"If you find yourself with a group that likes to be in control, M Pot is the place. This Sichuan spot in the Richmond prices its malatang by weight, and it’s completely customizable. You’ll get a giant metal bowl and fill it with vegetables, meats, and noodles that are all displayed on a few shelves. After you make your picks, the staff will ask you for your preferred spice level, if you want beef or tomato broth, and then they’ll take everything to the back. Soon, you’ll receive a bubbling cauldron of stew. There are a lot of ingredients to try, so it might take a few attempts to figure out your own perfect combo—thankfully the broth will do most of the heavy lifting." - julia chen 1, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez