What to eat for year-end gatherings? The top 10 popular spicy hot pot restaurants loved by netizens across Taiwan

▲ This royal secret hot pot dish took the top spot in the popularity rankings for spicy hot pots. (Photo / Provided by the business)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

With successive waves of cold fronts hitting recently, it’s the perfect season for hot pot meals. In the chilly weather, gathering with family and friends to enjoy a fragrant and flavorful hot pot is undoubtedly one of the coziest joys of winter.DailyView Online ThermometerSurveyed the top 10 popular spicy hot pot spots across Taiwan—quickly add them to your must-try list.

According to an analysis by DailyView’s online thermometer,people in southern Taiwan are slightly more passionate about hot pot than those in the north,but the difference is not huge, showing that enjoying hot pot is a nationwide activity regardless of region. In terms of meal format,all-you-can-eat hot pots with high cost-performance are more popularthan à la carte options.

1. This Pot
▲ The No. 1 popular spicy hot pot is This Pot. Its Phoenix Return Pot, marketed as a royal secret hot pot dish, has taken Taiwan by storm. With its grand decor creating a luxurious atmosphere, the carefully brewed aged broth is not the only highlight—the ingredients are also rich and exquisitely prepared. Whether it's the meat or the vegetable platters served, each looks like a piece of art, satisfying both the taste buds and the eyes. The service is also quite thoughtful, offering small bibs to guests, making dining here feel like royal treatment.

Location: No. 190, Jilin Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
▲ Phone: 02-66178585
Official Website

2. Ding Wang
▲ The second most popular spicy hot pot is the renowned Ding Wang, which originated in Taichung. The restaurant is filled with a strong traditional Chinese ambiance. The tender duck blood and juicy, plump tofu are truly mouthwatering. Beyond the delicious ingredients, whether it’s serving dishes or greeting guests, the waitstaff always end with a 90-degree bow—service quality is famously excellent.

Taichung Jingcheng Branch
▲ Location: No. 12, Jingcheng Road, Taichung City
▲ Phone: 04-23296828
Official Website

▲ Ding Wang’s spicy hot pot and pickled cabbage with pork hot pot. (Photo / FromDing Wang Spicy Hot Pot Fan Page)

3. Ma La
▲ The third place goes to Ma La, a well-known all-you-can-eat spicy hot pot restaurant in Taipei with multiple branches. True to its all-you-can-eat style, Ma La offers a wide variety of choices for broths, meats, ingredients, and even drinks. Essentials like duck blood and tofu are always available and can be refilled anytime, making it perfect for gatherings with friends.

Taipei Gongguan Branch
Location: No. 86, Section 3, Tingzhou Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-23657625

▲ Ma La. (Photo / fromMa La Premium Spicy & Mild Hot Pot Fan Club official Facebook page)

4. Qiaotou Spicy Hot Pot
Hidden away in the alleys of Taipei’s Eastern District, Qiaotou Spicy Hot Pot relies solely on word of mouth to build its reputation in the spicy hot pot scene—no flashy decor or fancy tableware needed. The shop’s signature Guangsheng Noodles have a delightfully chewy texture, perfectly paired with a mildly spicy and sweet broth that’s absolutely delicious. The must-order Golden Wontons feature juicy pork filling mixed with shrimp, making them irresistible.

Location: 2F, No. 157, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27775608

5. Old Sichuan
Old Sichuan is famously hard to book a table at—you’ll need to reserve at least two weeks in advance to stand a chance. But everyone who’s eaten there raves about it. The broth is made using authentic traditional Sichuan methods, following the “three fragrances, three peppercorns, three seasonings, seven flavors, eight tastes, and nine mix-ins” formula to tantalize diners’ taste buds. Their signature appetizer, Sichuan Cold Noodles, features bouncy noodles soaked in sauce, topped with chopped scallions and peanut powder—numbing, spicy, sour, not sweet, and super appetizing.

Taipei Chang’an Branch
Location: No. 112, Section 2, Chang’an East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-25152222
Official Website

▲ Old Sichuan Bashu Spicy Hot Pot. (Photo / fromOld Sichuan Bashu Spicy Hot Pot official Facebook page)

6. Wulao Hot Pot
Another hot pot brand under the Ding Wang Group—Wulao Hot Pot features both decor and tableware with a Zen-inspired style, and its flavors are more health-conscious. The signature Health & Beauty Pot includes a variety of traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and spices, along with many unique hot pot ingredients developed in-house, such as Ice Cream Tofu and Bread Tofu, which are truly special.

Taipei Zhongshan Branch
Location: No. 36-1, Section 2, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-25816238
Official Website

▲ Wulao Hot Pot’s Ice Cream Tofu Pot. (Photo / fromWulao Hot Pot Official Fan Page)

7. Mantanghong

8. Xindian

9. Chuanbazi

10. Zhan Ji