"Sometimes hot pot tastes best in a restaurant that looks like your chaotic family member’s garage. Enter Sân Vườn Cafe in South Houston, a goofy but endearing Vietnamese spot that is, best of all, really delicious—especially the Thai-style hot pot. Once boiling, lemongrass and ginger envelop your entire table in a tantalizing aroma cloud. Not to be outdone by the decor, the actual pot for this dish has a wide collar, making it look like an upside-down beach hat. It’s perfect for sliding the toppings, like cubes of tofu or fresh greens, straight into the delicious boiling broth." - julie takahashi, gianni greene, chelsea thomas