The phrase “hot pot” is a translation of huo guo, alluding to the Chinese cooking method where a large, metal pot filled with broth sits over the fire. This self-serve style of cooking is similar to fondue and raclette, but it varies from region to region.
Southwestern Chinese city Chongqing, home to probably the spiciest and most popular style of hot pot, has an incredibly densely packed hot pot restaurant scene; there were nearly 27,000 as of 2019. Due to fierce competition, the city’s own style of hot pot has spun into different sub-genres, some of which are making their way into Boston’s ever-expanding food scene. While Chongqing-style hot pot becomes easier to find around here, Sichuan also remains a predominant style, but the Boston area dabbles in other regions of China, too, when it comes to the popular cooking method.
From all-you-can-eat buffet-style hot pot joints to the trendiest and most traditional hot pot establishments hailing from Chengdu and Chongqing, a number of Greater Boston restaurants are offering a wide range of excellent options. Here are nine to try.
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