Some people may be nervous to try HuHot because of its unconventional ordering system.

After all, the concept of not ordering your main course off the menu seems confusing at first, but it’s really simple to figure out. And once you try it, you’ll be hooked. After all, there’s a good reason HuHot is packed to the gills at lunch everyday – it serves up the best food in town.

Here’s how HuHot works. When you first arrive, you will be seated and your server will take your drink and side orders. Then, simply walk over to the buffet area and grab one of the big bowls. The buffet is filled with raw meats, noodles and vegetables. Pile into your bowl any tasty morsel that catches your eye, and then proceed to the sauce station, where you can add various tempting sauces. Finally, walk over to the grill line and hand your bowl to one of the people at the Mongolian grill, and they will cook it up for you with their long metal tongs.

While you’re waiting for your food to be grilled, you can peruse the bizarre mural that covers the walls, but most people just hungrily eye their food, smugly self-assured that their meal looks better than anyone else’s on the grill.

After several minutes of grill time, you will be handed a finished plate of steaming hot food. Immediately you’ll be tempted to run straight to your table to cram HuHot noodles down your throat. But resist this temptation because you must first tip the hard-working grill workers who make your food taste so good. (The tip jar is located on the wall directly in front of the grill station.)

From what I have been able to discern during my numerous visits to HuHot, the only downside to the place is that it is completely packed during lunch hours. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the best time to eat at HuHot is during off hours. For instance, I will only go between 1:30 and 3 p.m. on weekdays because there aren’t very many people at the restaurant, and it’s still offering the cheap $8.49 lunch prices. After 4 p.m., be warned that prices shoot up to $12.49 per person.

HuHot is located at 5900 S.W. Huntoon Road in Topeka. It is open on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.