Buffet restaurants are a big hit nowadays and they’re almost always a full house in every location. My friends and I are among the many others who especially love celebrating events in such restaurants where we can eat all we can without consciously minding about the supply of food to keep conversations going. 😛 Last Christmas, we were quite late to make reservations for our barkada. We ended up dining in at King One Rotary Hotpot in Tomas Morato.
Review of King One Rotary Hotpot (Tomas Morato, Quezon City)
Ambiance: ★★★★☆
Design and arrangement-wise, King One Rotary Hotpot is not really a stunner but nothing to sneeze at either. Its charm perhaps mostly roots at the lively family atmosphere and endearingly friendly staff. At the center, the rotary belt is pretty much the main attraction in the restaurant.
Each table features a stove of hot and flavorful broth where vegetable, seafood, and meat options are dropped in and cooked. It only takes a couple of minutes before food is ready to be fished out with tongs or chopsticks.
Service: ★★★★☆
King One Rotary Hotpot has a hybrid of self-service and table service. From the moment we sat down, the staff handed out a checklist of items we want to get. Apparently, not all items on the list were placed on the rotary belt, so guests still have to request others from the waiter. Somehow, the ordering part was easy and convenient. Appetizers, drinks, and desserts were available on the buffet table, and we could grab them at our own pace, too.
Food: ★★★★☆
Food tastes were okay in general, and the variety of items for the buffet hotpot was satisfactory. Few short courses could be ordered as part of the buffet set but in no way they could be considered destination-worthy. Quality did not pack a punch and failed to incite quite the mania fans of Chinese food.
Moving on, from the conveyor belt, the top two ones we got were the sliced marbled beef and the beef balls. I could not recall just how many plates of sliced marbled beef we shoveled down our greedy little gullets, but it was surely more than six. 🙂 The beef was sooo good!
Vegetables like enoki mushrooms, tofu, and fresh greens and seafood like crab sticks, scallops, and oysters were also delightful. The real diet-detonator though was the utterly addictive balls oozing with cheese. Texture was soft like your pillow and taste was a cross between yellow sunshine and heaven.
Desserts were meek (sigh), so we crossed the street to the new J.Co for some donuts and coffee.
Price for Value: ★★★★☆
Dining at King One Rotary Hotpot in Tomas Morato was fun, interactive, and enjoyable. At PhP 650/person, the price represents a fair value for money. The vast dining room with burners at the center of each table is great and recommended for family-style dining and for big groups of friends like ours. 🙂
About Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco
Health and technology freak. Food and lifestyle blogger with a large appetite for food and travel.
Your pictures are beautiful! I love the decor of this restaurant. I am always looking for fun places to eat when we travel! This restaurant fits the bill and it looks like you had a pretty fun group too! 🙂
Thanks, Cindy! Yeah, I didn’t expect that we will have a great time here. The restaurant when I came was almost empty. Apparently, more guests tend to come later and soon the place was filled with large groups. 🙂 Food was delectable!
That looks like a beautiful restaurant.
And what a nice selection of food to try. Hope you and your friends had a great time.
Yes, we did. 🙂 If I’d crave for delicious thin slices of beef, I know where to go. Sadly, travel time from my home was over an hour. I think I’m closer to their branch near Mall of Asia.
This was all sounding amazing until you said their desserts were meek, bummer! I love the idea of trying out a rotary hotpot though and will have to suggest the idea to my husband for a date night soon!
Sure. This place does not look romantic at all but if you’re a lover of food, it will be a hit! 🙂 Go for unlimited balls and different kinds of veggies here.
In Chicago most of the restaurants avoid doing buffet style but it looks like you found a great one. Too bad the dessert wasn’t so great–I’m always looking forward to pigging out at dessert portion of a meal. Thankfully the brunch buffets I go to always have an enormous spread!
Yeah, desserts consisted of some pineapples and watermelon slices. People who find this little selection satisfying can probably give a higher rating to King One Rotary Hotpot. 🙂
A lot of buffet restaurants are being opened in the country and what really sets one different from the others would be the kind of service they provide since most of the food would more likely be delicious just as the others.
The place looks very elegant and quiet. Not chaotic like the famous buffets around Manila. Though this is far from me, I would keep in mind to visit them when I’m around the area. 🙂
You may also visit the branch along Macapagal if that’s nearer. 🙂 Although given the option of King One Rotary Hotpot and Four Seasons Hotpot, I’d definitely choose the latter.
The the idea of trying out a rotary hotpot sounds fabulous and fun – and great to be with a group of friends! Now I know what it is, I’ll keep my eyes open for one.
Shabu-shabu dining is perfect if you have many friends to share the food with. Cooking food on top of the table together is fun. 🙂
I guess for someone who is a not a fan of hotpot, this restaurant is not worth a try no?
mas ok pa to eat at hotspot restaurants na hindi buffet?
Yes, this restaurant is mostly just about hotpot dining. If you’re not into this type of food, it’s really better to go elsewhere. Pag gutom, ok sa buffet na maraming choices. Kung medyo busog o tama lang, ok na ang a la carte. 🙂
We love our family buffets here. Those cheese puffs sound Delish. I want to try those. If they make up for the mediocre stuff I say it’s a win.
This restaurant has been up for so many years. It has its own following particularly the Chinese folks within the area.
I have loved buffets since I was a child. It was always a place to go on a Sunday afternoon to eat. Ah the memories. Now I just go when I don’t feel like cooking. This place looks amazing and like you all enjoyed!
It’s great to have happy childhood memories associated with buffets. 🙂
Wow this place sounds amazing! I have always wanted to try hotpot! I bet you had an amazing time!
Yup! It’s good to dine in here once or twice in a year. 🙂
HI am looking for a place to dine with my family this tuesday. Is this a buffet? How much? Been trying to call the above number but contact. Thanks
We were just driving by Tomas Morato last night and found out that this branch is already closed. You can try Buffet 101, Vikings, or Four Seasons if you want a buffet restaurant.