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The Hot Pot culture is causing an intergenerational sensation, not only because of the contrasting flavours of the dish itself, but also because of the social ritual and the magic that is generated around the pot.
For those who have not yet explored this gastronomic cult, it is an Asian food with more than 1,000 years of history, which is prepared in a hot pot in which one or more flavoured broths (such as chicken or vegetables) are mixed. From there, the diner adds and submerges different ingredients to be cooked live: from vegetables, to beef, lamb, seafood, tofu or mushrooms.
From its origins in the streets of Mongolia, and its “street food” essence, this dish has spread around the world, being prolifically reinterpreted by a number of Asian restaurants specialising in this oriental creation, also known as Chinese fondue.
HOTPOT DE SICHUAN
“Our aim is for customers from all over the world to experience authentic Sichuan food with us, with delight and everlasting memories”. This becomes the experiential manifesto of this Asian restaurant specialising in Hot Pot, where its local chefs cook Sichuan food using the region’s seasonings to offer a wide variety of broths in which to introduce more than 60 meat, seafood or vegetable dishes under the dim light of the space and its enveloping oriental aesthetic.
Where? Calle de Trujillos, 7, (Madrid) and Pça. de Tetuan, 9 (Barcelona).
XIAOLONGKAN HOTPOT LEGAZPI
This restaurant, which has outlets around the world, went viral on social media thanks to its painstaking remastering of Chinese fondue. The Xiaolongkan Hot Pot stands out for its iconic oriental decoration, in which the pot is placed in a perforated hole in a table surrounded by attractive and unusual elements such as its XL chopsticks. A whole composition with which to enter into this experience around a wide variety of products with fresh and healthy ingredients.
Within its own Hot Pot culture, reinterpreted in a modern version, its tomato soup stands out, as well as its spicy sauce with which to intensify the whole range of flavours from seafood or vegetables, as well as meat to be paired with its peanut sauce.
Where? C. Maestro Arbós, 3, Madrid.
CASA LAFU
Casa Lafu is a place suspended in a minimalist atmosphere designed for those looking for traditional Chinese food, but above all, for those who want to discover the Hot Pot or Huo guo universe, as they call it in the restaurant.
This centre of oriental activity offers a succulent menu of broths, of which it is recommended to choose at least one spicy one, to be accompanied by its soy sauces or sesame oil with garlic. Also of note are a series of ingredients such as pasta, tofu, fish, thin slices of beef or lamb, as well as meatballs or prawns to enjoy this immersive and social event around a hot pot.
Where? Calle Flor Baja, 1, Madrid.
HERO HOT POT
Hero Hot Pot takes us into a classic traditional Chinese restaurant that opens up a new gastronomic dimension in one of the streets of Noviciado. A place for Hot Pot lovers that stands out for its broths, which can be mixed, and its wide variety of sauces. But, above all, for its dumplings and peanut sauce with which to close in style this oriental experience, which has become famous in the West.
Where? Calle Álamo, 7, Madrid.
