Sinking forks and spoons into Boiling Bowl’s communal hot pot is like a fishing expedition — you never quite know what you’ll pull up.

On a recent visit, our trio of diners ordered two stew pots furiously burbling away at the table. They were filled perilously close to the brim with broth, mussels, fish balls, tiny sausages, tofu, corn, artificial crab, strips of beef and a surprising number of unidentifiable items happily bobbing at the surface above flames licking at the bottom of the pot. Steam enveloped us like a cocoon. On a chilly winter evening, it was a comforting moment of sharing among friends.

Boiling Bowl (500 Mission Blvd., Suite E, Santa Rosa) combines traditional Chinese American cuisine, made-to-order dim sum, sizzling platters and the conviviality of shared hot pots.

It’s a no-frills, family-friendly spot with an epic menu that ranges from orange chicken, broccoli beef and walnut prawns to sizzling clay pot seafood bowls, shumai (steamed shrimp and pork dumplings), barbecue pork buns and shareable hot pots, including our favorites, Cheesy Milk and Beef (both $23.99).

The cheesy milk version has a watery soy milk broth studded with mushrooms, tofu, fish tofu (a fried fish paste), eggs, seafood, lotus root, fish fillets and shredded cheese.
The beef version is a heartier meat broth with thinly sliced strips of beef mingling with corn, tomatoes, mussels, mini sausages and other goodies. It’s a lot of food, and each hot pot can easily feed two people.

Vegetarian, seafood, Japanese miso broth and lamb hot pots are also available, from mild to “flaming hot” spice levels, if you’re adventurous.

While ramen is readily available in Sonoma County, hot pots can be a rare find, with only a handful in the region. (Fantasy restaurant in Petaluma, 1520 E. Washington St., has DIY hot pots that can be cooked at the table, shabu-shabu style).

Bamboo steamers of dim sum take roughly 20 minutes to prepare, so order it when you sit down. Boiling Bowl is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and 4-9 p.m. for dinner. Delivery and pickup are available. boilingbowlca.com

You can reach Dining Editor Heather Irwin at heather.irwin@pressdemocrat.com. Follow Heather on Instagram @biteclubeats.