Folsom dining heats up — literally. New all-you-can-eat ‘HotPot’ enters restaurant scene

Tao’s Hotpot and Shabu, a cook-it-yourself Asian restaurant, was not what owner Taobo He saw himself doing when he first came to America.

He, 29, hails from Chongqing, China. He said that the city is famous for hot pot, a style of dining that resembles Korean barbecue but with less flames. The formal grand opening of the establishment will be Feb. 5 or Feb. 11, according to He, and on that day the current “soft opening” sale that marks 20% off the all-you-can eat-buffet’s $38.99 price will end.

He moved to the United States after high school to attend Sacramento State for mechanical engineering. He said he then found his passion in cooking and enrolled in American River College’s culinary arts and restaurant management program, from which he graduated in 2018. His first restaurant, Tao’s, is at 510 Natoma Station Drive, Suite 100.

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He said he came up with the idea in 2020, but COVID delayed any action. His plans came to fruition on Jan. 11 of this year with the restaurant’s soft opening.

The restaurant offers an assortment of meats, veggies, soups and other sides such as fish cakes, meatballs and noodles. He said the best meat is the American Kobe.

It is open for dinner 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day except Tuesdays. Additionally, they are open for lunch Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They used to be open for lunch on other weekdays, but He said the hot pot aspect of it took too long for customers stopping by for lunch.

He said if he expands, his target location is the border between Granite Bay and Roseville.

TAO’S HOTPOT & SHABU

Hours: Open for dinner from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Lunch is also available Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location: 510 Natoma Station Drive, Suite 100