top choices where to eat. I can't say enough how attentive the staff is. They take plates out of your way as soon as your done with them, constantly fill your water, and always coming by to see if you need more food. Ordering with the tablet right from the table makes for an easy experience and quicker service! The place was clean, neat, and classy. This could be a great lunch date or a hot dinner date, or even a group outting! If you don't like using technology to order, don't want to cook anything yourself, this is not the place for you but I can promise you'll be missing out for no good reason! It is all reasonably priced but with all the many choices come prepared to spend some cash! It's too hard to choose only a few!! read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

All I can say is wow! This was such a fun eating experience. I've been to places like this like the melting pot but this takes it to another level. The restaurant is pretty big with different options for the hot pot and Korean bbq. I sat at a table that had a bbq station in the center with 6 hot pot stations. The staff were amazing! Super helpful because it can be a little overwhelming for your first time. I know I was a little overwhelmed but they talked me through the process and now I'm a pro! I ordered a lychee martini and it was delicious. They have the option to order from the hot pot menu or the Korean bbq menu but for only $5 more you can order from both so of course I got both. I chose the broth I wanted for the hot pot and the meats I wanted. I got the thinly sliced beef and chicken which were so good. They showed me how to use the hot pot, change temperatures, and use the scissors to cut any meet that was too thick or long and it comes with tongs so you don't have to touch anything. I was lucky enough to have someone cook my meat, bulgogi beef, for the Korean bbq choice but it's still user friendly. They let me know the center is the hottest part and to cook there first and then cook on the sides so it doesn't burn. All of the veggies were fresh and the perfect addition to the hot pot and even some of the mushrooms could be cooked with the Korean bbq pit. They had soft music playing and even though it was pretty busy when I went in, it wasn't very loud. It does get a little warm at the table so I would suggest lighter clothing, I was wearing a sweatshirt and was sweating a little haha I did also order all spicy food too so I'm sure that added to the heat haha. I'll definitely be back to try more of the meats, sides, and noodles. 10/10 recommend! read more

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Great place for either BBQ or hot pot ! All you can eat with a 2 hr maximum. Please make sure to bring your large appetite.

Terrible service. Beers take 10-15 minutes to arrive. They tried to make me pay for a buffet and all i wanted to do was drink beer. They turned down our bbq heat 3 times. And Btw it was opening night they left a big glob of glue on the table. My arm was partially glued to the table. read more

Stopped in on a whim and had an incredible all you can eat experience. The miso hot pot was very flavorful. The tom yum hot pot in mild was very spicy for my husband. The bbq meats were great especially the bulgogi meats. Service was wonderful, very attentive and friendly. Don't skip the short rib! read more

The food was amazing, we chose both hot pot and bbq and there were ample amount of choices to choose from for both options. Service was quick, and portions were the right size so there were minimal leftovers. They would come to change out the grill and add hot pot broth every once in a while. Overall, would recommend for all occasions. Many shops around the area as well to walk it off after the meal. Atmosphere was good, liked the throwback music playlist and the modern vibe. read more

Hot Pot Meets BBQ - Hot Pot Near Me - Ithaca, New York

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We visited at weekend evening for dinner. The place is very nice, with very fresh food and excellent t services. It is place very kid friendly too! I definitely will come back in future if I am nearby. read more

Let's get to the point - there were 2 of us and we had the hotpot. The soups were not good at all but the add-ons (dumplings, veggies, fish cakes etc) are on par with what you get closer to the city. No complaints there. However, the TomYum soup base was downright awful (mushroom soup was ok) but surprisingly you cannot change your soup if you don't like it. I find that strange and a very weird way to do business! I mean if a customer doesn't like the soup, and it is AYCE, why not let them change the soup base? That just seems like an easy fix but maybe they have their reasons. Anyway, service was fine and they are the only place in Ithaca that have this concept so I will likely return and try the Kbbq. An easy 4 stars otherwise. read more

Hands down one of my favorite places to eat in Ithaca! They did an incredible job at the design and decor of this restaurant. I was shocked when I walked in. Food. It's just out of this world. The unlimited menu foes not hinder the quality of food at all! Options are almost never ending. The service is great. Very kind. Very attentive. read more

Visited for the first time tonight, with 2 friends. What a great place! Not just great food and service, but the whole process of eating is entertainment. The level of friendly and knowledgeable service was outstanding. They were helpful, friendly, attentive, and fast. The entire restaurant setup is impressive, a lot of thought and technology has gone into it. We did the hot pot, although I would like to try the bbq next time--there will definitely be a next time! Lots of meat and veggie choices, and also shrimp dumplings and lobster balls, both of them delicious. Several choices of noodles, we tried the udon and ramen. I loved the udon noodles, especially with the house sauce. They had a wonderful chew to them, even after spending time in the mushroom broth, which was the one I chose. It was very flavorful just on it's own as a sipping broth. The meats and veggies were very fresh. I also appreciated the fact that I could enjoy a delicious dinner out with friends and not have to consume anything heavy or laden with fat, it's easy to eat in a relatively healthful manner. This place is a great addition to the Ithaca dining scene. read more

I'm so thrilled to have found this place! We had a hot pot location we throughly enjoyed when we lived in New Haven, CT and were disappointed by the offerings in this area until we found this place. The food and service is excellent! The meat is high quality, the sauce bar is incredible and the place is incredibly clean. This restaurant is about to see my face on a near weekly basis! read more

Went there on a Saturday night. They do not do reservations. Waited 40 minutes. They were very busy due to everyone is back to school. Even tho they were busy the service was still good. They came around lots of times to clear away any empty dishes. Also, asked how's everything. Which was good. The food was very good. Good we've ordered came out quick. The hotpot & BBQ atmosphere was there. Everyone around us was having a good time too. Good place to go when you're very hungry! Will go back again. read more

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4.5 Clean and friendly staff. BBQ was good, I wish they had a few more meat and beer options. Sauce bar was well stocked. Food came out quickly. We only had the BBQ and plan on going back to try the Hot Pot. read more

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Felt the need to reiterate how much I love this place!! Amazing food at a great price, me and my partner come all the time, probably once a week at this rate. Staff is always so kind and attentive! read more

Fun and tasty Korean BBQ that hit all the right spots. All-you-can-eat pricing so come hungry and ready to grill while you eat.

I saw the flyer for the restaurant at Ren's in Ithaca and I'm so glad I did. Immediately I took a picture of the flyer and looked it up on Google maps. My bff and I had lunch and since neither of us had ever been to a hot pot or Korean bbq place before we opted for the option where you can get BOTH! It was insanely delicious. Fun and all of the food was fresh, clean and tasty. The produce was beautiful and best part...extremely fresh. The meat choices are plentiful and excellent quality. The people were fantastic. They explained everything in an easy to understand way and with kindness. The only drawbacks were that our server cooked most of our food for us. We really wanted to do it ourselves. I know she did that because we've never been to a restaurant like this before, but a quick demonstration would have been enough. Maybe ask the customer if they want you to help out before you do? Also..wish they had little containers with cheese to melt on the bbq or in the hotpot. I've seen that in literally EVERY video of these types of restaurants and was excited to try. They don't offer cheese for either. Nor do they have Korean cheese corn, a bbq staple. Oh well...maybe I won't be the only one to ask and they will add it. I go to Ithaca monthly for my Asian grocery because there aren't any where I live. So I will be going back to this restaurant...probably at least every other month, maybe even every month. The restaurant is also beautiful and clean...that meant a lot to me as we all know that there are a lot of Asian restaurants that don't always keep up their standards when it comes to cleanliness. I absolutely loved the fire rails (?) and the ambiance of the restaurant. Price point: lunch-affordable Actually I thought it was a great deal considering I paid $26/person for all you can eat hot pot AND bbq. I believe it's $32 for dinner and I think that is also an excellent price point. It is a bit less if you choose hot pot OR bbq and don't get both. read more

We eat a lot of Hot Pot from Florida to philadelphia. This place is clean and very good. we got Hot Pot and not the BBQ. you order from an ipad on the table. servers bring the food. I don't know what the robot does but it never came to the table. Totally worth it for lunch hour pricing. atmosphere- good. easy parking. Would definitely come back! read more

Great hot pot option. Love the sauce buffet. Lots of vegetarian options. Hot tip: the lunch deal is a steal at about $21 per person.

Great food ,great service and great prices. The place was clean and friendly. Found it by accident and loved it.

Service is on the spot . Excellent atmosphere the food is great The wait staff is very helpful read more

The service is amazing ! The staff is super friendly. I noticed the vip rooms so I asked to see one and the staff let me see an empty room and told me the price and for how many people. The food is down right extraordinary. The amount of options they have is incredible. The restaurant and bathroom are so clean. The decor is beautiful. I love coming here with my family. I'm definitely reserving a VIP room for my husband's birthday next year is $488 and that includes the bbq and hot pot options for 12 people in a private room with your own private tv. read more

Went here on a weekday and I was surprised to see that they weren't that busy. They've just opened a week ago and the service is great. The owner personally came out to greet us and there were a lot of employees walking around. I choose both the Hotpot and BBQ and there were a ton of options to choose from. You also get to order from a tablet and have it delivered straight to your table which is pretty neat. They had a sauce bar as well alongside some appetizers and desserts. Overall I'm glad that there's finally an AYCE Hotpot and BBQ place here so I don't have to travel to Syracuse every time I'm craving some read more

The drinks was out of this world. Lychee martini and long peach ice tea is the bomb! We really enjoyed our dinner and the service was on point! read more

Took my wife there for our anniversary,after a couple of coworkers recommended it. Neither of us had ever been to a hotpot/Korean bbq before. So we were a little unsure of what to expect. We were seated immediately and the lady who sat us explained the menu and how to order. We opted for both the hotpot and bbq. A tablet is used to order. We placed our order and our broth was delivered quickly and placed on the electric burner to heat up. Our food was brought out a few minutes later a variety of meat and vegetables. We were very pleased. The Tom Tim broth was delicious. All the food was good except the steak was fatty and gristly. We were both quite satisfied and will definitely return. The service was great and the place seemed clean and neat. Go hungry as it is all you can eat!! read more

We stopped by after my daughter's move-in. We really loved and really enjoyed the food, the vibe, and the Beef Tongue!!! Hope be back soon :) read more

This place is quite a find. Great food. Nice selection. Reasonable price. And very attentive staff. My kids loved it too.