Hulu Hot Pot & BBQ

Not recommended This was my third time visiting this place. My previous visits were fine, which is why I came back with normal expectations — but this time was extremely disappointing. It honestly feels like this place has gone downhill. I found a bug in my drink, which is a serious food safety issue and completely unacceptable. What made it worse was that when I was about to explain the situation, the staff member did not really listen and acted on their own, without proper communication or a sincere apology. The whole interaction felt dismissive and unprofessional. On top of that, I ordered vanilla ice cream. While the shop does offer a mixed flavor option, no one asked me whether I was okay with that, and I was simply given chocolate flavor instead. If a substitution is needed, customers should at least inform the customer and ask first, rather than making the decision themselves. What made this experience even more upsetting is that today was my birthday, and I chose to come here expecting a pleasant experience. Unfortunately, it turned into a very disappointing one. As a returning customer, this visit left me extremely dissatisfied. Both food hygiene and service quality have clearly declined compared to before. I won’t be coming back, and I hope the management seriously reflects on these issues.

Avoid and Go Literally Anywhere Else. I really wanted to enjoy this place, but Hulu Hotpot was a disappointment from start to finish and honestly, a little insulting for the price. Let's start with the all-you-can-eat situation, because it is not what you'd expect. First off, no free soda refills. For AYCE? Come on. The seafood options were nearly nonexistent, and the shrimp the only real seafood option came with the shell still on, with zero alternative. The meat selection was painfully limited, completely unseasoned and unmarinated. Everything tasted bland and boring, and that includes the "spicy" broth I ordered, which had absolutely no kick or depth to it whatsoever. For a place marketing itself as a Chinese hotpot restaurant, the broth alone should be disqualifying. The sauces were a letdown too. No proper chili sauce just a chili oil and a few sad options that didn't come close to what you'd find at any comparable hotpot spot. Speaking of which Urban Hot Pot and Umi Hot Pot are literally down the road and across the street. Go there instead. The difference in quality and value is night and day. My husband decided to skip the hotpot and just do the skewers. Big mistake though not his fault for trying. The skewers were tiny (I'm attaching a photo so you can see for yourself), took well over 30 minutes to cook, and were so underwhelming that we both basically abandoned our meals. We left genuinely hungry after spending over $81 between the two of us. Nearly everything worth ordering had an add-on price tacked on, which makes the base AYCE offering feel even more hollow and bare. No desserts were offered with the all-you-can-eat either. They claimed to have ice cream, but it was marked sold out the entire time which felt symbolic of the whole experience honestly. The other confusing part? This place seems to have an identity crisis. They're trying to be a hotpot restaurant, a bar, AND a karaoke spot all at once, and none of it lands. It feels like a gimmick to pull in any crowd they can rather than a genuine dining concept. We went on a weekend around 1 PM and the place was nearly empty only 2 other tables. Any decent hotpot spot on a weekend would have a wait. That emptiness tells you everything. The one bright spot: the service. The staff were attentive, cleared plates quickly, and were genuinely pleasant. They deserve better management around them. But overall? Skip Hulu Hotpot entirely. The food is bland, the value is terrible, and the concept is confused. Go to Urban Hot Pot or Umi Hot Pot instead you'll thank yourself.

We went for lunch and kids get half price. It wasn’t very crowded in the afternoon, so the place was pretty quiet. The beef and lamb didn’t seem very fresh and had a bit of a gamey smell. The shrimp and mussels also didn’t taste fresh. The BBQ was okay, but the meat had the same smell and was pretty fatty, which I’m not a fan of. The only things I was fairly satisfied with were the vegetables, which were good, and the ice cream, which was tasty.

Loved the experience at Hulu in Rockville! The Chinese BBQ-style lamb skewers were super tasty, and grilling them at the table made it extra fun. We also had hotpot, which was flavorful and satisfying. Great food, clean setup, and the manager was incredibly friendly. Highly recommend if you're craving lamb skewers or a good hotpot spot!

The restaurant has a very clean and well-maintained environment, which made for a comfortable dining experience. Like many similar places, ordering is done through a tablet system, which is convenient and user-friendly. Service was fast — we visited on a Wednesday evening when it wasn’t too busy, and the food arrived promptly. The ingredient selection is plentiful and fresh, offering a wide variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables. It’s pretty much on par with other similar hot pot & BBQ spots in the area. Both the hot pot and BBQ options were flavorful and satisfying — nothing particularly fancy, but everything tasted good and was well-prepared. Overall, a solid option if you’re craving hot pot and grill — clean, efficient, and enjoyable.

This spot is my go-to whenever I’m craving skewers. It’s an all-you-can-eat hot pot + skewer place, and the skewers are genuinely delicious. I usually can’t handle lamb skewers because of the smell, but here they don’t have that strong odor and I can enjoy them comfortably. They’re really good. Even though it’s AYCE, there are so many options to choose from, which I love. The hot pot is tasty too, but the skewers are definitely the star for me. If you’re looking for a place to enjoy both hot pot and skewers, this is the one I always come back to.

I had a wonderful experience at Hulu Hot Pot for my very first visit! We went on a Sunday night and were pleasantly surprised to find the restaurant nearly empty, which meant no wait time at all. We were seated immediately, and the hostess was incredibly kind and helpful, taking the time to explain how to order and how everything worked. Dinner was $36 per person, and it was absolutely worth every penny. Hulu offers an all-you-can-eat hot pot experience with BBQ and skewers included – a unique and exciting combination. The skewers were a standout for both my husband and me; they were absolutely delicious and quickly became our favorite part of the meal. Watching them cook on a slow rotating platform was such a cool and fun touch that added to the overall experience. The condiment bar was especially impressive, offering a wide variety of sauces, spices, and flavor combinations that surpassed what we’ve seen at other AYCE hot pot places. Service throughout the evening was excellent – every order we placed arrived promptly and accurately. We’re already looking forward to returning with family and friends. Hulu Hot Pot delivered on every level: quality, value, service, and atmosphere. We cannot recommend this place enough!