California Hot Pot

What an amazing place for a first time experience to hot pot. The price its pretty accessible and the portions are quite good. They have a good variety of meats and sides. Including vegetarian options. For the premium size that they offer it's possible to share between 2 persons which makes it an even more affordable option. But they also have smaller options too. The ordering process is a bit different: scan a QR, type a ticket number, add and customize your order and finally pay by cash or zelle at the register ( they can see the orders in their system, just let them know you ticket #). But event tho it's a bit complicated the staff is super friendly and will walk you through the process or even do it for you. For me they even explained the flavor of each broth and ingredient. And made recommendations. The place is a bit small but very cozy with good music, have in mind that it receives a lot of people and preparation of your order can take a bit of time so I recommend to arrive early, even 5 minutes before opening. Overall an amazing place for new and returning people.

California Hot Pot is a nice hotpot restaurant. The food tastes great, especially the soup. I recommend ordering the Upgrade package and not adding sides before you look at how much food is to be served. The wait was quite long during weekend. The staffs are very nice and super helpful. Parking is available on the streets and or adjacent to the resto. Down side is CASH ONLY. So, I had to register my name first and went to the bank to get some cash and came back. Restroom is clean. You pay first before you eat.

Great budget-friendly option for hot pot. I went around 8:30PM on a weekday and there was no wait at all. Their ordering process is a bit different. They have you create a ticket and scan a QR code to order online. Once you place the order, you go up to the cashier and pay. Note that they do not take card, only cash or zelle! For $20, I got a milk tea, large pot filled with generous amounts of 4 different types of protein, and ice cream for dessert. There's also free juices/teas on the side of the cashier along with the sauce bar. Personally I think the sauce bar could be better especially since there was no satay sauce. I really missed the thai spicy broth from boiling point but they have a tom yom option here that was super tasty. The pot is pretty similar size to boiling point as well but its def filled up more. I also had the dirty fries and it was the bomb dot com. It came with green onions, drizzled with their house made sauce, and covered in bacon bits. It made for a great appetizer for the table.

Hotpot is delicious! Portion is adequate. Comparable to Boiling Point but less expensive. Menu is pre-Covid pricing....more bang for the buck.👍. There are 4 price options: mini, regular, upgrade (quality meat), and premium (highest quality meat). Regular or higher option comes with free beverage. Premium include ice cream, and all you can eat rice or noodles. This establishment could use extra help. Food took a bit long to serve. Condiments, sauces, and beverages are self-serve. There's parking adjacent to the building. Cash only.

This is a 4/4.5 star place for me. We love hot pot but this is different from the AYCE joints all over the place. You pick the size of bowl you want, the style/type of stuff you want inside and a burner with your pot full of good stuff comes before you. If you have a large group, be patient as this is a small location and can’t accommodate many large groups. I’d say 30 max if they jam everyone in. For a small place like this they probably would like to keep things moving as efficiently as possible and turn the tables over. We ordered mini pots and premium pots. The pots were mainly California, Japanese Tonkotsu and Malibu Shabu Shabu. There was one person to help facilitate the ordering process and collect your payment and another clearing the tables so once I emphasize - it’s a small operation. It’s straight forward after you order. Grab your dipping sauces on your own as well as any beverages thru the dispenser. Then wait for your pot to arrive. And boy oh boy did it arrive. When the pots were placed in front of us, the meat and presentation of it all was amazing!!! 😱🤤 I think my photos look good but in person it’s even better. I’m so glad we gave this place a try, it was worth walking in during the last hour. We ended late but walked away with satisfied, full bellies. The friendly, wait person was so patient with us and explained the ordering process when we messed up and even walked us thru the menu listings. We had newbie written all over our foreheads so she recognized the puzzled looks on our faces when we got stuck. Thank you California Hot Pot for the great experience! We will be back and have recommended this place to friends as well!

Great addition to the hot pot craze in the 626. It's definitely different from the other hot pot places in the area because everything comes raw in your pot. Unlike boiling point, this place has different flavored soup bases and I'm sure you're able to customize it. I ordered their Thai Tom Yum "upgrade" with their Peach Sunshine Green Tea. The soup has just the right amount of spicy and sour. The shrimp they give are indeed jumbo shrimp scampi. What I wish they did was devein the shrimps because it's a black lining on the shrimp that makes it look gross. You're only limited to certain sauces, which is located by their cash register. If I remember correctly, there was garlic, sesame, black bean, soy sauce and green onions. The next time I'm here, I'll have to give their tonkotsu a try because I was actually craving beef but got seafood instead. I did get to try my friends beef and it was amazing. Cooking it raw and eating it however you like it is indeed better than having it precooked and tasting overcooked. Tip: get there early to wait in line because it can take a while to be seated.

With so many hotpot places in the area, it takes a lot to stay competitive. It's good that this place offers 3 price levels for those who are on a budget versus those who want to splurge a bit. I got the hollywood protein upgrade and my friend got the Japanese tonkatsu spicy regular. I tasted her broth and it wasn't as spicy and portions were a lot for a regular size. For a Saturday, there were people waiting at least 15 minutes before the restaurant opened and at least 5 parties waiting 30 minutes after it opened. My friend and I chose to sit outside so we didn't have to wait. It was doable especially with the hot broth. It did get cold at the end of our luncheon. The place had 2 heaters that they brought outside but it was not used. Not sure if it was broken or the staff didn't want to set it up for only 2 customers. The staff was nice and checked on us a few times after we got our orders. The broth was on the blander side for me but I think I would give this place another chance by trying a different broth and spicy level. Overall, my experience was pleasant.

Very few seating locations, so wait time can be very long. The service was dealing with it as best as they can, but we ended up having to wait for an hour outside. Hotpot itself was okay, but nothing special when compared it's local competition. It's a little bit on the pricier side too

Great pricing, drinks and sauces were self-served (they had water, lychee tea, and another flavored lemonade), does get busy during the evening, and the online ordering made it easy for everyone in the party to place their own orders on their devices. You get to choose the option of having the ingredients fully cooked, mildly cooked, or fully uncooked and have it cooking while you chat with your friends at your table. The restaurant is a bit small, but it was clean and well-organized. Overall a great experience and I would come back again the next time I'm in LA!

Sat night - no cabbage, no self-serve drinks, no milk tea. This place kinda sucks. Kinda because the broth is actually really good.. the sizing options are great. Variety of flavors are enticing. If there isn't any cabbage they will replace w spinach which is ok but not the same. Can't speak on the drinks since there weren't any. Sucks bc of everything else. I hate to bash on a small business but the service is inconvenient. The multiple step ordering process is a hot mess. Consolidate everything online - accept card/digital payment. It's worth the transaction fee for the convenience and potential for repeat customers. I'll come back when they fix this and I really hope they do.

Great budget-friendly option for hot pot. I went around 8:30PM on a weekday and there was no wait at all. Their ordering process is a bit different. They have you create a ticket and scan a QR code to order online. Once you place the order, you go up to the cashier and pay. Note that they do not take card, only cash or zelle! For $20, I got a milk tea, large pot filled with generous amounts of 4 different types of protein, and ice cream for dessert. There's also free juices/teas on the side of the cashier along with the sauce bar. Personally I think the sauce bar could be better especially since there was no satay sauce. I really missed the thai spicy broth from boiling point but they have a tom yom option here that was super tasty. The pot is pretty similar size to boiling point as well but its def filled up more. I also had the dirty fries and it was the bomb dot com. It came with green onions, drizzled with their house made sauce, and covered in bacon bits. It made for a great appetizer for the table.

The service is trash. Find your own table then order then wait in line to pay (they will not make your food before). The seating is limited. - Mini Hot Pot 3/5 While this hotpot only came with cabbage and two slices of meat, it was pretty OK. I would opt to get the regular hotpot's next time or even the California one with seafood? That one looks really good. There's free drinks on the side... sauce is limited. Parking is free in a lot.

Private parking lot on the side of the restaurant. Cash/ zelle only. Limited seating, not great for big groups. Service was good on my visit. Self ordering by scanning QR code, pay @ the counter, and make your own dipping sauce at the self serve sauce bar.

I am so sad that California hot pot has closed. I know they were struggling with having the very confusing inline ordering system I think to limit server staff, but always was happy with the hot pot. Pretty good pricing for a great single serving hot pot. Also liked their fries... Real sad to see them go.

California Hot Pot is one of those places that I always consistently go to for the caring staff and overall quality meal for the price. The restaurant staff is really nice and are always sure to accommodate me even when I bring people or eat alone. If you need anything at all (explanation of the QR code system, turning off your fire, etc.), they are happy to help you out. The restaurant is really small, so I always try to go right when they open around 5pm. Because I'm usually able to be seated right away, I would definitely say that this affects my experience here versus others who may have to wait a while in line. The menu is really customizable, so you can choose what option works best for you in terms of broth, meat, spice level, and size of order. I typically order a regular or premium set, but I find that the regular is a good-sized portion for me most of the time. Some things I really appreciate about this place are that the teas are included in the regular size's price (I love the strawberry green tea) and the broth taste here is really clean! I love ordering the Malibu broth with medium spice (I find that this compares to a mild at most other places). Some things to consider: - Although quite a deal, I would say that most of the hot pot options do have a lot of cabbage - I personally don't mind for the price ($15 after tax usually for a regular), but definitely a point to consider for some! - The QR system can be quite confusing, so ask to have them explain it to you if it's your first time! - Make sure to get there early! It may take a while to be seated, especially if you have a large group since the place is small - They only accept CASH or ZELLE, so make sure you can pay with one of those options before you go! - They have parking in the lot with an entrance on the side of the restaurant :)

Me and my sister went on the new year day. I think the owner didn't expect how crazy people will come to have dinner. We came around 6 pm and it was only a chef and a server and there were full house. The server is pretty nice to try to serve all the customer even it was crazy full like 40 people. The food is decent compare to other personal hot pot place. I will give the server 5 stars.

CASH ONLY Parking: Small lot adjacent to restaurant Ambience: Fairly small and cramped, but well-decorated with various frames hung above the wooden seating available. Service: Friendly but busy! Seemed a bit understaffed, but the staff are very accommodating and patient once they are able to come around to help explain the QR system, take your order, etc. To get started, you use their tablet near the front door to create a ticket. You then scan their QR code, input your ticket #, and customize your order. There's a wide range of options for customization--the most I've seen of any hot pot place, including broth, meat, spice level, whether you want it precooked, etc. You can go pay for your order and they'll seat you afterwards. Taste: We all ordered different options and all of them were fairly decent. Broth was fairly clear and there was a actually a good amount of meat per bowl. Also got the dirty fries, which were fairly good as good. Their milk tea and ice cream (came with matcha powder on top and strawberry jam?) tasted weird, would not recommend. Appreciate their self-serve tea options, including unsweetened green tea, lychee lemonade, and peach strawberry green tea. Overall, it's worth a try for the customization options and the hot pot itself, but it's a bit expensive and can be quite a wait.

Friday dinner at 5 pm - premium set with Japanese broth (double giant prawns, and USDA prime beef) , bottle of beer, ice cream, glass noodles - upgrade set with Malibu broth (beef + lamb) Service: self ordering, customize your own hot pot. The self order system was too confusing to customers. First, create ticket. Second, scan and order,. Finally, pay and wait Ambiance: casual Price: so far so good Food quality: big portion of the hotspot, the broth was good and taste full, unlimited glass noodles/ rice free refill. Self-served station for sauces and free drinks. Remarks: Private parking lot. Cash only!

Portions are huge but the ordering and paying is weird. We came for dinner and waited for like 30 mins. There was only two workers and the front lady seemed very stressed with all the multitasking but was able to handle it all (props to her). You have to scan a QR code to enter a website to order what you want and then it'll give you your order number and price and you go to the cashier to pay. ONLY CASH OR ZELLE. It's pretty small area and gets packed quick but it can definitely feel overwhelming for yourself too. Self serve drinks and sauces. I recommend this place to people who have more knowledge on tech or it'll be hard to order and a bit harder to understand the vibe. The lady is super nice and accommodating though so I'm sure she'd help. Something that threw me off was how the ethanol was next to the cabbage... Prices are pretty decent though for the amount you get.

There is always a wait here. The service wasn't the best (only 2 people working). When it gets busy the woman working looks very stressed and overwhelmed so it's hard to get any help. To order it is through an online system. You scan the QR code then place the order online, you also have to pay first in order for it to be placed. The pot size and options are big. It is nice that they have complimentary drinks. I think I would come here and order to go just for their dirty fries! I am not a big fan of the hot pot but always give it a try.

This is one of my favorite hotpot places now. However there are some downsides. Firstly, their waitlist is difficult to understand sometimes, and they have this weird digital ordering system before you sit, and worst of all this is that you have to pay by cash even though they use a digital system. I don't understand at all. However, the flavors are great, fresh ingredients, and nice sauce variety. Some of the combos come with a beer and you can also customize your meal easily.

I visited California Hot Pot a few years ago, and I visited again recently. I have to admit I was pretty disappointed during my visit. Hot pot usually makes a rainy day pleasant, but this is one of those experiences where it made a rainy day a storm. When I walked in, there wasn't much space for people to wait. There is a small waitlist, but I've seen people sit down without consulting or following the waitlist. With only one or two staff members, getting seated is quite hectic. The menu has also been changed to electronic, but the design and navigation are a little difficult. They also prefer that you pay using Zelle, so there is quite a bit of a learning curve just to pay! What's more is the name on Zelle is not the restaurant but some person, so paying felt a little sketch... Outside of these interactions, our server brought us rice instead of the noodles that we had ordered. I ordered the Malibu Shabu Shabu with the Upgrade Set, and all the meats were tasty. My favorite part was the shrimp and the abundance of fresh vegetables along with the noodles. I also had their fries, which were good, and I can see why many tables order this now. Although expensive with meager ingredients and "heavy" sauce, I have to admit this was probably the best part of the meal.

Cash only!! I repeat cash only! The way to order food here is a bit confusing, so please be warned. Be there for your parents or the not tech savvy. But once you get a hang of the ordering system everything went smoothly. I came with 3 friends on a sat night and although busy, we were sat in like 30 min. They had the self service drinks (lychee lemonade and strawberry green tea were my favorite) which was a nice addition and a small sauce bar for dipping. I ordered the mini pot bc I wasn't that hungry which worked out soooo well for me!! And the best part is the broth is so yummy and it was only $10!! The person who worked there did let me know there were only a few pieces of meat and mostly cabbage in the mini pot, which honestly I didn't mind. I definitely recommend the upgraded pot if you are hungry..or even the premium if you want a milk tea and ice cream included (those are what my friends ordered) we all ordered separately and on our own phones which made "splitting the bill" very easy. Overall, loved the broth, the self service tea station and the variety of bowl sizes! The ordering system is a little confusing which is why I docked the 1 star. But overall would come again and recommend for smaller groups or a simple date night!

Located in the middle of Alhambra, i thought this is a chinese style hotpot. The broth is more like japanese style. But it's comfort food nonetheless. The broth is not too sweet, has a deep flavor, and it plays nice with all the sauces they provided. The upgrade bowl alone is enough to fulfill one person. They give two plies of beef, and two plies of pork. And a whole lot of napa cabbages. I'm half bunny, so this arrangement is perfect for me. One tiiny thing need to be remembered: be patient. The pot comes full with ingredients, so this is unlike your regular hotpot experience. If you're looking for scooping the broth while waiting for the ingredients to be cooked, then tough luck. Broth is hidden under the ingredients, and digging through it will cause instability because the pot is delicately balanced on top of the 'stove'. So, while it's a personal pot, i don't think it's designed to be enjoyed directly on the pot. Catastrophe shall ensue if you accidentally tip the pot due to vigorous eating. Get a bowl, and wait patiently until you see the broth (which means the vegetables in the bottom already softened and cooked). And then transfer what you want to eat to a bowl, and proceed eating from the bowl. The best feature is since the 'stove' is not an actual stove, your hot pot never get to blistering hot, it was a relaxing experience eating a warm hotpot without having to hashafashafahah

This place is absolutely yum! I've always seen a long line for this place when they first opened up and I finally got a chance to try it. You get to customize your soup and it comes with a free beer and dessert. Otherwise, they will deduct .91 cents from your check if you choose not to which I thought was interesting. Broth was delicious and good portions. They do have smaller bowls but I appreciate leftovers anyways. They gave Sapporo which was great for a free beer. They have a self serve station where you get your own utensils, sauces, teas and water. Place is small but it's worth the wait. The cashier/server was friendly and service was pretty good. No complaints. They have one bathroom and there is a small parking lot on the side. I can't wait to come back, I am looking forward to it.

Cash only! There is usually a wait for this small restaurant so make sure you only go when you aren't super hungry. When you have a table, you place your order on the tablet or on your mobile, then head to the cashier to pay for your order. They will then preparing your pot and bring it to your table. Depending on the set you choose, a drink and/or ice cream is included. There were three drinks options when we went - unsweetened peach tea, pea tea and lychee lemonade. Everything is self serve. Parking in side private lot for free or on street.

CASH ONLY!! We arrived around 6:15pm on a Friday night and had to wait around 35 minutes for a table. The place is quite small so turn over is quite slow. How to Order: 1. Get a table by putting your name on the paper waitlist 2. Ask for the paper with instructions on how to order. (they won't just give it to you) 3. Go up to the ipad and scan the QR code after getting a ticket # which will take you to the virtual ordering system 4. Submit your order, go up to the register and pay with CASH This ordering system is VERY confusing so ask for help if you need it, the staff are very friendly. Despite the crazy ordering system, the interior is very clean and the food is DELICIOUS. You can taste the quality of ingredients, and the broths are amazing. We usually like spicy foods but the medium spice was a little too spicy for us. Taiwanese Shacha broth was 11/10 so flavorful and cooked everything beautifully. The California broth was not as strong at the Taiwanese but was more light and clean. The self-serve sauce bar didn't have the variety I wanted from a hot pot place, and the sauces were not your traditional garlic and sesame. The sauces are quite sour and had a strong citrus taste, and there was a white cream garlic? Just make sure to taste the sauces before getting a whole scoop. Lychee lemonade was the best drink we tasted. The drink comes with the Upgraded pot. For the amazing price, ($13 for regular and about $17-18 for upgraded) this place is SO WORTH THE WAIT!!

Score: 6.5/10 Buzzwords: Come Early or Wait 'Till Late, Odd Ordering System, Hard Working Employees Our party of two came here on a Sunday night around 7:10pm with about ~5 parties ahead of us. We were seated at ~8:15pm, with food arriving at around 8:30pm. The Good: The ambiance was romantic, filled with some really abstractly designed light fixtures and thought-provoking art decor. I found this pleasant, and it seemed the other two crowds of individuals in attendance tonight - small family's and late high school/early college adolescents - did as well. The employee interactions with Dicky and Noel was remarkable, as they were both kind, patient, and consistent with checking in on our dining experience despite the chaotic environment. Kudos to them for keeping their cool under such choked conditions. The Not so Great: Though I don't normally comment about the ordering systems, I feel the bizarre 3-step process deserved some mention as I'm unsure who it disserviced more, the diners themselves or the hard-working employees. Throughout our entire experience, it was apparent that the two employees mentioned above hadn't a single moment to catch their breath between tending to tables and constantly having to re-explain the to diners how the ordering system worked. Step 1: scan an QR code on an iPad inconveniently locked into a position on the wall between a 2-seater table and front doorway Step 2: place order using provided drop down menus using a separate physical menu for reference Step 3: Provide order ticket to the front cashier station to pay IN CASH prior to your meal The self-service drink as well as utensil station was positioned in the far corner of the restaurant between two 6-seater tables and adjacent to the heavily trafficked area serving as the front desk cash register. Given the already limited space affordances here, I can't help but think that perhaps this is not the best placement. Did I mention, there was only one napkin box in the restaurant? Want to take a guess where it could be found? My girlfriend's hot pot arrived cold with the burner off. Though she looked forward to cooking her own food, I'm not sure she envisioned having to figure out how to turn on the burner to as well. Not to mention, I had long ago received my hot pot ~10 minutes prior and had been waiting to eat until her food had arrived. Overall, the food itself was solid and at priced fairly. Though I really really wanted to like this spot, I do think it is much better reserved for adolescents killing time over a nice meal with friends and/or catching up with a friend you haven't seen in a LONG time given the incredible wait times.

Gone are the days when it was only less than $15/person for a pot (it's now about $20-$25, includes a milk tea or bottle of beer) but the food is still super delicious. I've been here over 20+ times and I will always keep coming back. * The broth is DELICIOUS. It taste just like the Chinese home made soup that my mom takes hours to make. It is SO good! * You can now order directly on your phone by scanning the QR code. You can customize your order to your liking and pay at the counter (cash only) before they prepare your food. * Parking is located in the back - street parking is also available. * It used to be very busy (1+ hour wait time) until they changed their price (but trust me, it's worth it). Try to get there by 4:30pm to stand in line, as the restaurant is very small and seats can fill up pretty quickly. * Try to have patience as it does take quite a while to get your food. Overall, this is one of my favorite hot pot spot. I'll definitely keep coming back :)

California Hot Pot has been on my radar for a few months now, after they blew up on Tik Tok for their low prices. I will say, the food is delicious and the portions are huge. The prices/menu has changed in recent months so depending on what you order it ranges from $17-25. Immediately, from first glance, the restaurant is small. Lucky for me I came around 5 pm during a week day (which is when they open) and I was able to be seated right away. TO ORDER: their system is a bit flawed. You have to go to a tablet, get a number from the tablet, then use your personal decide to scan the QR code and remember your number to order, then go up to the counter and pay CASH ONLY. Most of the customers didn't understand and it took the employees a few times to explain how it worked. I am hoping they improve this method because watching fellow customers struggle (myself included) was disappointing. The food can be ordered cooked, or you can cook it yourself in the pot. We tried both methods and the food was superb regardless! They use high quality meat, their special all natural bone broth, and a ton of veggies. Everything is self serve. You go up to the sauce bar (in a packed area) and choose your sauces and your drinks (all included)! Some might enjoy this method, some might not. Personally, I could've done without the ordering online phone hassle. I will come back again for the good food and hopefully be more prepared to order.

The ordering system is pretty bad. There is a barcode inside that generates a ticket number. You'll have to scan with your phone and order online. Then pay at the cashier. Cash only. Most phone probably works fine, but mine is oneplus and didn't, so we had to order at cashier and she had to spell out the options for us (because there was no paper menu). We saw some people having issues with generating ticket and probably ordering too, so it's not just us! The place looks so busy. But could be because the place is small and people are just standing and waiting outside in the cold. Unless you come super early, you'll likely have to wait. Probably 45-1+ hour. The presentation is very nice. The meat comes raw looks pretty in picture (you can also have it served cooked) and they stack the vegetables high. If you order the regular size, the fire will probably take a while to heat up the broth. The sauce bar is self-serve by the cashier, next to the drink fountains. It is .89 extra for milk tea if you order food, not a bad deal at all. But I'd rather just drink water and save calorie space for ice cream!

I decided to bring my family tonight because it has been more than 5 years since my last visit. To place an order, you must go to the front of the restaurant and scan the restaurant Ipad, You scan the QR Code, enter your ticket number, and the menu will pop out for you to choose from. The Malibu Shabu Shabu Base, the Taiwanese Sha Cha Base, and the Japanese Tonkotsu Soup Base were ordered. everything in regular hot pot sizes. The regular hot pot is the only thing I don't like because it's unstable, moves around easily, and will burn you if you tip it over. Utilizing different types of pot needs to be reconsidered. Sauces and drinks are available for self-service. Overall, the food is good.

Came on a Monday night and was easily able to get seated. Summary of what everyone has already said: 1. Go to iPad to get your table number and scan QR code 2. Order off of your phone and submit order 3. Pay CASH at register Things that I really liked: - The homey feeling of the restaurant - Self-serve sauce bar and drinks included with the price of the meal -- the lychee lemonade was delicious! - How large the portion was. I thought it was a decent size for the regular. It turned out to be $15 for the meal which is decent price for things nowadays. My belly was nice and warm after the meal. I would definitely come back to try the other broths. Maybe I came during an off time, but there were still people who came after I did as well. Parking is easy and there's a lot next door!

One of my favorite hot pot places because the soup and meat quality is great! The soup doesn't make you feel thirsty after and you feel very full because of the filling portions. They also give free lychee lemonade or green tea and the sauces are delicious. The tea and sauce are self-serve, i think they made that change after the pandemic to make it easier on the waitress. I recommend going right when it opens since it's a small restaurant and gets busy. What I get: Japanese Tonkatsu regular hot pot: i highly recommend and it always tastes great! I choose one portion of pork and one of beef with the grass jelly noodles

Still my favorite hot pot place! They have a new ordering system now. - Put name down on paper sheet on the window next to the tablet. - Once your name is called, head to the tablet to create a QR code/ticket. - Scan QR code and enter the ticket number displayed on the table onto your phone. - Place your order and check out. - Pay at the cashier and wait for you food to arrive. The new ordering system offers a lot of customization if your opt for the premium version. You get to add or subtract items if you don't want any extras that are offered. You also get to choose if you want all your items raw, cooked, vegetables cooked only, etc. Made the mistake of ordering everything cooked. My meat was severely over cooked. Do not recommend getting the meat cooked in advanced. Glad that the beer option has returned!!! Regular does not offer as much customization and everything comes raw. Premium gets you a butane burner stove. Regular gets the normal pot with candle light. Will always be back if I'm not starving. Service is still slow since they are making each one by hand and with all the cooking time needed before you can war, the wait can be long.

BEST and CHEAPEST individual hot pots in Los Angeles? Ever since I found out about @californiahotpot during my college years, I've been hooked onto their affordable hand-crafted individual hot pots, which are carefully brewed from real bone broth (just like how my mom makes them). As a student, hotpot tends to be a luxury for me, considering how expensive individual and shabu style hotpot tends to cost, which is why I love how all of their pots are competitively priced from $10-25 depending on the amount and type of protein (including Grade AA beef and giant prawns!) that you can customize your pot with. Their pots also come with a generous portion of vermicelli, veggies (spinach, enoki mushrooms, Napa cabbage), tofu, and fish cake, as well as your choice of rice/noodles on the side. I'm touched by the story behind their business, which was inspired by the owner's own real bone broth recipe that he brewed when his mother was sick with cancer, and it definitely makes every sip of their signature broth so much more heart-warming for me. If you're in the Alhambra area, definitely make sure to check them out for their high quality (and immensely affordable) individual pots, and support a small and well-deserving Asian-owned business!

It was just okay. Tried the regular Malibu pot, broth was fine but it was literally 90% cabbage. I actually quite enjoy cabbage, but it was simply too much. There was hardly any variety in the hot pot - just 1 slice of mushroom, two tiny slices of fish cake. Would much rather eat Tasty Pot. The upgraded pots have more ingredients, but I'd expect the regular to have a little more variety and be more enjoyable. The ordering system was a bit confusing and it would have been much faster if a waiter had just taken our order. Food came out a bit slow - one person in our party was waiting a while for theirs. Enjoyed the complimentary drinks, but the milk tea that came with our friend's upgraded set was so bad - just extremely watered down. It's also weird that the regular pots don't have an option for it coming precooked, because if other people in your party get theirs precooked with upgraded pots, then everyone's eating at different times.

Unfortunately service is not the same as before the pandemic. Wait is long here because the service is VERY slow here. I understand many places are trying to cut cost, but this was ridiculous. They have one waitress and another guy busting all the tables. The 4 of us waited almost an hour for a table and another hour to order and get our food. You scan your phone at this little ipad to start a "ticket", but after you hit submit you are supposed to CONFIRM your order with the waitress and pay before hand. Nowhere in the order menu website specify that. Our order was not put into the kitchen til this process was done. When we made a comment about the website, the waitress simply said "Oh everyone can learn something new" Whoa, rude much? Not coming back. --

Always impressed by this place. DO expect at least a minimum of an hour wait (limited seating and small sized restaurant). If you don't want to wait an hour, definitely skip out on this restaurant. California Hot Pot is a pretty small establishment but you can tell so much love and passion goes into their business. My go to soup base item is the Malibu Shabu Shabu. Love the clean taste! I can tell that they offer premium quality ingredients. Pricing seems reasonable especially with everything increasing nowadays. I do enjoy the DIY updates to the restaurant. Loved grabbing my own sauces and being free as a bird to grab my own refills. I dinned in towards the end of the night and I can agree with the rest of the group that certain drinks and ingredients run out by 8pm (the restaurant closes at 10pm). The ordering system could be a bit more user friendly with instructions but I feel as though that piece is a work in progress. Thankfully once we were seated someone walked up to us and introduced to us the new ordering system. I did however notice that not everyone got that experience as the night began to get busy and were left to figure it out themselves. Maybe some signage above the ipad indicating that it's an ordering system would be nice? Just a suggestion.

Y'all California Hot Pot is closed for good !?! My friend sent me this picture of a new restaurant where California hot pot used to be :(( , there's no relocation sign or anything so idk if they moved somewhere else, if anyone else knows please let me know I'm sooooo sad

Best hot pot! A hole in the wall place in the city of Alhambra. I' am an avid fan of this place ever since, even before pandemic. They used to to have 2 locations. Unfortunately the Rosemead location is now closed. Food is delicious! I love their homemade soup. The meat are good quality and veggies are fresh, My fave is the California hot pot style with angus beef. They served pretty good amount of food. enough to fill you up. Cold tea drinks are included in your meal. The current location is tiny, limited sitting capacity. The waiting can be long but definitely worth it. It's a self service. You download the menu from your phone. To place an order it will generate an electronic receipt that you pay upfront-cash only! I also like that Parking is a easy. Highly recommended.

Value, value, value! Be warned that the wait is usually at least 20-30 minutes, and for good reason. The portion and quality of food is amazing at the price, especially in this financial climate. The broth is light but flavorful and the homemade sauces add a nice boost. It's a small family run restaurant, so you'll need to be patient with the service. I'd recommend showing up right when they open or about 1.5 hours after opening for shortest wait time. If you're willing to eat at the benches outside, they can accommodate that as well.

I came on a Wednesday night around 6:30 and there were no wait. You get a number and scan the QR code from the ipad by the door then go to your table and order. Once you finished ordering, you will then go to the counter and pay before they start making your food. The experience was nice, no one rushing you to order. The food was yummy and had a couple different sauce choices that you can make on your own. Drinks are also included which is nice. The meat taste every delicious with lots of veggies! I recommend!

For the price, it's so affordable compared to other hot pot/shabu restaurants! The menu goes up by tiers and there's plenty of sides, sauces, and some have free rice refills. The waitress was so accommodating, friendly, and efficient! The only con is the small area, as there are probably only about less than 10 tables (more seating outside though) and expect longer lines on weekends!

Due to the pandemic, this place has been closed for some time and recently opened up with a new ordering system. Upon getting seated, you're given a menu and asked to get up to scan a QR code by the door to open up a ticket in order to place your order online. They're cash only (but do take zelle!) so you actually have to pay at the counter after ordering. The process was a little tedious but the owner was very attentive and open to even ordering for us if we needed. The hotpots come in two sizes, upgrade vs premium. The premium one comes in a cast iron pot that can easily serve two. I got the malibu shabu shabu with precooked veggies. Everything came out fast and the meats were definitely of quality. I honestly didn't have that great of an impression of this place since a few years back but can confidently say their food is good and also a great deal for the price!

***Post-Lockdown Update*** I gotta say, I was so sad when they closed during the lockdown. This was and still is my all-time favourite place to have personal-serving hotpot (if you couldn't already tell by the multiple 5 star reviews and updates I've given them). I was so excited to find out they are now back! They are offering the same great menu items and with the same Pre-COVID prices!! Service -5/5- The service is always top notch, super friendly and accommodating. I always feel welcome when coming here. They are so patient and answer any questions you may have. They try their best to give you service in a timely manner, no matter how busy. I genuinely appreciate the authentic effort they provide. Food -5/5- The quality really has not changed. The serving size is the same and the quality of the ingredients is just as fresh as it has always been, which says a lot with the current rise in prices in the economy. Seeing as they are also PRE-COVID prices, this has a lot of value. The broth, ingredients, and made from scratch sauces have the same top quality after all this time and that is something worth praising. Location - 4/5 - The restaurant is pretty small so please be patient with them or if you can't wait, they do have a voucher system you can ask for. The parking lot is enough for their size to be completely honest.

Really enjoyed this place! Parking: there's a small lot and street parking available It's a small place with limited seating. We waited about 20 minutes from 6pm on a Thursday. When we were done at 7:50pm, there were even more people waiting to be seated. The server was so kind to ask if it was our first time dining with them. She explained how to order. You get a QR code ticket from their tablet next to the wait list. Then you order through your phone and pay at the register. There's self serve utensils, napkins, drinks, and sauces. I enjoyed their sesame and citrus sauces. The premium set gets you unlimited rice or noodles, free beer, and a free scoop of vanilla ice cream which has a dash of matcha powder & a berry jam. It also arrives on an adjustable portable stove top. The upgrade set is smaller and arrives on a flame pot holder and definitely lasts it's heat for the whole duration of the meal. Whatever set you choose, you can customize your meats, how strong broth flavor you want, and spice level. Their Malibu broth is their plain homemade bone broth, but it packs a lot of flavor! Price is so worth it & kind workers. Would come back!

Make sure you bring cash! I came before pre covid and really love this place. I came back on a Friday night around 7:15 PM and I waited about 45 minutes to be seated. It always pretty crowded here since they open only for dinner time and the place is pretty small about 10 tables. It will be a longer wait if you have more than 4 people in your party. The food here is 5/5 I love that the meat is not precooked and they give a good portion. I love every since item on the pot and recommend this place more than boiling point. You can substitute your meats or soup, to your satisfaction. After we were seated it took about another 30 minutes to get our food. My favorite is the Malibu or Tom Yum broth. I say the service is 3.5/5, the lady (I assume the owner) does everything. She takes order, serve and help woth putting the soup bowl to the fire pot. She does so much and should get one person to help out on the floor. Make sure to come here before you get super hungry, since the wait time is pretty long. Besides the wait and service the food is great here. As of 08/12/2022 they are planning to change new menu. It is a self service to get utensils, drinks and sauce bar.

Hotpot is my go-to and I love California Hot Pot! Different than Pop Pot and BP in terms of broth and ingredients. If you're a soup person and someone who really cares about how the soup is made, you will appreciate this place as much as I do. You can taste the sweetness from veggies along with hours of stewing of the bone broth, whereas others you know it's just artificial powder with lots of MSG to spice up the taste. Meat quality is also better here. The owner is generous and really takes care of the customers. I told her no need to put the sausage to the Upgrade pot since I don't eat it at all, I don't want food to go to waste, and the pot came with an extra tofu. Sometimes it came with an extra mushroom depending on what's left that day. Cleanliness wise it's just OK though.

My friend had been raving about this place for a couple of months so we finally got a group of 5 together to check it out. We arrived around 6:30 PM and were seated around 6:45 PM. We took some time to look at the menu and got our food around 7:30 PM. I ordered the kimchi broth, mild spice, with beef & shrimp. Be warned that the soup comes HOT - I definitely burned my tongue a bit because I was so excited to eat! But honestly, it was worth it because the broth was nice and flavorful without being too heavy and all the meat and veggies were delicious. They are currently offering their pre covid prices, so I paid around $14 (with tax and tip) for my meal - such a good deal! The price includes drinks (with unlimited) refills as well, so I recommend trying the peach strawberry green tea. If you don't mind a bit of a wait and are looking for an affordable, yummy meal, I would highly recommend checking CA Hot Pot out!

This is my new go to hot spot spot! What I love about this location is the value you get for $13.61 ($15 after tax). I get the "regular" for which you would choose your base broth and 2 proteins. My favorite is the Tom yum broth with pork and beef. They bring the hot pot out to you brimming with toppings like cabbage, mushroom, and even quail egg. There isn't a huge selection of sauces, but the ones they do have are really good. They have garlic paste, yuzu, sesame sauce, black bean sauce, soy sauce, sriracha, and a couple others. The restaurant is small but very comfortable. There are maybe 8-10 tables. I've gone on weekdays and weekends and have never had to wait for a table. There is also plenty of parking in the lot. BONUS - drinks are free! The peach strawberry green tea is sooo refreshing. The lychee lemonade definitely hits those lychee notes and is thankfully not too sweet.

CASH ONLY This place is so good however, the wait to be seated as well as getting your meal takes so dang long! I usually get their Malibu Shabu pot and it's delicious. I usually always have leftovers because they offer so much stuff in the pot. I've also tried the tonkatsu, which is pretty good too. It typically takes me 45 minutes to be seated on any day. And getting my food takes 20 minutes. it's made fresh by order which is probably why! The restaurant itself is not that big and probably has less than 10 tables. There's usually one server on the floor and one server at the cash register! Definitely try it though

California Hot Pot is back! But they're still in the process of reworking the details, so while they get the overall details sorted out, they're offering diners the same hot pot menu (with the same prices) that was served prior to COVID with a few minor adjustments. When I saw on Yelp that they were back, I knew I had to try it out before official word got out and the lines were crazy long. And flavors of the soup as well as overall quality of the ingredients do feel comparable to the hot pots from two years prior. Everything from the old menu is still there except that they currently do not have the Japanese Tonkotsu option and there isn't any lamb. You still order by picking from the 4 different choices before selecting the style/flavor and customizing for level of spiciness and broth strength. You're also able to customize/swap out soup/ingredients just like old times. They've currently done away with the beverage option (which I'm still a little sad about because I really enjoyed their jasmine milk tea) and offer all you can drink teas/juices at the front of the store next to the utensils. From what I understand, they will always have green tea and lemonade, but they have a third option that changes out weekly - this week's was peach guava tea. Unfortunately there's no ice so the drinks were coming out a bit warm. Sauce bar is available with sesame, garlic, ponzu, dauban, and soy sauce. Some sauces didn't have any more refills, but luckily there was still a good amount of most sauces available. Ordered the regular Malibu shabu shabu and substituted the soup with the Tom Yum option while some people in my party opted for the upgraded option where there's higher quality meats and more toppings/meats available. Definitely did see a difference when comparing regular to upgraded pot - they had more meat (about 1/4 more and the quality is a little better than regular) and more special toppings (fish ball with roe, maybe a tad bit more vegetables). Really enjoyed the taste of the broth of both the tom yum and Malibu. Clean and not oily at all with good flavor. Everything tasted just as good as I remember from two years prior. Some things to note: -currently there's only one person in the kitchen and one person at the front of the house doing everything (taking orders, serving, cleaning the tables) so be prepared for a wait. Even though there was so much going on, she was super pleasant and checked in with us multiple times throughout our meal to make sure everything was okay. -cash only -to continue keeping the costs low, if you want extra broth, you'll have to pay an additional fee -as of now, closed Wednesdays! Hours are 5-10 PM every other day

A solid hot pot spot! I loved the menu selection and the quality of the food, especially for the price!!! The bone broth was very rich but didn't feel over seasoned. I was worried there was not enough broth because the pot was loaded with meat and veggies, but everything simmered down once it cooked...so I actually didn't need to order extra broth. Staff was nice and friendly. A small, cosy mom and pop shop. I would definitely come back again and highly recommend this place! Wait can be a bit long, so keep that in mind if you're looking for something quick!

This place is super good with the perfect price point. Currently they are doing a special where the prices are pre Covid prices. To make ends meet, they don't allow refills of the broth. You can purchase different pitcher sizes if you need more broth. Also their drinks are off the menu for now as well. They have some generic teas and lemonade which were okay. The California upgrade hot pot was filled to the brim with veggies shrimp and meats. I think they're spot on with their spice levels which you can choose. The medium spice was just right. I would come again to when their drinks are back on the menu to see if it's any good

This place has finally reopened! I've been here multiple times before Covid and am glad they have reopened. The best part is that it's still pre Covid prices! $11 for a regular hot pot?!! That's unheard of these days. The food is still the same quality and taste. They no longer include better drinks with the upgrade. They charge an additional price ($1-2) if you want the fancier drinks but will always have self serve unsweetened green tea and lemonade. Like most of the recent reviews, BE PREPARED TO WAIT- for a table and the food. There is one lady who is working and she is definitely hustling. I got there at 4:45pm on a Friday and there was already 4 groups ahead of me. If you do decide to eat and not wait, definitely come early to make sure you're part of the first wave of diners. Even though service was slow, she still made it a point to try to attend to everyone and made sure we were taken care of. I'll definitely have to make my way back before they raise prices to get my fill. Low prices or not, the food is still great and I will be returning. It's still cash only and only open for dinner regardless of what Yelp indicates.

Set your expectations on wait time when you come here! Arrive before they open at 5p if possible to get a table in the first seating. Post-reopening visit and the food is still good! Got my favorite as usual the Korean kim chi, with pork, mild. My husband changed up his order since they were out of lamb and got the Malibu shabu shabu. Otherwise he usually orders the Hollywood protein which they are subbing the lamb for more beef. For the soft opening they are closed Wednesdays and their hours are 5-10pm. We arrived a few minutes before 5p and got the last parking spot in the lot, and the last table inside! The word is out that they are back open and patrons are back! There is currently indoor and outdoor seating. Indoor has seating for about 28 people amongst 9 tables. The outside tables are picnic table style with benches. If you don't manage to snag a table right away, sign in on the waiting list just inside the entrance on the right. There are chairs you can sit on outside while you wait. There is only 1 person working the front so be patient! They try to take your order in order of being seated. Although we arrived before 5, it took 15-20 minutes to place our order and then another 30-40 minutes to get our food. Also the sauces weren't all out until about 45 minutes after they opened. They will explain any updates to the menu, and the drinks are now self serve. I liked their green tea. Cash only!

THE BEST (non-AYCE) HOT POT PLACE EVER I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVEN'T TRIED THIS PLACE BEFORE !! I'M ALWAYS IN THE AREA [Upgrade] Malibu Shabu Shabu ‣ [10/10] ‣ All-natural base bone broth. Comforting, clean-tasting. USDA choice, prime beef, Spanish pork belly ‣ Popular & clean flavor ‣ 1 non-spicy, 1 mild ‣ I TOOK THE LEFTOVER BROTH HOME...one of my fav breakfast's ‣ Have to wait a little for meat and veggies to cook...not a big deal ‣ Such a homey feeling from the soup & good amount of "toppings"