It’s been a while since I got this excited over a restaurant. The promise of eating all I can for both bbq skewers and hot pot is something that cannot be missed.
Meat Up on Kingsway in Burnaby, has been open for a while now and based on the gathered crowds, others were just as excited to visit as I was. Be warned there are no reservations so it is first come first served, with a limited parking lot and often the need to wait.
As for the menu, there are three tiers of all you can eat options to choose from. Opting in for a higher tier gives you access to the lower ones as well. We went for the top: “Diamond” to start and made sure to get one of everything. Having tried all the tiers, I can confidently say this is the one I recommend and will opt in for again during my next visit.
On top of this you can also help yourself to a selection of cold appetizers, clams, seaweed and salads. Plus steamed rice and fried rice to have it with. There is also deep fried fast food favourites like fries, onion rings, spring rolls, and even deep fried chicken skin. We passed on all of the above to focus on the below.
With the Diamond level at $58.99, you can expect premium ingredients like Abalone and beef short rib on a skewer seasoned with mumbling mala spice.
The Grilled beef tongue was a lot gamey, but balanced out by the texture of the potato and the taste of the pepper that was also included on the stick.
I loved how the Garlic scallop was severed in shell, drowned with garlic to dominate the flavour profile.
The Lobster tail was dressed similarly, more garlic than seafood, and challenging to pry from it sliced shell.
The Lamb rack were lollipops, slightly over grilled with crispy charred edges. Here, it was easy to pry meat from bone.
I wished the Whole squid was more tender and saucy. Instead, this was dry and tough with mala spice, which wouldn’t be my first choice of seasoning.
My guest and I were surprised by how much we liked the Sweet and Spicy Crawfish Tail. We expected that it would be hard to pry meat from such a small shell. Where in actuality t it came out easy with one tug with teeth.
The Gold level all you can eat is $48.99 per person and it is mostly meat skewer options. Lamb, various beef parts, pork belly and intestines, chicken wings, and a few vegetables. All the skewers come to you cooked, but stay warm at the table when placed on the hot plate at its centre.
Notable dishes at this tier includes a whole eggplant, enoki mushroom in a light ponzu-like sauce, and the tiniest pork ribs I have ever seen.
Sadly, we were only able to clear Gold tier and had to call it quits before we could move down to Classic at $35.99, but did get the soft serve ice cream at this base level. With it you have a choice between vanilla, chocolate, or twist.
Instead, I filled up on their self serve hot pot with no complaints. If you like the concept of a build your own hot pot, but want the freedom of no holds bar scooping, without the need to consider the weight of each ingredient; then come to Meat up and simply pay for the classic level all you can eat option at $35.99 per person. This way can eat all you want and then some.
They have an extensive selection to choose from, that did not appear any smaller than that of any other restaurant focusing only on self serve hot pot. Quail eggs, bamboo shoot, imitation crab sticks, seaweed knots, and spam; to name a small few.
After you use tongs to scoop up your desired meat and vegetable in an individual pot; you bring it up the counter to be boiled. Here, you pick your own broth with options similar to that of other hot pot places. Collagen bone broth, mala hot, green Szechuan peppercorn, and mushroom. Or skip the broth and get it stir-fried dry. Your hot pot is later served to you, at your table, like everything else you ordered.
I thought my tomato broth with seafood, mushrooms, and rice cakes a nice way to punctuate all our harder and dried bbq bites. It was delicious just as a soup.
I did create a sauce for it from their self serve sauce bar, but found it not necessary as everything was already so flavourful.
I would also recommend ordering one of their drinks to serve as a great palate refresher, and to help add longevity of eating. We enjoyed two from their slushy category offering cream and sweet fruit.
In closing, I love the combination concept and find their prices for all that you can get affordable. I can definitely see myself returning in the near future for more of everything.
The Meat Up BBQ Burnaby
5137 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5H 2E6
(604) 486-0607
themeatupbbq.com
