Name: Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet
Address: 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield
Phone: (217) 698-7008
Website/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HOT-POT-BBQ-buffet
Credit/debit cards accepted: Yes.
Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Entrée price range: $29.95 with discounts during the week and for seniors
Children’s menu: No, but children’s prices are tiered from ages 3-12.
More:There’s nothing fancy about this bar menu which is loaded with Springfield favorites
My order: The restaurant, located in the former Kiku Japanese Steak & Seafood House, aims to educate diners about hot pot history originating thousands of years ago with the Mongolian Empire and the process of cooking meats and vegetables in hot broth. I ordered the hot pot ($29.99) which comes with a choice of seven soup bases. I chose red curry. Diners then select meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings from the buffet and cook them in the hot broth tableside. My companion chose the BBQ Buffet ($29.99), which allows for specific meats in addition to hot pot offerings, again cooked tableside on the grill. There is also a station for various dipping sauces for the meal.
Likes: More than two dozen vegetable and meat/seafood options make for a grand buffet. For a $6 additional charge, diners can have the hot pot and BBQ buffet. Not only did the host review the process, but a laminated card and cooking suggestions on the menu made it difficult to mess up the dining experience. My companion and I thought the place was clean, the buffet generous, and the food fresh. I respect the establishment reserving the right to add a surcharge for wasted food. After all, we should eat what we take, and guests are allowed a two-hour window to dine.
Dislikes: None
What would I order next time? I’d order either the original soup or Tom Yum soup for the base and perhaps be a little more adventurous and try some of the shellfish, octopus, or squid. And I would consider a trip to the ice cream case.