Haidilao Huoguo Flushing

"Haidilao is a Chinese hot pot chain famous for its robot servers and noodle dancers. It has an extensive menu, with six soup bases to choose from—and you can get up to four. There’s also a long list of options like shrimp paste stuffed with salted duck egg, omasum, boneless duck feet, and various other fun things that are begging to be dunked into boiling broth. The space is large and perfect for groups, and the condiment bar is as robust as the menu. It has snacks like little fruit leathers that act as great palate cleansers between spicy bits. Also worth noting is that Haidilao accepts reservations, and will give you free soft serve at the end of your meal." - veda kilaru, adrian kane, john ringor

"This Beijing-based hot pot chain has been in Flushing for five years and remains loads of fun, especially for groups. It boasts one of the largest collections of ingredients than nearly any other hot pot in town, including seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, well-marbles meats, dumplings, and tofu. Pick your broth combinations and assemble your dipping sauces at the sideboard. Even lining up to get in is fun — there are snacks, games, and manicure services, among other attractions — as you wait to be seated on busy weekend afternoons." - Robert Sietsema

"This Chinese hot pot chain is famous for its robot servers and noodle dancers. There are seven soup bases to choose from and a variety of things—like white shrimp, cocktail sausages, or pork belly—begging to be dunked into boiling broth. The condiment bar is as robust as the menu, and at the end of your meal, Haidilao will give you a free soft serve. More importantly, they take reservations, and the large, bright space is divided into sections, so it’s perfect for group dinners with your entire team. " - adrian kane, veda kilaru

"When Haidilao opened its first New York location in 2019, Eater called it an “adult playground.” The Chinese hot pot chain, which has over 1,300 locations globally, is a fine-tuned fun machine: There are hand-pulled “dancing” noodles prepared out at the table, free toothbrushes in the bathroom, and “code words” that elicit secret menu items. The restaurant is spread out over two huge dining rooms on the second floor of a shopping mall in Flushing, Queens." - Eater Staff

"Haidilao’s Flushing outpost has resumed indoor dining, but there’s also a large tented outdoor area where diners can feast on meats and vegetables simmering away in a pot of broth. There’s a waiting list for the outdoor setup, and once guests are seated, the servers will hand out packets of warm water to help weather colder nights." - Erika Adams, Tanay Warerkar, Bao Ong