Mongolian Hot Pot's Closing Time: What You Need To Know

Mongolian Hot Pot in San Diego is open daily. On Mondays to Thursdays, it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Sundays, it is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Mongolian Hot Pot's opening hours

Mongolian Hot Pot Opening Hours

Mongolian Hot Pot in San Diego is open daily. Their opening hours are as follows:

• Monday to Thursday: 11:30 am to 9 pm
• Friday and Saturday: 11:30 am to 10 pm
• Sunday: 11:30 am to 9:30 pm

These hours may be subject to change, so it is always a good idea to check their website or give them a call before planning your visit.

Mongolian Hot Pot offers a variety of dining options, including pick-up, delivery, and reservations for in-person dining. They also offer holiday gift cards, which can be picked up in person or ordered over the phone and mailed directly to the recipient.

Reviews

Reviews for Mongolian Hot Pot on Tripadvisor are generally positive, with an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Many reviewers mention the good value for money, the variety of options, and the quality of the food. Some reviews also highlight the friendly and accommodating service.

Location

Mongolian Hot Pot is located at 4718 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, San Diego, California, 92117, United States. Their phone number is (858) 274-2040.

The restaurant's location

The restaurant is located 4.3 miles from La Jolla Shores Park. It is also close to other attractions in San Diego, such as the San Diego Zoo, USS Midway Museum, La Jolla Cove, Balboa Park, and SeaWorld.

The restaurant is in a convenient location with easy parking. It is also accessible via public transport, with nearby bus stops and the San Diego International Airport (SAN) within a reasonable distance.

The area surrounding the restaurant offers a variety of accommodation options, including hotels, vacation rentals, and bed and breakfasts. There are also several other restaurants nearby, offering a range of cuisines such as Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and Spanish.

The neighborhood is known for its popular attractions, beautiful scenery, and diverse culinary scene. It is a popular destination for tourists and locals alike, offering a vibrant and lively atmosphere.

The history of hot pot

Hot pot, or huǒguō in Chinese, is a dish that involves cooking various foods in a simmering pot of flavoured broth. It is believed that the concept of hot pot originated over 1,000 years ago during the Jin Dynasty, with roots tracing back to the dining practices of Mongolian horsemen who rode into northern China. According to legend, these horsemen would use their helmets as vessels to cook broth over open fires, cooking chunks of meat in the simmering liquid. Their shields were also used as frying pans to sear meat.

Over time, hot pot spread throughout China, with each region adapting it to their local ingredients and tastes. During the Qing dynasty, hot pot became popular among emperors, particularly the Qianlong Emperor, who is said to have eaten it almost every meal. The Jiaqing Emperor also held a banquet with 1,550 hot pots at his coronation.

In the early 20th century, hot pot restaurants began to emerge in cities like Chongqing, and the dish has since achieved worldwide fame. Today, hot pot can be found in various styles across Asia, including in Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Korea. It is also commonly served in Chinese specialty restaurants and buffets in the Philippines.

Hot pot is typically considered a communal meal, shared among family and friends. It is often eaten during the winter, as the simmering pot and communal nature of the meal create a warm and relaxed atmosphere. The process of cooking and eating hot pot involves several steps: choosing a broth (plain, spicy, or sour), selecting ingredients (meat, seafood, vegetables, noodles, tofu, etc.), cooking the ingredients in the broth, dipping the cooked food in sauces, and finally, eating and enjoying the meal.

Hot pot is not just a culinary experience but also an exercise in social connectivity, bringing people together to share a meal and create lasting memories.

The different types of hot pot

Hot pot, also known as steamboat, is a dish where a heat source is placed on the dining table to keep a pot of soup stock simmering. It is usually accompanied by an array of Chinese foodstuffs, ingredients, and offerings for the diners to dip into the broth. The broth is traditionally served in a large metal pot and is kept at a gentle boiling temperature throughout the meal.

Beijing-Style Hotpot

This style of hotpot is characterised by its simplicity and the use of copper Mongolian pots. The focus is on the quality of the ingredients rather than the broth. Thinly-sliced mutton is one of the most important ingredients, along with tender meat, fresh leafy vegetables, and a sesame-based dipping sauce called Zhīmajiàng.

Chongqing Hotpot

Chongqing, known as China's "hotpot capital", has thousands of hotpot restaurants. Chongqing hotpot is known for its heavily flavoured broth and numbing hot spiciness, created by the use of red hot chilli and premium butter. The spicy hotpot is often eaten with máodù (cow stomach) and sesame oil is used as a dipping sauce to balance the spice.

Yunnan Hotpot

Yunnan hotpot has gained popularity across China in recent years. It is a 'Chinese' hotpot with Southeast Asian influences. It features a rich broth flavoured with fresh vegetables, different kinds of mushrooms, and edible flowers. Yunnan hotpot restaurants also offer a variety of side dishes, such as fresh mint salad and fried crickets.

Coconut Chicken Hotpot

Coconut Chicken hotpot uses Hainan chicken and fresh coconut milk as its main ingredients. This is a healthier hotpot option as the broth is not made with butter or fatty oils. The dipping sauce is made with soy sauces and freshly squeezed lime juice.

Spicy and Sour Fish Hot Pot

This style of hotpot is based on the Guizhou 'Sour Fish soup' dish, with tomato and rice soup as the main ingredients. It is a southern-style hotpot that focuses more on fish and seafood, which is popular in Cantonese and Sichuan hotpot styles.

Shabu Shabu

Shabu Shabu is a Japanese nabemono hotpot dish of thinly sliced meat and vegetables boiled in water. It is also considered a Taiwanese hotpot due to Japanese influence, and is the name of a popular Chinese chain of hotpot restaurants.

These are just a few examples of the many different types of hot pot, each with its own unique ingredients, flavours, and cultural influences.

The cost of a hot pot

Restaurant Hot Pots:

According to reviews on TripAdvisor, the cost of a hot pot at a restaurant can vary depending on the restaurant's location, the type of hot pot, and the ingredients chosen. For example, at Uncle Liu's Hot Pot in Falls Church, a hot pot meal for five people costs around $60, excluding tip. On the other hand, Mongolian Hot Pot in San Diego offers an all-you-can-eat option that is well-priced, according to reviewers.

Home Hot Pots:

Preparing a hot pot at home can also vary in cost depending on the ingredients and the equipment used. For example, purchasing an electric hot pot for cooking at home can range in price from $20 to over $100, depending on the size, features, and brand. The cost of ingredients for a home hot pot will depend on the type of broth, meat, vegetables, and other ingredients chosen. Basic hot pot ingredients include thinly sliced meat, leaf vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, and dipping sauces.

Cultural Variations:

Hot pots can also vary in cost depending on the cultural variation. For example, a Cantonese variation suggests mixing a raw egg with the condiments, while a Taiwanese hot pot includes a dipping sauce made of shacha sauce and raw egg yolk. A Cambodian hot pot, known as "buttered yao hon" or "buttered chhnang pleurng," uses butter as the base and is cooked on a flat grill pan. These cultural variations can influence the cost of ingredients and preparation methods, resulting in different price points for hot pots around the world.

Frequently asked questions