This is #3 on the menu - Korean Style
I am always a big fan of Taiwanese food. It is just too good. This is one of my favorite Taiwanese hotpot places "Boiling Point" (There are A LOT OF THEM). It is a very popular place, and they have a couple of locations in Los Angeles (Hacienda Heights, San Gabriel, Arcadia, Monterey Park, Artesia, Gardena, etc) and they are also in northern California, Washington, Irvine and Canada. Tips to avoid a long wait, go when they just open! We often go around 11-12, and there is either no wait or just 15 mins.
This is #4 on the menu - Spicy Beef
This is different from traditional hotpot in which 10 people are fighting for a spot in the same pot. Basically, it is a mini personal pot that you can enjoy all to yourself! Here's the 10 different flavors they offer in Southern California:
1. House Special - Napa, Fermented Tofu, Sliced Pork, Enoki Mushroom, Kamaboko, Pork Meat Ball, Clam, Quail Egg, Pork Blood Cake, Pork Intestine, Nira, Preserved Vegetables, Tomato, Cilantro
2. Seafood & Tofu - Bok Choy, Shrimp, Sliced Pork, Enoki Mushroom, Frozen Tofu, Baby Octopus, Clam, Cuttlefish Ring, Fish Fillet, Fuzhou Fish Ball, Vermicelli, Egg, Green Onion
3. Korean Style - Sprouts, Nira, Zucchini, Kimchi, Pork Belly, Fish Tofu, Kamaboko, Tempura, Rice Cake, Enoki Mushroom, Fish Fillet, Wok Noodle, Lobster Fish Ball, Crown Daisy, Seaweed (Big picture above)
4. Spicy Beef - Napa, Vermicelli, Sliced Angus Beef, Enoki Mushroom, Tomato, Firm Tofy, Tempura, Corn, Pork Meat Ball, Kamaboko, Fried Tofu Skin, Imitation Crab Stick, Green Onion, Cilantro (Small picture on the right)
5. Lamb - Napa, Vermicelli, Sliced Lamb, Enoki Mushroom, Imitation Crab Stick, Kamanoko, Pork Blood Rice Cake, Maitake Mushroom, Clam, Pickled Mustard Greens, Firm Tofu, Tempura, Fried Tofu Skin, Egg, Green Onion, Cilantro
6. Pomelo Flavor - Napa, Pork Belly, Shrimp, Seaweed, Fish fillet, Enoki Mushroom, Scallop, Korean Bean Thread, Baby Octopus, Kamaboko, Firm Tofu, Dried Bonito Flakes, Green Onion
7. Organic Veggie - Broccoli, Napa, Carrot, Wide Vermicelli, Zucchini, Beech Mushroom, Maitake Mushroom, Pear, Seaweed, Firm Tofu, Golden Mushroom
8. Taiwanese Spicy - Cabbage, Instant Noodle, Sliced Angus Beef, Tempura, Enoki Mushroom, Clam, Fuzhou Fish Ball, Cuttlefish Ring, Pork Intestine, Pork Blood Rice Cake, Fried Tofu Skin, Maitake Mushroom, Frozen Tofu, Green Onion, Cilantro
9. Japanese Miso - Cabbage, Udon, Sliced Pork, Enoki Mushroom, Clam, Fuzhou Fish Ball, Fish Fillet, Maitake Mushroom, Crab, Fried Tofu Skin, Soft Tofu, Egg, Green Onion
10. Thai Flavor - Cabbage, Taro Stem, Sliced Pork, Enoki Mushroom, Cuttlefish Ring, Fuzhou Fish Ball, Clam, Crab, Baby Octopus, Maitake Mushroom, Shrimp, Cilantro
I strongly recommend #1 and #8 if you want to try the most authentic taste. I have also tried #2, 3, 4 and 10, and my personally favorite is #8 (It is super spicy, so you are warned!) Honestly, they are all great. You will be surprised how all the seemingly unrelated ingredients can integrate so well to produce such great flavors in one pot, and this is especially good when you go on a cold day. For vegetarian/vegan, #7 would be the only option, but I am sure it tastes great too. For people who do not eat spicy, besides #8 and #10, all the other flavors can be made so that they aren't spicy. You might also notice some ingredients that appear exotic for a lot of non-Asians, but trust me, you won't even know it's there, and they are delicious. I have successfully brought a couple Americans there, and did not tell them what is in the soup until they have finished. They all loved it and changed their opinion about those seemingly weird ingredients afterwards.
Lunch is a dollar cheaper than dinner, and #8, 9 and 10 are more expensive than others, but in general, lunch is 10.99/person includes the hotpot, extra noodles and green/black tea. Pretty good deal! I have never been able to finish one pot by myself, so I always ask for a little more broth and take it home with me. Warm it up and add a little noodle, another delicious meal!