Dorothy So gets in on the best spots for hotpot.

It’s that lovely time of year again, when hotpot is actually weather-appropriate. And to help you navigate the myriad of choices around town, we’ve checked out some of the top places for a winter feast, each with its own distinct and delicious twist on the classic meal.

All You Can Eat, Baby
Though not even half a year old and situated in the somewhat awkward location of Hung Hom, Kowloon Club’s Bistro on The Bund has become quite a popular spot, with its family-friendly, casual atmosphere and diverse “international” culinary offerings. But as much as we enjoy the restaurant’s à la carte choices, Bistro on the Bund’s secret weapon has got to be their hotpot buffet. Guests are each given an individual mini pot to make the experience as hygienic and convenient as possible. As for the actual food selection, you’ll be in excellent hands here. The all-you-can-eat spread features a wide selection of super-fresh, quality ingredients, with the seafood items being the main stars of the show. Eat your unlimited fill of fresh prawns, oysters and scallops before moving onto their premium meat selection. The $268 hotpot buffet ($118 for children) also includes unlimited dibs at the appetizers and desserts station. And until the end of December, go for the hotpot buffet and receive a complimentary, four teal hairy crab on the house. Bistro on The Bund, Harbourfront Horizon, 8 Hung Luen Rd., Hung Hom, 2269-7828.

Shanghai Style
For those who don’t particularly want to get up again and again for the self-serve buffet at Bistro on the Bund, walk just a few doors down to the Shanghai Dream restaurant to try their promotional Shanghainese hotpot meal. Their large pot ($480) is hearty enough to serve four to six hungry people, and is chock-full of luxurious ingredients such as sea cucumber, fish maw and salted fatty pork in a bubbling chicken broth. A definite stomach-warmer for the winter months ahead. Shanghai Dream, Harbourfront Horizon, 8 Hung Luen Rd., Hung Hom, 2269-7888.

New Kid on the Block
Tai Hang has become Hong Kong’s new hipster hangout, and this year has seen a slew of restaurants opening in the area, catering especially to young and adventurous diners. Among the sea of eateries is Chao’s Hotpot, whose main selling point is their Chiu Chow (a.k.a. Teochew) style hotpot. The owner is of Teochew heritage and the shop offers soup bases flavored with the region’s popular herbs for an authentic Chiu Chow flavor. Other great choices, such as a deliciously tangy fresh tomato and seafood soup, are also on the menu. The restaurant prides itself on using only top-notch, quality ingredients, serving prime Black Angus beef, lamb chops imported from New Zealand, and their must-try handmade meatballs and fishballs. It’s also worth mentioning that the food at Chao’s Hotpot is completely MSG-free. And with the mini mortar and pestle there for you to mix your own hotpot dips from the 15 different condiments on offer—including the Chiu Chow staple, schacha sauce—who needs food additives? Chao’s Hotpot, 22 Shepherd St., Tai Hang, 2890-9308.

A Taste of Beijing
In preparation for the chilly season, the ever-popular Dong Lai Shun has put out an all-new hotpot menu. The just-right-for-winter menu from this Beijing cuisine specialist offers a fantastic selection of soup bases, ranging from a healthy Yunnan-style wild mushroom soup, to a hearty Western-style organic veggie soup base, and even—get this—a deer tail soup. Head chef Kenny Chan has also prepared a delicious list of hotpot-able ingredients. From the meats section, we recommend the Mongolian mutton, which transforms into slices of tender, melt-in-the-mouth yumminess when immersed in the bubbling broth. If seafood is your thing, don’t miss out on the fresh Mexican scallops (left), which, because of their jumbo size, remain deliciously succulent after cooking. And trust us—though the prices may weigh in on the tad-steep side, especially in light of there being so many other cheaper Chinese hotpot options in town, the quality of the food at Dong Lai Shun definitely more than justifies the price tag. Dong Lai Shun, B2,
The Royal Garden, 69 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2733-2020.

The Original Sichuan Pot
The traditional Sichuan hotpot at Tanyoto goes beyond regular stomach-warming. Try the bright red spicy soup base—which arrives in intimidating fashion with a film of chili oil floating on top—and you’ll probably find yourself working up a heavy sweat before you’re even halfway into the meal. But if you’re not exactly gifted with the highest spice-tolerance, don’t worry, there are some milder soup base options on offer, such as the signature Tanyoto clear fish broth, and also a tomato soup base. And because variety is the spice of life, order the yinyang style pot with a divider in the middle, which allows you to sample two different soup bases at once. As for the hotpot ingredients, popular standards include well-marbled slices or cubes of beef and various dumplings and fishballs. We’re particularly enamored by the bite-size fishballs filled with cheese sauce. Super unhealthy, but oh-so-good! Tanyoto, 2/F, 26 Kimberly Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 8120-0033.

A Novel Take on Hotpot
Hotpot dining gets a modern, creative makeover at Wan Chai’s Megan’s Kitchen. The restaurant made a name for itself with its unique range of homemade soup bases, such as the famous tomato and crab soup with a soufflé top and tom yum koong “cappuccino” soup base. The menu offerings are extensive, featuring various cuts of beef sourced from all over the globe (including premium, A4 and A5 grade sirloin from Japan) and also a nice seafood selection. Try the dumplings and fish/meatballs, which come with a range of fun fillings. Pumpkin and cuttlefish balls, meatballs with mango or papaya... these are only some of the innovative dishes the restaurant has to offer. This winter’s also seen a number of new dishes joining the already interesting menu, including the spinach and salmon dumplings and the intensely-flavored steamed minced pork with preserved vegetables or salted duck egg yolk. The restaurant also offers a late-night hotpot supper promotion with buy-one-get-one-free on certain cuts of beef and 50 percent discount on soup base orders after 9:30pm. For a really good deal, drop by during weekends or public holidays to enjoy the all-you-can-eat hotpot lunch, priced at $98. Megan’s Kitchen, 5/F, Lok Kei Centre, 165-171 Wan Chai Rd., Wan Chai, 2866-8305.