First time at Kanpai BBQ & Hotpot in Rockville, MD? The best way to start

Kanpai BBQ is an IVEA restaurant. We publish this story to introduce our own restaurant; it is not an independent review.

Kanpai BBQ & Hotpot is the Southeast Asian BBQ and shabu shabu buffet at 1701 Rockville Pike, Suite A10 in Rockville, MD, inside The Shops at Congressional Village. It is top-rated on Google, with 4.7 stars from 751 reviews, and if you have never been, here is the best way to start.

Step 1: choose your broths

The big hot pot takes two soup bases; the small pot takes one. The choices are Laksa, Original, Tom Yum, Spicy Green Mala and Shabu Shabu. Pairing one spicy broth with one mild broth lets everyone at the table find a favorite.

Step 2: start the grill

Everything on the grill is marinated with Southeast Asian spices and sauces. For a first round we would start with lemongrass chicken, satay beef and sweet garlic pork belly, then try the Hokkaido scallop or squid tentacles.

Step 3: cook in the pot

Thin-sliced pork, beef, lamb and chicken cook in seconds in the broth. Add meatballs, tofu, greens such as bok choy and watercress, and finish with udon or instant MAMA noodles.

Step 4: visit the buffet

The buffet covers Southeast Asian street food, fresh salads and desserts.

Good to know

Adult lunch is $28 and adult dinner is $45; kids pay from $11. Kanpai opens at 12 p.m. every day and closes at 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call (240) 669-8394 or reserve on Google.