This buffet serves up a history lesson with more than two dozen meat, vegetable options

Janet Seitz
·2 min read
Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet is located at 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield.
Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet is located at 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield.
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Name: Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet

Address: 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield

Phone: (217) 698-7008

Website/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/HOT-POT-BBQ-buffet

Credit/debit cards accepted: Yes.

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Entrée price range: $29.95 with discounts during the week and for seniors

Children’s menu: No, but children’s prices are tiered from ages 3-12.

More: There's nothing fancy about this bar menu which is loaded with Springfield favorites

My order: The restaurant, located in the former Kiku Japanese Steak & Seafood House, aims to educate diners about hot pot history originating thousands of years ago with the Mongolian Empire and the process of cooking meats and vegetables in hot broth. I ordered the hot pot ($29.99) which comes with a choice of seven soup bases. I chose red curry. Diners then select meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings from the buffet and cook them in the hot broth tableside. My companion chose the BBQ Buffet ($29.99), which allows for specific meats in addition to hot pot offerings, again cooked tableside on the grill. There is also a station for various dipping sauces for the meal.

At Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet, the hot pot is $29.99 and comes with a choice of soup bases and selected meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings cooked in a hot broth tableside.
At Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet, the hot pot is $29.99 and comes with a choice of soup bases and selected meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings cooked in a hot broth tableside.

Likes: More than two dozen vegetable and meat/seafood options make for a grand buffet. For a $6 additional charge, diners can have the hot pot and BBQ buffet. Not only did the host review the process, but a laminated card and cooking suggestions on the menu made it difficult to mess up the dining experience. My companion and I thought the place was clean, the buffet generous, and the food fresh. I respect the establishment reserving the right to add a surcharge for wasted food. After all, we should eat what we take, and guests are allowed a two-hour window to dine.

Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet diners have a choice of seven soup bases in which to cook selected meat, seafood, vegetables and dumplings tableside. The restaurant is located at 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield.
Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet diners have a choice of seven soup bases in which to cook selected meat, seafood, vegetables and dumplings tableside. The restaurant is located at 3050 Lindbergh Blvd., Springfield.

Dislikes: None

What would I order next time? I’d order either the original soup or Tom Yum soup for the base and perhaps be a little more adventurous and try some of the shellfish, octopus, or squid. And I would consider a trip to the ice cream case.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Hot Pot and BBQ Buffet serves up buffet choices with a history lesson