03/05/2026
We decided not to celebrate my husband Gary's birthday: we're both are super busy at work, and so are the kids. After that, I was faced with the task of HOW not to celebrate, and where.
Gary suggested something nearby, either an all-you-can-eat place or a buffet. And closer to the bart station, where his beloved father-in-law and my beloved stepmother would be arriving from San Francisco.
In the "buffet" section, I found a restaurant called Happy Lamb Hot Pot, within walking distance from Mountain View Station.
I scoured their website for reservations and, in desperation, called directly, not expecting anyone to answer at lunchtime in such a cool place, according to the description. The girl said curtly, "Just come on in," and slammed the phone down.We arrived. The interior was very nice. A sealed apron with their logo lay on the table. The restaurant was almost empty; in the corner, judging by their nice uniforms, the employees were discussing something. I spent about five minutes trying to figure out where the buffet was, but since my relatives were demanding food, I had to calm down. I collected cute aprons for the four of us from nearby tables, knocked out another menu, and it turned out we'd ended up in... a restaurant "cook-it-yourself" where you simmer thinly sliced meats in flavorful broths right at your table. While the service was a bit brisk over the phone, the interior was very nice and the food was delicious. We ordered both spicy and mild broths along with a variety of meats. For those who prefer not to cook their own food, they also offer prepared dishes like shashlik and a wonderful leg of lamb. : you cook at the table. Delicious is an understatement. At the end I remembered dessert and suggested we look for a place nearby for it. The waiter, hearing the familiar word "dessert," nodded toward the restrooms. I corrected him, and he pulled me by the sleeve to a mini-stand near the restroom aisle, topped with buns and strawberries. It all turned out to be decoration, but there were some real fruits and cream. This was the buffet, $1.99 per person, that I'd fallen for when I was looking for a restaurant. I'd say it's similar to La Fondue at McDonald's prices, except that at La Fondue they fry their food, while here they boil it (each piece of food sits for about 15 seconds in a simmering, fragrant, delicious soup). We paid next to nothing—only $140.Great place! And parking is no problem. But maybe not every day—we were there at 2 PM on a Wednesday. A very tasty, original restaurant. I recommend it: https://happylambhotpot.com/
