"A meal at Hotpot Alley is even more DIY than a typical hot pot experience. It all starts with a stack of red grocery baskets at the front of the store. From there, you’ll head to a series of small refrigerated shelves full of pre-packaged meats, vegetables, and noodles that are individually priced. Load up your basket, then head to “checkout,” where you can choose a broth and get assigned a table for the rest of your meal. This is a good option if you’re not that hungry and don’t want to pay AYCE prices. But if you’re not careful, it’s also easy to go overboard and spend more than you would have at a bottomless spot." - nicolai mccrary