All-you-can-eat hot pots bubble over Homewood: three spots near campus

The rising popularity of Asian all-you-can-eat hot pot has breathed new life into the Asian buffet scene, which was hard hit during the pandemic. Earlier this year, I covered some standout hot pot spots featuring places like New Generation Hot Pot, Hot Pot Hero and Hot Pot King. Since then, I’ve had the chance to visit even more hot pot places. Here’s my latest roundup.

KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, Towson

Nestled in Towson, KPOT has quickly become one of my top two favorite all-you-can-eat hot pot spots within a 20-minute drive of Homewood. As the name suggests, this restaurant conveniently combines individual hot pots with Korean barbecue, offering a multi-dimensional dining experience with ingredients cooked two ways. 

The menu is thoughtfully curated — with standout proteins like sliced beef tongue and ribeye and vegetables such as crown daisy that are ideal for hot pot. Although the barbecue selection may not rival the range found at more specialized Korean barbecue joints, it still holds its own with flavorful options like chuck flap and ribs.

The sauce bar is well-stocked, giving diners the freedom to customize their meal to perfection. I also appreciate the generous portions of meat that were served without hesitation. At $29.99 for dinner, KPOT offers excellent value for the quality and variety of food offered.

Hot N Roll Hot Pot, Ellicott City

Another favorite of mine is Hot N Roll, located in Ellicott City. A friend introduced me to this spot, and our decision to visit on a relaxed Saturday afternoon turned out to be at the perfect time. Without a crowd, the self-serve bar was fully stocked with a wide variety of ingredients, from textural sensations like beef tendon and tripe to seafood delights like oysters and mussels.

One standout feature was that shrimp paste — typically considered a premium item — was readily available at the self-serve bar along with the rare addition of duck palm, which you don’t often find at other hot pot spots. 

Similar to KPOT, the staff here didn’t hold back on portions of premium items like supreme beef brisket and Angus beef. The experience of receiving large portions without feeling like you’re constantly asking for more adds to the overall positive dining experience.

Make sure to save room for dessert; the Hershey's ice cream in their fridge was a nice surprise, with a richer flavor than the usual watery versions served at many other hot pot places. Prices are $33.95 for weekday dinner and $34.95 for weekends, a great value for the food quality and the service provided.

Broadway Hotpot, Fells Point

Unfortunately, Broadway Hotpot in Fells Point didn’t live up to the buzz it generated through its heavy social media marketing ahead of opening. 

My friends and I visited after it launched, and the experience fell short of expectations. Perhaps due to its early popularity, the self-serve bar was understocked, and the ingredients didn’t look as fresh or vibrant as I would have liked, which made me hesitant to try many of them.

The variety of options was also somewhat limited compared to other hot pot places I’ve visited. While the soup and sauce bar were serviceable, they didn’t do much to enhance the overall meal. More disappointing was the noticeably small portions of premium items, such as Angus beef and shrimp paste — evident in the photo below, where the single plate of beef we received was meant to represent seven portions.

I understand that all-you-can-eat restaurants often walk a fine line with portion control, but, when diners feel as though they’re being shortchanged, it detracts from the experience. At around $38 per person after a 15% opening discount, Broadway Hot Pot was the most expensive option reviewed here, yet it didn’t offer the quality or value to match. 

While it’s possible that some of these issues can be chalked up to the early days of operation, there’s no denying that the competitive nature of the all-you-can-eat hot pot scene requires a more polished debut. I’m hopeful that, with time, Broadway Hot Pot will smooth out these rough edges and find its footing. However, given the high standards set by other established spots, they’ll need to step up quickly.

Despite the praise or critiques I’ve shared above, at the end of the day, the real joy of hot pot lies as much in the company as it does in the food. The small annoyances of daily life seem to melt away in the rising steam and lively conversation with friends. It’s the simple act of building your own pot, picking out your favorite ingredients and mixing up your perfect sauce that makes the experience so special. In those moments, everything comes together: the bubbling broth, the swirling steam and the nonstop exchanges with friends.