‘Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot’ Opens First Manhattan Location on the Bowery
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The dog days of summer isn’t typically the best time to open a new hot pot joint, but such is life. So, after more than seven months of renovation and preparation, the Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot chain finally launched its Manhattan headquarters at 105 Bowery. The restaurant debuted last month.
If the Flushing outpost is any indication – highly rated on Yelp – this hot pot eatery could become a hit. Diners are given the keys here, in a sense; they’re the cooks at the table. An article from the New York Times two years ago had this to say about Little Sheep:
Anyone who has traveled to China in the last 10 years “definitely knows who we are,” said Peter Yang, East Coast operations manager for the restaurant chain, which has more than 300 locations there. The franchise is less ubiquitous in America.
After choosing from a smorgasbord of more than 100 add-ins — everything from pork belly ($6.95) to quail eggs ($2.25 for a half plate, $3.95 for a full) — diners are presented with a fragrant, roiling pot of broth studded with herbs, twigs and pods. Soup bases, which also have vegetarian versions ($3.75 per person), include spicy and non-spicy options, as well as half spicy and half not, or “yin-yang,” with the pot divided down the middle. Menus come with stubby pencils for diners to check off selections.
Little Sheep first announced its plans for the former computer repair/cosmetics shop with subtle window signage (i.e. seeking employees) back in January. Even though the branded awning arrived a month later, it took much longer for the place to become operational.