A Local Gem: Royal Hotpot in Quincy
By Olivia Reinig ‘28
For the past couple of years, my family and I have routinely visited Royal Hotpot Korean BBQ Sushi & Bar, located at 227 Parkingway in Quincy. You may have passed this restaurant while driving in Quincy, and perhaps you have wondered how the food is. Spoiler alert: it is amazing.
The moment we first walked into the building, I could tell that Royal Hotpot was not just any restaurant. Its interior is spacious and its decor elegant, with large booth-style tables equipped in their centers with grills for Korean BBQ and heaters for hotpot meals. The atmosphere of the venue itself is lively, clean, and contemporary, almost resembling a food festival contained within a restaurant.
When my family treats ourselves to Royal Hotpot, we always enjoy the Korean BBQ. I am always especially excited to eat the bibimbap and beef bulgogi, two dishes that have offered me a delightful gateway to Korean-American cuisine.
For those who have not tried Korean BBQ before, prepare for an experience somewhat beyond that of a typical meal. Instead of a chef cooking everything in the kitchen, you get to grill the meat yourself on your table’s grill. The process is interactive and fun, especially when dining with family or friends.
The main dish we usually order, the bulgogi, is one any diner should make sure to try. It consists of thinly sliced beef strips marinated in a sweet and savory soy-based sauce, meant to be cooked quickly on your grill. As soon as the slices are placed on the grill, the air fills up with an aroma that makes your stomach growl. After cooking for a few minutes, the meat will be ready to eat. The flavor, in my view, unquestionably lives up to the scent, as it contains the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and smoky notes.
Next, my favorite dish is the bibimbap, a colorful rice bowl topped with sautéed vegetables, beef, and a fried egg, served with a side of spicy gochujang sauce. The greatest aspect of eating bibimbap comes from mixing everything together so that the flavors and textures combine to make the perfect flavor profile: the crispy rice, the fresh vegetables, and the bold spice from the sauce. It is comforting and flavorful, and easily the best dish I have tried at Royal Hotpot.
In addition, Royal Hotpot boasts a remarkable sauce bar, where you can mix your own dipping sauces using ingredients like garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili, and peanut sauce. The restaurant also serves banchan, a staple of Korean BBQ, which are small side dishes, including kimchi, pickled radishes, and bean sprouts. All these sides complement each other, as well as the main dishes, and each dish adds a different flavor or texture to the meal, making everything more interesting and delicious.
Royal Hotpot’s location is highly convenient for Milton students, as it is only a ten-minute drive from campus. A lot on the north side of the restaurant provides ample parking space, and as a special bonus, there is a karaoke bar directly beside the restaurant, called Pagoda KTV, where you can book a private room after you’ve had your meal at Royal Hotpot.
I recommend the Royal Hotpot Korean BBQ experience because the employees are friendly and patient, the ambiance is memorable, the cuisine is interactive, and the food itself is delectable. The bulgogi, bibimbap, and banchan are definite standouts, but so many other wonderful options on the menu keep me coming back for more exploration.
If you are looking for a place to celebrate a birthday, hang out with friends, or just try something new, Royal Hotpot is one of your best choices in the Milton area. Just make sure you show up hungry, because you will definitely be leaving stuffed.