Old Street Hot Pot Opens in Milford With Dim Sum All Day & Hot Pot

There’s Chinese food and then there’s authentic Chinese food. Old Street Hot Pot in Milford offers diners an incredible Chinese experience – from authentic Dim Sum to original hot pot. 

Don’t let the American strip mall exterior fool you (but do take note of the fabulous G Mart at the end of the block!) Once you walk through the doors you’ll forget where you are. You’ll be transported into a large space that combines traditional and contemporary elements with a large modern wooden architectural feature that stands within the existing building. Painted murals peer down from the ceiling through the wooden structure. The ambiance is created by a mix of wooden accents, vintage Chinese artwork, and soft lighting. Tables are arranged to accommodate both small and large groups, with cozy booths lining the walls. The space is designed to evoke a sense of cultural authenticity while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for guests. A private dining room featuring an enormous round hot pot table that seats 16, making it the perfect entertaining space. The restaurant’s total seating capacity is 135.

Owners May Lin and Steven Gao opened the restaurant earlier in June. May is no stranger to the restaurant world; she owns Tiger Daddy in New Haven and The Whale Tea which has 27 locations in the US.  May was born in China and came to the US as a teen.  Her childhood in China served as the inspiration for Old Mill Street Hot Pot. May wanted to bring authentic handcrafted hot pot to Connecticut so families and friends could enjoy quality time together while sharing a delicious dining experience.  Quality, consistency and customer service are the driving forces that make Old Street successful. Each guest is warmly welcomed and experience highly attentive service.

When you enter the restaurant you’ll be warmly greeted and taken to your table. Once you’re seated you’ll be given an iPad-like device to use as your menu and thus your Chinese culinary adventure begins! You’ll likely start with some Dim Sum, small, bite-sized portions of food that are served in steamer baskets or on small plates. We were treated to a nice variety of delicious dishes including Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce, Steamed Shrimp Dumplings, Rice Roll with Beef, Pan Fried Shrimp and Chive Dumplings, Shrimp Shumai. We moved on from there…

This was my first Chinese Hot Pot Experience. And what fun it was! Also known as "huo guo," diners get to cook right at the table. You’ll select from a wide variety of raw ingredients which you’ll place into one of two pots of simmering broth in the center of the table. There are different types of broths available, ranging from mild and clear to spicy and flavorful. 

We opted for a mild broth and a low heat broth that definitely has some kick, (and I can handle a good bit of heat!) Typical ingredients include thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, mushrooms, tofu, and noodles. We had a vast array from which to choose that included an assortment of mushrooms, sliced beef, ox tongue, taro, tofu skin and fried tofu, fish cake, fish ball, pork, crab roll and sausage. We also enjoyed fresh fish and seafood that included lobster, crab legs, jumbo shrimp, mussels and salmon to cook in our broths. This wasn’t just a great time, our food was really delicious!

If you’re an adventurous eater there are lots of fun traditional Chinese items to try. If you’re a little skittish when it comes to some of the more esoteric items, there’s still plenty on the menu to choose from. The menu is diverse enough to appeal to all tastes and dietary preferences. 

I loved this new to me interactive and social style of hot pot dining. It’s a great thing to experience with family, friends, or as a work-bonding event.

Old Street Milford Hot Pot
187 Cherry St. Milford, CT 06460