Laojiumen Hotpot Chicago老九门火锅-Hotpot 9

"Lao Jiu Men has a relatively short menu, charges extra for dipping sauce, and has a two-broth maximum. But this place is great because (unlike the more popular spots where we can wait up to two hours) we’re seated here immediately. Their dining room is sleek, and decorated with carved wooden dividers, paper lanterns, and scroll artwork. The broths are flavorful, with classics like spicy Szechwan and harder-to-find options like fish maw with shredded chicken. And while they don’t have premium cuts like wagyu or kobe, the meat, seafood, and vegetables are still good quality. They also have an AYCE option—but you might be stuffing beancurd rolls in your pockets to try and avoid the 15% leftover charge." - adrian kane, john ringor

"Lao Jiu Men has a fairly short ingredient menu, charges for dipping sauce, and has a two-broth maximum. But this place is great because (unlike some other spots where we're usually greeted with a two-hour wait) we’re seated here immediately. Their dining room is sleek and decorated with carved wooden dividers, paper lanterns, and scroll artwork. The broths are flavorful, with classics like spicy Szechwan and less common options like fish maw with shredded chicken. And while they don’t have premium cuts like wagyu or kobe, the meat, seafood, and vegetables are still good quality. Plus, they also have an AYCE option—just make sure to be conscious of the 15% leftover charge." - John Ringor

"Stylish and decorated with modern Chinese accents, Laojiumen is a hot pot newcomer that’s worthy of attention. In addition to the standard meats, seafood, and veggies, the menu also boasts a variety of tofu, meat/seafood balls, and noodles. And there’s all-you-can-eat for $24.88 per person." - Jeffy Mai