Big Lamb-Focused Chinese Hot Pot Chain Lands in the East Village

Playful Beijing hot pot chain First Lamb Shabu has landed in the East Village.

The restaurant, which originally hails from China with a location in Flushing, is now open in Manhattan within a large two-floor space at 218 East 14th St., between Second and Third Avenues, EV Grieve reports. As its name suggests, First Lamb Shabu specializes in hot pot and lamb — the menu is loaded with options from lamb chops to spines, as well as fun add-ons like a Hello Kitty-sculpture made out of beef oil and a fish-shaped fish pudding.

Aside from the traditional broth-based hot pot, First Lamb Shabu also serves a lamb stew that’s been praised by prolific Queens blogger Joe DiStefano, who dubbed it one of his favorite lamb dishes in Queens.

Hot pot has grown significantly in NYC in recent years. The restaurant has over 300 locations in China and is one of several big chains to open in NYC, its first U.S. location debuting in Queens in 2016. Other companies such as Little Sheep, Liuyishou Hotpot, Da Long Yi, and HaiDiLao have also expanded here. And massive Sichuan-style hot pot specialists Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot plans to open in Flushing next year.

First Lamb Shabu is now open daily from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• First Lamb Shabu is (finally) open on 14th Street [EV Grieve]