Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫

Welcome to Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫, a unique Chinese restaurant located at 4311 University Way NE in Seattle. As a featured establishment in our Chinese Restaurant category, Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 offers a distinctive "you pay for what you eat" style of dining known as malatang. This interactive and customizable approach allows diners to create their perfect hot pot soup by selecting their preferred ingredients.

The malatang experience at Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 begins with diners taking a plate and tongs to choose from a decent variety of ingredients. These options span across various categories, including fresh vegetables, different types of noodles, a selection of proteins, and seafood. This allows for a personalized hot pot creation tailored to individual tastes and dietary preferences. While some of the ingredients, particularly the meats and several seafood options, are helpfully labeled, some others are not. However, for those familiar with the typical offerings of malatang restaurants, selecting ingredients that suit their palate should generally not be too challenging. There is an expressed hope that as the restaurant becomes more established, the variety of ingredients available might further expand, offering even more choices for customers.

Among the available ingredients, a couple of unique items stood out to one reviewer: the mochi fish cake and the lobster ball. The mochi fish cake was noted for its unusual texture, although its taste was described as "nothing special." The lobster ball, on the other hand, is a fish ball filled with lobster-flavored roe, offering a more distinct and appealing flavor profile. These specialty items add an interesting dimension to the selection of ingredients available for your hot pot.

One of the standout features of Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 is the vast selection of broths available. With a whopping nine different broths to choose from, diners have ample opportunity to find a soup base that perfectly complements their chosen ingredients and spice tolerance. This extensive broth selection is a significant advantage, allowing for a highly customized and flavorful hot pot experience.

The process after selecting and weighing the ingredients is straightforward. The base price for the hot pot is $14.99 per pound, with a minimum weight requirement of 0.8 pounds. Once the ingredients are weighed and paid for, the staff takes over to cook them in your chosen broth. The cooked hot pot is then brought directly to your table, allowing you to enjoy your customized creation with ease.

In terms of service, one reviewer shared a positive experience highlighting the attentiveness of the staff. Midway through their meal, a staff member realized they had forgotten to add noodles to the soup and promptly brought them to the table, offering sincere apologies for the oversight. Interestingly, the reviewer had not even noticed the missing noodles, which makes the staff's proactive approach all the more commendable, demonstrating a strong commitment to providing excellent customer service.

Overall, the initial experience shared by one reviewer was a positive one, leading them to recommend Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 to others. The combination of a customizable malatang experience, a decent variety of ingredients, a wide selection of broths, and attentive service contributed to a favorable impression.

However, it is crucial to present a balanced and objective view, and another review shared a concerning experience. This reviewer and a friend both reported experiencing food poisoning after dining at Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫. The symptoms described were significant, including diarrhea for two days for the friend, and both diarrhea and vomiting, along with prolonged nausea, for the reviewer. The reviewer also mentioned a subsequent weakening of their immune system, leading to them catching the flu. This serious incident of reported food poisoning is a critical piece of information that potential customers should be aware of when considering dining at this establishment.

The reviewer who experienced food poisoning also mentioned that both they and their friend had initially liked Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 more than another hot pot restaurant (YGF) and had discussed returning. This highlights that, prior to the food poisoning incident, they had a positive impression of the food and perhaps the overall dining experience. The subsequent illness, however, significantly altered their perception and future dining plans.

In conclusion, Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫 offers a unique and customizable malatang hot pot experience in Seattle. Diners can select their preferred ingredients from a decent variety and choose from an impressive nine different broths. The service, as highlighted by one positive review, can be attentive and proactive. However, a serious incident of reported food poisoning is a significant concern that potential customers must consider. While the concept and initial experiences might be appealing, this negative report warrants caution and further consideration before choosing to dine at Qing Shu Spicy Hot Pot 青蔬麻辣烫. Local users are encouraged to weigh both the positive aspects of customization and service against the serious health concern raised in another review when making their decision. As there is no phone number provided in the available information, those wishing to inquire further may need to visit the restaurant's location at 4311 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105.