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Chu shang Hot Pot And BBQ Cherry Hill Offers Innovative Dining Room Features

Chu shang Hot Pot And BBQ Cherry Hill Offers Innovative Dining Room Features

Chu shang Hot Pot (and BBQ) opened recently on Brace Road in Cherry Hill.  I stopped in a few days ago and was pleasantly surprised by the beautiful all-you-can-eat restaurant interior with unique and innovative features including private dining alcoves, private dining room suites and a kids play area!

Honestly, It’s a dining room design I’ve never seen before in a South Jersey suburban eatery.

The new restaurant is located in the Hung Vuong Food Market Shopping Center, on the far-left side (next to Sherwin-Williams) in a unit which was previously Retro Fitness.   This shopping center has become a mecca for Asian cuisine with many new eateries opened including the recently opened 85C Bakery.

I had no idea they had opened… My wife and I had dinner at Kaminski’s over the weekend (which is across the street) and on the way out I said “I want to drive through the shopping center across the street”… which is when I noticed the new Chu shang.  We parked the car and I did a quick walkthrough.

I researched over the weekend and found little information online about Chu shang Hot Pot other than a few posts at Facebook’s South Jersey Food Scene group… so I knew the restaurant setup was just too cool to be kept secret, and I had to write an article at 42Freeway!

Chu shang Hot Pot and BBQ – Cherry Hill

The new Chu shang Hot Pot and BBQ restaurant is a large space which seems to take up the full square footage of the former gym.

A beautifully designed restaurant with a modern Asian décor, accented by bright colors of cherry blossom trees and colorful plants.

Immediately walking in the door there are several visual things that could grab your attention…  the beautifully created indoor cherry blossom trees, or maybe the somewhat private alcove seating which runs down the left wall, accented by colorful small trees.

Or maybe you first look to the immediate left when you enter and see the host counter which is also adorned with a beautiful cherry blossom tree as well as colorful lighting.

But then a quick glance to the right and you notice a dedicated kids play area, which honestly is something I’ve never seen in a more adult dining themed restaurant. (But it’s a smart idea!)

And all of this is just as you’ve walked a few steps in the front door!

Then as you get a little more adventurous during your visit and walk around the large dining room, you’ll find on the right side wall about a half dozen private “pavilion” dining suites perfectly sized for one large hot pot table, with plenty of space around the table and yes a door that you can close…  Perfect for family or work events where you just want to have a more private dining space.  I should have asked if they have karaoke for the rooms!

Hot Pot and Korean BBQ

I’ve covered a few hot pot and Korean BBQ restaurants so you’ll probably have an understanding at minimum of what they are…  but in short summary these Asian restaurants are focused on bringing the community aspects of cooking right to your table.

It’s an all you can eat restaurant where you choose from a large selection of raw ingredients including steak, chicken, seafood as well as a variety of vegetables and more.

The tables are custom designed for these style of restaurants within the center a hot plate or heat source where guests at the table reach right in and cook the food in front of everyone.  It creates a fun and interactive experience that will definitely get everybody at the table talking and laughing.

The hot pot component of these style restaurants is a soup broth aspect.  It’s a similar concept but instead of grilling food on a hot plate you are cooking food inside the hot broth.

Images courtesy Eric M, posted at South Jersey Food Scene

Chu shang Seating Options

The standard seating at Chu shang restaurant is four rows of large booths in the open center of the space, of course each featuring the custom hot pot and BBQ tables.  The booths are large, very comfortable and offer a lot of space for a delicious and fun dinner.

These semi-private dining alcoves have privacy curtains

The next step up in dining experience is what I’m calling the garden alcoves along the left wall which are on a one-step-up raised platform and a clearly defined space facing out to the open restaurant… with a curtain which people pulled closed around the curved front of the alcove.

Taking things to the highest level are those private dining suites of which there were five or six of them.   These are beautifully designed contemporary spaces with plenty of lighting and room for eight or more guests… while still offering plenty of space around the table.

Carrying the floral theme of Chu shang, the pavilion suites have names such as Rose Pavilion or Peony Pavilion.

Regarding pricing… with my wife waiting in the car I spoke to management quickly and headed out.. without checking the prices!

Private Pavilion Suite at Chu Shang Hot Pot – Cherry Hill

So I called back and asked about mid-week pricing… it’s an all-you-can-eat meal, priced at $39.95 per adult for Hot Pot, and $43 adds the BBQ aspect also (with drink).

I asked if there was a bump in the pricing to have one of the private alcoves or pavilion suites.. And over the phone I told “no extra charge”.     Now keep in mind I was asking about midweek seating… I suggest you check for yourself first!

I have a birthday coming up soon… Maybe I’ll be stopping back with the family to check out this new hot pot… with my own bottle of sake!

Links and Location

Chu shang Hot Pot
1445 Brace Road A1
Cherry Hill NJ 08034

Phone: 856-509-5578

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