HuHot Mongolian Grill is an American restaurant chain specializing in a pan-Asian create-your-own stir fry cuisine. Based in Missoula, Montana, there are currently 39 HuHot Mongolian Grills in 14 states, the vast majority located in the Midwest and the Mountain West states.[1][2]
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The first HuHot was built in Missoula, Montana in 1999 by the Vap family. Due to the family's experience as Godfather's Pizza franchisees, they were familiar with franchising [1] and knew a fellow restaurateur based in the midwest who was interested in the concept. From there, it grew by word-of-mouth.[2]
The first franchised HuHot was built in Omaha, Nebraska in 2002. Four locations are corporate-owned (Missoula, Montana; Billings, Montana; Spokane, Washington; Fort Collins, Colorado) and the rest are franchises.
HuHot's main attraction is the 7 ft grill in the middle of the restaurant. Patrons fill their bowls from a food line of meats, noodles, fresh vegetables and specialty house-made sauces. They then proceed to the grill and watch as their unique concoction gets grilled.[3] The restaurants also offer an array of Asian-inspired appetizers, such as coconut shrimp and potstickers.[4]
The create-your-own s'mores is a popular dessert, especially with families. Each order comes with graham crackers, chocolate bars and marshmallows you can roast on a mini hibachi right at your table.[5]
HuHot's sauces are the key to a unique meal. Listed from mildest to hottest they are:[6]
A selection of create-your-own sauces, such as sweet chili sauce and garlic broth are also included on the food line.
The walls of each HuHot Mongolian Grill location are covered in hand-painted murals inspired by Mongolian folk tales. Laura Blaker, a Missoula, MT based artist travels to each new HuHot to paint its unique murals.[7]
Hohhot, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, China