Korean barbeque and Chinese hot pot restaurants are fairly new to Lakeland — but the tradition of gathering communally and grilling or simmering meats, vegetables and noodles in flavorful broth dates back many centuries.
Over the past year, Lakeland has gained three eateries where dining is an interactive cultural and culinary experience. Hong BBQ & Hot Pot, KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot and Fire Spot Buffet invite guests to gather around a big table with family or friends and cook food themselves in small batches.
Some of the ingredients, like beef, shrimp, chicken and pork, are familiar to mainstream American palates. But others — like tripe, duck blood, beef aorta, baby octopus, tongue, pork liver, frog legs and chicken gizzards — might not be.
Patrons can be as adventurous as they like. All of the restaurants offer all-you-can-eat pricing. Diners get their own steaming pots in which to cook whatever they want. Barbeque is grilled on communal tabletop skillets.
Origin of hot pot: A popular story says hot pot cooking originated more than 1,000 years ago when Mongolian horsemen rode across the steppes and into northern China. They allegedly used their helmets to simmer broth over open fires and cook chunks of meat. Their shields became improvised frying pans.
Hong BBQ & Hot Pot
The city’s newest venue opened on Aug. 20 in the former Shell’s Seafood location on South Florida Avenue. Tom Kuo, director of operations for the small food chain based in Temple Terrace, said a local family from China owns the Lakeland franchise.
“As the food industry continues to evolve and cuisines of other cultures are more widely accepted, we saw an opportunity to provide our authentic Asian cuisine to Lakeland,” said Kuo.
The entryway of Hong BBQ & Hot Pot makes patrons feel like they’re taking a voyage to China, with the aesthetic of Chinese dragons, lanterns, and the front of a temple.
- Location: 5125 S. Florida Ave.
- Hours: Sundays to Thursdays from noon to 10:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11:30 p.m. The last seating is one hour before closing.
- Pricing: Adults can choose either all-you-can-eat hot pot or barbeque for $31.99. The cost for children is $16.99. To have both, it’s an extra $5.99 per guest. The all-you-can-eat deal is valid for two hours.
What’s on the menu: Hong BBQ & Hot Pot features a wide range of meats, seafood and vegetables on both its barbeque and hot pot menus. The latter also includes dumplings, noodles and tofu options. There are eight soup-base options ranging from plain to spicy and including a tomato version.
“The hot pot is all you can eat. You heat it right at the table … Each person gets their own pot, boils the food and eats,” Kuo said, adding that you can also mix in sauces from their sauce bar, which has 20 varieties. Pork bone is the most simple broth that many enjoy, he said.
The restaurant’s Korean barbeque offers several meat options, which customers cook on the grill at the table. Paper-thin slices of pork belly, ribeye and beef belly cook in seconds. Marinated meats like beef bulgogi and garlic chicken sizzle and take a tad longer.
“Korean-style flavors are typically sweet and savory,” Kuo said, adding that marinated short ribs, sliced lamb, and curry chicken are three of the restaurant’s most popular entrees.
Hong BBQ & Hot Pot also offers the popular handcrafted boba teas. Its sauce bar offers fruit and chicken wings for those with a less adventurous palate.
Choosing Lakeland: Kuo said the owners of the franchise met the owner of the chain through networking, as both are from China. The restaurant chain, which has five other locations, including in Tampa and Bradenton, was looking to expand closer to Orlando. Kuo said that’s how they settled on establishing a location in Lakeland.
Polk County Property records show that Peng Tai LLC bought the property in August 2023 for $2.02 million. Previously, Shells Seafood operated there from January 2020 to June 2023. Before that, it was Manny’s Chophouse, which closed in May 2019.
Slideshow: Hong BBQ & Hot Pot (7 photos)
KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot
KPOT opened in Lakeside Village on Feb. 19 in the space formerly occupied by Crispers. The chain started in New Jersey in 2018 and now boasts more than 150 locations across 38 states.
It offers an all-you-can-eat dining experience that merges Asian hot pot with Korean barbeque flavors and a full bar.
- Location: 1568 Town Center Dr.
- Hours: Sundays to Thursdays from noon to 10:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 11:30 p.m. The last seating is one hour before closing.
- Pricing: For adults, all-you-can-eat hot pot or barbeque is $20.99 for lunch and $30.99 for dinner. Kids ages 4-6 are $7.99 for lunch and $11.99 for dinner. Kids ages 7-10 are $11.99 for lunch and $15.99 for dinner. The entire table must choose either hot pot or barbeque. To have both, it’s an extra $5 per guest. The all-you-can-eat deal is valid for two hours.
- Takeout or delivery: KPOT has added takeout and delivery bento boxes and hearty bowls to its offerings. Prices vary.
Fire Spot Buffet
Fire Spot Buffet opened in 2023 on Lakeland’s north side in the Village Plaza. Unlike the other restaurants, it offers sushi and a typical Chinese buffet in addition to hot pot and barbeque.
According to its Facebook page, the restaurant closed from June 17-27 to “upgrade its offerings.” During that time, it also changed its name from Fire Hot Pot & BBQ to Fire Spot Buffet. It now offers over 100 dishes.
- Location: 4250 U.S. Highway 98 N.
- Hours: Mondays to Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.: Sundays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Pricing: The traditional Chinese food and sushi buffet costs $12.99 per adult for lunch and $16.99 for dinner. The price for children is about half that. To get the buffet and either all-you-can-eat hot pot or barbeque, it’s $27.99 for adults. Kids ages 3-6 are $10.99 and 7-10 are $12.99. The entire table must choose the same option. To have both, it’s an extra $5 per guest.
Slideshow: Fire Spot Buffet (4 photos)
Raw seafood and meat — some exotic and some more familiar — is on ice for barbeque customers at Fire Spot Buffet. | Stephanie Claytor, LkldNow 
The interior of Fire Spot Buffet. Tables vary depending on whether someone wants the buffet or hot pot and barbeque. | Stephanie Claytor, LkldNow 
Grills are embedded in some of the tables at Fire Spot Buffet. | Stephanie Claytor, LkldNow 
Fire Spot Buffet is at 4250 U.S. Highway 98 N. in the Village Plaza | Stephanie Claytor
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