Ok, now you may be asking, why is little blue face over here wasting my time with another review of a hot pot restaurant in, of all places, SGV?
Is it because the joint is AYCE?
Is it because it’s hot pots look like fondue towers?
Is it for the pork brains?
It is because they list Budweiser as a “Desert” [sic} on their menu?
Is it because the meats on offering are of such quality that even Purina rejected them?
No, no, no, no, and no (at least I think it’s “no” on the last one).
No, the reason to come here, if you absolutely have to is for the 7 p.m. nightly show of the tea ceremony. You get to watch some miserable lady, dressed in traditional garb, doing a little dance while pouring tea in the most contrived and strained manner one can imagine. Now I know what it must’ve felt like watching the Bearded Lady at the circus way back when.
It seems to be a budding trend to have dinner and be able to see a brief show at these upstart Chinese imports. Chuan’s in Temple City which was declared “the future of Chinese dining” by LA Eater Chuan's is the Future of Chinese Dining in Los Angeles - Eater LA
has a face change show every other evening that repeats every hour or so. The expensive Chinese hot pot place in the Arcadia’s Santa Anita mall offers a noodle pulling dance for two bucks. The possibilities are endless.
But back to the tea show. Who gets to drink the tea? Highest bidder?