Afraid you might feel lonely eating hot pot alone? Adorable “dining companions” have appeared at Haidilao in Taichung

▲ The special dining companion at Haidilao Hot Pot. (Photo /MeiShi JiaYaoAuthorized for use)

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Haidilao, the hot pot restaurant famous for its over-the-top service, recently opened a branch in Taichung, attracting many hot pot enthusiasts eager to be the first to try it out, with its reservation hotline almost constantly busy. Always thinking of its customers, Haidilao not only strives to meet all kinds of requests but also proactively anticipates their needs—such as worrying that you might feel lonely eating hot pot by yourself, so the staff will bring over a large stuffed toy and have it sit across from you to keep you company.

Recently, ShenYao, who runs the blog “MeiShi JiaYao,” went to experience the soft opening day of Haidilao’s Taichung branch. The overall thoughtful service left ShenYao very impressed, and since ShenYao was dining alone, the staff even brought over a large Minnie Mouse stuffed toy to keep them company—and if not satisfied, they could swap it for Mickey Mouse or other large toys.

In fact, Haidilao’s special dining companions have previously appeared in mainland China, with various cute options such as teddy bears, instant noodles, Doraemon, and Crayon Shin-chan. Though not real people, they still offer a little emotional comfort. Among the four Haidilao branches in Taiwan, besides the newly opened Taichung branch, the Taipei ATT branch and the Hsinchu branch also have dining companions.


▲ Cute dining companions. (Photo / Authorized for use by MeiShi JiaYao)