Columbus is enjoying a wealth of hot pot and Korean BBQ restaurants, from locally owned institutions to regional spots to even international chains. Within a few short years we’ve gone from 1-2 to nine different options. Each place has varying methods, menus, and focuses, but generally they provide convivial dining experiences, especially for big groups.
Each restaurant is a little different, but here’s the quick overview as gleaned from our experiences.
- Most places offer both hot pot (making your own soup) and Korean BBQ (grilling at your table). Some places only focus on one or include both in the price of your meal, but some let you choose to do either or both combined. If that’s the case, everyone at the table has to choose the same thing.
- Once you choose, all of your ingredients are included: meats, vegetables, mushrooms, noodles.
- Some places offer helpful packages with a pre-set combinations of meats, veggies, noodles, etc.
- Otherwise you’re offered a vast menu of dishes that you order at the table. Typically the menus designate dishes that are better for hot pot versus BBQ. At some places a server will take your order, while some places let you order on a touchpad. (ER-GE, meanwhile, lets you visit the buffet yourself to collect ingredients.)
- You can order as much as you want, but there’s often a surcharge if you have too much leftover food. We’ve found it’s better to order maybe 4-5 items person at first, then add more dishes as you go along.
- Most restaurants will set a time limit – often 90-120 minutes – for dining.
- Pricing is often cheaper for lunch vs. dinner/weekend hours. Some restaurants offer kids pricing, too.
- Part of the experience is visiting the sauce and side bar for seaweed salad, kimchi, desserts, and other additives.
- At the sauce bar, you’ll often find individual sauces as well as signs with recipes for more complex combinations.
GOGi has been a steady fixture on Bethel Road, but they just upgraded to an all-you-can-eat BBQ experience. Their new fixed price menus offer a dynamic selection of meats, including premium cuts of waygu. We especially loved the banchan and the accompanying small plates like kimchi fried riced and scallion pancakes.
Find it: 1138 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side
Read more: Gogi Korean BBQ Introduces a Delightful AYCE Experience
One Pot is an extension of a Cleveland Heights restaurant, making its home in an expansive space near 161 and Sawmill Road in Dublin. They feature both hot pot and Korean BBQ at the table; orders are placed directly through your server. Like a few other hot pot restaurants, One Pot also has an atomizer near the front door that will (somewhat) help remove the cooking smells from your clothes!
Find it: 3720 W. Granville Rd., Dublin
Read more: Taste Korean BBQ and Hot Pot at the New One Pot in Dublin
KPOT is an international chain of hot pot restaurants that first stepped into the Columbus market in early 2023. They opened first with a huge space in the always-exciting Bethel Center Mall, then added a second spot near Polaris a couple years later. KPOT is a well-oiled machine; you can place orders with servers or request more items from a touchpad at the table.
Find it: 5240 Bethel Center Mall, Northwest Side and 8665 Sancus Blvd., Polaris
Read more: Your Guide to the New KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
Pictured here is a group meal at Don Pocha, not BBQ!
Don Pocha is a locally owned Korean spot that’s often listed as one of the favorites in the city. They offer a full a la carte menu, not just Korean BBQ. For the barbecue tables they feature helpful set combos with different meats, with everything from marinated beef short ribs to pork belly and much more.
Find it: 4710 Reed Rd., Upper Arlington
Read more: Don Pocha
CoCo Cuisine on Bethel Road has been around for a while, serving a variety of dishes as well as dim sum, but in recent years they’ve expanded to hot pot as well! You can order individual ingredients, but they offer pre-packaged combos if you’re a first-timer.
Find it: 751 Bethel Rd., Northwest Side
Read more: A New Option for Dim Sum and Hot Pot on Bethel Road: CoCo Cuisine
ER-GE on Sawmill Road has emerged as one of our favorite places for hot pot and Korean BBQ. Rather than ordering at the table, you visit the buffet to collect your ingredients. The buffets helpfully designate hot pot versus BBQ ingredients. Their pricing is all-inclusive, which also means rice, a full line of prepared dishes, skewers that you select and are grilled in the kitchen, and basic drinks.
Find it: 6100 Sawmill Rd., Dublin
Read more: ER-GE BBQ & Hot Pot Buffet is Becoming One of our Favorites
SIJI brings the hot pot and Korean BBQ experience to the west side. It had a similar feel to One Pot in Dublin, with an expansive space, quick and attentive service, and a delightful range of dishes.
Find it: 1650 Georgesville Square Dr., West Side
Read more: Siji Korean BBQ & Hot Pot and Bar on the West Side
Image courtesy Meetpot BBQ & Hotpot on Facebook
Meetpot is tucked into the Crosswoods Center, just north of I-270 in Worthington. They let you choose between hot pot, Korean BBQ, or both. The menu is size-able enough that everyone should find something to love!
Find it: 110 Hutchinson Ave., Crosswoods
Read more: Meetpot BBQ & Hotpot