Pineapple and apple soup broth? A high-CP-value hot pot spot where Jolin Tsai and Aaron Kwok are regulars

▲ This budget hot pot shop may look unassuming but has attracted a host of celebrities, with the secret to its deliciousness lying in the broth and fresh ingredients. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

Reported by Chen Ziying / Taipei

A budget-friendly hot pot restaurant that can attract dozens of celebrities from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan must be hiding something special — and it is. This tiny hot pot shop tucked away in an alley in the East District serves up sweet and savory broth, fresh ingredients, and affordable prices. With its "high cost-performance ratio" deliciousness, even Asian pop diva Jolin Tsai, Taiwanese singing icon Xie Jin Yan, former Premier Yu Shyi-kun, and others are frequent visitors.

At first glance, “Atour Mini Hot Pot” might sound like just another chain hot pot joint, but owner Lee Bingzeng points to the wall covered in autographs from a star-studded lineup — all major names. But even celebrity endorsements aren’t enough; the freshness and deliciousness of the food are what truly build the restaurant’s reputation.

%闹?由下??拿?嗣餍乔┟??胁桃懒帧⑿唤鹧唷⑿∮、天心、孙越、游锡X，还有香港 actor Aaron Kwok. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

When it comes to hot pot, the broth is the soul. The broth at Atour Mini Hot Pot is particularly sweet and refreshing. Lee Bingzeng explains that it's made not only with pork bones, but also simmered for four hours with pineapple, apple, onion, and corn. The broth alone is impressive. Then he brings out a seafood platter — tender fish slices, live Yilan shrimp, and seasonal vegetables, all personally selected by him from the market that day. He chooses Yilan shrimp to ensure freshness; southern shrimp take too long to transport and lose their flavor.


▲ The broth, simmered for four hours with pork bones, pineapple, apple, corn, and onion, has a refreshing and sweet taste. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

  ▲ Left: Seafood and meat hot pot emphasizes freshness, with live Yilan shrimp. Right: Even the taro in the vegetable plate is carefully handled, hand-cut and fried by staff. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

“The shop offers many types of beef, but the standard beef hot pot is already really good.” says regular customer Ms. Chen. The so-called standard “Premium Beef Hot Pot” is no ordinary dish — imported beef is sliced to order, and you can tell how fresh it is just by looking at the color. The meat is tender, soft, full of beefy aroma, and delicious even without dipping sauce. Paired with a generous selection of vegetables, even the taro is personally cut and fried by the staff; they insist on giving customers great taste despite the hassle of handling slippery taro.

Additionally, for those who don’t eat beef, Lee recommends the “Matsusaka Pork Hot Pot.” The pink pork collar from Taiwan has evenly distributed fat, and when cooked, it offers a crispy, sweet bite that lingers on the palate.

 
▲ Meat is also prioritized for freshness, with finely textured beef and crisp, bouncy Matsusaka pork. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

Even outside meal times, Atour Mini Hot Pot sees a steady stream of customers. “Thank you, don’t forget to take your things!” says Lee Bingzeng warmly as he greets guests, treating each one like an old friend. Confidently, he says: “Our ingredients are fresh, our prices are affordable, and most importantly, we serve our guests wholeheartedly. We want every visitor to feel at home here.”


▲ Desserts that change regularly and can be refilled unlimited times. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)
【Shop Information】
Atour Mini Hot Pot
Address: 1F, No. 16, Lane 101, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 8771-8151, 2772-7610
Business Hours: 11:00–23:30 (last order at 23:00), closed on Lunar New Year’s Eve, Day 1, and Day 2
Price Range: Premium Beef Hot Pot NT$240, Seafood & Meat Hot Pot NT$350, Matsusaka Pork Hot Pot NT$300

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