Not Just Thoughtful Service – Haidilao Also Offers Childcare

▲Haidilao Hotpot’s Taiwan No. 1 Store has officially opened, operating daily from 11 AM to 4 AM the next day.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

The well-known mainland Chinese hotpot chain Haidilao has officially begun operations. As the brand prefers to keep a low profile and did not agree to a formal interview, ETtoday Eastday News waited in line before the 11 AM opening time to experience the“overly attentive service”from the mainland. In addition to constantly checking if you need tea, a massage, manicures, or other services, the most unique offering is “childcare.”

Haidilao has a playroom of about 5 ping (approximately 16.5 square meters). Parents who are worried their kids might get burned or just want to enjoy a peaceful meal can leave their children in the playroom. Inside, there is a small ball pit and staff members who take care of the kids and play with them.


▲Haidilao’s playroom also has dedicated staff to look after children.


▲Manicure service.


▲Massage chairs.

What other free services does Haidilao offer? At the waiting area, free services include manicures, massage chairs, and shoe shining. Fruits, herbal tea, and ice cream are all complimentary, and you can also enjoy free fruits and porridge in the dining area. Since manicures take about 40 minutes, the manicurist will give you a number and even call you politely when it’s your turn. Interestingly, Haidilao staff say that even those not dining at the restaurant can book a manicure — they call it “customer first.”

One thing diners should note is that Haidilao charges for sauces — 90 NTD per person. There are 28 types of sauces available for you to mix according to your preference, which differs from most Taiwanese restaurants. Additionally, apart from herbal tea, lemonade, and sugar-free soy milk (each 50 NTD), which can be refilled unlimitedly, all other drinks are à la carte.


▲The sauce bar features 28 varieties but costs 90 NTD per person.


▲Although sauces are charged, the fruits and cold dishes in the middle are completely free.


▲Orders are placed via iPad.


▲Personal pot with a Three Delicacies broth base.


▲Half portion of Laopai Sliding Beef. It has a very chewy texture.

Haidilao offers four types of broths: spicy, mushroom, tomato, and Three Delicacies. Prices for large pots are 480 NTD, 420 NTD, 480 NTD, and 420 NTD respectively, while single-person pots cost 130 NTD, 110 NTD, 130 NTD, and 110 NTD. Staff mentioned that their spicy broth is both numbing and spicy, but can be customized based on personal taste — such as adjusting the spiciness level or removing the numbing effect — without any extra charge.

Also, most spicy hotpots in Taiwan come with unlimited refills of items like duck blood and tofu, but Haidilao’s broth is just the soup base; duck blood and tofu are not included and must be ordered separately, aligning with the philosophy of “paying for what you eat.”



As forHaidilao’s most unique performance — Sichuan Opera face-changing — it only happens twice a day, once around 12:30 PM and another around 6:30 PM. Additionally, ordering hand-pulled noodles (60 NTD) comes with an extra show where a young chef takes the noodles, dances with them to the music, slowly stretches them into thin strands, and then cooks them for you.


▲Hand-pulled noodle performance.

For food options, there are seafood (the most expensive being abalone at 400 NTD), nine types of slippery meats, mushrooms, vegetables, combo platters, hot-pot skewers, bean noodles, snacks, and special dishes. Specialties include Laopai Thousand-Layer Tripe (270 NTD), Sichuan Crispy Pork (190 NTD), Duck Intestines (190 NTD), Laopai Sliding Beef (320 NTD), and the famous hand-pulled noodles (60 NTD). Except for snacks, which cannot be ordered as half portions, all other dishes can be ordered as half (write 0.5 on the order sheet). For one portion, write 1; for two portions, write 2, and so on.


▲Free ice cream and fruits are available in the waiting area.


▲Once seated, staff will put your phone in a pouch for you.


▲They’ll also cover your bags with cloth sleeves.


▲One of the dining areas.


▲The kitchen area has many staff working.


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Haidilao Hot Pot Taiwan No. 1 Store
Address: 6F, No. 12, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:00 – 04:00 (next day)
Phone: 02-77431855 / 02-77431899

Delicious food available from morning till night
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