So Hot

So Hot brings communal Chinese hot pot to Cornerstone Shopping Center in Cary, inviting guests to linger over bubbling broth at induction-equipped tables. The all-you-can-eat format covers lunch and dinner at a set price, while servers and the friendly robot host Alex keep service moving and answer questions, so first-timers feel comfortable navigating the iPad ordering system and cooking times.

Four-compartment pots let diners mix and match flavors such as spicy beef tallow, fresh tomato, Cajun, and bone broth before swishing in Angus ribeye, pork belly, seafood, and seasonal vegetables. Eight noodle varieties and specialties like ice tofu, beef tripe, and hand-pulled noodles add texture, and dessert-only dishes at dinner — including milk mini buns and brown sugar rice cakes — reward those who save room.

The dining room glows with Shanghai-inspired art, a self-serve sauce bar stocked with Szechuan, Cantonese, and Beijing condiments, and whimsical touches like a cotton candy vending machine. Draft beer happy hour, boba teas, and sparkling sake keep glasses full, while reservations for larger groups, a charge for excess waste, and attentive broth refills reinforce So Hot’s blend of festive energy and thoughtful hospitality.