Bubbling Bonds
Chelsea Smith explores the Hot Pot craze through trying 3 different franchises - Xiao Fei Yang (小肥羊), Hai Di Lao (海底捞) and Chuan Yue Di Guo (川越蒂国).
The act of bonding together for a meal with friends has become increasingly popular with the locals.
ith food being a universal language that brings people together, Chinese Hot Pot is the perfect meal for social and intimate gatherings. Offering a myriad of ingredients from meat to vegetables, the locals of Wuhan have integrated the enjoyment of Hot Pot into their lives.
In Wuhan, the Hot Pot craze is alive and thriving, and definitely not going anywhere anytime soon. One can find a Hot Pot restaurant at almost any shopping mall, there is never an empty restaurant as people of all sorts of ages and demographics flock towards them. Some outlets specialise in certain meat dishes such as lamb or beef and others offer uniquely amazing service. There is no doubt that Hot Pot restaurants want to give their customers an experience that they will enjoy every time.
Initially consumed in the cold North of China to keep warm during the Winter, Hot Pot has evolved into a lifestyle especially in recent years. Currently the Chinese eat it whenever they want, at any time of the year. In 2017, it was accounted for 22 percent of dishes sold at restaurants. Expanding to international markets such as Singapore, Korea, the United States and even Buenos Aires, there is no underlying how popular the trend has become.
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Xiao Fei Yang (小肥羊)
Set up of a typical order at Xiao Fei Yang (小肥羊), this restaurant appeals to the masses.
This restaurant is popular among all types of people. With its reasonable prices and good ambience, Xiao Fei Yang is often crowded during lunch and dinner hours.
One of their loyal staff, Wu Xin (吴欣) mentioned that many families and large groups tend to come here to celebrate birthdays. With the Chinese wanting to celebrate important events of their lives at Hot Pot restaurants it shows how they have truly embraced and integrated the culture of eating hot pot to be part of their lifestyle.
Some of their most popular menu items include beef tripe, bean curd skin, prawn paste, and lastly their signature beef and lamb platters.
Address: Xiongchu Ave, Hongshan, Wuhan, Hubei, China
Hai Di Lao (海底捞)
Classic setup of a meal at Hai Di Lao (海底捞) - this restaurant is most known for their first-class service.
Hai Di Lao is one of the biggest names in the hot pot industry, with more than 300 restaurants in China as well as branching out to neighbouring and international markets for example, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea and the United States. This giant earned close to US$1.6 billion (S$2.2 billion) in 2017 alone. They appeal to a wide variety of audiences, with their superb customer service and high-quality produce. There is no question as to why their customers keep coming back for more time and time again.
What distinguishes them from other Hot Pot franchises would be their superb customer service. From the small gestures such as offering rubber bands for girls to tie their hair to offering free phone cover changing services and manicures, there is no question as to why people are so fascinated with Hai Di Lao.
Once again, this has become a lifestyle habit to much of the Chinese population. When I was in one of their Wuhan outlets during the evening peak orders, just in one sitting there were three birthday celebrations occurring right after the other. Zhen Yu (珍于) from one of the group mentions that this has become an annual tradition [celebrating all of their birthdays at a Hai Di Lao outlet.] A separate group mentions that they make it a point to enjoy hot pot at least twice a month.
One of the staff, waitress Dong Wu Cui (董武翠) notes that the popular orders are usually mala or tomato soups, fresh prawns, kinoko mushrooms and of course not forgetting their spicy beef platters.
Address: China, Hubei, Wuhan, Qiaokou, Zhongshan Ave, 238
Chuan Yue Di Guo (川越蒂国 )
Eating Hot Pot has become something that has been integrated into the Chinese day-to-day lives. Image taken at Chuan Yue Di Guo (川越蒂国 ).
A popular franchise with many outlets in Wuhan China, the restaurant targets itself to specific demographics such as millennials and families. Their service and attention to detail do not go to waste.
Speaking with the general manager of the Huquan outlet, Jiang Jun (姜军), he notes that something the franchise emphasises on is how prominent Hot Pot is to the lives of locals.
A large group of working millennials from a nearby office mentions that they come to this specific outlet at least once a week as it allows for bonding time and that the experience is what continuously draws them back time after time.
Their customers must-have items include anything that will tingle their spicy taste buds, fish, vegetable platters and finally their signature lamb and pork platters.
Address: Huquan St, Guanggu Shangquan, Hongshan, Wuhan, Hubei, China