Lao Szechuan Hot Pot Buffet

We have been coming here for Hot Pot for over a year and a half on a regular basis. With all the people telling me that they find they are disappointed with the other “Hot Pot” place in town (you know the one), I tell them they need to go here. This is a small family run place. One side is Hot Pot, the other is more traditional restaurant style. You have to take the time to cook your food and make it your own. So if you’re looking for instant gratification this is not for you. But the pay off is amazing. When you give this place the chance you need to, they will become one of your best kept favorites. You’ll likely be sitting next to us on a regular basis soon!

Chicken and broccoli lunch special w/fried rice… WONDERFUL!!!! Curry chicken dinner…. Very large and filling!!! Great curry flavor, not too strong. Mandarin trio plate… great assortment or both veggies and meat, no skimping there. Business was slow during the day, but I liked it that way. Good service.

I have enjoyed the hotpot at Lao Szechuan numerous times, and it seems to get progressively better with each visit. I am particularly fond of the spicy broths and the unique flavor of Sichuan pepper. I have yet to explore their regular menu, cocktails, or fruit and milk teas, but for the only hotpot in Sioux Falls, it’s a great representation at an affordable price.

Lao Szechuan Hot Pot Buffet, as the only Chinese Sichuan restaurant in the Sioux Falls area, offers a uniquely authentic Sichuan dining experience. As a Chinese international student at South Dakota State University, I often visit this restaurant with my friends to enjoy the taste of home. We especially love the Fuqi Fei Pian(Couple’s Sliced Beef in Chili Sauce) and Cumin Lamb. Personally, I’m a big fan of their Koushui Ji (Chicken in Chili Sauce). Overall, this restaurant is definitely worth a visit, and I highly recommend trying their signature dishes.

The only, and I mean the only reason I’m giving it a 4 star is the price is bit steep. OTHERWISE I’m in love with this place. I often wait in giving Reviews. I go a few times and few weeks apart to see if there are any changes. And I’m not gonna lie. There was none. The same employees, different times and different days. Each time, Amazing. This is a standard Asian food restaurant. Every stereotype filled. But the hotpot is amazing. I’m a picky eater myself but I really like this place. The family who runs it is really nice. Always on top of getting your drinks, and checking your broth. The have all kinds of things to eat mushrooms, tofu fatty lamb, even octopus. It’s a clean place and the broth is amazing. They have a 2 hour limit on the buffet and a 15% tip is added to your bill. They also have a $12 fee for food waste, but to be honest as long as you eat what you get, it’s not an issue. The cost is worth it. It really is. It’s a great place of date night, and it’s a great place to have a family dinner.

I love my alone time there, great service, and good food. And great price!

Delightful adventure! Husband and I went here for date night and we had a great time. The staff we nice and very helpful to help us understand the process and what we needed to do. We had one side as "normal" and the other side as "spicy". The meat is cut thin so it cooks quickly and everything tasted so good! We were able to try a few items we wouldn't normally try and we've found a cute date night spot. Highly recommend and we will go back again!

Wow what a great Chinese restaurant. It has a hot pot option but we ordered off regular menu. We had braised chicken it had lots of peppers and a pork blood soup. The dishes were served family style and shared and came with white rice. The food was like nothing we had ever eaten before at a Chinese restaurant. It tasted very authentic. The atmosphere of the restaurant very ambient and definitely you feel like you are at a Chinese restaurant. Our server was the best she was so accommodating and very fun. I would go back just to see her again. We really tried some for us unusual foods but they offer more standard Chinese dishes too. Oh we had some dumplings for an appetizer and they were the best.

Enjoyed the food. Had the hot pot which I liked but the spicy broth wasn't spicy at all. Felt there was a good variety of items to add to cook. Service was great.

Stopped here for dinner for one. I wasn't expecting much, thought it would be a typical Chinese American restaurant. Boy, was I wrong. Upon arriving I was asked either hotpot or regular menu. I opted for the regular menu. I had the fish and sour cabbage soup, Stir-Fried green beans w/ chili peppers and Chicken in chili oil as an appetizer. The portions were huge and the taste is authentic. The flavors took me straight to Sichuan, China. I had to take home most of the green beans. Definitely bring friends and go for the regular menu for authentic Sichuan cuisine.

We live 2 hrs away and drove here to try the hotpot. The hotpot was very good. The soup is tasty, but it would be better if there were more different types of meats. The service was okay, I think there is a shortage of help. It's super slow;otherwise, everything was good.

Came Here unexpectedly on Christmas Morning. This Place was Beyond Amazing With their food. A little Sketchy Looking wondering if it's going to be good but It was Great! You have 2 options to Sit at if you want to order off the regular menu or Sit Buffet with your own Hot pot which Is A little more of a price. They bring you a pot of Broth of your choice, You can Pick whatever you want however much you want from the Noodles, Vegetables, To the meats and Fish to add to your hot pot. The Sake Was So good, was not bitter, had An amazing taste. Also ordered of the regular menu, chow mein was Delicious.

Not the best price wise but it’s way better then half these reviews give credit, my fiancé and I came in for the weekend HotPot. The reason we only give the service 3 stars is because they didn’t explain anything about it and we had never had hotpot before so it was a bit of a learning experience. The drinks were always refilled promptly and same with the broth when it would get low. The meat selection wasn’t huge but they had lamb, beef, fish, squid, octopus, a nice variety. The veggies is where the selection was lacking and I didn’t like the taste of the cabbage leaves but the mushrooms were fantastic with the spicy broth. The spicy also isn’t too hot but I recommend half and half if you don’t like spice, it is nothing like the “dirty mop water” I’ve seen in the reviews here. All in all I recommend this place as a must try, be advised it is pricey, we paid $75 for 2 adults so not a regular place to go but once in a while we will return.