All-you-can-eat spicy hot pot in Taipei’s Xinyi District – 7 types of beef, 10 kinds of ice cream

Text and photos byNihao

[Taipei Xinyi A-Mall ATT4FUN All-You-Can-Eat Spicy Hot Pot Recommendation / Xin Dian]

Hot pot is always a great choice when my friends and I want to have a big, satisfying meal together, especially an all-you-can-eat hot pot where there's a huge variety of ingredients for everyone to enjoy and really stuff themselves. Xin Dian Spicy Hot Pot is an extremely popular hot pot restaurant—both its Songjiang Road flagship store and Xinyi branch are always packed. Since it’s near my home, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve eaten here. The high-quality meats and fresh seafood never fail to make every visit incredibly satisfying.

▲ This time we visited the Xin Dian Spicy Hot Pot branch located in the Xinyi District, right on the first floor of ATT4FUN, with basement parking available.

▲ Xin Dian operates on an all-you-can-eat basis. Weekday lunch is NT$498, while dinner and all-day holidays are NT$598, with an additional 10% service charge. Dining time is limited to two hours, and beef short ribs are not available for lunch.

▲ The place was completely packed, but luckily we had made a reservation in advance. Without a booking, you definitely wouldn’t get a seat if you just walked in. I’d recommend making a reservation in advance if you want to dine here.

▲ Unlike some more budget-friendly all-you-can-eat buffets where you pick your own food, all ingredients at Xin Dian are ordered individually, which is much more hygienic. Just mark what you want on the order sheet and hand it to the staff. Except for beer, which costs extra, everything else is included in the all-you-can-eat price.

▲ Today we had the double-flavor hot pot. As soon as it arrived, the aroma of the spicy broth filled the air, instantly whetting our appetite—it’s the perfect partner for meat. The white broth is lighter and more refreshing, ideal for cooking vegetables and seafood.

▲ The spicy hot pot base comes with essential duck blood and tofu, both of which are already cooked and ready to eat as soon as they’re served. Their duck blood is incredibly flavorful, with a texture that’s neither too soft nor too firm. The tofu is rich with the natural aroma of soybeans.

▲ If you find the direct flavors a bit plain, there’s also a self-service sauce station where you can mix your own perfect flavor combination. I particularly like their soy sauce, which has a mild sweetness without being overly salty.

▲ Drinks include fruit juice, milk tea, Coca-Cola series sparkling beverages, plus coffee machines and hot tea—perfect for pairing with desserts and ice cream afterward. Everything you could want is available.

▲ Xin Dian offers an impressive selection of meats—over 10 varieties, including 7 different types of beef. For someone like me who loves beef, it’s heaven. First, I must recommend the beef short ribs—the PRIME grade ones have rich, evenly distributed marbling, and are cut to just the right thickness so they don’t fall apart when cooked. Just a few seconds in the pot and they’re ready. They’re super fragrant, have a firm and bouncy texture, and become even more flavorful the more you chew. Extremely addictive.

▲ While the filet mignon doesn’t have as much marbling as the short ribs, the tenderloin cut is even more tender. Just three to five seconds in the pot and it melts in your mouth.

▲ Meat lovers shouldn’t miss the Black Angus beef from the U.S., CAB-certified. Not only is the quality top-notch, but each slice is very thick. Once soaked in the spicy broth and eaten whole, it’s an incredibly satisfying bite.

▲ If you prefer bold flavors and a sweet taste, the American Choice beef brisket is a must-try. It’s full of marbling, and the rich aroma when you chew is simply intoxicating.

▲ If you find the brisket a bit too rich, try the American CAB Angus snowflake beef. It has slightly less marbling but still more than other beef options, and it doesn’t get tiring to eat even in larger quantities.

▲ If you don’t eat beef or want to try pork, I highly recommend their black-haired Berkshire pork. It has a firm, bouncy texture with even marbling, isn’t dry at all, and has no porky smell. It works well in both spicy and mild broths.

▲ Besides the various delicious meats, a variety of braised items are also essential at hot pot restaurants. Xin Dian’s large intestine is pre-braised and full of flavor—you only need to cook it briefly to enjoy its springy texture. The beef tendons are also very tender, with a nice mix of bounce and smoothness.

▲ The side dishes don’t disappoint either. I especially recommend the fish cake—Xin Dian uses fish cakes from Keelung. Common round, thin fish cakes often just taste sweet with little aroma, but these have a rich umami flavor.

▲ The pink one is handmade shrimp paste—it has a very springy texture with the sweet umami of shrimp and fish paste.

▲ Moving on to the seafood, I found Xin Dian’s white shrimp to be significantly larger than those at most hot pot restaurants. The meat is very plump, and the shells are very easy to peel—just pull and they come off. The freshness is unbeatable.

▲ The fresh oysters and clams are also super fresh. Especially the oysters—my friend who usually avoids them said these had zero fishy taste, just pure freshness. The burst of flavor when you bite into them is absolutely amazing.

▲ After all the meat, it’s good to balance things out with some vegetables. I’d recommend cooking the veggies in the mild broth—they’re not only fresher and crisper, but also enhance the flavor of the soup.

▲ Finally, for dessert, you can order individual items, while the self-service area includes ice cream from Häagen-Dazs and Movenpick, with over ten flavors to choose from. A wide selection to end this perfect meal.

Xin Dian Spicy Hot Pot Xinyi Branch

Address: No. 12, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City 110
Phone: 02-2722-7667
Business hours: 11:30–01:30

About Nihao
Because of my love for food and travel, I started running a blog three years ago to document my journeys. My travels have taken me all over Taiwan, where I explore the beauty of the island, and I also seize every opportunity to travel abroad. My goal is to visit every corner of the world and share the beauty of different places with my readers through my camera lens.
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