potwhale hotpot image

potwhale hotpot

Restaurant Hot pot restaurant

👍👍 My friends and I came here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. We had seven people total and did four people to one pot and three people to the other. For the three of us, we got the two flavor base and a bunch of add ins. We all paid for the self serve sauce making station. If you have... People often mention broth, spicy, good, time, beef, sauce, great, hotpot, recommend, ordered,


Address

3620 N 1st Ave #154, Tucson, AZ 85719, United States

Contact

+1 520-243-9347

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (194 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Saturday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Sunday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Monday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Tuesday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Wednesday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Thursday: 4:30 to 11 pm
  • Friday: 4:30 to 11 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: broth (18) spicy (15) good (13) time (12) beef (11) sauce (10) great (9) hotpot (7) recommend (7) ordered (7)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Becca N. 1 year ago on Google • 8 reviews
    My friends and I came here for a birthday dinner and it did not disappoint. We had seven people total and did four people to one pot and three people to the other. For the three of us, we got the two flavor base and a bunch of add ins. We all paid for the self serve sauce making station. If you have never done hotpot before, I highly recommend reading the review on Tucson Foodie posted by Jackie Tran. It outlines what you should expect, how to order, and what to get. We will definitely be coming back, though probably only for a special occasion because of the cost per person.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Jasmine F. 1 year ago on Google • 136 reviews
    The mushrooms under the labels in the aluminum picture, shiitake mushrooms, are extremely rubbery, watery, flavorless. -10/10. Prime beef was really good. Dumplings were fantastic. Crab sticks fall apart in broth would just recommend putting them in a separate bowl by themselves. Weird beef with the texture on it is super chewy. Just tastes like fat. Would not get again. Probably will find different hotpot place next time. Staff was nicer than previous reviews.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dan Z. 2 years ago on Google
    First time going and I am super impressed! The waitress was super attentive and friendly. The taste of the spicy hotpot base is super authentic (I am from ChengDu the birthplace of spicy hotpot). The portions are huge, especially the meat! Highly recommend the tomato base as well! Will definitely come back! Also, The boss Xin is friendly, cute, and was super attentive to our table.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ongkona B. 2 years ago on Google • 93 reviews
    Had dinner for two here and we probably ordered just a bit to much, but the quality and quantity of food was great. I was most impressed by the broth. We had the house special and medium spicy ones and they were so flavorful. The prices are pretty reasonable too, so I'm definitely going back.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Danyul B. 4 months ago on Google • 28 reviews
    Mild spicy is a great start. Has the "numbing" Chinese peppercorn. The beef was great, the lamb a bit chewy. Suggestion! Get one beef for each person, a couple of veggie 2 and a side of noodles.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Noelle 2 years ago on Google
    The food was delicious. We had the beef/tomato broth combo. Update: I went there a second time and it was even better. The broths are flavorful while the meats are super tender!!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Diana 4 months ago on Google • 33 reviews
    It was our first time giving this place a try tonight. The food was okay. The broth we ordered was their house special - medium spicy. It was not spicy at all. No kick for spice - it tasted like watered down beef broth. The meat and veggies were good and fresh. The service... this is where I wanted to get up before I even started eating to leave. I felt like a child being scolded while I was cooking my food in the broth. I added some of the sauce that they have on the side to my broth because it was too bland, and I really offended our server. Never in my life, been to a hotpot place where I am being told how I need to cook my food. The service soured the rest of the meal for the night, and I don't think driving 30 minutes to eat here is worth it. There are better places that I would spend my $ at, and not be made to feel like I don't know how to cook or eat. You shouldn't be condescending to your customers. I value knowledge, so if the waitress had approached me by being informative then this would be a different review. Don't speak down to your customers. If your customer tells you that it's their first time to your establishment then please take the time to go through your processes, customs, and walk through the menu with your customer. We were seated, given a whiteboard marker and a pen to mark what we wanted for our meal. We had no idea what we were doing as every hotpot we have been to has their own process of how they do things. The establishment was OK. It felt clean and the workers were quick to clean as soon as a customer leaves. I did appreciate the cleanliness. My husband mentioned that the men's bathroom was a mess, but it was only because someone had thrown paper towels into the toilet and tried to flush it. It clogged the toilet so my husband didn't want to use it after someone else tried. It was gross.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Leora R. 1 year ago on Google • 23 reviews
    This was my first time dining at a hot pot restaurant, and I have to say it was a memorable experience! Me and two others arrived on a Tuesday, late at night. There was only one other group there. Don’t dine alone if you stop by; one pot is enough to serve three to four people. When we squeezed through the narrow door, we were quickly greeted by both maneki-neko and the host. The restaurant itself is sparsely decorated, without a lot of personality. We were quickly seated, as we had our choice of spots being late on a weekday, on long wooden benches facing a cafeteria style table. On the table was a convection oven that proved to be very much up to the task in keeping our food boiling hot. We ordered a half “mild spicy”, half chicken broth pot. Let me tell you, the mild spicy was too hot for me and one friend, and the other person who enjoys spicy food said it tasted bitter. The chicken broth side was very good though, so next time we will be sure to do the chicken broth, and maybe the tomato one. For the ingredients, we ordered the following: prime lamb, quail eggs, raw egg yolk, crab sticks, lobster meat ball, mushroom combo, potato, seaweed, broccoli, glass noodles, handmade noodles, hot pot dumplings. Everything ordered for the hot pot was substantially proportioned. The prime lamb was sliced very thin for a shorter cook time, and did not taste too gamey. I loved the tiny quail eggs, seaweed, and handmade noodles especially. We also ordered a side of fried steamed buns, which we all agreed were hot and delicately sweet. They had quite a few options for sauces, including a build your own station. It was late at night, so they were running a little low, but I enjoyed my mix of green onions, cilantro, oyster sauce, garlic, and chives. Don’t knock it till you try it! Be warned though, if you have a peanut allergy, stay away from the sesame based sauces, as there is potential for cross contamination. When I used the bathroom, it was very clean and well stocked, though they had added water to the soap, nearly rendering it useless. There were handicap accessible bars for the toilet, and it was roomy enough for a large wheelchair and more. I was pleased. Unfortunately, the front door is not handicap accessible, so keep that in mind! My takeaway is that this is a great way to experience food. We all agreed it is best suited for winter, or a rainy day. The food was fresh and delicious, in good sized proportions. The restaurant itself is clean. We didn’t really get to interact and get to know our servers, but they were very polite and quick with everything. Check this place off of your to do list soon!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Dominique M. 1 year ago on Google • 14 reviews
    Was a great experience where you actually get to cook your own food in the broth at your table. Don’t underestimate the spice level of the spicy broth.TONS of options for meat, veggies, seafood and carbs. Had a little sauce bar to make your own combination for dippings. We spent $110 for 4 people, ate everything and were completely stuffed by the end.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hayley S. 2 years ago on Google
    The tomato and spicy base are authentic and taste delicious! The prime beef, lotus root and frozen tofu are my go-tos! The sauce bar is fresh and contain many ingredients. Service and portions are great for the price. Will come back again!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ramiya S. 10 months ago on Google
    pretty mixed on this place, I came here with my fiance and really enjoyed the chicken broth, but the beef, curry, spicy and tomato broths were not very good. The spicy and curry ones were disgusting, and I didn't care for the quail eggs either. I got the dumplings once and enjoyed them, but they were a bit expensive. The good part about this restaurant is the hot pot experience, but the quality is meh.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jenaleigh Flones F. 5 months ago on Google • 6 reviews
    Absolutely delicious! The mild spicy broth was the perfect amount of spice. The sauce bar had interesting sauces I’d never seen at a hot pot place before. I loved it!

  • 4/5 Nikie T. 1 year ago on Google
    Authentic Chinese style hot pot. It is unlike eHotpot where each person gets their own pot. Have to order each items separately so the price can add up quickly. 1 star off for the price and I think the beef could be frozen? However, they were still very soft and the portion was big. 1 star off for charging extra for the sauce. The portion size for each non-meat item can also be bigger. It is still a good place for dinner out or to satisfy cravings for Chinese hot pot!

  • 5/5 Chris H. 1 year ago on Google
    I come regularly, relatively late at night, and it’s always so good. This is my - and several friends - favorite place for hot pot. The medium spicy broth is fantastic. The house broth is a little more varied. Sometimes it’s heavier on cilantro than others, but still good. Also recommend the jasmine tea and fried pork to go along with your meal. I’ve yet to be in during peak busy times, but there is plenty of seating so I don’t think it’d be too bad to go earlier in the day.

  • 5/5 F W. 1 year ago on Google
    I have been looking for a great local hot pot place, now I have found it. It was awesome. Service was very good. Everyone here was so helpful and polite. Will go back again and again.

  • 4/5 Jihyun K. 1 year ago on Google
    One of my friends recommend me this place and i like it! Food was delicious and server was friendly. It was first time to try hotpot and server helped me order and made sauce! I hope they serve more veggie and more better quality noodles.

  • 5/5 Liz M. 1 year ago on Google
    It was my first time trying hot pot and I was not disappointed! The broth was flavorful and rich and the portion sizes were generous. I recommend trying the udon noodles, prime beef, and the dumplings. The atmosphere was very relaxed and service was good. I wish there were more options for the sauce bar, but they still had decent variety. Great music too!

  • 5/5 A. A. 9 months ago on Google
    The food is really good. The sauce bar is worth the extra $1.50. Big selection of toppings and meats, the beef broth is worth a try. Good value.

  • 5/5 Devon T (. 9 months ago on Google
    Amazing place, best hot pot in Tucson. Learn how long to cook things for hot pot if you want them to taste best. If you don’t know, ask. You aren’t making a soup. If you cook it right it is delicious. Make sure to try the dipping sauces as well.

  • 5/5 reko 4 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    The food was pretty good and the waiter was really nice. The food came extremely fast, and the spice is great. We ordered medium spice which was pretty hot.

  • 5/5 Alejandra G. 8 months ago on Google • 2 reviews
    Been many times and it is always a great experience. Food is amazing, so yummy! Employees are very friendly and made the first time trying hot pot very easy. I've brought several friends and family to try as well and everyone always loved it. Highly recommend


Call +1 520-243-9347 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Parking
    • ✓️ Free parking lot
  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Vegan options
    • ✓️ Healthy options
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Popular for
    • ✓️ Dinner
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Seating
    • ✓️ Counter service
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✗ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway

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