Good news for hot pot lovers in Austin, Texas! There is a new contender in town, and it is bringing some serious heat. When I first moved to Austin five years ago, hot pot options were nonexistent. But things are changing fast. This new spot was formerly Xiao Long Kan in Houston and has now rebranded as Old Alley, opening its doors right here in Austin. Even more exciting? Apparently, it is a sister restaurant to Mian and Bao, two names with strong reputations in the Chinese dining scene. With that kind of pedigree, let’s dive in and see what Old Alley Hot Pot Austin is all about.
Old Alley Hot Pot Soft Opening
I went during the soft opening around 5:50 PM on a weekday and waited about 50 minutes before getting a table. Even though the line wasn’t very long, diners seemed to be taking their time, most staying for over 2 hours, so be prepared for a long wait.
The plaza also has another popular spot, Café Java, and it’s known to get busy on weekends. So expect the parking situation to be a bit chaotic, especially during the weekends.
Old Alley Hot Pot Austin Rating and Review
I give it a perfect rating, as it now reigns as my favorite hot pot spot in the entire city. The decor was beautifully designed thought out and there were so many incredible details like the light lanterns and the small bricked walls by tables. I especially appreciated the old tv with the sign: Abusing and Fighting with Poor Boss.
For big eaters, this spot might not be ideal since it’s à la carte rather than all-you-can-eat. But as someone who doesn’t eat a ton, it actually ended up being cheaper per person for our table compared to AYCE spots.
Sauce Bar ($2.99): It does not have as many options compared to other hot pot spots in town but it did have the main sauces I use like sesame paste, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, fermented bean curd, satay sauce, oyster sauce, and chili oil.
Meat Beef & Lamb Combo: I recommend getting the combos since it is a better deal. The meat was fresh and thinly sliced, served on a detachable ring that was beautifully arranged around the hot pot.
3 Broth Bases:
Tomato: It was rich and delicious. At other hot pot spots, the tomato base is usually too mellow for me, so I end up going to the veggie bar to grab extra tomato slices and toss them into the broth to boost the flavor. But this one was perfect as is.
Beef Tallow: The server suggested starting with a level 2 spice out of 5, which I thought had a good kick. As a spice lover, I could definitely have gone spicier, but level 2 was still satisfying.
Pork Bone: This one pleasant surpired me. I usually skip pork bone broth, assuming it will be bland but since the 3-broth combo cost the same as the 2-broth option, I decided to give it a try. I am so glad I did. The broth was creamy, milky, and packed with flavor.
Special Tip: I discovered my new meatball obsession! I usually go for fish balls with roe, but I decided to try the shrimp with egg yolk, and it was incredible. It was so creamy and the shrimp was bouncy.
Location
11900 Metric Blvd F, Austin, TX 78758
If you enjoyed this review, you might also want to check out my AYCE Kan Sushi review.
