Broth
Hot pot is only as good as its broth, so ours are made here, from beef tallow and Sichuan peppercorn, from ox bone and tomato, from mushrooms, from herbs. Twelve of them.
About
捞天下means scoop the world.
It’s the name on the sign, and it’s the whole idea.
The name
捞天下, lāo tiān xià
“Lao Pot” is the easy way to say 捞天下, lāo tiān xià. 捞 (lāo) is the verb for lifting something out of liquid: a ladle through broth, chopsticks pulling up a slice of beef the second it turns pink. 天下 (tiān xià) is “all under heaven”: everything, everywhere.
Put together, it’s a promise: scoop up the whole world, one pot at a time. We named the restaurant after the motion you’ll make a hundred times at dinner.
Lāo: to lift something good out of the pot.
The food
Broth, table, fire.
Three things we get right before anything else.
Table
The table gets fresh-cut meat, handmade balls, seafood, greens, tofu and noodles for two hours, as much as you like.
Fire
And because a lot of us grew up around a grill too, there’s Korean BBQ at the table and skewers off the fire.
Twelve bases, sixteen sauces and the full all-you-can-eat list are on the menu.
The room
Come as you are. Leave full.
Lanterns, brick, red wood booths and long tables built for groups. It gets loud in the best way.
Birthdays, first dates, family Sundays, team dinners. Bring the people you’d want around a pot. For six or more, call ahead; for twelve or more, send us the date and the headcount and we’ll set the room up for you.
We’re on John R in Madison Heights, ten minutes from Royal Oak and Troy, and a short run up I-75 from Warren, Sterling Heights and Detroit.
Hot pot, briefly
Everybody’s pot.
Hot pot is hundreds of years old and belongs to no single place in China: Chongqing and Sichuan gave it mala, the numbing-spicy tallow broth; the north made it about lamb and a clear pot with sesame dip; the south prefers gentle stocks and seafood.
What every version shares is the ritual: one pot in the middle, everyone cooking, nobody waiting for their plate. That’s what we’re keeping.
The family
The East in Your Reach.
Lao Pot is part of 168 Group, the Michigan family behind 168 Asian Mart, Fuji Buffet, Beyond Home, Gotta Gacha and more.
Same neighborhood, same people, same idea: bring the good stuff closer.
- 168 Asian MartMichigan's destination for Asian groceries, fresh seafood, produce, pantry staples, and food-hall favorites.
- Fuji BuffetA local Japanese buffet favorite serving fresh sushi and a generous selection of hot dishes.
- Beyond HomeUnexpected Asian home goods, snacks, toys, décor, and everyday discoveries gathered under one roof.
- Gotta GachaArcade games, esports, tabletop play, karaoke, events, and collectibles in one social playground.
- 168 EbisuA playful shop for Asian snacks, beauty finds, blind boxes, collectibles, and gift-worthy discoveries.
- 168 Crab & KaraokeA seafood-boil dining experience paired with private karaoke rooms for celebrations and late-night fun.
- TabeAn elevated Ann Arbor dining experience with omakase, Asian-fusion plates, cocktails, and thoughtful hospitality.
- Asian Street FoodA modern celebration of Asian street-food culture, from ramen and skewers to bold shareable plates.
- 168 Nail SupplyA wholesale-minded destination for nail color, tools, salon essentials, and professional supplies.
- Ricky Dong FoundationThe charitable heart of the 168 family, supporting Michigan neighbors through food, schools, and community programs.