Hou Yi Hot Pot

"Hou Yi Hot Pot is a magical place on the Lower East Side, crowded with people and suffused with the smell of meat and boiling chiles. It’s AYCE, there's a scoop-it-yourself ice cream station, and the broth is some of the spiciest in the city. You’ll pay a little over $45 per person for a massive amount of food, but you pretty much have to speed-eat it, because by the time you choose and cook your food, you’ve likely used up a chunk of your 100-minute time limit. If you’re sensitive to spice, pick a milder broth. " - neha talreja, bryan kim, hannah albertine

"Hou Yi Hot Pot is perfect for a night out with a few friends who want to eat copious amounts of meat, then follow that up with an impromptu ice cream party. Dinner here is $45 per person, and you can choose from about 30 different types of broths—ranging from pickled vegetables to kimchi with pork—plus a bunch of hot pot meats, veggies, and starches. Each pot holds two different kinds of broth, and we suggest something mild in one half and something from the “Hot & Spicy” section in the other. (Just be aware that even the “medium” spicy broths would cause a mild commotion at a hot sauce convention.) There’s also a big freezer in the corner filled with about 12 different kinds of scoop-it-yourself ice cream, and that’s where you should find yourself once you’ve decided it’s time to wrap things up. The space is just one small windowless room, so it isn’t ideal for huge groups or anyone who constantly craves natural light—but it’s great for something casual with a small group. Stop by the next time you want to have a fun, interactive meal in the neighborhood." - Bryan Kim

"The AYCE deal at this hot pot restaurant in Chinatown costs $45, and also involves the city’s largest broth selection. Hou Yi offers over 30 different types of broth, making it the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine of dipping meat and seafood into boiling liquid. Come with a few friends, mix and match herbal broths with tomato-based soups, and make sure at least one person gets something very spicy. When you’re ready to cool off, the deal also includes all-you-can-scoop ice cream, with 12 flavors to choose from." - will hartman, willa moore, neha talreja, bryan kim

"Hou Yi Hot Pot is a magical place. It’s all-you-can-eat, there's a scoop-it-yourself ice cream station, and the broth is some of the spiciest in the city. Yes, you'll pay a little over $40 per person for 100 minutes of hot pot, but keep in mind: The food is unlimited. If you don't want to sweat while you eat, go with one of the mild broths. The little room on the Lower East Side is casual and no-nonsense, and it will inevitably smell like meat and boiling chilis when you stop by. If you need something to do after dinner, check out a nearby bar." - Bryan Kim

"Most hot pot places offer around 6 or 7 broth varieties to choose from. Impressively, Hou Yi Hot Pot on the LES makes 30 (including nine vegetarian options). These range from pickled vegetable to kimchi with pork, and spicy butter beef. You get to pick two broths, since each communal pot is divided in half, and our approach is to go with something mild on one side and something from the “Hot & Spicy” section on the other. Just be aware that even the “medium” spicy broths would cause a mild commotion even at a hot sauce convention. An AYCE dinner at Hou Yi Hot Pot costs roughly $35 per person. Also, there’s unlimited ice cream, and a heated patio to enjoy it on." - hannah albertine