IPot (Inner Sunset)
One of the best places to grab a meal with a large group is at an all-you-can-eat, or AYCE, restaurant. For those that are not aware of this kind of restaurant, you pay a flat fee and are able to eat as much as you want within the AYCE menu.
Furthermore, one of the hardest decisions to make when choosing what AYCE restaurant to eat at, especially if you are feeling Asian food, is the choice between Chinese hotpot and Korean BBQ. Both are solid options, but wildly different from each other, meaning that one or the other must be chosen.
Miso-based stock (left) and Housemade Szechuan stock (right).
But IPot in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset neighborhood bridges the gap between both options. Although the restaurant primarily identifies as a Chinese establishment, each table also has personal grills to cook meat in the style of Korean BBQ. The best thing is that the Korean BBQ is also included in the same AYCE menu.
And while people may argue that there are “better” hotpot and Korean BBQ restaurants out there, the novelty of having such a quirky combination of food is enough to belong on Xplorago. The atmosphere can best be described as casual, but the food does not disappoint. With a nearly endless menu ranging from different hotpot stocks to cuts of meats and vegetables, one will certainly not get bored trying to eat everything on the menu here.
Korean BBQ pork belly (left) and Chinese hotpot (right).
Diners are also able to customize sauces in the back, where various ingredients are already prepared to be put into dipping bowls. My secret hack is to go for the jello right across from the main sauce bar on a smaller cart, as many customers seem to not notice this.
So, if you are looking for a wholesome meal and can’t decide what to eat, IPot is the perfect place for you and your group.
