Haidilao Hotpot Emporium, Chinese hotpot restaurant in Melbourne Central Business District, Australia
Haidilao Hotpot Emporium is a Chinese hotpot restaurant in Melbourne's central business district where guests cook fresh ingredients in individual pots built into each table. Each pot has separate chambers so that different broths can be used at the same time.
The chain was founded in 1994 in Jianyang, in China's Sichuan province, and grew over the following decades into one of the largest hotpot chains in the world. The Melbourne location opened as part of the brand's push into the Asia-Pacific region.
Hotpot dining in China is traditionally a social activity, and that spirit carries through at this Melbourne location where groups gather around a shared pot. The staff is known for table-side service touches, such as noodle-pulling performances, that are part of the chain's dining style.
Booking a table in advance is a good idea, especially on weekend evenings when the restaurant tends to fill up quickly. Since guests do their own cooking at the table, it is worth setting aside a couple of hours rather than expecting a quick meal.
Haidilao is known for offering waiting guests free snacks, drinks, and even manicures while they wait for a table. This level of service is unusual for a restaurant chain and tends to catch first-time visitors off guard.
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