Shancheng Lameizi Hotpot

This was my first real hot pot experience and it was incredible! It helped tremendously that my date is originally from Taiwan and speaks Chinese fluently (I saw on the roster that there were 23 parties ahead of us, but he spoke to the hostess and she took us right in- score!). We ordered a plethora of vegetables including: Daikon radish, Chinese cabbage, lotus root, enoki mushrooms, mung beans and others, as well as both mushroom broth and spicy broth plus lamb, spicy beef and original flavor and a type of small bony fish. We retrieved our own sauce mixes from a small buffet type of setup where desserts and other appetizers were available too. I had never experienced this unique and bizarre response in my palate before- the Sichuan pepper. Wow! Talk about an exciting aspect to the meal. If you masticate the peppers, they cause a tingling and numbing sensation in your mouth. It paired really pleasantly with the pepper beef we ordered, but interestingly enough altered the flavors of other things I consumed. They had three types of sesame balls, one being my favorite- red bean with glutinous rice. I loved it. I can't wait to return for more hot pot options!

My wife is from Sichuan. And since we live in the east coast, there aren’t many authentic hotpot places near us. I took my wife, both of my in-laws, as well as wife’s friends to this place... All of them gave this place the thumbs up! There are some things novices to authentic Sichuan hotpot need to look out for: 1) There’s no shame in getting the non-spicy soup base. Even the low spice soup is as hot as the hottest food in other places. This is definitely not for the faint of heart. You can even limit the spicy level by adding chilli sauces and powders from the sauce bar. 2) The longer spicy soup base cooks, the hotter (read spicy hot) it gets. This is because not only does the water in the soup base evaporates, but hot oil also slowly seeps out of the chilli. 3) For those who have been longing for some awesome Sichuan peppercorns, there are both grounded Sichuan peppercorns and Sichuan peppercorn oil at the sauce bar! The soup base doesn’t have the “ma” taste to be noticeable, but that can definitely be adjusted.

Highly recommend! If you want to try the traditional Chinese hot pot, you must come to this restaurant! Except the fresh food, they also have a variety of sauces , and you can make your own favorite sauces according to your taste!

So I took my wife and two family members here for the first time. I’ve had hot pot once in Shanghai and since we were in San Gabriel for a family thing, we thought we’d try hot pots. I will tell you that this was such a great experience! The hostess, seeing that we were hot pot neophytes (and the only non-Asian in the place) sat with us and helped us navigate the menu. The waiter was so kind and helpful. The host took the time to help us with the sauces and helpful tips. They saw us and went the extra mile to be sure we had a great time and that we were comfortable!! So the service was phenomenal and the food was delicious. Thank you!!!

loved all the options for soup bases and variety of options for hot pot! anything you’d look for you can find here. they even had pig’s brain. the sauce bar has so many options you’ll barely scratch the surface! in addition to different snacks and desserts like sesame balls filled with red bean. with a party of 6 we stayed almost 3 hours - it was just that good! we ordered a variety of meats and seafood, and the restaurant had different combos for mushrooms, veggies, and root veggies. can’t wait to come back 10/10 love the interior. would be cool for a group dinner that’s a bit fancier

This place was fantastic 👏🏻 👌🏻. The food was fresh and delicious, and the fresh hot pot 😋 was a treat. Not to mention, I had an invaluable assistant. I had the chicken, beef, and vegetables, and my date had her delicious pork and vegetables dinner.

It's more authentic Chinese hot pot. It tastes good. You need to wait in line.

Loved the hotpot here. Lots of variety and you can pick an choose to your hearts desire. The free side bar has plenty of sauces and dips to choose from. Good selection of deserts and fun foods. The restaurant itself is dressed in a vintage Chinese Cabana style decorand there are a few divided cabins you can sit in besides the main floor. Adds a little bit of ambiance to your dining experience. Service is very exceptional and fast. They are very attentive and alert to all your needs and requests. Very polite and professional. Hotpot can be very monotonous but the different dishes they offer here will surely satisfy anyone's craving whether it be meat, veggies, seafood or other exotic dishes they offer. First time here for me and definitely my new hotpot hotspot.

This is one of the best hot pot restaurants in SGV!

So I have tried many of the hot pot restaurants in this area and surrounding neighborhoods. I've also eaten hot pot in China before. Shancheng Lameizi is definitely legit. Staff and most diners only speak Mandarin. The broth was not weak, but rich and strong. Got half tomato and half pork bone broth. Ordered a bunch of Chinese veggies, mushrooms, beef and lamb. Even though it was Tuesday afternoon, the restaurant became filled up quickly. The interior design is very beautiful with books and statues everywhere. I think it must have took them a long time to arrange everything. Only problem is that I was too stuffed at the end of my meal to try more things. Would come back for sure.

My favorite space for hot pot.. cheaper than haidilao, mini bar has more choices for sauce you want mix especially the desert and snacks. More authentic setting for hot pot environment. BTW. they have more choices for soup base. Happy to go back again soon.

The service is decent, they delayed our order but sent us a bottle of drink. Materials are fresh while the price is not high. Haven't tried other hot pot restaurants in LA, but I would say this is one of the best compared with those in Boston and NYC.

By far, it is very good place that is not all you can eat hot pot in my mind. Even though people sometimes has to wait couple minutes for a seat, I think it is worth because their food quality is pretty good and their soup based is hot as well (mild spicy). I recommend people first time here to try beef tripe, pork intestine, and fried tofu skin (special)because it is delicious and easy to cook in a couple minutes. (Only beef tripe, and tofu skin)

This was our first time visiting this chain’s location in San Gabriel. It is more spacious and the food quality is good. There were only two minor issues: There was no one checking the waitlist at the main entrance when we got there. The bathrooms only allow one person at a time. Other than those overall it is a very well managed restaurant.

Feels like waking into some historic Chinese eatery. All the wooden shelves with Chinese herbal decor feels really warm. Soup base really good and their mala is really numbing. Great snack and sauce bar set up. Ingredients are all super good. Low key better than HDL. One of my fav hot pots for the future. Their restrooms are stocked with oral care so you can make out with your girl after hot pot lol

The coconut ice jelly is delightful, and they offer a variety of domestic snacks. The medium spice level is already delicious. The bone broth is excellent, and I plan to try the pig brain next time. The service is also great.

Great authentic flavors, not too difficult to get a table and parking lot right outside make it very convenient. Nice big tables for group gatherings. Sauce bar is in point, they also keep it wiped down and clean. Flavors are authentic and can get very spicy if ya aren't ready, so be prepared! Staff is friendly and works quickly without getting sloppy. Decor's great.

This is the fanciest hotpot restaurant I have been to. Their menu is very versatile, they have an amazing sauce, appetizer and desert bar. Definitely on the higher end regarding price. If you are used to “all you can eat” restaurants, you will get a surprise when you see the bill. Overall i think it is worth it. Btw their fried rice is absolutely phenomenal!!

The environment was very nice, and the staff was professional. Always loved the appetizer they provided. The restroom always has toot floss, brush, and others that could help you to feel fresh after having hotpot.

I wish I live in the west coast. So many authentic Chinese cuisines. This hotpot reminds me of home. Chinese proved authenticity. The dipping sauce area is amazing with basically everything you need to make your own sauce. Price is okay.

Delicious. Recently, the quality of meat has become better. The beef with cowboy bones is delicious, and there is a special tofu that is delicious.

Traditional and yunny schezuan spot. They know how to bring the spice! Theres also a side bar for you to make your own dipping sauce. Food is fresh. Service is fast and polite. All around A+++

The decor was on point — warm yellow lighting gave the whole place a cozy and welcoming vibe. Their self-service bar is just $2.98 per person and totally worth it. It’s packed with snacks, desserts, tons of hotpot ingredients, and all the spices you need to make your own custom sauce. Just a heads-up: don’t go for the beef combo if you’re expecting the usual thin-sliced hotpot beef. It came as a whole beef steak — super tender and flavorful, but not the easiest to chew if you have braces like I do! Other than that, everything was amazing. Highly recommend!

One of the better hotpot places locally and possibly a new favorite. Ingredients are fresh and the sauce bar has a plethora of snack choices. Although not all you can eat, the prices are very fair and surprisingly low for such quality. Service was pretty fast. The atmosphere is historic in a very cozy way.

B W

This was our first time visiting this chain’s location in San Gabriel. It is more spacious and the food quality is good. There were only two minor issues: There was no one checking the waitlist at the main entrance when we got there. The bathrooms only allow one person at a time. Other than those overall it is a very well managed restaurant.

Jay Wu

Feels like waking into some historic Chinese eatery. All the wooden shelves with Chinese herbal decor feels really warm. Soup base really good and their mala is really numbing. Great snack and sauce bar set up. Ingredients are all super good. Low key better than HDL. One of my fav hot pots for the future. Their restrooms are stocked with oral care so you can make out with your girl after hot pot lol

Mia Ng

The decor was on point — warm yellow lighting gave the whole place a cozy and welcoming vibe. Their self-service bar is just $2.98 per person and totally worth it. It’s packed with snacks, desserts, tons of hotpot ingredients, and all the spices you need to make your own custom sauce. Just a heads-up: don’t go for the beef combo if you’re expecting the usual thin-sliced hotpot beef. It came as a whole beef steak — super tender and flavorful, but not the easiest to chew if you have braces like I do! Other than that, everything was amazing. Highly recommend!

Jeff Tong

One of the better hotpot places locally and possibly a new favorite. Ingredients are fresh and the sauce bar has a plethora of snack choices. Although not all you can eat, the prices are very fair and surprisingly low for such quality. Service was pretty fast. The atmosphere is historic in a very cozy way.

Sophie Xie

The coconut ice jelly is delightful, and they offer a variety of domestic snacks. The medium spice level is already delicious. The bone broth is excellent, and I plan to try the pig brain next time. The service is also great.

Howard Chang

Great authentic flavors, not too difficult to get a table and parking lot right outside make it very convenient. Nice big tables for group gatherings. Sauce bar is in point, they also keep it wiped down and clean. Flavors are authentic and can get very spicy if ya aren't ready, so be prepared! Staff is friendly and works quickly without getting sloppy. Decor's great.

Amy Vu

This is the fanciest hotpot restaurant I have been to. Their menu is very versatile, they have an amazing sauce, appetizer and desert bar. Definitely on the higher end regarding price. If you are used to “all you can eat” restaurants, you will get a surprise when you see the bill. Overall i think it is worth it. Btw their fried rice is absolutely phenomenal!!

Eunice Chen

The environment was very nice, and the staff was professional. Always loved the appetizer they provided. The restroom always has toot floss, brush, and others that could help you to feel fresh after having hotpot.

Baoyi Zhou

I wish I live in the west coast. So many authentic Chinese cuisines. This hotpot reminds me of home. Chinese proved authenticity. The dipping sauce area is amazing with basically everything you need to make your own sauce. Price is okay.

lena gao

Delicious. Recently, the quality of meat has become better. The beef with cowboy bones is delicious, and there is a special tofu that is delicious.

Very pricey, but everything is very fresh. The mild spicy level is already too much for most ppl, don't try the regular spice level unless u r a pro. Also have a unlimited salad bar with delicious deserts just like Haidilao.

The front desk experience has been consistently frustrating. The young lady there appears inattentive and unsure of the process. Even after joining the Yelp waitlist ahead of time, we're left standing without explanation for 5-10 minutes each visit until another staff member takes over and seats us. The lack of coordination at the entrance gives the impression that no one is actually managing the line properly. Fortunately, the rest of the staff are warm and professional, and the hot pot options are solid.

Richard Fan

Very pricey, but everything is very fresh. The mild spicy level is already too much for most ppl, don't try the regular spice level unless u r a pro. Also have a unlimited salad bar with delicious deserts just like Haidilao.

Sebastian “Sebas” Rodriguez M

This place was fantastic 👏🏻 👌🏻. The food was fresh and delicious, and the fresh hot pot 😋 was a treat. Not to mention, I had an invaluable assistant. I had the chicken, beef, and vegetables, and my date had her delicious pork and vegetables dinner.

My favorite hot pot place to go . Came for the dinner with family . Lots of sauce options plus fried sesame balls and traditional desserts . Always order duck blood and fried pork . Btw , the spicy broth wasn’t too spicy but a bit salty after all

Shancheng Lameizi Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with authentic Sichuan flavors. Their hotpot is a standout, customizable with a variety of fresh ingredients and served in a rich, perfectly spiced broth. Other highlights include the Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken, each dish expertly balanced and bursting with flavor. Coupled with prompt, friendly service, this restaurant is a must-visit for lovers of spicy, aromatic cuisine.

Chengdu style hotpot in LA! Quick guide: I recommend the combo half and half bone broth/medium to hot spicy soup to cook in. Order the combo meat (beef and lamb), fresh beef, winter melon, daikon, vegetable combo, quail eggs. Create dipping sauce: 1 teaspoon soy sauce, heaps of fresh garlic, green onion, and a slash of vinegar. Cook items and dip b4 eating. Drink: watermelon juice or Sapporo.

Decent spot for hotpot! They can do split broth (non-spicy + spicy). We got the bone broth with one half being hot level of spice. It was super spicy, and if we had known we would have ordered medium or mild. There are a wide array of meats. Had to order rice as an add-on. What I really appreciated was there complimentary "buffet" area, which I did not expect. It consisted the make-your-own-sauce area (basically all the sauces you usually expect for hot pot) and other small snacks (prawn chips, packs of peas, small crackers) and sweets (sweet rice porridge, sweet soup, and 3 different types of sesame balls). We ended up ordering more food than we needed. So the tab ended up being pricier than intended.

Quite good. Flavorful soup base, good range of unlimited-snacks. It's not an all you can eat place (for hot pot items). Meat we had was fresh. Service was good, especially considering how busy it was. I thought the prices were OK for the items and portions were fine. Loved the decor in the place.

Chongqing style hotpot which typically means very spicy. We ordered half mild spicy and half non spicy broth and the mild spicy broth was quite strong. Good decorations inside. Not all you can eat style. You need to order individual items. A bit pricey but there are some free snacks at sauce bar. The spicy broth was quite greasy (real Chongqing style). Would be nice to have some fresh fruits at snack/sauce bar. Overall a good place to try Chongqing style hotpot.

Cool and historic interior. Service is excellent, food is not bad but where I come from - Vancouver Canada definitely has better hotpot restaurants there. Portion is generous, price is reasonable, soup base is a bit bland. The dipping sauce and snack bar is amazing, has so many options there. Parking could be challenging. It seems very popular too, so be sure to get on the wait list early as they don’t take reservation. Overall, we had a good time here.

Interesting and unique hot pot restaurant. 5 stars for the Chinese exterior and interior design, feels authentic. Cool Chinese library inside, beautiful designs. 4 stars for the hot pot food, item costs vary depending on what you get. Soup flavors are good, meats and veggies are fresh. Best part is the free snacks, where you get your sauces. Apparently they offer over 20 variety of little snacks. Parking is a bit small here. Wait wasn't too long, about 15 minutes after 9pm.

This is a Chong Qing style (hot chilies) Chinese hotpot restaurant. You can choose among handful of soup bases and select a la cart ingredients in the sliced meats and fish and vegetables. You can choose non spicy broth. There is a dipping sauce station where you can build your own sauces with multiple ingredients used in the Chinese kitchen. Normally there is at least 30 mins wait if you arrive around peak times. Seems they don’t take reservations. They serve quality cuts of meats and clean vegetables.

This is a chain Mala hot pot restaurant. The decoration is that of a library. They have an extensive sauce area with snacks and a few desserts. The soup base was tasty and the meat/vegetables tasted fresh. Overall a good experience

Over the past several years I've had my birthday dinner at Lameizi Hot Pot, either at the Rowland Heights branch or the San Gabriel one. I didn't go there specifically for my birthday; it just happened by coincidence. I tend to crave hot pot about twice a year. Interesting pattern. Every time I went to the Rowland Heights branch, it was because I needed an oil change at KB Motor. There aren't many dining options in that area. But KB Motor is getting more and more expensive, so I don't think I'll have the chance to visit Lameizi in Rowland Heights again. The good news is that Lameizi in San Gabriel is even closer to my home. That location has newer and better renovation than the Rowland Heights one, and the food is even slightly better. Lameizi represents the standard, classic, middle-of-the-road hot pot in the San Gabriel Valley. In China, it would probably be considered below average. But here, it offers fresh and clean meats, good portions, and traditional soup bases. You don't really run the risk of ordering anything bad. It's just average, but in a good way. Nothing stands out, but nothing disappoints. By the way, they've stopped offering the free Sichuan pepper peanuts at the dipping station, which used to be one of my favorites.

Yule Show

Over the past several years I've had my birthday dinner at Lameizi Hot Pot, either at the Rowland Heights branch or the San Gabriel one. I didn't go there specifically for my birthday; it just happened by coincidence. I tend to crave hot pot about twice a year. Interesting pattern. Every time I went to the Rowland Heights branch, it was because I needed an oil change at KB Motor. There aren't many dining options in that area. But KB Motor is getting more and more expensive, so I don't think I'll have the chance to visit Lameizi in Rowland Heights again. The good news is that Lameizi in San Gabriel is even closer to my home. That location has newer and better renovation than the Rowland Heights one, and the food is even slightly better. Lameizi represents the standard, classic, middle-of-the-road hot pot in the San Gabriel Valley. In China, it would probably be considered below average. But here, it offers fresh and clean meats, good portions, and traditional soup bases. You don't really run the risk of ordering anything bad. It's just average, but in a good way. Nothing stands out, but nothing disappoints. By the way, they've stopped offering the free Sichuan pepper peanuts at the dipping station, which used to be one of my favorites.

C Neon

This is a chain Mala hot pot restaurant. The decoration is that of a library. They have an extensive sauce area with snacks and a few desserts. The soup base was tasty and the meat/vegetables tasted fresh. Overall a good experience

Harry Zheng

Chongqing style hotpot which typically means very spicy. We ordered half mild spicy and half non spicy broth and the mild spicy broth was quite strong. Good decorations inside. Not all you can eat style. You need to order individual items. A bit pricey but there are some free snacks at sauce bar. The spicy broth was quite greasy (real Chongqing style). Would be nice to have some fresh fruits at snack/sauce bar. Overall a good place to try Chongqing style hotpot.

Henry Chen

Cool and historic interior. Service is excellent, food is not bad but where I come from - Vancouver Canada definitely has better hotpot restaurants there. Portion is generous, price is reasonable, soup base is a bit bland. The dipping sauce and snack bar is amazing, has so many options there. Parking could be challenging. It seems very popular too, so be sure to get on the wait list early as they don’t take reservation. Overall, we had a good time here.

Stanley Moy

Interesting and unique hot pot restaurant. 5 stars for the Chinese exterior and interior design, feels authentic. Cool Chinese library inside, beautiful designs. 4 stars for the hot pot food, item costs vary depending on what you get. Soup flavors are good, meats and veggies are fresh. Best part is the free snacks, where you get your sauces. Apparently they offer over 20 variety of little snacks. Parking is a bit small here. Wait wasn't too long, about 15 minutes after 9pm.

Brandon Ho

Shancheng Lameizi Restaurant offers a fantastic dining experience with authentic Sichuan flavors. Their hotpot is a standout, customizable with a variety of fresh ingredients and served in a rich, perfectly spiced broth. Other highlights include the Mapo Tofu and Kung Pao Chicken, each dish expertly balanced and bursting with flavor. Coupled with prompt, friendly service, this restaurant is a must-visit for lovers of spicy, aromatic cuisine.

Jung Lee

This is a Chong Qing style (hot chilies) Chinese hotpot restaurant. You can choose among handful of soup bases and select a la cart ingredients in the sliced meats and fish and vegetables. You can choose non spicy broth. There is a dipping sauce station where you can build your own sauces with multiple ingredients used in the Chinese kitchen. Normally there is at least 30 mins wait if you arrive around peak times. Seems they don’t take reservations. They serve quality cuts of meats and clean vegetables.

small hotpot restaurant with good services, but hotpot taste and foods are soso

+1

could have been a 5 stats...but there was basically no service when we were there for lunch. No more water, soup base drying up..we had to take away the empty dishes ourselves. However. service fees was akready added to the tap. I also almost miss that and would have double tipped. Food and pricing ate recommend. Wish they can improve their service, looks short handed today!

Sam G

could have been a 5 stats...but there was basically no service when we were there for lunch. No more water, soup base drying up..we had to take away the empty dishes ourselves. However. service fees was akready added to the tap. I also almost miss that and would have double tipped. Food and pricing ate recommend. Wish they can improve their service, looks short handed today!

Would not recommend it. I would say the hotpot there tasted good, and their snacks were awesome (a lot of varieties and free of charge). However, I had diarrhea the day after, and I’m pretty sure it was from this restaurant cause this was the only meal I had that day. Also, the friends who went with me all had diarrhea the day after. For the restaurant owner: please make sure your food is fresh and clean before you serve!!! For customers: please think twice before you go!! If you are going for the taste, I would say it won’t let you down. But I’m not sure if you will experience the same as me, as I only went there once and won’t go again because I didn’t feel good the day after.