It's perfect even for solo diners!New shop serving Hong Kong-style curry hot pot — dip it in their signature sauce for an unforgettable flavor

Text & Photos /Food Craving, Snapshot

These past few days while walking around Taipei streets, I really felt that winter had arrived. The chilly wind kept sending shivers down my spine, and suddenly all I could think about was a warm, hearty hot pot. That’s when I remembered this place a friend had told me about — “Hong Kong-style Curry Hot Pot on a Mountain,” located on Bairen Street right next to Xindian High School.Back in high school, I used to come to Bairen Street all the time — grabbing breakfast at Sweetie House before class and having Grandma’s BBQ Rice after school. Years have passed, and it seems the shops on Bairen Street have changed hands quite a few times.

/ Cherry.

Back at Man Shan Xiang, we arrived before the 5 PM opening time and waited at the door. We saw the owner’s wife arriving by bike to unlock the shop, and she was surprised that someone would show up so early just to eat hot pot.

“Because we felt it was too cold today, we couldn’t wait and rushed here as soon as we could for your opening!” As soon as we walked in, we were greeted by the rich aroma of curry — not the sweet kind typical of Japanese curry, but a bold, intense flavor that made our mouths water just from the smell.

The seating inside is pretty spacious, making it feel like a great spot for students to reserve the whole place for group meals. Everyone gathering around a warm curry hot pot feels so cozy.

Man Shan Xiang mainly offers individual hot pots, with a fairly diverse selection of broths. In addition to the classic curry option, there are also popular choices like medicinal herb-flavored Shaoxing Chicken, Thai spicy and sour broth, and even vegetarian hot pot options. Before coming here, I’d read many online comments praising their broth, and that day we also saw quite a few customers coming just to take away some broth. It’s really perfect for bringing home and cooking your own hot pot in winter.

Dine-in comes with free tea, drinks, and Little Sweets ice cream

The side dish plates are the same for each type of broth. When ordering, the owner’s wife smiled and said our plate comes with quite a lot of stuff. And sure enough, once it arrived, it was super generous — basic hot pot ingredients, tofu, corn, pumpkin, plus a bottom layer full of greens and cabbage.

Left: Economy Pot (Pork) $199 | Right: Boneless Sirloin Pot (6oz) $488

Prices vary depending on the main hot pot selection. On weekdays, the $199 Economy Pot (with beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and seafood) is available all day, and the portion of side dishes is just as big as other pots. The amount of meat isn’t skimpy either — I thought it was quite a good deal.

But if you’re looking for something more luxurious and satisfying, you can go for options like boneless sirloin, pork collar, or mixed seafood and meat pots. Each has its unique highlights, and you can also add on extra ingredients.

When the curry pot starts boiling, the rich and aromatic curry scent wafts through the air, mixed with a hint of spice — it really gets you excited for the moment you cook the side dishes and meat in the broth.

The owner’s wife said they started making curry hot pot because the owner is from Hong Kong and used to be the head chef at a specialty curry hot pot restaurant, with over 20 years of experience. Now he’s gone independent and opened his own shop, bringing authentic Hong Kong-style hot pot to Xindian. Though I’ve never had Hong Kong-style curry hot pot in Hong Kong or Macau, I really enjoyed the flavor that day. When cooking the pot, she recommended starting by blanching the pumpkin and tofu from the side dish first... the result was incredibly delicious.

The boneless sirloin has beautiful marbling, and the quality of the meat is top-notch. For a single portion, the amount is quite generous and really satisfying.

The beef doesn’t need to be cooked for very long — just a quick blanch and it’s ready to eat. The rich curry flavor also brings out the natural umami of the beef, and the meat is tender and flavorful.

Additionally, the owner’s wife strongly recommended their signature dipping sauce, which includes peanut butter, fermented tofu, chopped scallions and garlic, and is finished off with a ladle of curry broth. It adds even more flavor to the meat and has a refreshing tang.

The pork portion in the Economy Pot is slightly smaller. It’s pork collar, which has a springier texture and isn’t too greasy or heavy.

Also, every pot comes with onemain carb (white rice / instant noodles / glass noodles)

That day we chose one order of instant noodles and one of glass noodles. I highly recommend cooking the glass noodles in the curry hot pot — they’re insanely delicious and super appetizing. I didn’t even want to share them with my family (laughs).

Each pot can be customized with additional ingredients for an extra $66. Wanting to try how other ingredients taste in the curry broth, we added a slice of red snapper and some more pork.

Later, family members who arrived a bit later ordered Economy Beef Pot, Medicinal Shaoxing Chicken Broth $199

The medicinal Shaoxing Chicken broth doesn’t have as strong or distinctive an aroma as the curry one, and the herbal taste isn’t very intense either. Instead, it’s somewhat sweet and refreshing. But overall, the flavor is still quite nice.

When we first arrived, there weren’t many customers. The owner’s wife chatted with us a bit and said because the shop is located in a quiet, not-so-busy alley, not many people notice there’s a curry hot pot place here. She even mentioned that if business doesn’t pick up after this winter, she might have to close the shop. Hearing that made me a bit sad — I really hope they can keep operating in Xindian and help make the local food scene even more diverse.

Oh, and if you have leftover broth or side dishes, you can ask the staff to pack them up. You can take the broth home, buy some more hot pot ingredients and instant noodles, and make another delicious meal of curry hot pot.

Man Shan Hong Kong-style Curry Hot Pot

Address: No. 5, Bairen Street, Xindian District, New Taipei City (alley next to Xindian High School)
Phone: 02-8665-5095
Business Hours: 11:30–14:30, 17:00–21:00
Facebook:Man Shan Xiang Hong Kong-style Curry Hotpot
No service charge, parking available near Xindian High School / Catholic Cardinal Tien Hospital

Food Cravings, Captured Moments
Wandering through the busy yet leisurely-paced lives of Taipei residents.
Enjoys uncovering hidden culinary gems tucked away in city corners, alleys, and right by people’s homes—passionate about exploring places filled with stories.
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