Chongqing Lao Zao 重慶老灶

This is my first time having hot pot here. First of all , I really love their decoration of ancient style . It is like you are going back to Chinese Kingdom centuries. About the food, the broth are lighter than I used to eat but it’s good for me actually. Mostly after eating hot pot, I am always thirsty. But this time it wasn’t like that at all. May be their soup has light sodium in it. Plus their mushroom soup is giving you the sweet and rich flavor. We ordered mild spicy and it was perfect for my stomach. The signature dish i ordered first time in my life were milk beef and black tofu. They let the beef soak in the milk for a while , when we cooked it, it’s really giving me a wonderful flavor. It was soft, and i can taste the milky taste in it. Plus, we ordered something lime with blueberries sparkling drinks in S size but got enough for all of us. The drink is so refreshing and i recommend it.<br>I really enjoyed my lunch there with my sisters and my friend.

First time trying Chongqing Lao Zao Hot Pot and I honestly loved it. I don’t usually eat very spicy food, so I was surprised by how flavorful and enjoyable everything was.<br>We got the “Mercedes Pot” with spicy, herbal, and tomato broths — all three were great in different ways. The spicy broth was rich and fragrant, not just spicy for no reason.<br>The desserts were also surprisingly good, especially the iced tangyuan and the hot pot shaped cake. Huge menu with lots of options. Definitely coming back again!

Dining at Chongqing Lao Zao Hot Pot felt less like a meal and more like stepping into another world. From the moment I walked through the doors, every carefully placed detail transported me to old-country China — rich textures, warm lighting, and an atmosphere that invited you to slow down and truly experience the moment.<br><br>I was fortunate enough to be seated in a cozy corner, the kind of spot every food traveler hopes for — intimate, immersive, and perfect for soaking in the surroundings. The host didn’t just guide me through the menu; they understood the assignment. With thoughtful recommendations and genuine enthusiasm, they helped me curate a meal that felt both authentic and tailored to my taste.<br><br>The only downside? This is not an all-you-can-eat experience — which, in a way, speaks to the quality and intention behind the menu. Still, I found myself wishing I had the appetite to explore even more of what they had to offer. When a restaurant leaves you wanting to come back before you’ve even finished your meal, you know they’ve done something right.<br><br>For those seeking an immersive dining experience where atmosphere and flavor meet with intention, this is a destination worth the journey. And for restaurateurs who believe their story deserves to be experienced, documented, and shared — I travel for places exactly like this. 🍲✨

This place is super popular! Wait time is an hour or two for walk ins, so I recommend booking a reservation. Inside it’s like an old Chinese village, so the experience is more immersive than a normal restaurant. Walk around and explore! The broth is excellent and the beef is likewise. I’m a purist, so I got the marbled beef and the ribeye. Both delicious but the ribeye is cheaper, so I ordered a second round. The crown daisies (tong ho) are fresh and good. The house rice wine is thick and sweet. The next table tried to order 4 jugs of it and the waiter said “no, too much” 😅. The only downside is that they’re understaffed and therefore service is slow. But overall it was totally worth it. $120 for two people and we were very satisfied 😋. Yes, go here!

I had a great experience at Chong Qing Lao Zao! The hot pot is incredibly authentic and full of flavor — especially the spicy broth, which has that perfect numbing and fragrant kick. The ingredients were fresh, the portions were generous, and everything tasted amazing.<br><br>The atmosphere feels lively and traditional, making it a perfect spot for gathering with friends. The staff was attentive and friendly, which made the whole experience even better.<br><br>If you’re looking for real Chongqing-style hot pot, this place is definitely worth visiting! 🌶️🔥

Decent but slightly pricey hotpot place with lots of unique items on the menu. Everything was fresh quality and tasted good, except for the Milky Beef (6/10). They pour milk to marinate the beef, which supposedly makes it more tender, but I didn’t think it was that special. What I really liked though was the Fresh Bamboo Shoot (10/10) because of the distinct texture. You don’t find this on the menu of a lot of hotpot places so it felt particularly special.<br><br>The wait can be long but you can add yourself to their online waitlist. Also they charge per person for dipping sauce, which is why I docked one star off. It’s not uncommon for hotpot places that are not AYCE, but I still don’t like it.

The place is famous of long waiting line for a good reason, it is best hot pot spot in New York City, tastes real authentic as you were in China.<br><br>They offer a good selection of items on their menu, all fresh and high quality, which is important for hot pot. Few different types of soup base, even you don't eat spicy you can choose mushroom or herb one, both were tasty and good.<br><br>My favorite dish is the beef with milk, it's fun to watch the waitress preparing it and the meat so tender and fresh after putting into the hot pot.<br><br>This place is my No.1 choice when it comes to hot pot.

We arrived at 1pm on a Saturday. There was a 1-2 hour wait. We decided to sit in the front desk area and review the menu. It was a crowded space and very cold but you can go to nearby bar for a cocktail. They will text you when your table is ready. We were seated within an hour. Hao, our server, was friendly, helpful, and attentive. The decor is delightful. The food is delicious except the beef tongue was too chewy. The variety on the menu is plentiful. Great selection of drinks. The music is relaxing. All the staff were professional. We will definitely return.

This is hands down the best hot pot I’ve had in New York. The wait can be pretty long, but it’s absolutely worth it 🔥<br>The broth is incredibly flavorful and well-balanced — even after cooking for a long time, it never gets overly salty or dry, which really sets this place apart.<br><br>All the ingredients are super fresh, from the meats to the vegetables, and you can tell a lot of care goes into the quality. The overall dining experience is very satisfying, and you actually get to enjoy your meal without feeling rushed 🍲<br><br>Honestly, this is one of those spots you’ll want to recommend to everyone. If you’re ever in Flushing, this place is a must-try ✨

I came in by myself for dinner and Shawn gave me the best service I’ve ever experienced. He was an incredible waiter from start to finish — kind, attentive, and genuinely welcoming.<br><br>He took the time to explain how hot pot works and made great menu recommendations that were spot on. His knowledge, patience, and positive energy made the entire experience smooth and enjoyable. Shawn has a rare ability to make you feel completely comfortable while also delivering top-tier service.<br><br>Truly the best waiter I’ve ever had. He made the night memorable, and I’ll absolutely be back because of him.

By the time I left the restaurant, I forgot I was in Flushing, because the 20th century Chongqing theming was that immersive. Even the bathrooms were well maintained and decorated. As for the food, it was worth the 2 hour wait (we arrived at 5 on a Monday and were seated at 7). The marbled beef was one of the best hotpot meats I’ve tried, and the milky beef was a fun interactive experience and had a unique flavor. The service couldn’t be better as we were warmly greeted as we were seated, and the waiter kindly explained the different broth spice levels to us. They provide custom aprons to protect your clothes which was a thoughtful touch. There’s a reason this is one of the most popular hotpot restaurants in NYC!

Amazing hot pot experience! The broth was rich and flavorful, and there were so many fresh ingredients to choose from. Everything cooked perfectly, and the sauces really brought it all together. The atmosphere was cozy and fun, and the staff were friendly and attentive. Definitely coming back again<br><br>End up have to thanks for jasper he doing great work

If you're looking for spicy hotpot, look no further. They're known for their spicy foods. I have a high spice tolerance and the food had me sweating but enjoying myself. We did the three pot soup base<br>Tomato-sweet, tangy and savory, can't go wrong if you like tomato base<br>The OG- we did medium spicy and that was tasty, flavorful and medium was more than enough level of spiciness Chinese herbal- good but there's LOTs of ginseng so if you don't like ginseng/slightly bitter flavors, might want to avoid this.<br>We ordered an assortment of protein and veggies to go with our soups. The taichi beef was super spicy as it was filled with red and green chilli. Thinly sliced beef and ribeye were great. We also tried meatballs, thinly sliced chicken and enjoyed it all.<br>The place is super cute on the inside. There's a little pond with koi fish inside. The ground floor has regular seats but there are some seats on the other floors where it's traditional and you are seated low to the ground. The sauce station is on the second floor and self serve. I was very pleasantly surprised by their brown sugar buns which was basically fried mochi with brown sugar syrup. I love the texture of mochi and the outside was very crispy, inside was chewy and the syrup was pure sugar goodness.<br>They also have really cute booths upstairs where some have traditional floor seating and some are built to look like little homes.

It is another restaurant for Mala and Shabu that you should definitely not miss. Starting with the warm atmosphere at the restaurant since opening the door to the shop, it is like you are really in China. The quality of the meat and the food is good to very good, which is definitely not my first time. I have been here more than 5 times. I like the taste, the staff and the atmosphere are good and clean. Overall, if you come to party with friends, you must come here. Even if you step out of the shop, you will have the smell of shabu and smoke on you. I still like to come back to eat here. I recommend it for shrimp, not bamboo and the meat is both fresh and good.

This place is phenomenal and lives every bit up to the hype! Immediately as you walk in, you’re hit with the mouth-watering and aromatic fragrance of the mala. The interior design and decor evoke feelings of awe and wonder. And the swift service is impeccable.<br><br>The hotpot’s broth is very flavorful and delicious. For those who are ordering spicy, fair warning, it is HOT. I can handle spice really well, but even medium had me slightly struggling 😮‍💨 The ingredients were all fresh and the portions were great too. I do recommend the milky beef, it’s sooo tender. (Wasn’t a huge fan of their spicy beef though since it was too salty.) The shrimp paste is also good👌<br><br>Definitely revisiting in the future!😍😍