Steamboat

For £16.95 you get a Shanghai style hot pot with choice of 4 broths for your hot pot liquid. There is also a table top grill for you to cook on. You get a plate of shaved beef and lamb to start but otherwise Overall selection is pretty weak. But does fulfill a hot pot craving if that is what you’re after. Service is ok.

What can I say about Steamboat BBQ? Well first off it was an amazing experience! Actually I think experience is the key word because this isn’t the sort of place you just pop in to for a quick bite, it’s an attack on the senses and on the fingertips if you get too close to the hot plates…
The concept of Steamboat is quite simple, you are given a choice of having a set meal cooked by their trained chefs in a proper kitchen or you can go for the cook your own option. Each table place is equipped with a hot plate and a central gas flame and wok/​pan. There is a fine selection of herbs, spices, meat and seafood at the buffet and the idea is you collect your favourite things and have a go at cooking them.
I think the key to enjoying Steamboat is to experiment with your meals. There’s plenty of different options. When I visited we choose beef and chicken as our main meats and then selected everything else form the plentiful buffet. It began as a bit of a challenge but after some careful guidance from the attentive waiting staff we were cooking (literally). The first plate we threw together was just about edible but once we got in to the swing of things we were producing some decent cuisine…
I would highly recommend this place — It is an excellent venue for a catch up with friends but maybe not for a first date as you need to pay attention to the cooking food on your table. It is also really good value — I left with my belly full to the brim and I the nicest thing was that we spent over 2 hours at steamboat and never felt under pressure to vacate our table.

I guess this is a thing in Asia because this place is always full of non-​locals who don’t seem surprised at a that for £10 you get a bowl of really delicious broth — watch out for the spicy ones — and a buffet of fresh meats and tofu and veg and lots of spices and can go crazy cooking them yourself for 2 hours. Had many awesome meals and awesomer conversations here. They bring giant plates of beef and lamb that are really good to dip in your broth and cook too. Do not miss! I recommend the white fish, the squid (they look like white squares but cook into these amazing spiky spiral things!) and the fried tofu squares. And the kimchi-​so much kimchi. I suggest strategizing a good flavor profile for your first round and then just going crazy. My vegetarian/​vegan friends are fine here and those of us who eat meat are even happier. Probably my favorite place in Belfast. Go, go hungry, go now!