I really got into hot pot late last fall to the point I had it every week for a couple months. My friends introduced me to hot pot years ago and I only really went when they did. I decided to take a few friends that had never had it before to try it and we were hooked. This led me to try a couple different restaurants in Madison.
Soga is the first place I ever had hot pot. It was once located on the corner of Gilman and State but has since moved towards Bascom Hill on State Street. The new location is nicer than its previous location. In my opinion, Soga has the best quality meat and seafood. There are two options for broth. The traditional or spicy version. You can also get half and half if you choose. However, they offer an array of condiments so that you can flavor the broth the way you want.
On my journey to try different restaurants in Madison that have hot pot, I tried Double 10 on Park Street that offers individual hot pot. Perfect for those who don’t like to share. They offer more broth options than Soga and have condiments you can use to flavor your broth. The kimchi broth was delicious. I enjoyed the udon noodles and even though we got our own hot pot we were able to share our platters that came with it. If you are by yourself, it could get pricey with adding on different meats, vegetables, and noodles.
I later ventured to Ichiban on Park Street. We went here for my stepmom’s birthday. It has the most flavorful traditional broth compared to Soga and Double 10. Service was a bit slow and the quality of the meat is subpar to Soga in my opinion. It is the best for large parties since there is ample seating compared to the other restaurants. We also ordered other dishes to share and it was superb. I loved the family style tables that really allowed my huge family to share all the food we bought.
In all, I had a great experience trying out what Madison had to offer and will be definitely back to each one of them when I have a hot pot craving. Each of the restaurants have a unique appeal. Soga with its quality meat and seafood. Double 10 with individual hot pot for those who prefer not to share. And Ichiban with its flavorful broth and family style seating. You cannot go wrong at any of these places.
http://www.sogashabushabumadison.com