Winter calls for spicy hot pot — must-order items include chewy handmade noodles and juicy shrimp paste dumplings!

Text & Photos /By Hu Li, All Smiles

The craving for spicy hot pot is back again — Hu Li just can’t resist gathering friends for some fiery fun, and she’s especially fond of the bold, aromatic flavors of Sichuan-style spice. This time, we headed back to Kaohsiung to enjoy the winter thrill of spicy hot pot, and wow, it was absolutely satisfying XD. Fudingxuan Sichuan Spicy Hot Pot in Fengshan has a pretty great taste. We went with mild spice, which was flavorful enough, and didn’t need any dipping sauce — the health-focused soup base was perfect. Even those who don’t eat spicy food can still enjoy it a lot ^^ If you’re in the mood for spicy hot pot lately, why not gather a group and come here for a try? They offer an à la carte selection, so the ingredients are super fresh!

▲ Spicy Hot Pot Broth & Health-Focused Broth

For the spicy part, you can get free refills on tofu and duck blood — they’re pretty generous about it~

▲ The tofu is marinated to perfection!

It’s more tender than your average hot pot joint’s tofu — even Xiao Hu, who doesn’t usually eat much tofu, liked it.

▲ Just lightly break open the tofu and you’ll see it’s bursting with juice — totally juicy!

The first bite brings that authentic Sichuan spiciness, and you’ll find yourself asking the staff to add more ingredients XD Oh, and the duck blood has a slightly salty taste — if you’re into that, go ahead and have more, lol.

▲ Lamb nt.280

Xiao Hu, who’s inexplicably passionate about lamb, insisted on ordering this. When it arrived, the portion was surprisingly generous — it’s quite a lot, almost too much for two people, so we’d suggest 3–4 people. The lamb flavor isn’t overpowering, and those who are okay with eating lamb will find it enjoyable.

▲ Boneless Beef Short Rib nt.680

Shali was hesitating between wagyu beef and boneless short ribs but ended up going for the boneless ones. The marbling is just beautiful. Again, it’s a very generous portion, and the meat slices are just the right thickness — they’re ready to eat after just a quick blanch.

▲ The marbling is gorgeous — we love cooking it in the spicy pot.

The mildly numbing and spicy taste is seriously addictive.

▲ Even with just a quick dip, the unique Sichuan spiciness has already seeped in.

Hu Li barely used any dipping sauce — she enjoyed the original flavors straight up.

▲ Don’t worry if you’re used to dipping sauces — Fudingxuan offers a variety of condiments ^^

Pair it with a bit of chopped scallions and vinegar, and it perfectly enhances the layered flavors of the spice. Serving it with white rice will definitely fill you up!

▲ If you want noodles, we highly recommend Fudingxuan’s handmade noodles.

Their unique chewiness is captivating — even after boiling for 3–5 minutes, they stay firm, soaking up the broth while maintaining a nice bite.

▲ That day, the two of us ordered some recommended sides from Fudingxuan.

▲ Scallop Balls nt.230

Made by shredding whole scallops, coating them in meat paste, every bite is super satisfying — Xiao Hu really likes this flavor. Scallop lovers should definitely give it a try XD

▲ In the spicy pot, you get both heat and sweetness, but if you want to enjoy the pure scallop flavor, we suggest cooking them in the health pot instead!

▲ Shrimp Paste Dumplings nt.180

Xiao Hu and Shali couldn’t stop raving about these shrimp paste dumplings — a must-order XD The shrimp inside are super fresh, and you can taste every bit of it.

▲ No matter how you eat them, you’ll always find bits of shrimp — it’s truly amazing.

You must try something here at Fu Ding Xuan for a taste of freshness^^

▲Tofu Skin nt.60

Sally loves tofu skin, and Fu Ding Xuan has it too—and it comes in larger, more intact pieces, which makes for a more satisfying texture.

▲We tried both spicy hotpot and health hotpot, and the flavors are quite different.

After trying both, we still recommend cooking it in the health hotpot the most.><因为比较吃得到腐皮原有的香气，加上它会吸满汤汁精华，养生汤底最棒！

▲Dumpling Combo nt.120

Sally, who’s usually a dumpling enthusiast, has been cutting back on dumpling dishes—but Fu Ding Xuan uses handmade shrimp dumplings, egg dumplings, and yu jiao, so we ordered the combo to try. UpXD The egg dumplings are especially worth recommending!! The meat filling inside isn’t greasy and has a unique aroma—dumpling lovers, don’t miss this combo～～～

▲Fresh Boat-Frozen Squid (Penghu-produced) nt.250

This squid is caught by fishermen in Penghu and immediately flash-frozen onboard to preserve freshness. When it arrives at Fu Ding Xuan, it still retains its full freshness and shape!! Tiger Lily, who loves squid in seafood hotpots, immediately ordered some after hearing the shop’s introduction.

▲It’s best to blanch the fresh boat-frozen squid in the health soup.

You can taste the true umami and its Q弹 (chewy) bite—it has a hint of sweetness, and Xiao Hu highly recommends it!!!!

▲Plum Juice nt.130

The essential partner to spicy hotpot is plum juice～～Fu Ding Xuan’s plum juice is really flavorful!! It can slightly tone down the spiciness^^ The shop also offers other beverages, but Tiger Lily loves the plum juice the most!!

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▲Dessert after the meal – Sea Bird’s Nest

The texture of sea bird’s nest is very smooth, cool and refreshing, perfect for cleansing the palate. A dessert is served after the meal, and the young lady felt very satisfied XDD

▲Fu Ding Xuan First Floor Dining Area

The interior has quite an antique charm, but it doesn’t feel oppressive—the overall dining environment is very comfortable.

▲Fu Ding Xuan Second Floor Dining Area

▲Fu Ding Xuan Store Exterior

The signboard is quite eye-catching^^

For someone like Tiger Lily who loves hotpot dishes, both the broth and ingredients are very important. Fu Ding Xuan’s Bashu Spicy Hotpot dishes are pretty good!! We all enjoyed what we had^^ The fragrant and numbing hotpot that’s spicy but not harsh on the throat, the mellow and delicious health hotpot... both highly recommended!! Hotpot lovers might consider gathering here for a meal～～ Recommended for those who love spicy hotpot and want to enjoy freshly prepared ingredients &a(*´∀｀*)人(*´∀｀*)&a

Fu Ding Xuan · Bashu Spicy Hotpot｜Facebook｜
Phone: 07-7777726
10% service charge, 2-hour dining limit / à la carte
Address: No. 482, Section 2, Youth Road, Fengshan District, Kaohsiung City (Wenlong Road has a designated parking lot)
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday 11:30-14:30, 17:00-22:30

Tiger Lily laughing happily
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