1) Dong Lai Shun
This is HK’s branch of the popular Beijing hot-pot restaurant. Because it’s Beijing-style hot pot, mutton – via black-headed sheep all the way from Inner Mongolia – is the meat of choice here. For those who think mutton is an acquired taste, we can guarantee that after taking one bite, you’ll be hooked on this tender meat. We prefer a simple, mild broth, enlivened with some fresh Chinese herbs, so as not to overwhelm the mutton’s flavour.
Dong Lai Shun
TST Branch
Tel: 2733 2020
Basement 2, The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Road, TST East
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:30am to 3:00pm; 6:00pm to 11:00pm
CWB Branch
Facebook page or Tel: 2763 7038
26/F, Soundview Plaza 2 – Midtown, 1-29 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:30am to 3:00pm; 6:00pm to 11:00pm
2) Rich & Powerful Restaurant
This local place – and, yep, that’s its actual name in English – gets booked out days in advance for its signature black truffle soup base, dumplings and meatballs. The king of all hot-pot dippers is beef, and the Rich & Powerful Restaurant’s silky, well-marbled, hand-cut beef slices are excellent. A great choice for hot-pot bliss without breaking the bank.
Rich & Powerful Restaurant
Facebook Page or Tel: 2730 1118
G/F & 1/F, Charmhill Centre, 50 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 5:00pm to 3:00am
3) San Xi Lou
Despite its slightly obscure location in a non-descript office block in the midst of residential mid-levels, San Xi Lou’s Sichuan peppercorn-studded hot-pot broth is the bomb – but be prepared for the tongue-numbing spice sensation that results (although you can temper the heat by going for a yin-yang half spicy soup / half clear broth base). And we know this is supposed to be all about-hot-pot, but we also give an enthusiastic thumbs up to the other Sichuan dishes on offer, like the mapo tofu and dan dan noodles.
San Xi Lou
Website or Tel: 2838 8811
7/F, Coda Plaza, 51 Garden Road, Mid-Levels
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:00am to 11:00pm
4) Megan’s Kitchen
You can get creative at this innovative hot-pot specialist, mixing and matching with up to three soup bases in one bubbling cauldron. For our perfect trifecta, we’d go for the fondue-like cheese soufflé with onion soup base, tomato and crab soup with a soufflé finish and the aromatic Malaysian satay soup. There’s also a huge range of items to choose amongst for your dipping pleasure, many seemingly unique to this restaurant – the most popular are the beef meatballs stuffed with cheese and the almost luridly colourful cuttlefish balls made with a range of veggies such as pumpkin, beetroot and spinach.
Megan’s Kitchen
Website or Tel: 2866 8305
5/F, Lucky Centre, 165–171 Wanchai Road, Wanchai
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 6:00pm to 11:30pm
5) Budaoweng
Image via alicehappy
Budaoweng stands out from the hot-pot pack for its stylish setting and lovely views of Victoria Harbour (with prices to match). It takes influences from Japan, with soup bases such as miso and lobster broth for your supping enjoyment. The fresh vegetables, top-notch tofu selection and home-made dumplings are all recommended – and where else can you savour the joys of hot pot along with sake and sashimi at the same time?
Budaoweng
TST Branch
Website or Tel: 2152 1166
23/F, iSQUARE, 63 Nathan Road, TST
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:00am to 1:00am
Jordan Branch
Website or Tel: 3526 0918
2/F, Sino Cheer Plaza, 23-29 Jordan Road,, Jordan
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:00am to 1:00am
CWB Branch
Website or Tel: 3102 9363
Shop 1101, 11/F, Food Forum, Times Square, 1 Matheson Street,Causeway Bay
Opening Hours: Mon to Sun from 11:00am to 1:00am
