Hot pot is known as a Chinese soup consisting of a simmering pot of broth in which various raw meats, vegetables, noodles, tofu, seafood and dumplings are dipped and cooked into. Here is a roundup of the Best Metro Vancouver Hot Pot Restaurants that I have tried.
Why is hot pot popular? Hot Pot is popular because it’s a fun, delicious, and engaging food experience. While hot pot can be eaten year round, it is more common to have it during the winter as a comfort food to warm up the body.
Hot pot is entirely customizable to your liking because you can choose what ingredients go into the pot and what sauces you want to pair the food with.
It’s also a great dining experience with loved ones when you have a communal hot pot but it can most certainly be enjoyed individually as well.
My selection criteria for Best Hot Pot Restaurant in Vancouver includes quality of food, price, taste, service, selection and overall experience.
Liuyishou Hot Pot (known for spicy!)
Originating from Chongqing, China, Liuyishou Hot Pot specializes in Chongqing style (spicy) hot pot and has over 1,200 locations worldwide.
While they are a global brand, their Metro Vancouver locations serve 100% Canadian made soup bases and beef cuts.
They have locations in Downtown Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby.
Hot Pot Master (skewer-style hot pot)
HOT POT Master Vancouver is the local outpost of a hot pot chain founded in Chengdu, China. They specialize in skewer-style hot pot where items are prepared as a “bite size” on bamboo skewers.
This style of hot pot allows guests to try many individual items instead of ordering entire plates of the same thing.
There are fridges in the back of the restaurant where you choose the raw ingredients that will go into your hot pot. There are many choices ranging from individual skewers to plated sets.
Big Way Hot Pot (DIY fast, individual hot pot)
Big Way Hot Pot is a growing local hot pot chain offering a fast, casual, and individual hot pot experience where you can select from around 100 items presented in display cases.
How it works is that you pick up a bowl and tong; select ingredients to go into your hot pot; choose your soup base; and order additional drinks/desserts.
You bring your pre-cooked hot bowl to the counter where it is weighed and taken away to be cooked in the broth of your choice.
This hot pot concept has been doing well with customers who want a quick personalized hot pot, but don’t want the full-on lengthy sit-down experience of choosing the ingredients on a checklist; waiting for the raw ingredients to be prepared for you; cooking the items yourself; and so forth.
Big Way Hot Pot has a location in Burnaby and is expanding to Downtown Vancouver and Richmond.
