Korean Expat Community for National Disasters

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I visited Haidilao, a Chinese hot pot chain. The concept is straightforward: you choose a broth base, then cook your own meat and vegetables in it right at the table. What sets it apart from other hot pot places is the divided pot, which lets you combine multiple broths at the same time. I went with plain water, spicy red broth, and tomato broth. For the plain water section, I mixed together sauces from the self-serve sauce bar to make a trending broth style I had seen online.

There was a solid variety of ingredients — mushrooms, vegetables, tofu, and thinly sliced beef and lamb among others. Everything goes into the broth and you just wait for it to cook before eating.

The meal took longer than expected. Hot pot is not something you rush. You add a little at a time, cook it, eat, and repeat. Before I knew it, almost two hours had passed.

Haidilao is on the pricier side for hot pot. The broth bases, ingredients, and sauces all add up fast. That said, the service was better than I expected. Staff checked in regularly, refilled the broth when it ran low, and took care of things without being overbearing. There was no sense of being rushed out.

I do not go often, but it is a place I come back to occasionally with friends. The self-serve sauce bar is a nice touch — you can mix and experiment with different combinations. And since there is no pressure on time, it works well for a relaxed meal. If you have been curious about hot pot, this is a good place to try it.