Poll of the Day > tips on explaining the appeal of going to a hotpot/korean bbq restaurant

(+) Yeah! (+)

to people that say "why would I pay to go to a restaurant to cook my own food?"

without sounding mad or sounding like a weeb.

If it's anything like fondue, it's 1. a new experience, and 2., it's a social experience.

You don't go by yourself, you usually go with a group, or at least a date.

While I do always cook the meat myself, they will usually come by your table and do it for you if they notice you're not doing it

OhhhJa posted...

While I do always cook the meat myself, they will usually come by your table and do it for you if they notice you're not doing it

So you'll hurry up, eat and leave. Table turnovers are how they make money.

I don't understand the people who are dead set against "Cooking their own food" as if they're actually doing all the preparation. You're having everything delivered to you and you're throwing it on heat until it's ready to your preferences. It's a form of mild interactive dining that makes it more interesting than just sitting and waiting for a plate of food to be brought out.

I feel like the kind of people that would complain about it just have entitled personalities.

It's great when you go with others because you can try a ton of stuff with no risk.

Kallainanna posted...

It's great when you go with others because you can try a ton of stuff with no risk.

Actually, yeah. I'd compare it to a buffet, but the food is delivered to you fresh instead of sitting under heat lamps for god knows how long.

Seriously, the insane rise in popularity of these Korean hotpots within the past decade is borderline creepy, imo.

I don't know how in the hell they managed to talk people into cooking their own food like this.

And they are literally all the same exact restaurant.

I've gone to many of these. But they were always through work-related lunches/dinners/going-away parties, etc. Pretty much forcing me to attend.

I always try to enjoy myself, but the work involved always takes me out of it. And when you have a party of 5 or more....the table gets covered in countless plates and bowls so you can't even set your elbows down.

And then you have your friends/coworkers/family members shaming people for over or undercooking the meats, or letting the chicken touch the beef, or complaining about any number of others things.

I swear, whoever invented these things is probably sitting in their penthouse somewhere, watching live video footage of all the stupid Americans awkwardly cooking their own food, and just laughing their ass off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1qw0Bh0TAE

Salrite posted...

I don't understand the people who are dead set against "Cooking their own food" as if they're actually doing all the preparation.

I'm pretty sure people who frame this as "cooking their own food" rarely actually cook their own food. Unless it's something like risotto, carbonara, or caramel that requires constant stirring and attention, the part where you put your meat and vegetables in the pot/pan and wait for them to cook is the least labour-intensive part of it. Measuring out the ingredients and prepping them comprises most of the work (to say nothing of washing the dishes afterwards). No, putting a piece of meat on the griddle and waiting for it to turn brown does not mean you're doing all the work.

Cooking is fun, prep and cleanup is not.

They are fun.

Nope. If I go to a restaurant and pay them they cook for me and serve me. Otherwise why bother?

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

to people that say "why would I pay to go to a restaurant to cook my own food?"

without sounding mad or sounding like a weeb.

A friend who doesn't enjoy KBBQ with me ain't no friend of mine :) so I ain't gonna bother if they won't at least try it. It's a social and fun experience cooking food and drinking soju and beer together.

For hotpot, we actually do eat hotpot at home since the prep isn't that much and we already have a portable cooker and a big open space but it's still more convenient and not much more expensive just to go to the shop down the road.

adjl posted...

I'm pretty sure people who frame this as "cooking their own food" rarely actually cook their own food. Unless it's something like risotto, carbonara, or caramel that requires constant stirring and attention, the part where you put your meat and vegetables in the pot/pan and wait for them to cook is the least labour-intensive part of it. Measuring out the ingredients and prepping them comprises most of the work (to say nothing of washing the dishes afterwards). No, putting a piece of meat on the griddle and waiting for it to turn brown does not mean you're doing all the work.

It took me 35 years to actually start cooking food for myself regularly and even I could tell the difference. "Cooking" is way more fun and convenient when you don't actually have to do the prep and cleaning, let alone the shopping and proper storage.

GreenKnight127 posted...

[REDACTED]

That's pretty racist, bro

Salrite posted...

That's pretty racist, bro

Sounds legit.

Because you can eat *right* off the grill when things are still steaming, rather than have some lukewarm food that's just hot because the plate was in the oven.
And it's an all you can eat buffet where people bring food to you.

shadowsword87 posted...

Because you can eat *right* off the grill when things are still steaming, rather than have some lukewarm food that's just hot because the plate was in the oven.
And it's an all you can eat buffet where people bring food to you.

Not all Korean barbecue is all you can eat.

Salrite posted...

That's pretty racist, bro

Um, excuse me?

GreenKnight127 posted...

I swear, whoever invented these things is probably sitting in their penthouse somewhere, watching live video footage of all the stupid Americans awkwardly cooking their own food, and just laughing their ass off.

well I am not sure that is the case, been to the most authentic hot pot places here and a few in China as well, largely the same experience. people just like to sit around and chat while boiling meat. it's like a campfire thing.

acesxhigh posted...

well I am not sure that is the case, been to the most authentic hot pot places here and a few in China as well, largely the same experience. people just like to sit around and chat while boiling meat. it's like a campfire thing.

Yeah, but you are cooking it all yourself. Unlike literally any other restaurant in the world where THEY cook it for you.

Which means you (or your friends) can mess it up. Sure, the cooks at the restaurant could mess it up, too. But they tend to know what they're doing more than the casual diner.

Overboiling the noodles. Pot stays insanely hot for too long. Burning the meat because you didnt flip it fast/often enough. Or the heat was too high so the meat didnt even need more than a minute before the outside gets burned but the insides were still raw.

I think it's just a scam. We are paying to sit there and cook our own food.

If you ran this idea by anyone decades ago, they'd laugh in your face and say that's the dumbest idea ever. But somehow it caught on recently.

Next they'll be handing us raw hamburger meat and telling us to cook our own burgers on the hot plate located in the center of the table. "Make them however you want, peasant. That'll cost you $63.94"

GreenKnight127 posted...

Yeah, but you are cooking it all yourself. Unlike literally any other restaurant in the world where THEY cook it for you.

There are plenty of restaurants in Asia (hotpots, bbq, okonomiyaki, etc.) where the customers usually cook their own food.

SoreChasm posted...

There are plenty of restaurants in Asia (hotpots, bbq, okonomiyaki, etc.) where the customers usually cook their own food.

Yes. And they seem to be an Asian-exclusive thing. And many people find them delightful. Which is fine. That's their opinion.

I think they're a scam. But that's just me.

[shrugs]

Just a different opinion, mate. No big deal.

This is not a new phenomenon, my SO and I went to a fondue restaurant about 25 years ago. They not only had the traditional cheese fondue, a pot of melted cheese in which you dip bread and vegetables, but they also provided a pot of boiling oil and a selections of raw meats and veggies (fondue bourguignonne). Dessert was a chocolate fondue: a pot of melted chocolate with kirschwasser, and a selection of cakes, marshmallows, and fruits.

Cheese fondue first came to popularity in the US in the 1960s.

GreenKnight127 posted...

Just a different opinion, mate. No big deal.

You said

GreenKnight127 posted...

all the stupid Americans

because you don't like something others enjoy doing.

So it seems like quite the big deal for you.

SunWuKung420 posted...

because you don't like something others enjoy doing.

[shrugs]

I think hotpots are a scam. I dropped into this thread to share my perspective, because the OP was literally asking about the appeal of them.

Dont let my opinion ruin your day.

Goodbye.

GreenKnight127 posted...

Yes. And they seem to be an Asian-exclusive thing.

???
They have those kinds of restaurants outside of Asia. That's what this topic is about.

SoreChasm posted...

???
They have those kinds of restaurants outside of Asia. That's what this topic is about.

yes

Alright dude, have a good one. Maybe go enjoy a hotpot.

GreenKnight127 posted...

And they seem to be an Asian-exclusive thing.

There's a restaurant in San Diego called the turf club. American food where you cook your own meats on a communal grill.

SoreChasm posted...

Alright dude, have a good one. Maybe go enjoy a hotpot.

no thanks

GreenKnight127 posted...

Yeah, but you are cooking it all yourself.

Things staff do at a Korean BBQ restaurant:

• Procure and select meat that will work well for BBQ
• Slice the meat (evenly, since this affects how it cooks)
• Prepare the marinade (if applicable)
• Marinate the meat
• Plate the meat
• Serve the meat
• Prepare side dishes (this accounts for most of the total prep time, including some back-of-house cooking to order)
• Serve side dishes
• Serve drinks
• Clear tables
• Wash dishes

Things customers do at a Korean BBQ restaurant:

• Put meat on grill
• Take meat off of grill when done
• Consume meat and other food/drinks that have been brought to you while enjoying the company of your friends/family

While you could teeeeeechnically claim that the only step that can actually be called "cooking" is the one where the heat goes into the food, even then the amount of heat-into-fooding that's involved in preparing side dishes and marinades/sauces is more than what goes into cooking meat at the table, let alone all of the other prep and other tasks involved in delivering the food to you. It's just straight-up false to say that you're "cooking it all yourself" when so much additional work goes into every other step except that one where you put the meat on the grill.

If anything, the fact that you feel like you've done it all yourself is exactly what they're selling you. As Salrite mentioned, cooking is much more fun when you don't have to worry about the prep, cleaning, shopping, and storage. There's a considerable sense of satisfaction associated with having a plate in front of you and being able to say "I maked this," but all of the other labour involved in getting to that point is often not a small ask. To have somebody else handle all of that except the last step where you make the meat hot means you get that sense of feeling like you've made this for yourself (or somebody you're dining with), but don't have to actually put in the majority of the work required to get there. That's fun, and it's not at all surprising that there's a market for that fun, the same way there's a market for pottery painting places (which could be framed as "paying to make your own mug," but several other crucial steps are done for you so that all you have to worry about is where to put the paint, and it's those steps you're paying for).

adjl posted...

If anything, the fact that you feel like you've done it all yourself is exactly what they're selling you.

I appreciate the attempt, but you aren't gunna sell me on it.

If I wanted the satisfaction of "doing it all myself" I wouldnt go out to a restaurant! Haha

My opinion is that hotpots are a scam. You don't have to share that opinion. And that's okay! :)

Have a fantastic day, yo

SoreChasm posted...

There are plenty of restaurants in Asia (hotpots, bbq, okonomiyaki, etc.) where the customers usually cook their own food.

I wouldn't trust anybody to do it themselves with that one.

SoreChasm posted...

Maybe go enjoy a hotpot.

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/forum/2/2982928f.jpg

You're paying for the social experience , not having to prep the food yourself, and not having to clean up after a party. Yes, putting up with the effort of cooking/cleaning yourself has always been cheaper than going out to a restaurant.

Scam is a wild "opinion" lol

"I'm buying" usually convinces someone to go to a restaurant.

"buffets are a scam because they try to fill you up on noodles, vegetables, etc"

the staff does not care . as long as you're not being wasteful, messy, rude you can take whatever you want. just leave after 1-3 hours .

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

"buffets are a scam because they try to fill you up on noodles, vegetables, etc"

the staff does not care . as long as you're not being wasteful, messy, rude you can take whatever you want. just leave after 1-3 hours .

Go at lunch and then hide in the restroom until it's dinner time.

Revelation34 posted...

I wouldn't trust anybody to do it themselves with that one.

Its definitely a step-up in difficulty, but Ive seen plenty of people make them just fine.

Great question. Heres how you can explain the appeal of hotpot or Korean BBQ to skeptical people without sounding annoyed, overly fanboyish, or like you just got back from a K-pop concert:

1. Its interactive dining not just a meal, but a shared experience.

Its kind of like the dinner version of going bowling or doing trivia night youre not just there for the food. Youre hanging out, cooking together, talking, and actually doing something instead of just sitting and staring at your plate.

2. You get more control over your food.

You can customize everything how long things cook, what flavor you want, how much sauce, what combo of ingredients youre into. Its not just cooking; its more like tailoring the meal exactly how you want it, in real time.

3. The food is fresh and fast.

The stuff they give you is super fresh, and it cooks really quickly especially thinly sliced meats or veggies. Its not like youre in the back making pasta from scratch. Youre just dipping and flipping for a few seconds.

4. Its social and fun.

It naturally makes people talk more. Everyones reaching in, asking what to try, trading bites. It kind of breaks the ice even with people you dont know well.

5. You get a TON of variety.

You get way more options than at a regular restaurant especially with all the meats, veggies, sauces, and extras. You can try ten different things in one sitting instead of ordering just one entree.

6. It feels casual but special.

Its laid-back, but still feels like a treat it hits that sweet spot between doing something different and still just grabbing dinner.

You can also end with something like:

Its not for everyone, but if you think of it less like paying to cook and more like paying for an experience with good food, it clicks.

Let me know if you want a version specifically tailored to convince someone older, someone budget-conscious, or someone whos more of a picky eater tone matters depending on who youre talking to.

GreenKnight127 posted...

If I wanted the satisfaction of "doing it all myself" I wouldnt go out to a restaurant! Haha

The niche these restaurants fill is to make that a false dichotomy. Without them, the only way to avoid the effort involved in cooking is to give up that satisfaction by having somebody else do everything for you. Restaurants like these create a middle ground where you avoid the vast majority of that effort (it really cannot be overstated how small a portion of the effort involved in cooking is comprised by "put ingredients in cooking vessel and pay cursory attention to them") but still get to feel like you've made something for yourself.

The question then is not "is the satisfaction of cooking for myself worth the effort it'll take?", it's "is the effort I'll save by going to a hotpot restaurant worth the cost of doing so?". What they're selling is saving that effort, and unless they claim to be selling more than that, they are not - by definition - scams. That doesn't mean you have to think it's worth the cost (I rarely eat out in any capacity for that reason), but *that* is your opinion. Claiming that they're scams implies some degree of dishonesty or fraud that you've failed to demonstrate is there (in a broad sense, since I'm sure you could find examples of individual hotpot restaurants running actual scams if you looked), and that means it is not an opinion, but an incorrect claim. Consider correcting yourself accordingly.

DirtBasedSoap posted...

*snip*

I can't imagine wanting to use AI to write much of anything for me, but I really can't imagine wanting to use it to write posts on GameFAQs for me. That's just ridiculous. If I don't feel like writing a post myself, I'd much rather just not post.

and some of these hot pot/korean bbq places have a chef cook for you if you ask.

Beveren_Rabbit posted...

and some of these hot pot/korean bbq places have a chef cook for you if you ask.

That too, because at the end of the day they want you to have a good meal and leave happy. If you aren't going to have fun cooking your own food or are worried about ruining it, some will step in and help out to make sure you have a good time. Such is the nature of the service industry.

adjl posted...

Consider correcting yourself accordingly.

Haha, my opinion needs correcting? Nah.

You aint gunna sell me on hotpots.

Perhaps you should learn how to peacefully accept a different opinion? ;)

adjl posted...

I can't imagine wanting to use AI to write much of anything for me, but I really can't imagine wanting to use it to write posts on GameFAQs for me. That's just ridiculous. If I don't feel like writing a post myself, I'd much rather just not post.

The AI poster child can't imagine using AI to make a post. HILARIOUS!

GreenKnight127 posted...

Haha, my opinion needs correcting? Nah.

You aint gunna sell me on hotpots.

Perhaps you should learn how to peacefully accept a different opinion? ;)

Opinions can be wrong, if based on incorrect information/assumptions or flawed understandings. In that case, there's no reason to accept them as legitimate.

Again, you don't have to like them (that is indeed just an opinion), but if you're going to call them "scams," you need to identify some manner of deceit or fraud involved. If there isn't any, then you're just lying.

SunWuKung420 posted...

The AI poster child can't imagine using AI to make a post. HILARIOUS!

I think you're confused.

if its like the one i went to where the meat was buffet style, you would spend significantly more to get anywhere near as much at home