J’s Mini Hotpot Deluxe

4.5 stars for food, 1 star for inexperienced management.
We arrived at around 9:50PM and were welcomed & seated at a table. Food arrived at around 10:10. Soon thereafter, staff started to flip the chairs on top of tables and mopped the bathroom. As we were enjoying the first few bites of the food, the manager came to our table to inform us that the restaurant has closed. We started to hear loud banging noise from the kitchen (breaking up ice?) and things around us were getting put away. The waitress came to ask us to pay at around 10:45. This is a hotpot restaurant, i.e., you cook your own food at your table, so it takes time. We were about half-​way through our dinner.
We felt so rushed and uncomfortable that we left the restaurant with some of our food uneaten. The management was apologetic, but this was not some accidental error. It was an intentional effort to rush customers out the door. Our dinner for two was $ 90 including tip. An establishment that charges this amount calls for much more considerate and sophisticated service.
The food was excellent, but the service was the worst I have seen in years.
For starters, the management should consider the following:
1. Do not seat new customers past 9PM, if you really intend to close the place at 10:30. Just politely explain that there will not be enough time to eat, and ask them to return another time. 1.5 hours is a very bare minimum your customers need, in order to enjoy a hot pot experience. Order is taken 5 minutes after they walk in, food arrives 10 minutes after ordering, and broth needs 5 min to boil, and then cooking begins. Do the math.
2. Do not ever, ever put the chairs on top of tables or mop the floor while customers are still eating in the same room. This is inappropriate and rude even at a cheap fast food joint.
3. If you choose to seat new customers near the posted closing time, serve them just like everyone else who came earlier. Be more discreet about cleaning or closing up the place, and pay special attention not to make them feel rushed. Reminding customers you chose to seat near closing time that the place has already closed says only one thing: just pay and get out.
The food quality was excellent. My wife and I both loved the food. And the employees were not mean or malicious. They just need to put more thought into customer service.

Went here during lunch time with 2 of my other friends. We were seated right away. I guess not a lot of people come down to Buford anymore. :(the atmosphere and decorations are very modern and clean looking. There’s a sauce station like the one in (Duluth). The menu is a totally different! I’m not sure if it’s even the same owner. The lunch menu was around $ 14/​for the beef hotpot with a Good portion :) they said their vegetables are organic. maybe this is why it’s more expensive than the Duluth location? I like how they have the napkins tuck in the tables’ drawers, so I don’t have to ask them everytime for more napkins.
Overall, it was a pleasant experience. The waiter is very attentive as well. I will probably be back when I’m in the area.

Been coming here since they first opened YEARS ago. 5 stars before the recent renovation and 2 stars after. The food is more expensive than before but not really better at all even though they call it «deluxe». Kept on having tiny flying bugs joining us during dinner, gross. Disappointed in the change for the worse and sad that this will no longer be my «go to» hot pot location. Don’t go to this one, the one on Pleasant Hill is much better! There are also all you can eat hot pot places in Atlanta now that would also be better than this location value wise!

Think The Melting Pot but for Hot Pots. The experience is more in line with cooking your own hot pot at home and unlike many restaurants that serve pre-​made hot pots.
Décor: Very bright, modern and clean.
Food: I ordered spicy Thai Tom-​Yum Broth and chicken. With this combination, the broth was very reminiscent of the hot pots that I’ve made and have had at other restaurants. Also, all of the veggies were fresh and plentiful. The peach tea was tasty as well. The only thing that was missing was a cocktail, which they do not serve.
Service: We were greeted with a warm welcome and was given the option of tables although it was just the two of us. Our waitress was friendly and attentive.
Although cheaper restaurants that offer pre-​made hot pots do exist in the city, I found this to be well worth the experience. I’d recommend J’s for a date night (although 2 burner tables are scarce) or for a group of friends.

Beyond amazing. My friends told me about this place when I was planning to go to Atlanta from Tampa Florida. I’m so glad I stopped by here. First time in there and we really didn’t know where to start, to the server was very helpful on describing how to order. First selecting the soup, then selecting the meat. Which all comes with a big bowl of assorted veggies and some noodles and head on shrimp. The tom yum broth was delicious, the beef broth was also great. I got the tonkotsu broth I believe, it was good but the tom yum will be my go to broth next time for sure. Meat was cut very nice and thin, frozen but yes that’s the best way to cut perfectly thin and even meat. Anyone that says any different doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Will be back again if we are ever in town. Keep up the great work! Btw I love the sauce bar!

This was my first Hotpot experience and will undoubtedly be my last. In preparation for a trip to Atlanta I found a Groupon for $ 40 off for 4 people. We only ended up with a party of three I has expected the restaurant to still honor the coupon as they did not have a 3 people option only two and four. I showed the group in to the waiter before ordering and he said it would be handled at the end of the visit. One we finished the meal the checks were bought out and the manager (I assume as she spent most of her time up front listening to our table conversation). Here’s some advice ask not to be seated by the checkout counter. She advised us that we could not use the coupon be the party was only 3.
This was a bit silly in my opinion when she didn’t even scan it once we paid. She told us to call groupon and get the other groupon for 2. Since I had spent $ 24 on this we called in and in about 15 minutes Groupon had credited the account and we purchased the other amount. This was something ridiculous to have to do when customer service should have been priority.
I could barely get a word in expressing my disappointment. We had already gone to another location that the coupon didn’t work at and was told to drive here. Needless to say the quality of the food was tainted by the disregard for taki care of customer properly. A customer does not care what a policy is if the travel somewhere and have a coupon that the purchased it should be honored. Or better yet come up with a new number of guests for the coupon. This is by far some of the most atrocious customer service I’ve ever experienced to have to call Groupon just so I can checkout what a joke. You will be far better off just opening your wallet without trying to save.

J’s was recently renovated and looks so much cleaner and modern with bright white walls with light green accents and wood, earthy tones. Just sitting here makes you feel happy :)
For the food itself, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. You start off with a small seaweed salad appetizer. I know some hot pot places have a shared pot, but you get your own individual hot pot, which includes a basic meat, veggies, and broth. There are upgrades available for proteins, broths, and noodles. You’re also able to add anything as a side for additional charges. I got the sirloin and fish cake combo ($ 20) with beef bone soup and an upgrade to udon noodles.
To complement your hotpot, there is the sauce bar, where you’ll create your own sauce concoction. Since I ended up using the sauce with everything I ate, the taste of my whole meal was dictated by my sauce. Good thing I am a sauce boss and my sauce was saucin, saucin on you.
Overall, I had a great meal although the staff could have been more attentive (two hostesses and one server for Sunday dinner service — doesn’t add up to me).

I’ve only given one star because I like the layout of the restaurant and it was clean. However, I feel like we paid a lot for extremely thin sliced meat and portions. Also, we had a waiter who knew nothing about the menu and even brought us out the wrong thing and walked away. I had to get the manager, because I was pretty sure something wasn’t right. Manager was friendly… Waiter avoided stopping by the table after dropping off the wrong thing because he also didn’t know how to answer any questions about the restaurant or the menu.
Will probably not return I would rather just go anywhere other than here.

J’s used to serve as my fiancé’s favorite restaurant, because eating there reminded her of family back home in Minnesota and Taiwan. Since happy wife equals happy life, We’ve visited, from what I remember, four times. However, there’s been a recent ownership change, and I think they have a few kinks to work out. (And she would agree.) My take:
*****
I. FOOD & DRINK
Follow the steps below:
1) Pick your broth: beef, chicken, and vegetarian are free and the most popular. The miso, tom-​yum, herbal, and beauty booster are not.
2) Decide between buying an entrée or combo. Entrees are essentially large plates of specific meats, seafood, or veggies. Combos allow you to pick one general (for lack of a better word) meat or seafood with a higher-​end cut or two general cuts.
3) You’ll receive Le Creset hot pot with your broth. You’ll then receive a robust array of veggies and then your protein.
4) Go to their Sauce Bar and build the sauce you want to dip your hot-​potted goods in. To do so, pick a base sauce, then add different toppings such as ginger or scallions.
I’ve usually opted for the beef broth and have gone with either their Angus brisket, Angus ribeye, pork belly, or seafood entrée. I’ve done the combos, but I’m not enamored with their general selection of eats; however, combos might have the best value if you want variety. Also, my choice of sauce is the Korean Spicy. I add ginger, scallions, and cilantro to it, too. Yum.
Regarding their drinks, they have all your standard Coke products. What makes them special, though, is their fruit ice teas. I’ve done their strawberry iced tea, and you’ll take a trip to #refreshcity.
II. SERVICE
During the first few visits, we’ve either had Emily Wang (which, I think was the owner’s daughter who has the same name as my boo) or the brotha that rocks the flat bill cap. Both were great.
With the new ownership, though, they have some kinks to workout. What do I mean? On our most recent visit, despite only having two other groups in the entire restaurant, we were forgotten about. One incident happened at the end of our meal. We were supposed to receive a small dessert, but it took about ten-​fifteen minutes to bring out these two by four inch pieces of cake. I also saw a couple folks playing on their phones, just chillin’. I’m not digging that.
Also, if you’re in a group with women, the server might say, «ladies first,» but then later… forget to serve the ladies first. (lol.) This does not need to be said. This is the South.
So, they need to improve in this area.
III. AMBIENCE/​DÉCOR
I never visited before they remodeled, but I can tell you that the space is gorgeous. Light wood tables, vibrant green walls, stylish lettering, comfortable seating, elegant sauce bar — it’s nice. I also dig their lounge-​y music that makes me relaxed. Could your face fall into your boiling hot pot? Possibly.
IV. PRICES
Pretty expensive. While a few broths are free, the entrees range from $ 16.95-$ 29.95. Combos are either $ 19.95 (two general meats) or $ 23.95 (a general and premium meat). Most sides are under $ 12. Drinks are under $ 5.
During my last visit, I dropped about $ 150 (including tip) for four people.
V. OTHER TIDBITS
–Parking is ample, since it resides in a shared strip mall.
–Napkins are in the table drawer.
–Unless you’re planning to visit on a busy day and time, there’s usually no need to make reservations.
VI. OVERALL
It’s a solid restaurant to have a fun time with your small group or loved one and great to try once. However, I wouldn’t visit it on the reg. Well, at least not anymore.

Came here recently for a friend’s birthday dinner. There’s some pros, but the cons definitely outweigh the pros in my opinion. The newly renovated interior design is classy and chic, and got a whole lot bigger than it was before. The restaurant itself can probably easily sit over 50 people, but the service is lacking.
I ordered the lamb hot pot with beef broth, which was pretty good. They also have options on the menu where you could choose two meats for ~$ 19.95 or something around that price range. If you’re not familiar with hot pot, 1. Order your food. 2. Get your sauce from the sauce bar (self-​serve). 3. Wait for your food~ :) I had to tell my server that my taro and corn was a bit shriveled up, so she gave me a better looking taro and corn. (She was nice) Anyway, the vegetable platter was a whole lot smaller than before or compared to other hot pot places (but it includes a raw shrimp on a stick, which is new… but you need to peel it yourself… not good for people who don’t like peeling shrimp lol). The presentation is a lot more «high-​class» looking, but it’s just not the same as before. My friend that sat next to me had to look for our server multiple times for more water. I mean, there was a sign that said «hiring» but they kept filling up their tables with customers even though they knew they were short on staff.
This place is a good one-​time experience if you’re wondering how they’ve changed after the renovation, but I don’t think it is worth going back.
OK so for dessert, I was expecting them to have the shaved ice that they always had with toppings. BUT they had some «meh chocolate cake» that reminded me of the desserts that you see at the all you can eat chinese buffets -.-… I’m not sure if it’s always the same, but it just wasn’t that good. Only good thing that stood out to me was their fresh lamb, and really good sauce bar. They had some good sauces~

Overall, I’m very satisfied with this place. The decoration is nice and the service was nice. There were many people at lunch time but we got everything rather quickly.
They have a variety of broth for you to choose. I had Thai tom yum and it was pretty good, not very spicy. Their meat is very fresh and delicious. The assorted vegetable platter gives many types of veggie as well. I ordered a lunch special and the price was ok.
Their sauce bar was a great surprise. If you can do at least some spicy, I strongly recommend their house special sauce. Or the Chinese BBQ sauce.
I wouldn’t come in for dinner because then you won’t be to choose the lunch special and the price is rather high. But I’ll definitely come again for lunch!

Mmm, I left QUITE happy-​bellied. But it was definitely overpriced (should be rated at $$$). I would probably come often in the future if it was cheaper, but it’ll have to be one of those once-​in-​a-​while places.
This isn’t your communal hotpot, every person gets their own (you’ll have to pay $ 10 sharing charge if you want to split one).
Food: good portion and variety of veggies.
I ordered the surf and turf combo ($ 30) tonkotsu broth ($ 2) and some sides of fried tofu ($ 5 – 6), oyster mushroom ($ 5 – 6), clams, cuttlefish paste balls? (Pretty good). The tonkotsu broth wasn’t creamy (I’ve been spoiled by good ramen), I think I’ll just stick to a free broth next time.
A lot of things are definitely overpriced (all the sides, especially for the portion). I would suggest ordering sides for the whole table if you decide to get them.
$ 170 for 4 people. Definitely a good date spot or a girls’ night out. The décor is sleek and it’s just small enough to be a comfortable dining experience.
Service was definitely slow/​lacking, but the manager was definitely on point– super sweet and very patient and accommodating.
I will be back, but it’s definitely pricey.

This place had been around for years and we always frequent the shopping center it’s in but the hubby and I are not really soup people (although we crave it at times) so we didn’t have the urge to try it until one freezing day in Georgia…
The hubby and I went here for lunch and ordered off their lunch menu. I can’t recall what they called it in their menu but the hubby had the beef platter. It came with thinly sliced beef with a bowl of veggies and noodles. I ordered their veggie platter with came with a bunch of veggies and glass noodles. When you order, they ask you choose a broth for your soup. The hubby chose Tom yum and I chose beef broth.
The food was delicious and we enjoyed the different dipping sauces they had available. My favorite was their house sauce. We each had our own little stove where we were able to adjust the temperature accordingly.
The décor of the place is very nice. Our server was great and answered all our questions and gave us good suggestions on what to order.

J’s Mini Hotpot Deluxe is located on Buford Highway in Chamblee. I know it’s been around for years, but I never stopped by until a few months ago. From the conversations I had with my waiter, I believe they changed their management somewhat recently, so there are several differences in menu/​prices/​etc. compared to the previous set up. My brother, who’s frequently eaten at the Duluth location, asked for the spicy beef bone broth soup, to which they said they don’t serve broths spicy anymore in order to suit customers who may not prefer such flavors. I visited J’s Mini Hotpot Deluxe again a few weeks ago, but this time when I asked for a spicy broth, they offered a chili oil paste to make my broth spicy — not sure why the waiter didn’t offer it the last time I went.
Overall, the experience is pretty good. The prices here are definitely more expensive than other hotpot places (and from what I heard, the Duluth location is also cheaper. From my understanding, that’s because the Chamblee location is a «„deluxe“» hotpot venue, while the other one is just a regular set up). While the meat does appear higher quality, the prices will certainly reflect the difference. I’ve ordered beef for $ 13 – 14 at places like Gom Shabu Shabu, but the same order will cost you about $ 17 – 18 at J’s Mini. Anything else you order — a different type of noodle, seafood, extra vegetables — will cost you about $ 3 – 4 dollars more per item.
Rather than having pots built into the table, the tables at J’s Mini have electrical stoves flat against the top, then the waiter will bring you a pot filled with an opaque, cloudy broth. The temperature settings are conveniently set up, where the individual can adjust the temperature with a small knob, which provides a lot more flexibility with the heat to cook your meal. Sauces here will be self-​serve — a station is set up in the center with around 15 – 20 different sauce ingredients. Service is okay and the wait time can be long at times, but it’s worth a visit if you’re in the area and don’t want to drive all the way to Duluth for hotpot. 3.5 stars for me.

I have been here before a few times before the remodel but my friends and I won’t be going back.
I went Saturday in a group of ten people right after they opened. Sure, we were a group but by no stretch of the imagination a VERY large group. They asked if we had a reservation to which we said no. That’s when his attitude changed. He said we’d have to wait… it could be a long wait.
This was a shock because they had just opened and their were only two tables of customers in there at the time. I told the guy «helping» us we could sit at different tables… like we were two or even three parties (it is a hot pot place after all with about four people to a table anyway). He said it would take a long time to set up and they had reservations later. We said no thanks to a long wait at an empty restaurant while having to deal with someone who made it clear having us as customers wasn’t a goal. I asked if their was a manager on duty and the guy who had already started with the attitude said he was the manager. So we told him we wouldn’t be back.
Long story short: they aren’t equipped to handle groups… or it seems even dinner rushes, the manager doesn’t even seem like he wants customers. You’re better off going to another hot pot place (they are all over the place on Buford H’way and Satellite Bvd… with a new one, Tasty 21 Hot Pot, just down the street outside of 285 that wants customers).

I really enjoyed my visit, but let it be known this is my first visit EVER to this form of Asian cuisine.
#1: Everything was new. White walls with Lime accents make it feel fancy, definitively a good visual. Nice clean tables/​floors.
#2. Food was between $ 13-​$ 20ish depending on what meat you go for, if any.
#3. Cook your food on table Hot Plate: Set to the left… Not the best for southpaws. The Hot Plate is placed on the left… I guess I could have sat on an odd end? I felt a little inconvenienced but I encountered the same in school, when they only had 2 left-​handed desks and 5 lefties in the classroom.
#4. SAUCE BAR: Yes! You can pick condiments like garlic, fresh scallions, Hoisin and other sauces. Did not have enough time to try them all.
#5. Service was good. At lunch 3 tables were sat. 1 Server, but you are cooking your own food, therefore, not a lot of need for them to come often. There is a drawer in the table housing napkins. No spoons were provided, other than the wooden spoon to ladle your soup. I figured ASIAN STYLE sipping from the bowl was in order. Chop Stick were provided
CONS: I personally felt that more noodles needed to be given. Maybe I could have requested them. Will see how goes it next visit.
Parking lot is large, no issues parking. I do suggest you drive very carefully thru the lot as there are lots of careless drivers that may not stop when they are supposed to/​back out without looking.
Overall, a good experience for me. I will be back.. .with fun friends!

True genuine chinese hotpot with lots of choices. Nice services too! The waitress gave us complimentary slurpies!

Ehh… really cool place to eat with friends, but money wise? Not really worth it…
Parking is good. It’s in a huge lot with 2 long strips and a market. I’m sure some days you may have to park a little further away, but walking an extra 15 steps won’t hurt you.
Space — I thought it was kind of small. I can imagine a long line forming… But maybe I didn’t look at all the tables correctly. But I only really saw more 2 man tables than 4 man tables
Service is great. I can’t complain. Folks here are really nice.
They do have a sauce bar + instructions on how to make an awesome one. I tried it & it was delicious to use with my hot pot.
The meat & veggies are fresh. The broth is good. I really wanted to like J’s, but in reality — hot pot to me is more of a AYCE. If you prefer to have portion control –this place is right for you, haha. When I eat hot pot, I eat a ton. I have no shame, haha. My own family can demolish like 15+ plates of meat and veggies. But hey — the quality at J’s is great. I can tell they buy better meats and veggies.
With each meat plate, you get a veggie dish. The veggie dish has quite a lot of things, but I’m picky — so I only really ate maybe ¾ of it.
Overall — the renovations look pretty cool… I think opening up their menu would be the next best thing for them.

If only I could give this place less than one star. First thing is that the prices are high. What really pissed me off about this place is that they have a $ 10 sharing fee… and each person doesn’t even get their own pot. So, pretty much you pay an extra $ 10 to eat off your friend/sister’s plate. You don’t get an extra pot or more food or anything else. When the not-​so-​friendly manager approached us I asked, «so you want to charge an extra $ 10 for the same amount of food that would be given to one person just because someone else is eating off their plate?» His response was, «you’re sitting in one of our seats.» My response to him was, «well, not anymore. We’re leaving. This is absolutely ridiculous.» Never again! I liked this place better before they renovated it, less jerks in management.

Used to be our favorite hotpot spot (great food and close to home).but now they installed this new rule that each pot must be an entrée. why have different rules and different prices in two locations. despites the good food, we wont ever come to this location anymore.

Since this was one of my few experiences at a Hotspot dining place, I can’t do too much comparing. But what I can do is tell you how amazing this place is. There are really three things I take away from what separate a good Hotpot from a bad one:
A) The broth they serve you. This broth was hearty and flavorful. And the more you cook in it, the more flavorful it becomes. But it is all about those base flavors. Which J’s took to the next level.
B) The sauce availability. The sauce is all what you make it of it. And the more choices of sauces that fall in your wheelhouse, the better «you» sauce you can make. The selection here was broad and the «Will» sauce that was made was on point.
C) The quality and freshness of what you put in the pot. The veggies here were crisp and fresh. And the meats had great coloring and a tender, fresh taste. The seafood that we got had a great variety and once again, fresh was the name of the game.
This experience in Atlanta made me really wish we had a place like this back home in Bham. I will start the petition today!

It use to be called Mini Hotpot but now it has been renovated to a bigger space. Same owners but a different look. And a lot pricer.
The menu is now a book, instead of a paper acting as a place mat. The space is two stores knocked into one. The sauce bar is towards the kitchen and is set in ice. Which makes everything is more clean. The napkins are in a drawer within the table so it adds more space to the table. In addition, you have your own controls within reach to adjust the heat once your broth starts to boil.
They have about 7 different types of broth, and certain broths that are additional; which they have increase the prices, it use to be .75 but now it is about $ 1.75.
I think I just went for the experience but I feel like you pay more for less. It is a very nice and clean place but not really worth going again.

Haven’t been to J’s Mini Hotpot in years, but love the new renovations. Very modern and bright now. Only downside is that the prices are a little steep (like other Unilocalers have written).
Ordered the vegetarian platter thinking that I was just going to receive the usual veggies that come with any entrée selection; however, got another platter of veggies that was more than enough for one person.
I went with the Beauty Booster Broth and it had a light and refreshing flavor. I could eat the broth on its own.
Love the sauce bar where you can come up with your own personal dipping sauce.
Great for a cold winter night.

Everything has changed– make SURE to tell them if you have a shellfish allergy because the standard platter of veg now comes standard with a prawn, a scallop, and other shellfish things.

I’ve been to this mini hotpot several times since it opened, before the renovation. I was excited for the renovation. I was hoping for a nice upgrade but all I got was an increase in the price of their menu items. Service was less personable than before, only one waiter for the whole restaurant. Same amount of food, arranged on fancier plates but higher price than before. For the money I spent, I’d rather go to 99 hotpot and seafood for all you can eat hotpot, crabs, and oysters. J’s mini hotpot, you’ve just lost a dedicated customer.

I’ve been a long time mini hotpot customer and was excited about this location renovations since I was closer to my house, however I was disappointed with it after it reopened. The broth tasted different and it’s way overpriced for something that used to be casual cheap dining. That used to be its charm that I get off work and come in my uniform for a casual dinner and now they are trying to become a fancy restaurant but still serve the same food for a higher price, which wouldn’t be so bad if the food quality reflected in the price. They don’t even have all the sauces that the Gwinnett location have to offer. Overall don’t come to this location expecting the same mini hotpot experience because you won’t get it. I will probably never revisit this location or recommend anyone to do so.

Absolutely love this place! The prices are slightly higher than before, but I think it’s well worth it for the fresh and higher quality ingredients. I’ve had the ribeye, and also the pork belly, and both are delicious (my favorite is still the pork belly, though). Their meat dumplings are really good too! My friend ordered their seafood, and she said it was extremely fresh as well. The portions are large, and I’ve had to take the rest of my pot to-​go every time. They provide containers for the soup, and also smaller ones for the sauce. Perfect for breakfast or lunch the next day. Especially now since the weather is cooling down. The renovations are clean, modern and beautiful, and it’s just a very comfortable place to be after a long day of work. Everyone seems very friendly and helpful, and you can even ask them to make the sauce if you are intimidated by the sauce bar. Overall, best mini hotpot in Atlanta for sure.

Bad service!!!
They served me this mushroom without washing. I had ask them why the mushroom look dusty (black dots are soil). They told me that they already washed and this is how the mushrooms supposed to be. This is the worst place ever!!!

Mini Hotpot has been my go-​to Hotpot place even with all the new ACYE places around. They’re newly renovated and more modern and spacious than before. The price is a little higher ($ 16.49 for the chicken combo) but the quality of the food is good. They give a TON of food — your choice of meat plus a bounty of veggies (cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, 4 different types of mushrooms, squash, taro, tomato, corn), assorted seafood (imitation crab, clam, fish cake, a skewered shrimp, fish balls), tofu (fried and steamed), and an egg. I usually get the chicken broth or beauty broth (tomato-​based), but my friends also really like the tom yum. I’m always very satisfied and stuffed without feeling guilty about eating a ton of fried, unhealthy food.
I really like the self-​serve sauce bar — the house special sauce is great, but I like to make my own with chinese BBQ, korean sauce, and chili oil. They also give a complimentary cucumber «appetizer» and small cake type of dessert. Nothing amazing but it’s free!

As the weather starts to cool down from a mild Atlanta fall, I start to crave certain comfort foods, hot pot being one of them. A popular fad in Asia, I was pretty excited for some hot pot.
Parking is wide open, shared with a few other restaurants. Don’t worry about not finding parking here, there is plenty. Although I never ate here before the renovations, the restaurant is very well lit and modern.
Don’t come to J’s Mini Hot Pot expecting All You Can Eat like every other place around town. While some may see this as a disadvantage, I think it’s better to have some portion control. That being said, the prices are a bit steep for not being all you can eat. I’m struggling to give it a 4, but it did adequately satisfy my craving for hot pot, for now. I’m giving J’s Mini Hot Pot the benefit of the doubt that after they hire more people, the service will improve significantly.
The servers were very astonished to find out we had a group of 5. They had no idea how to handle us. We realized later that it was because they have tables for 2 and 4, so having a table for 5 was pretty difficult. Even in their flustered state, they were finally able to section of a table for 8 into a table of 5, then re-​use the remaining seats for another table of 5. So it worked out!
Our service was very slow. The server noted later that there were only two servers working that night. I realized the «Now Hiring» sign on the restaurant door was really no joke. Our server was a snarky one, with a laid back attitude, which may be awesome to hang out with, but maybe not as a server. She was super chill, though and remembered to get us all our requests, eventually.
I kind of think of this as Chipotle style — you order:
1. The Broth — I ordered beef bone, which was very simple and not as rich as I had hoped it would be
2. The Meat (or veggies) — I chose the cheaper combo, so I could have a variety of meats (I chose beef and pork). Otherwise, you can choose one plate of meat, then add on side orders. I had just enough meat to be full, although you can never have too much meat and as I dropped the last pieces of pork and beef into the pot, I was wistfully wishing there was more. Each «meat» or «combo» also comes with
3. Veggies — and this isn’t your normal «veggies.» You get a variety of items from, yes fresh veggies, to fish cakes and balls to fresh shrimp and fried tofu. You also get
4. A raw egg — I choose to put mine in my dipping sauce, but please eat responsibly… raw egg isn’t the safest thing to do, but this is how I grew up eating hot pot. You can also choose to crack it into your soup or drop it in pot to hard boil it. Speaking of sauces, there is a
5. Sauce bar — mix your own. Be as adventurous and bold as you want. I used a variety of sauces, including the house special, the Chinese BBQ (sa cha sauce), soy sauce, chili oil, raw garlic and scallions. Plus the raw egg that came later.
Ok, so not really like Chipotle, but you get the gist.
Overall, it definitely reminded me of Taiwan, although it lacked the «all you can eat» factor that most mini hot pot shops in Taiwan have. Price-​wise, it should have been all you can eat for what I paid. You can never compete with the prices in Asia. Even so, I left J’s Mini Hot Pot smelling like I had just left gone to Asia and back.

This location has reopened since it renovated.

I’ve been coming here for years and although this location is a bit small, it gets down and dirty and to the point. If you’re coming with a larger group, here’s a tip: call ahead, they will likely accommodate reservations. Every time I’ve dined here, even on week nights, the entire restaurant has been seated to capacity, which isn’t surprising because the place is tiny. Traditional Chinese hot pot is such an enjoyable meal, especially on cold evenings, and Mini Hot Pot is a place in Atlanta that does the experience right.
In this tiny setting, each person sits in front of their own steaming, broth pot. Choose from a variety of dinner options, which includes your choice of a protein or combination of proteins, and a large plate of assorted Asian vegetables and noodles. A single person meal ranges from roughly $ 15 – 20, and you’re guaranteed to leave out of here incredibly full.

Went here for some hot pot because I was craving. It’s been such a long time and today was cold so perfect timing! I can here around 12pm and they were surprisingly empty. There was only my one server and one other customer not including my cousin and I. I was kinda irritated because she was rushing us to order and we just got there. I mean I didn’t even get settled in yet. The portions were decent. Exactly meant for one person, but a lot of vegetables and I LOVE my veggies
The food itself was decent. I thought the soup base was kinda bland so I added in some sauce for more taste. I’m not sure if I’ll come back yet. Maybe if I have no other choices. Oh well

What’s better than a DIY vat of soup on a cold rainy day?! The boyfriend and I came here in for a impromptu date night (aka I put on real clothes and drove more than 5miles) since both of us are pretty keen on hot pot. It was pretty hoppin’ for a Monday night.
The place is kind of small so I can see why Daniel B. said the service is not spectacular. They have about 4 tables and then the bar seats 6, I believe. I think waiting is inevitable but the duration is really on luck. Hot pot is an experience not to be rushed.
As evident by the name, all of the hot pots here are individual. Everyone gets their own to cook in. This is great if there are any allergies, or if you want different broth bases. Concept is pretty simple, you pick a broth base (vegetable, beef, chicken) and whether you want it spicy or not. Then you either order vegetables, meat, seafood, tofu, etc individually or opt for their combination platters where you just select the meat. I think the combination platter is really the way to go. You get a variety of ingredients (I’ve tried to include an all-​inclusive list below) and a meat or seafood of your choice, and rice noodle sticks (mifun). One crappy part of the experience was they asked if we wanted to swap out the mifun for a different noodle without telling us that there was a premium charge for the substitution. While mifun is not my favorite, I do like it/don’t mind it, so I would’ve been more than happy to keep it if I had known about the extra charge.
Combo platter –
Chinese spinach
Chinese cabbage
Hot dog sliver
Fish balls
Tempura
Tomato
Egg
Corn on the Cob
Tofu
Enoki mushrooms
+ your meat
(I may have missed something)
While you wait for your food, you can make your dipping sauce. They have your standard soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, cilantro, green onion, sesame paste, but also chili oil, fresh jalapenos, hoisin, fish sauce etc. Basically they have a lot of flavors you can create, and if you don’t like the dipping sauce it’s your fault, not theirs.
I can’t comment on quality of seafood because I don’t usually care for it, or ever order it, but I thought the meat was really good. The slices were not too thin and the meat was not tough. I had a bad experience at MHP2 where the beef just disintegrated when it cooked.
They also offer boba teas, and were running a promotion on BOGO papaya smoothies. This is probably because people were not ordering them and they were like crap, we still have an eff load of papaya. Kudos to them for using «fresh» (frozen) papaya and not syrup. The boyfriend really wanted one because he likes papaya. I thought the smoothie was really gross, but I also don’t like the taste of papaya. He thought it was good but too sweet. Additionally, they have shaved ice with a small selection of toppings. The bowls are pretty small (smaller than palm size?) and are roughly $ 5 each. It’d be cool if these were complimentary since they are so small, but I’d also just order it if I really wanted it.
TLDR; cold day + hot soup = happy belly