The Pots Hot Pot
About This Spot
Stepping into The Pots Hot Pot on Judah Street is like entering a warm neighborhood haven where the steady hum of conversation blends with the soft clatter of bubbling pots. The restaurant’s pace is invitingly unhurried, giving space for you to settle in and gather around the communal tables, making it a cozy spot for both close-knit gatherings and casual meals with friends. There’s an understated buzz in the air, carried by the rich aromas of simmering broths and the gentle steam rising from each tabletop pot.
The playful mix of Asian fusion flavors invites curiosity. Instead of a quick bite, here the meal unfolds as a shared, interactive experience—selecting from an array of fresh vegetables, delicate dumplings, and carefully sliced meats that are as much a treat to the eye as to the palate. The buffet-style arrangement encourages exploration, whether you’re dipping tender morsels into a house-made sauce or reaching for an unexpected snack like sweet fried dough or a deep-fried bun paired with condensed milk. These small discoveries add a joyful rhythm to the meal, punctuated by thoughtful touches like a well-curated sauce bar and a surprising selection of flavorful broths, including comforting herbal and lively spicy bases.
The atmosphere reflects the genuine care behind the scenes. Attentive staff quietly keep the table clear and the experience seamless, allowing conversations to flow without interruption. The space feels lived-in yet cared for—a place where the safety of movement mingles with the casual sense of a friendly neighborhood gathering spot. It’s a place that honors the ritual of hot pot dining with approachable warmth, where every small bite and shared moment feels part of a larger, welcoming story.
Whether you’re drawn by the allure of silky noodles and delicate seafood or the vibrant mix of condiments and broths that invite you to personalize your meal, The Pots Hot Pot offers a down-to-earth taste journey. It’s a spot that encourages slowing down, savoring flavors, and making space for those quiet, human moments that turn eating into something joyful and memorable.
What’s Available Here
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Identifies as women-owned
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Outdoor seating
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Delivery
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Takeaway
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Dine-in
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Fast service
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Sport
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Wheelchair-accessible entrance
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Wheelchair-accessible seating
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Wheelchair-accessible toilet
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Alcohol
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All you can eat
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Beer
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Comfort food
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Vegetarian options
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Wine
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
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Table service
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Toilet
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Casual
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Trendy
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Family friendly
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Groups
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University students
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Dinner reservations recommended
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Accepts reservations
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
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Credit cards
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Good for kids
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High chairs
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Free of charge street parking
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Parking
Location & Hours
| Monday | 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
| Tuesday | 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday | 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
| Thursday | 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
| Friday | 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
| Saturday | 12:00 PM - 03:30 PM , 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM | |
| Sunday | 12:00 PM - 03:30 PM , 05:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Masked Maniac Reviews 12 Jan 2026
Excellent hot pot. The customer service was very friendly and quick to remove our empty plates. The meat qualities were exceptional. We also loved being able to order food with our phone, but just the essentials, there is a nice Buffett to go up and grab vegetables, giblets, snails, tripe, noodles, sauce bar, even a nice $3 juice bar. Really enjoyed their special house sauce. They sauce bar had some super good choices. The soup broths were so delicious. Really clean bathroom. Just an overall top notch hot pot place!
M Antonio C 23 Dec 2025
Our family had a nice meal this evening. We arrived early to avoid waiting for a table. The staff is super nice and attentive. The food is fresh and plentiful.
Jean Tsou 03 Dec 2025
Full bar with plenty of appetizer choices, sauce station and plenty of veges. However, the seafood selection and meat quality are not the best. Hope they can offer more decent quality meat selections in the future. Floor is sticky and little be slippery which is not really safe for a hot pot place and customers need to walk to the serving station which creates high traffic during peak hours.
Lilian 27 Nov 2025
Love their selection of condiments. Very meticulously prepared garlic and green onions. Nothing is sloppy. They give numbing mala sauce too! The meat selection is high quality meat. Thinly sliced. Good marbeling. There’s spicy sliced (cooked) pig ears as appetizer. You can have split pots at your table. Servers are quick to remove your used dishes and courteous. We love coming to this sunset hot pot all you can eat!!
Monica 17 Nov 2025
I love this place! I thought it was just an AYCE hotpot, but it is honestly like a buffet! They had so many great little appetizers like sesame balls, egg rolls, dumplings, and a curry tofu thing. There’s also free drinks (i.e. included in the AYCE $35 price you pay) in the fridge next to the appetizers section and we got some Thai tea and it was great (very sweet!)! They also have brownies for desert next to the hotpot ingredients section. AND you can order more things on from the QR code on the table! So at the end of our meal we also got some sweet fried dough. It was such a good way to end the meal. As for the hot pot options they have many different soup bases to choose from. They have hot pot ingredients on the counter by the back of the restaurant, but if you don’t see what you want you can also order on the menu from the QR code on the table. I was surprised to find they offered potato starch noodles here. I love how chewy those noodles are, but I don’t always find them at hot pot restaurants so I was so happy to see them here! The service was good. I don’t feel like we waited too long for our soup bases or meats. They also made sure to refill our soup pot when it was getting low. If you pay by cash it is slightly cheaper (get 10% off), but unfortunately none of us had cash on hand. Make sure you only take what you can eat; if you waste food you will get a $30 charge. And there is $5 charge if your party is 4 or less and you use a second pot. The inside of the restaurant is new and clean. The aesthetic is a mix of modern with warm wood accents. Parking: We managed to find street parking nearby after going around a few blocks
Lily S 22 Oct 2025
This is my new favorite restaurant due to the outstanding service, beautiful and cleanly atmosphere and dining, and wide variety of delicious options for proteins and vegetables. The staff were very kind, welcoming, and efficient, without a doubt I would say they have the best hospitality out of any restaurant. I tried almost every protein they offered, all of which were perfect. If you are a person who likes lamb I 10000% recommend eating here and getting a few plates of their lamb, It was my favorite. I also tried a few of the broths they offer, and let me tell you I have never had such perfect soup in all of my life. I wish I had photos of the food or at least the restaurant but the food was so good I couldn’t take a pause to even look at my phone. I will be coming back here very soon.
Toby Neal 18 Oct 2025
Loved my very first Hot Pot experience! The staff helped orient me, the broths were delicious and the items we cooked were top quality. Service was excellent, I can't wait to go back and experience this again.
Christine Phang 15 Sep 2025
Absolutely delicious food and wonderful service at a great price!! The Pots has a great selection of high quality meats, vegetables and other ingredients (noodles, tofu, meat balls, dumplings etc.)! The lunch buffet was really worth it at $21.99. One of my favourite meals in SF! There is a variety of both spicy and non-spicy soup bases. We had the Tonkotsu and Mala which were both delicious. Would also recommend the fried buns with condensed milk and the Thai iced tea ($2).