Hot Pot and KBBQ Places I Recommend
By: Kristen Adams ‘25
Looking for a new place to grab dinner with friends? Whether you are a seasoned hot pot lover or a Korean Barbecue (KBBQ) newbie, I have compiled a list of my favorite hot pot and KBBQ spots around LA and especially Koreatown that I frequent with my friends on the weekend. Bon appétit!
Shabuya
Located within Fryft distance, Shabuya is a great option if you are craving an all-you-can-eat hot pot experience. As a bonus, there are a variety of photo opportunities on the bridge and under the archway outside the restaurant. Fun fact: there are two cats who live in the small garden space.
Inside, the restaurant is lit in dark blue and purple hues, and there is a large bar of ingredients including seafood, fun sauces, and vegetables that you add to your soup. There are nine meats to choose from, and because it is all-you-can-eat, you can ask to bring out four different kinds at a time, in addition to appetizers. My favorite appetizer is the fried sesame balls. Check out the menu to see their full offerings, but make sure you don’t order too much meat, because there is a leftover charge!
Tang Huo Kung Fu Spicy Hot Pot
While “spicy” is indeed in its name, there are plenty of options here for non-spice lovers, like myself. You can choose between hot pot and dry pot, which is essentially the same thing as hot pot minus the soup base and is stir-fried. There is an ingredient bar where you can add vegetables, meat skewers, and seafood, and you can also adjust your spice level as well. Given its name, this restaurant does not play around with its spiciness, and according to my friend, the highest level of spice is indeed numbing – try at your own risk!
Check out the menu to see what ingredients and options you can choose from. And do not underestimate the spice levels here. If you have a low spice tolerance like me, the mild option will be plenty spicy.
Meat Love Korean BBQ
Meat Love is a popular spot for USC students and is located in Koreatown. It is a great Korean BBQ option because they give out a larger number of free side dishes than other Korean BBQ spots in the area. They also have a lot of outdoor seating, but be sure to get here early because the restaurant does fill up very quickly. However, if the wait time is too long, Road to Seoul is right across the street and offers the same style of food.
Check out the menu to see the never-ending list of meats that you can barbecue and try with your friends!
Road To Seoul
Across the street from Meat Love is Road to Seoul, which is similar to Meat Love and has fun lighting and music. Unlike Meat Love, the variety of the free side dishes is more limited, but the meat selection is great. It is also a popular spot to hold birthdays, as my friends and I see celebrations often when we stop in.
Check out the menu to see if any of the meat, seafood, and protein options speak to you and your stomach.
Boiling Point
Located in Pasadena, Boiling Point is a bit farther from USC than the other restaurants on the list. However, unlike the other hot pot spots mentioned, Boiling Pot has more of a sit-down service, where you receive your pot with all of its ingredients already inside, bubbling in your soup. There is a wide variety of spice levels, meats, and soup bases, and the inside of the restaurant is very cozy. There tends to be a long wait time as it is a popular local spot, but there is an Oakobing conveniently located nearby where you can get shaved ice for dessert afterwards. I always get the strawberry and green tea shaved ice!
BCD Tofu House
BCD Tofu House is a popular chain also found in New York and Dallas. With a wide variety of appetizers and soup bases, BCD Tofu House is my go-to if I’m looking for comfort food and a nice, warm soup on a chilly night. My favorite is the seafood tofu soup, and there are always new, fun side dishes that come along with the meal. Most recently, they offered apple mashed potatoes, which was a favorite among most of my friends.
With lots of great side dishes and locations around Los Angeles, the closest to USC being the one on Wilshire Boulevard, BCD Tofu House is popular for a reason. Check out the menu and the rest of their website to see what they have to offer.
Being a college student in LA means having access to so many different cuisines and restaurants. I look forward to exploring new restaurants and spots for dinner, lunch, and brunch with my friends. Onto the next restaurant!
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