Hot Pot Melbourne Review
China's famous Panda Hot Pot is known for its authentic Sichuan cuisine and has now brought the exclusive, authentic dining experience to downtown Melbourne. Looking for a dining experience a little left of centre? Look no further, as we've got eight of the best themed restaurants in Melbourne. It is a great experience and one that will delight your taste buds.
Not only is this region of China native to the Giant Panda, our national treasure, it has also given us one of the most extraordinary dining experiences in the world - hot pot. This hot pot Melbourne #easter2022 must try #eggs in our #homemade assorted cold dish from Damiao private kitchen menu. It's not just the eggs, there are chengdu style #pork leg, #sichuan spice #beef.
As a kid, I learnt more about the ups and downs of life listening to my family and friends around the hot pot than from any class or novel. While hotpot is definitely the star of the show at JiYu, lunchtime sees individual bowls of soup served up as well as plenty of little bits and pieces for grazing and sharing. You’ll also find plenty of luscious cocktails and Asian-inspired drinks to wash down your dishes.
Our choice is the signature Chilli Chicken soups which pack just enough punch to set you up for your next round of retail therapy. I was a disappointed they’d run out of matcha beer, but was happy with Hitachino Nest White Ale from Naka city in Japan, just under two hours north east of Tokyo on the Suigun Line. Sparkling sake is floral and incredibly smashable, and there are fruit liqueurs, Asahi, Sapporo and unlimited house sake for $10 per person. If that doesn’t finish you off, a Jagerbomb will.
The ridiculous room alone makes dining here an event. Another place to find a devastatingly tasty Chongqing hot pot, Red Chilli Sichuan has been ranked in Good Food Canberra’s top 20 numerous times. A favourite of the local Chinese population, you’re guaranteed to find a deliciously authentic experience. Australia local sourced ingredients combining the best of Sichuan Chengdu cuisine. The very first bite provides a real explosion of flavours from your hotpot. In addition, we are happy to answer all of your questions.
There is a seriously wide selection of vegetables, seafood and meat to press between your chopsticks. A single hot pot restaurant in the United States will often offer several broths to choose from, though indecisive folks can sometimes opt for a combination served in the same pot with a metal divider. The most well-known style is a basic cloudy broth made from chicken, ginger, goji berries, and other aromatics. You could opt for a savory mushroom broth, sweet-and-sour tomato, or, in some places, even a coconut-infused seafood tom kha variant. Inspired by the different cities of China, Man Tong’s extensive menu offers something for everyone, with family-friendly, gluten free and vegetarian dishes. Enjoy a little of everything with Man Tong tapas, dim sum and dumplings or create your perfect hot pot with delicious fresh ingredients.
The private dining room opens up onto The Terrace with a wall dedicated to wines, concealed behind a mesh curtain that separates it from the dining room. Seating 30, this area can be booked in addition to our private dining room. Furnished in rich spotted gum, our private dining room, Banda closes off to the rest of the restaurant, and seats 12 for celebrations and business lunches. 3/ Both offers are for room and parking only and do not include dining at Aru.
The young dining chain is known for their signature Ma La Tang broth and allows customers to choose from 5 soup bases including Sichuan Hot and Sour, Pickled Mustard, Collagen Bone Broth and Ma La Spicy Stir-fry. Hot pot is more fun if you can see what you’re cooking. Or if you spot a surprise ingredient that you really want to try, so don’t be shy. That’s what your little dipping bowl or plate is for.
A combination of marrow bones cooked for over 12 hours, with more than 20 traditional Chinese herbs and a unique golden thick fragrant broth is what makes Dragon Hot Pot stand out from the rest. All of the ingredients are sliced super thin, so it pays to be vigilant when cooking your meat. Dragon Hot Potand its various outposts around town consistently serve up some of the best hot pot in Melbourne.
It beautifully soaks in the flavours of the broth and delivers a beautiful burst of flavour with a satisfying bite. In a sea of beautiful seafood and delicious sliced meat, I always go for the fish and meat balls. They may be cheap, but they taste a million dollars to me and I know I’m not alone. Everyone has a favourite brand of hot pot soup base, so I say try them all. Hai Di Lao and Little Sheep are solid brands that have been around for years and are readily available in Asian groceries around Australia, so they’re great places to start.
Gone are the days of sticky sweet and sour pork, curry stained Singapore noodles and playing it safe with a plate of dumplings at the local Chinese restaurant. The demand for authentic Asian cuisine is growing and Australians are open to fossicking around for a variety of organ meats and pluck known commonly as offal – a staple in traditional Sichuan hot pot. Just like soup bases, everyone has a favourite brand, but for me, it’s Aussie-made institution Hakka.
For dessert, munch on the cutest rabbit-shaped pannacotta or try one of Thailand’s most beloved dishes – mango sticky rice. Home of the steambowl, China Chilli is a large and lively Chinese restaurant dedicated to all things spicy, serving cuisine from Sichuan. Choose your favourite broth and all the toppings you desire plus a selection of their 15 different sauces and cook your meal yourself in a traditional hotpot, or steam bowl at your table. All you can eat buffets, give you an option of dining on limitless hotpot for 2 hours – available from 11.30am, or wait until 5pm for the A La Carte menu to begin. China Chilli has many vegetarian and gluten free options and of course a wide range of spicy food.
Dainty Sichuan Hotpot and Panda Hotpot are favourites for a reason. There are a handful of Korean hotpots, but the most popular are budae jjigae and jeongol. There are countless varieties of jjigae, but budae jjigae, aka army stew, is usually served over a flame. For a DIY approach, try MEATing on Bourke Street. Their all-you-can-eat specials range from $35 to $50 per person. Scan the wall to choose cult-status instant noodles, sausage, kimchi and more meaty delights to add to your feast.