Dylan YoungOn days when it’s raining or snowing hard outside, my craving for hot pot peaks. Just thinking about the simmering, richly flavored broth and the different raw ingredients I can dump into the pot makes my mouth water and my stomach grumble.
I’ve tried many hot pot restaurants in Toronto, and here are my favorites!
Liuyishou Hotpot Toronto
Address: 254 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 11:30 pm
Contact Number: +14167771682
Liuyishou Hotpot started on a small street in Chongqing, China, but it eventually blew up in popularity. Now, it has over a thousand locations in the world, with two just in Toronto alone.
My preferred soup base here is the Tom Yum Kung because it packs a lot of heat, but I also really like the creaminess and savoriness of the coconut and chicken soup. As for the ingredients, I go for different slices of meat, seafood, and vegetables.
To make the hot pot even more exciting, I like to order several rounds of dipping sauce. The dried chili sauce is my go-to, but if you don’t like spicy things, I suggest the house special soy sauce or the garlic soy sauce.
| Pro Tip: Sometimes, the restaurant hosts events like a wine-pairing dinner gala or a hot pot show. If you want to attend an event, check this page. |
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
Address: 2543 Warden Ave., Scarborough
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169169866
Have you ever tried Mongolian-style hot pot before? If your answer is no, now’s the time to change that, thanks to Happy Lamb Hot Pot!
What I find impressive about this restaurant is that the bone marrow broth has been brewing for about eight hours! Because of this, the broth tastes a lot richer, and its flavor becomes even better when you dump different cuts of meat and vegetables.
There are also options for side dishes. I personally like eating the chicken wings while waiting for the raw ingredients to cook in the hot pot.
| Pro Tip: If you’re going with a group of more than six people, you can reserve a private room ahead of time. Just contact the restaurant via phone. |
Chine Legendary Hot Pot and BBQ
Address: 327 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14169791776
You better come to Chine Legendary Hot Pot and BBQ with an empty stomach because it’s all-you-can-eat! There’s also a great variety of soup bases and ingredients to choose from, so you’ll really be spoiled for choice.
My go-to soup base is the Korean spicy pork bone broth, but I’ve also come to appreciate the mushroom broth and tomato broth (I can adjust the heat level for this one). For the meat, I prefer the beef slices, but there are also chicken, pork, and lamb.
Other ingredients I like to add to my hot pot are lettuce, beansprouts, and udon. Mushrooms are great additions as well.
Once I’m already full from the hot pot, I like to end my meal with fried golden bread with condensed milk. The bread is so fluffy and soaks up all the condensed milk, so every bite is just an explosion of sweetness.
| Pro Tips: If you have any allergies, inform your server beforehand. Be sure to finish everything you’ve ordered. If you have excess food, you will be charged an extra 35%. |
Haidilao Hot Pot Toronto Downtown
Address: 237 Yonge St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14377781068
What I like about Haidilao Hot Pot is the fact that I can choose up to four soup bases! Now, my loved ones and I don’t have to fight anymore over what soup to have for our hot pot.
I’m quite fond of the tomato soup because it’s savory and tangy, but the Sichuan spicy soup is also a great one (the heat is really strong, so beware!). For the meat pieces, I go for the classic fatty beef slices, grass-fed lamb slices, and sirloin beef.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you might be interested in trying the unconventional ingredients. For example, this restaurant offers blood tofu and even lamb brains; I haven’t tried them yet, but they intrigue me, so maybe in the future, I will.
| Pro Tip: If you’re a big fan of Haidilao Hot Pot, you might be interested in becoming a member. Members enjoy perks like queueing online or receiving a birthday present. |
Kokumi Mini Hot Pot
– From: hannahxoxo.foodie
Address: 407 Spadina Ave.
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—4 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14165969669
Kokumi Mini Hot Pot is quite an underrated gem, but don’t overlook it! It’s a cozy spot, perfect if you’re looking for a quiet hot pot time.
I really like the miso soup here. The salty-sweet flavor works well with the meat cuts.
Speaking of meat, I usually choose chicken pieces, but sometimes, I go for beef and lamb pieces.
To make the hot pot even more filling, I dump udon, glass noodles, and a variety of mushrooms and vegetables into the pot.
| Pro Tips: If you don’t eat meat, it’s easy to customize your hot pot and make it vegan. Order the tomato broth and tofu for your protein. Vegetables and mushrooms are also great choices. If you want some privacy, you might want to take a seat in the little booths at the back. |
Mix2 Grill and Hot Pot
Address: 436 Dundas St W Second Floor
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—4 to 11 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14167921882
Are you and your friends arguing whether to go to a hot pot or a Korean BBQ spot? You can suggest Mix2 Grill and Hot Pot. This restaurant combines authentic Sichuan cuisine and Japanese and Korean BBQ!
For your hot pot, I recommend getting the Korean spicy pork bone broth and then dumping Angus beef slices, lamb shoulder slices, shrimp, and your favorite vegetables into it. You might also like adding udon or ramen noodles.
While your broth is simmering, you can grill some pork belly or spiced pork intestines. If you have a sweet tooth, I suggest trying the fried sticky rice cake or brown sugar ice jelly.
| Pro Tip: If you’re dining with a group, you can book a room to ensure privacy. Contact the restaurant via phone for more information. |
Vintage The Hotpot AYCE Toronto
Address: 3355 Steeles Ave E Unit 1
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11:30 am to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 1 am
Contact Number: +14164935555
Vintage The Hotpot has over 30 years of legacy, and it’s a well-beloved restaurant in Sichuan. In 2021, they finally expanded outside of China, with their first overseas location in Toronto.
At this restaurant, you can eat all that you can, which is great because there are so many choices—over 70 choices for meat and vegetables. For the soup base, you can’t go wrong with their signature pork bone soup, but the spicy soup is also pretty great.
Another thing I like about this restaurant is that there’s a dessert station. When I’ve had enough of munching on some meat, I like to fill a bowl with jelly and tofu pudding.
The station is also unlimited, so I can have as many refills as I want.
| Pro Tip: Try to come here anytime between Monday and Thursday instead of Friday and the weekends. This is because the Monday to Thursday prices are much cheaper. |
Hong Kong Seafood Hotpot
Address: 3300 Midland Ave Unit41, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Monday—11 am to 11 pm
- Closed on Tuesday
Contact Number: +14162928800
The first thing that caught my eye when I stepped foot in the Hong Kong Seafood Hotpot was its interior. The chairs were vibrant green, a gigantic mural graced one wall, while the others were plastered with vintage-style posters.
My friend described the interior as kitsch, but personally, I found it charming. It gave off a nostalgic feel, almost like I was back in the 1980s and 90s.
The hot pot is great here. As the name suggests, they specialize in Hong Kong-style hot pot, which is different from the traditional Sichuan style because it’s not oil-based.
In other words, the broth isn’t overly greasy, so you can slurp spoonfuls of it without worrying about bloating!
My go-to order is the beef combo because it contains a wide variety of cuts (rib eye, beef shank, and more).
I also really like the seafood tom yum combo. The soup has hints of sour and spice, and the seafood options are fresh and high-quality.
| Pro Tip: This restaurant can get fully booked fast. To ensure your spot, you might want to book your reservation ahead of time via phone. |
Coconut Seasons
Address: 203-668 Silver Star Blvd, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—5 to 11 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14163355535
While most hot pot restaurants in Toronto follow the Sichuan tradition (oil-based and often spicy), Coconut Seasons takes a different twist: their soup base combines the flavors of coconut (its meat and water) and chicken.
Because of this, the soup is noted for its sweetness with slight notes of savory.
And when you dump in your preferred meat cuts, the broth becomes even tastier. I recommend the pork jowl, though the Vancouver clams taste well with the broth too.
While you wait for your soup to boil and the ingredients to cook, you can munch on some side dishes. The dumplings are a must-try, and be sure to get the homemade soy sauce for dipping as well.
| Pro Tip: You can book a private room if you’re dining with a group. Book the reservation via phone. |
Daimaru Sukiyaki
Address: 390 Silver Star Blvd Unit 117, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +16475597580\
We’ve had traditional Sichuan hot pot and Hong Kong-style hot pot. Now, it’s time to try Japanese-style hot pot with Daimaru Sukiyaki!
What makes Daimaru Sukiyaki—and Japanese-style hot pot, in general—different is that it focuses more on simplicity. The broth seems plain, but it works to highlight the rich flavors of the meat and other ingredients you decide to dump into the pot.
Because of the simple yet subtle flavors, I don’t get tired of eating this hot pot. I’m always coming back for more, and so are my friends who love hot pot!
| Pro Tip: This spot is pretty popular in the area, so getting a seat might take some time. To avoid this problem, you can join the waitlist ahead of time. |
Ye Skewers Hot Pot
Address: 3260 Midland Ave F111, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—12 to 10:30 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16473401818
Ye Skewers Hot Pot specializes in traditional Sichuan hot pot, but this time, instead of adding meat slices, you’re adding bite-sized skewers. These skewers range from house-special marinated meat wraps and seafood to vegetables.
Since this is an eat-all-you-can establishment, you can technically try over 100 ingredients if you so wish.
There are also several soup bases to choose from. My favorite is the spicy soup base, which tastes rich and buttery at the same time.
Since the soup here tends to be really spicy, I like to end my meal with a dessert to cool down my taste buds. I’m fond of the brown sugar ice jelly, but the fried brown sugar glutinous rice cake is delicious as well.
| Pro Tip: Come here during the weekdays (instead of the weekends) because the prices would be cheaper. Likewise, try to avoid coming here on a holiday because not only will the prices be up, but there will also be a lot of people. |
Laojiumen Hot Pot 9
Address: 241 Consumers Rd, North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11:30 am to 12 am
Contact Number: +14164935888
Laojiumen Hot Pot 9 is one of the first hot pot restaurants I’ve ever tried, and I’ve returned countless times since. The soup base is the highlight; the signature one is made with ingredients imported from China, so it tastes buttery, rich, and spicy.
There are other soup options as well; some of the ones I’ve tasted and liked include Thai curry, sesame oil black-bone chicken, and Tom Yum Kung.
Of course, there are also many options for what you can dump into the broth. I personally stick to the thinly sliced beef and pork, but sometimes, I try the seafood choices (especially shrimp and mussels).
| Pro Tip: This restaurant often hosts events and special promotions (like discounts). If you want to see what events or promotions are active on the day of your visit, check this page. |
XiangZi Hot Pot
Address: 3989 Hwy 7, Markham
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—11 am to 2:30 pm, 5 to 10 pm
Contact Number: +19053059888
XiangZi Hot Pot is undoubtedly a stunner. Its interior is elegant with a chandelier, wooden furniture, and intricate carvings on the walls and ceiling.
But enough talk about interior design. The star of the show here is the hot pot.
While many places focus on spicy or rich soup bases, this restaurant goes the mellow route, but you can definitely dump chilies into the soup to get that kick you want.
This is an eat-all-you-can buffet, so you have to pick your ingredients from the main station. There are plenty of choices—from fine meat and seafood to fresh vegetables.
| Pro Tips: The prices here are much cheaper on weekdays, so try to come here anytime between Monday and Friday. Parking can be tricky here. I suggest coming here during off-peak hours. Otherwise, you might have to find parking lots in the vicinity. |
