How to eat hot pot: a first timer's guide for hot pot season in Raleigh

The first chilly night of fall in Raleigh always does something to us. Jackets come out of the closet, the patio crowd moves indoors, and all of a sudden everyone wants something warm, slow, and shared. For us, that means one thing: hot pot season is officially here.

If you've never tried hot pot, or you've only watched it on TikTok and wondered how it works, this is your guide. Umiya Raleigh is an all you can eat sushi and hot pot restaurant on East Six Forks Road, near North Hills and across from Costco, and hot pot is one of the things our guests fall in love with on their first visit. Here's what to expect when you sit down.

Hot pot season is here at Umiya Raleigh.

What is hot pot, anyway?

Hot pot is a simple idea that turns into a whole evening. A pot of simmering broth sits on a burner right at your table. You pick raw ingredients, like thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, and cook them yourself in the broth, a few bites at a time. Then you dip everything in a sauce you mix yourself and eat it while it's hot.

It's part dinner, part activity. The table gets loud, people pass plates around, and nobody is in a hurry. That's exactly why it's so good on a cold night with friends or family.

At Umiya, every hot pot guest gets their own pot. So if you love spicy and your friend doesn't, nobody has to compromise.

Step one: pick your broth

This is the fun part, and we give you a lot of choices. Umiya Raleigh has nine hot pot broths: Original, Tomato, Beef Butter, Mushroom, Pork Bone, Szechuan Spicy, Chinese Herbal, Japanese Miso, and Thai Tom Yum.

If it's your first time, here's how our team usually steers people. Pork Bone and Original are rich, comforting, and an easy place to start. Tomato is a little sweet and tangy, and kids tend to love it. Szechuan Spicy is our spiciest, with real heat and that tingly numbing kick, so save it for the spice lovers at the table. Thai Tom Yum is bright, sour, and a little spicy, Beef Butter is rich with some heat too, and Japanese Miso is savory and mellow. Eating plant based? Chinese Herbal is our vegetarian broth, and we have plenty of plant-based hot pot items to go with it.

“We tried the Szechuan Spicy broth and the pork bone broth for our hotpot, and both were packed with flavor; bold, rich, and satisfying.” Samantha T., Yelp Elite

Step two: order what you want to cook

Here's the part that surprises a lot of first timers: Umiya isn't a buffet. You don't walk a line with a tray. Everything is made to order and brought to your table, and you order by tablet, by scanning the QR code on your phone, or through your server.

Start with a little of everything: a couple of meats, some seafood, a plate of vegetables and tofu, and noodles for the end. Our tip is to order a few items at a time. Food goes fast once the broth is bubbling, and you can always order another round. Ordering smaller rounds also keeps your table clear and your food fresh, and it helps avoid the leftover charge of $16.99 per pound.

Step three: build your sauce

Before your first bite, head to our DIY sauce bar. This is where hot pot regulars get creative. A good first sauce is simple: start with a base, add some garlic and green onion, and finish with a little chili oil if you like heat. Mix a second bowl with something different, and by the end of the night you'll have a favorite.

A few tips for your first hot pot night

Thin slices of meat cook in just a few seconds, so dip, swish, and eat. Vegetables, tofu, and noodles take a little longer, so drop those in and let them simmer. Keep the burner low once things are cooking, and let your server know if you'd like your broth topped up.

You have up to 2 hours for all you can eat, which is plenty of time to try a little of everything without rushing. And because everyone at the table picks the same all you can eat option, decide together whether it's a hot pot night or a sushi and hot pot night.

Can't choose between sushi and hot pot? Get both

A lot of our guests do. With the both option, you can start with fresh rolls, nigiri, and sashimi while your broth heats up, then move on to hot pot. It's the best of both worlds, and it's our most popular way to eat on cold nights.

Here's what it costs. Weekday lunch, Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 3:30 PM, is $20.95 per adult for sushi or hot pot, or $26.95 for both. Dinner, weekdays from 3:30 PM and all day on weekends, is $32.95 per adult for sushi or hot pot, or $38.95 for both. Kids ages 3 to 10 pay less. Pair it with a sake, a soju, a cocktail, or a milk tea, and you have the coziest dinner in North Raleigh.

Start with sushi while your broth heats up, then move on to hot pot.

Bring the whole group

Hot pot is made for a crowd, and we have room for one. Our dining room seats about 300 guests. Walk-ins are always welcome. Groups of 15 or more can call us at 919-896-6023 to reserve Monday through Thursday. On Fridays and weekends, everyone is seated first come, first served, so plan to get here a little early. Separate checks are no problem, and if you're celebrating a birthday, let your server know.

So the next time the temperature drops and the group chat starts asking where to eat, you know where to find us. See every broth, ingredient, and price on our all you can eat hot pot page, take a look at our full menu and prices, and check our FAQ for everything else. We'll keep the broth hot.

Find us on East Six Forks Road, across from Costco and near North Hills.

Visit Umiya Raleigh

Location: 404 East Six Forks Road STE 101, Raleigh, NC 27609 (get directions). In the Creekside Crossing shopping center, across from Costco, near North Hills.

Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 11 AM to 10 PM. Friday and Saturday, 11 AM to 11 PM.

Free parking right outside.

Follow us: on Instagram @umiyaraleigh and on TikTok @umiya.raleigh.