Chongqing Lao Zao 重慶老灶

"An interactive dinner situation like hot pot tends to be a shoe-in for a good time with a group. But what if your sauce bar was also next to an old timey water mill, or you ate your spicy tripe in a grass hut? Decked out like a rural Chinese village, Chong Qing Lao Zao is the Disneyland of Flushing’s hot pot restaurants, with hidden alleyways, mock Maoist propaganda, and even fake chickens. Despite being three-stories, this place stays packed, and there’s always a wait. For the full experience, wait the extra few minutes for a private hut or tatami seating." - willa moore, sonal shah, bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman

"Chong Qing Lao Zao is the Disneyland of hot pot restaurants. The space spans two and a half floors, decked out like a rural village with grass huts, big wooden water wheels, and even fake chickens. It’s a little cheesy, but we’re into it. The eating experience is just as over-the-top. You get to pick two rich broths per pot to dip your crab stick and bean curd into, with spice levels ranging from mild to please-call-my-mom, and then have a ball at the extensive sauce bar while you wait for your food. It’s on the pricier side for Flushing and you might encounter a long wait, but that’s part of the theme park experience. " - carina finn koeppicus, kenny yang, neha talreja, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick

"Chong Qing Lao Zao in Flushing is the Disneyland of hot pot restaurants. Spanning two and a half floors, it's decked out like a rural village with grass huts, big wooden water wheels, and even fake chickens. It’s a little cheesy, but we’re into it. The eating experience is just as over-the-top. You get to pick two rich broths per pot to dip your crab stick and bean curd into, with spice levels ranging from mild to please-call-my-mom—and then have a ball at the extensive sauce bar while you wait for your food. It’s on the pricier side for the area, and you might encounter a long wait, but that’s part of the theme park experience. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine

"At Chong Qing Lao Zao, you can eat in what is essentially an indoor theme park. This Flushing restaurant is decorated like a rural village, with grass huts, water wheels, and even some trees and fake chickens. Choose a few broths for the hot pot in the middle of your table, then pick from a huge variety of meat, seafood, and vegetables—and be sure to take advantage of the extensive sauce station. Just keep in mind that this place doesn’t take reservations, and there’s usually a wait." - bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang, sonal shah

"Fans start lining up well before the wooden doors swing open at noon, eventually to walk through corridors that lead them to a bi-level dining area that evokes an old Chinese village, complete with a water wheel, koi, and a faux fire at the foot of each table. One private section is elevated on stilts. Chongqing Lao Zao stands out from the high concentration of nearby hot pot spots — Hai Di Lao, Liuyishou, 99 Favor Taste. It offers varying grids: nine compartments to keep track of each ingredient, or three for just as many broths. On nearly every table, a hunk of red beef tallow slowly melts into the restaurant’s signature spicy broth that’s bubbling and fiery red — and can be ordered mildly spicy for the low of tolerance." - Caroline Shin