If you have spent any time in China then you hav almost definitely had hot pot and if you have ever been on a date, or celebrated a Chinese birthday then you have probably been to HaiDiLao?
So, exactly what is HaiDiLao and why is it such a cultural phenomenon in China.
Table of Contents
What the Hot Pot?
While Chinese food is rightly world renowned, few people know just crazily diverse it is. In many respects this is to such a degree that even the term “Chinese food” is a bit of misnomer.
And so to hot pot, one of the most famous styles of restaurant and food in general in China that arguably originated in Sichuan and Chongqing. Its origins though are more diverse. Apparently it came from Mongolian soldiers apparently using their helmets to cook food over a fire. From there it morphed into what it is today.
Today hot pot has a few different styles, but usually has a heated pot in the middle of the table often split into two half – Ying and yang style. Said sides then have spicy and non spicy sides. Sometimes there can be just one, sometimes they are individual and on my most recent trip there were four!
You then pick the meat, fish, veg and the like, even noodles and you quite simply cook it to your hearts content! You can also have various flavored sides and sauces! And in China this was a huge deal…
To read about the top 10 fast food restaurants in China click here
What the HaiDiLao?
HaiDiLao, or rather Haidilao International Holding Ltd is by far the largest Hot Pot chain within China. It was founded in 1994 in Jianyang Sichuan, the spiritual home of hot pot and the “spiciest” place in China arguably.
Its restaurants typically operate under the name Haidilao Hot Pot. As of 2024, Haidilao had around 1,300+ restaurants in China, although this also includes Macao and Hong Kong.
And it also has an international presence…..
Which countries is Haidilao in?
As success in China has boomed so the eventual expansion came, particularly those in Asia, or with large Chinese populations. Therefore Hong Kong and Macao were the first places expansed to.
Since then Super Hi International as they are known internationally moved into Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan.
Outside of Asia they are in Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States.And it all rakes in around CN¥10 billion – $1.4 billion in real money…..
What is Haidilou like?
Although I generally find hot pot and indeed Haidilao a little bot overrated, possibly because I had to go there so much over the years, on my recent trip I fell back in love with the place.
Basically before you start you pick your spice levels and then go to the sauce buffet. This has all manor of things for you to dip your hot pot and the like in, spices, garlic and well every Chinese thing available – see photo!
For me though I always go for chives, garlic, hot sauce and the legendary peanut sauce. I had forgotten how good Haidilao Peanut sauce was, but I can honestly just eat it on its own with the garlic. And once you add a little rare meat it is devine!
Perhaps the icing on the cake (no pun intended) for many people is the service. AS a friend put it “People do not come to Haidilao to buy food, they come to buy the service”. No truer word said, with this including a full on signing and dancing light show if it is your birthday and even dudes swinging around noodles for your pleasure.
And that is why Haidilao truly is the king of the hot pots….