Choosing where to have Hotpot in Australia - Part 1
Hotpot is a Chinese style of cuisine, however, it is not the same throughout China. There are several variants based on the part of China. Today we will be focusing on the more typical Sichuan influenced hotpot that has made its way into western society. For those more interested in Malatang, I will write about this separately as it deserves a topic on its own.
What is hotpot?
Think of it like have a communal pot in the center of the table and you cook various different types of meats / vegetables - almost anything you can think of there really is no limits.
What I really like about hotpot is - I've been able to try food I would've never tried in my life because it just either isn't used in western cooking or is uncommon. Ever wondered if there was a classier version of tofu - well there is - there is Uptown Tofu. Uptown Tofu doesn't actually exist on the menu - it actually just Pig Brain but it may make you feel a little more at ease if you think of it like that and you may even trick your friends into trying it 🤣 Not to scare you all away though hotpot is not just uptown tofu - you get cuts of beef / lamb / pork / seafood depending on where you go. Not all hotpot places are equal though - some are better at certain things.
What are the key Hotpot Restaurants are in Brisbane?
I've listed below some of the hotpot places I've been to recently. I haven't included places like the Cube Hotpot since I haven't visited for a considerably long time and don't have a current view on it.
- 香天下火锅布里斯班-The X Hot Pot (Sunnybank)
The X Hot Pot is a relatively new addition to Sunnybank only opening late at the end of 2024, replacing YX hotpot in the old Little Taipei building next to Market Square. It is part of a chain of hotpot restaurants from Chengdu. This place is still settling in but often has some deals when I have been in the last few months. The hotpot here has options to have a shared hotpot or individual hotpot for each individual. With both hotpot options you can go for a single flavour or the two flavour yin & yang style pot giving you a bit of relief if the Sichuan Spicy Broth is a bit too much on its own. At the X hotpot - they do a pretty solid fish maw broth but the spicy broth is also good. My go to are normally these.
Personally, I would go to The X Hot Pot if I want good quality ingredients however, it is not as cheap as other places. One of the things that is a drawback when dining for 2 people is they don't do half portions of the food which can make it a bit hard to have the most variety possible. Overall, I rate is as a solid hotpot option if you're in Sunnybank - the service as well has been reasonable and they always have fruit and a few side dish things next to the hotpot condiments. One notable mention is the Cold White Fungus soup is really good too - always enjoyable.
- HaiDiLao Hotpot (Sunnybank)
HaiDiLao Hotpot has now been in Sunnybank for a while and is a staple in the new development part of Market Square. HaiDiLao is part of a chain of hotpot restaurants from China that focus on providing extremely good customer service / experience almost to the point it feels unusual for a restaurant. They offer snacks while you are waiting for a table as well as the option to have your nails done.
If you've never done hotpot before this is generally a pretty good starting point - the staff are good at looking after you and if you eat alone you'll even get the option to not eat alone - they'll bring a plush friend to keep you company while you stuff your face and enjoy having a companion that won't eat all the food. Whilst it is a good experience - I do believe you get what you pay for and that is reflected in the price of the food but nonetheless it is a fun time for friends and family especially if you book for your birthday or get the noodle dance because right who doesn't want someone to dance with noodles at the table. If you say the right words to the wait staff you may also find yourself going home with some free samples as well or toys.
Stay Posted for Part 2
In part 2 - Mountain Hotpot & Miss Chilli Hotpot will mentioned