The Hut Pot to Open in Downtown State College

A new hot pot restaurant is expected to open in downtown State College later this summer.

The aptly named The Hut Pot will open in the former location of Yallah Burrito Company at 404 E. Calder Way. Hitham Hiyajneh, owner of Yallah and multiple other State College eateries, is a business partner with The Hut Pot.

Owner Laura Luo said the new restaurant aims to bring part of her culture to the borough.

“I decided to open a hot pot restaurant since hot pot is one of the most popular meals in China,” she told Onward State. “My roommates and I have it once or twice a week, but there’s no in-store-dining hot pot restaurant nearby. I see the potential of this business and can’t wait to open it as soon as possible.”

For those unfamiliar with the concept, hot pot is a cooking method that originates from China. Each is typically prepared with a simmering pot of soup and stock at a dining table that’s often filled to the brim with East Asian ingredients, including meats like beef and lamb, fish, noodles, condiments like soy sauce and sesame butter, or vegetables like bok choy and cabbage.

A drafted menu for The Hut Pot is right along those lines. It even includes squid, quail eggs, and boneless duck feet. The menu also has curated combos, like a meat plate featuring beef short rib, spicy beef, beef tongue, lamb shoulder and pork slices.

The Hut Pot is expected to open in late July or early August, but Luo said the date will depend on when furniture and equipment arrive.