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    Chef Pin

    4.8 (20 reviews)

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    Ngoc N.

    Chef Pin is that girl. My friend's been raving about this place for months, calling it her favorite dry pot spot and now I get the hype. It was my first time trying dry pot, and I was blown away. This place has their system on lock from the waiting experience to the food to the service. You walk in, get seated with a bib and hair ties (what?! genius), and wait it out with a built-in game station so you don't even notice the time. I love restaurants that focus on doing one thing exceptionally well. The menu's tight--just a few appetizers (same sauce base, different textures) and then the main event: dry pot heaven. The spice level soaks into every bite, especially when you pair it with white rice. I added potatoes and lotus root. perfect texture, perfect flavor. The vibes were casual but the execution was top-tier. Flavors were bold, service was quick, and everything felt intentional. Pro tip: Make a reservation, bring cash or debit, and don't be afraid to load up your pot with your favs. Chef Pin just always hits.

    Mala pot
    Kim K.

    Chef Pin is hands down the best restaurant in Richmond. If you're a fan of bold flavors and crave a perfectly balanced mala pot, look no further. The food here is incredibly tasty, every bite is packed with rich, aromatic spices that hit just the right level of heat and numbness. I've tried mala all over, and this is by far the best I've ever had. They also have fresh watermelon juice which is refreshing and I also tried the plum juice which is in a glass jar. The service is also fast and great. Remember to call early to make a reservation otherwise you need to wait. Highly recommend!

    Aftermath
    Audrey T.

    Chef Pin just always hits! I love the dry pot here. The spice level is so good and ingredients are so tasty. You can order off wechat QR code and I love ordering our favorite add ons. The spice just really soaks through and goes so well with a bowl of white rice. Service is quick and always appreciate the oranges. Be sure to make a reservation!! And bring cash or debit card!

    Hot & sour vermicelli
    Shelyn W.

    This place is always crowded even on weeknights but they have ample waiting area that includes computers and games. We typically get the chicken wings pot with side items and hot & sour vermicelli. The medium spicy has a good spice level for us but the spicy level is quite spicy, so take caution! The food was really good but what stood out for me the most was their service. One time our food took really long (~1 hour) and the waittresses noticed that we were getting antsy and gave us free drinks + snacks. Another time, as we were ordering, they noticed that my dad's phone battery was low and immediately came with a portable charger!! Their bathroom was fully stocked with toothpicks, combs, toothbrushes, hair ties, sanitary supplies, disposable towels, etc. 11/10 service 9/10 food bring cash or debit!

    a bowl of stir fried vegetables
    Vic W.

    Such a popular restaurant. They open at 5pm. We arrived at 5:17pm and already full of people. The taste of food is very good. The cook really knows how to cook. Customer service is amazing, attentive and helpful!! P.S. Cash only

    two pans of food on a table
    Kevin M.

    Wow! Simply stunning and amazing. If you never tried dried pot you have to give it a shot here! There are a lot of dry pot / hot pot chains out there but this one stand on its own. Service is amazing. But the food delivery speed is a little slow. I had to wait around 40-50 min for my pot but it is worth the wait. They make everything from scratch and that is why it takes that long. The spice they use for the pot is bomb! It is so magical. every bite has a really nice kick after which makes this place that unique. The atmosphere for this place is more like for a group of friends want to chill and try out different food. You can tell wether or not the owner cares about their customers. Owner so thoughtful, they have a small game station set up at the restaurant for you to kill time while waiting for the food. I had the lobster special which they normally won't have. I am telling you ... it worth every penny. The spice did overpower the flavor of the lobster but it created a whole new different beast. 1+1 greater than 2 . Last advice, I wouldn't do take out for this type of food. I rather enjoy it and eat it while it is freshly prepped for you.

    Tiger prawn dry pot with add-ons: rice cake, enoki mushroom, beef slices
    Sylvia Y.

    Fave go to place for dry pot! Seating half full during covid, with hand sanitizer and contactless ordering system in place. You're served fruit upon seating - never expected that at a Richmond restaurant! Menu is accessible via a QR code on the table, choose what you want and after submission the server will confirm the order with you at the table. Ordered the tiger prawn dry pot, adding enoki, rice cake and beef to the base is more than enough for two. Rice cake is typically my favorite addition, but this time I was certain it was either undercooked or passed its best before date as the pieces were extremely tough to bite through & was still solid white coloured through the center. Medium spice level, for reference, is slightly numbing and justtt at the enjoyable to eat state. Levels beyond medium is for the expert! Would come back anytime!

    Hot tea

    Amazing SpicyDry pot place to go to, I am Vegetarian and they made me delicious Vegetarian spicy Hot pot !! definitely recommend for people looking for Vegetarian Dry pot restaurant.

    Very yummy dry hotpot! We got the chicken wing dry hotpot with sausage topping and it came with potato pieces, celery and was packed with flavour and spices. I found the spice level was a bit overwhelming for me (combo of spicy and numbing) even with mild spice level. Also they serve watermelon for free right when you sit down which was super refreshing for the palate!

    Vinson N.

    Pretty shocked that no one has left a review here yet. Service: 5/5, in case you're one of those delusional people who go into East Asian restaurants for the service Food: 5/5 Ambiance: Who cares? The food is 5/5 Value: Including tip, we paid $25 a person and were all stuffed. This was my second time at Chef Pin. The first was a week ago and I had to bring my eating club to try this place out. From the beginning, the waitstaff were attentive and helpful in explaining ordering process. It's essentially a dry hotpot/stir fry where you pick your ingredients and it comes out in a giant stainless steal bowl. I have attached a photo of the menu that indicates which pot bases and ingredients are available. On both occasions, I had the spicy tiger shrimp dry pot at xiao la (smedium spicy) and included ingredients such as pork intestines, quail eggs, bean curd, and tofu puff. On both occasions, I was thoroughly impressed and sweating profusely. On the back side of the menu there is delicacies such as pork hock, tea eggs, and hongshaorou. You can also find a decent selection of drinks and dessert. Before the food came, we were brought sliced oranges which were the "perfect temperature and contained the right amount of juiciness" - (Nico, who does not have Yelp, insisted that I put this in the review.) The tea served was a lovely lychee red tea. If it matters to you monkeys, there was wifi, PS4s, and gaming computers to entertain you while you wait. "There were also nice snacks by the computers." - Karen, who does not have yelp. I don't have anything else to say. Go eat it yourself, stupid.

    Zane Z.

    Come here really often and realize I haven't written anything about this restaurant! It's not as busy as the one on Kingsway but bigger and more comfortable. Always good service and good stir fry pot!! Love the shrimp one with pork belly!!

    Selina C.

    This place is a hidden gem and it's outstanding! Excellent service and excellent food I definitely see myself coming here whenever I crave mala foods. * Spicy shrimp dry pot ($75.88) ~ this had a variety of things you can customize in and each item adds to the value of it. We had the large portion ($8), and all these following ingredients in it: squid ($5.99), beef omasum ($5.99), pork intestine ($5.99),quail ($5.99), fish tofu ($5.99), lotus ($2.99), asparagus ($2.99), shi-teke ($2.99), bean curd ($2.99), slice rice noodle cake ($2.99), broccoli ($2.99). * The flavours was incredible and mala. Not too spicy in my opinion but very flavourful. Definitely need constant refills on water! * Spicy handmade roll ($7.99) ~ incredible. The handmade roll was soft and chewy and the fillings were super delicious but there's a nice kick in it! Worth the burning in your tongue! * Spicy duck head ($13.99) ~ I'd come back just for this! The flavours are outstanding and rich and pungent. Very well seasoned and flavoured oh I could finish the entire dish all by myself it's so worth it! * 9/10 ~ Everything is so good I really enjoy coming here for the mala items! I highly recommend you try what we got! * 9/10 ~ portion is huge and perfect for sharing we had 4 people and we had a lot left over! Very customizable too! Service was amazing even said provided gloves and tide pen in case of any stains from the food! Total bill before tip: $102.75 * 10/10 ~ we came early so we were only ones here super safe and social distanced!

    Half prawn half chicken pot
    Jenn S.

    A great dry hotpot place and for a good price too. For a party of 3 the bill came to $64 with tips. We got a medium half prawn half wings with 5 toppings.

    Spicy crab dry pot and peach juice.

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    Haidilao Hotpot - Richmond - Cellophane Noodles

    Haidilao Hotpot - Richmond

    4.4(239 reviews)
    1.0 kmGolden Village

    This branch of the Haidilao is so much more fancy than the one in Arcadia branch that we normally…read morefrequent. We decided to treat ourselves with the A5 wagyu from Japan, so good. There's also live seafood at market price along with delicious specialties. We went on a Wed night and it was packed! Service was excellent and brisk. The dessert bar had a chocolate fountain and it was very popular with the kids. Reservations recommended for faster seating

    First time coming here during the "Meat Carnival." My friend and I arrived around 9 PM and waited…read moreabout 30 minutes for a seat. The Meat Carnival deal allows you to choose from five unlimited meat options: two kinds of beef, chicken, fish, and lamb. I skipped the chicken on the first round since I don't usually like it in hot pot. Personally, the lamb was just "meh," so I ended up ordering a lot of the beef instead. Pro-tip from our server: They suggested ordering the 1/4 soup pots (four grids) to save money. I got the tomato broth and my friend got the pork broth. In my opinion, HDL still has the best tomato broth in the game! Just a heads-up that veggies and noodles are extra. In the end, we spent about $60 per person after eating seven orders of meat in total. It's definitely worth it if you can eat a ton of protein; otherwise, you're better off coming during regular hours, as you won't save much if you aren't a big eater. The service was great! Super attentive and friendly throughout the night. 5 stars for the staff!

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    Haidilao Hotpot - Richmond
    Haidilao Hotpot - Richmond - Side station for your other items!!

    Side station for your other items!!

    Haidilao Hotpot - Richmond - Mushrooms

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    Mushrooms

    Xiaolongkan Hotpot - Fried Rice

    Xiaolongkan Hotpot

    4.2(63 reviews)
    0.3 kmGolden Village

    I liked their AYCE menu and had been wanting to come back, only to find out when we sat down that…read moreAYCE was no longer available. Huge bummer. We arrived around 9 PM and stood at the entrance for 3-5 minutes while multiple staff walked past us without any acknowledgment. Most tables were empty, so it wasn't clear whether we were supposed to seat ourselves. I eventually had to stop someone, who then brushed us off and grabbed someone else instead. After sitting down, I asked about AYCE and was told it was discontinued in October 2025. The waiter mentioned happy hour and said we could get an extra discount with a student ID, but when we showed our U.S. student IDs, they wouldn't accept them. Lame, but whatever. The price is acceptable during happy hour. The seats are uncomfortable, and the kitchen was very loud that night. The floor vibrated on and off throughout our meal. The biggest issue: bugs. They clearly know it's a problem since there's a small fan over the sauce station to keep the bugs away, but it didn't help. We found a dead bug in the sauce we made before dipping our food. There were also bugs flying over our food the entire time (see photos). That alone is unacceptable. Food came out almost instantly after ordering on our phones. Impressively fast. Everything tasted good, but I wouldn't order the spicy broth again. I know that's the style, but even at one-star spice it was extremely oily and overpowering for me. Another ongoing annoyance was staff constantly messing with our stove. On both visits, we ordered multiple broths. The spicy broth boiled aggressively because of all the oil, while the non-spicy broth barely simmered. We didn't like the spicy broth at all and just wanted the non-spicy one hot enough to actually cook food. Every time I turned up the heat, staff immediately turned it back down because the spicy broth was boiling. As a result, the non-spicy broth never properly boiled the entire meal, and our food was likely undercooked. Extremely frustrating. Last time we came, we got complimentary ice cream at the end. This time, we didn't. I assumed they stopped offering it, but based on other recent reviews, they just didn't give us one. I'm not coming back until AYCE is back and the bug problem is actually fixed.

    This was a very spacious hot pot restaurant, though I would recommend having a reservation. My…read morefamily of 5 walked in at 5:30pm and got seated right away because we were so early, but the place definitely got crowded as time went on. Ordering was very straightforward. You scan a QR code and order from your phone (there is free wifi). The food was good, just another solid hot pot place. The broth was really spicy so beware! We ended the meal with complimentary black sesame ice cream which was a fun bonus!

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    Xiaolongkan Hotpot
    Xiaolongkan Hotpot - 9 boxes Combo

    9 boxes Combo

    Xiaolongkan Hotpot

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    The Dolar Shop - Richmond

    The Dolar Shop - Richmond

    4.1(253 reviews)
    0.6 kmGolden Village
    $$$

    Came here to celebrate a belated birthday with a friend, and it turned out to be such a good…read moreexperience as it was the Birthday girl second time at DolarShop. As part of the celebration, my friend got to do a virtual prize spin, and we ended up winning a complimentary plate of lamb, which was such a fun surprise. The lamb was fresh, tender, and a perfect addition to our meal. We visited on one of the hottest days of June, so walking into the restaurant's cool, air-conditioned dining room was an immediate relief. It made for a really comfortable dining experience. We both ordered the Wagyu Short Plate meal set with a split soup base: creamy pork broth on one side and tomato broth on the other. The wagyu was incredibly buttery and melted in our mouths, and the quality of the lamb was just as impressive. Everything tasted fresh, and the portions were generous. By the end of the meal, we were completely satisfied--and even had enough leftovers for lunch the next day. Great food, a fun birthday surprise, and a comfortable atmosphere made this an easy place to recommend. We'll definitely be back!

    I originally reached out privately, but since I have been completely ignored, I am leaving this…read morereview to warn others. First, I won a $100 voucher through an Instagram giveaway. When I tried to use it, the staff claimed the QR code was "invalid and already used." I have never used it, and being accused of this in front of others was incredibly embarrassing. Furthermore, the voucher had zero mentions of any restrictions regarding the "All You Can Eat" menu, yet they refused to honor it at the time of payment. I was forced to pay the bill out of my own pocket! On top of the terrible voucher experience, the dining experience itself was highly disappointing and unsafe: Menu Cutbacks: All of their fried appetizers were completely crossed out from the menu, yet they are still charging the exact same price! If you are craving fried appetizers, I highly recommend asking the staff if they actually have them before you sit down. Safety Hazard: Please watch out when your hot pot boils! The soup overflows and leaks straight down from the edge of the pot into the space right underneath, which is exactly where the customer's legs are. This is a massive burn hazard! Between the terrible service and dangerous pot design, I will never return. Save your money and go somewhere else. Again, their voucher giveaway is a total scam!!!

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    The Dolar Shop - Richmond - Sauce bar

    Sauce bar

    The Dolar Shop - Richmond
    The Dolar Shop - Richmond - My panda ice jelly bowl!

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    My panda ice jelly bowl!

    YUAN’S HOT POT - Our remaining meat skewers

    YUAN’S HOT POT

    4.2(53 reviews)
    0.7 kmGolden Village
    $$$

    We've discovered an authentic Chengdu-style hot pot where everything is on skewers -- meat,…read moreveggies, you name it! It was our first time trying Chengdu hotpot 成都火鍋( (aka Sichuan hotpot 四川火鍋), and we did some homework beforehand. Chengdu hotpot stands out for its aromatic, complex flavours and less oily broth than the Chongqing style. Yuan's Hot Pot 袁记串串香 nailed it! We ordered COMBO A ($83.99), meant for two, but honestly, it feels like a feast for three. What's in COMBO A? ~ 50+ skewers packed with meat and veggies ~ Dual broth: House Special Spicy ~ Soup Base & Pork Bone Soup Base ~ Sweet potato vermicelli ~ 2x House Special Dipping Sauces The spicy broth was bold and flavorful without being overwhelming, and the variety of skewers kept things exciting. Their signature dipping sauce with Yuan's Hot Pot Sesame Oil is a game-changer -- so fragrant and not greasy. Yuan's Hot Pot 袁记串串香 brings the bold, authentic flavours of Chengdu straight to Richmond. We've fallen in love with Chengdu-style hotpot and can't wait to return to try more! Highly recommend! Food: 5/5 Must Try! Service: 5/5 Kids: 4/5 Yay! Price: $50-$60 for two Presentation: 2/3 Parking: 4/5 Finding parking during meal hours is challenging despite a sizable parkade. Tips: * Must-Try Dipping Sauce: Pair their signature Yuan's Hot Pot Sesame Oil (in cute single-serve cans) with the House Special Dipping Sauce. It's flavorful, not greasy, and you can add as much as you like! * Customizable Spice: Their House Special Spicy Soup Base, imported straight from Chengdu, is adjustable! Use as much as you want and take the leftover package home for your next hotpot night. * BOGO Alert: Visit on the 17th of any month for their Buy One, Get One deal--perfect for sharing with friends or family! * Discount Deal: Share a review on Google and score $3.99 off a limited-selected dish. Would I Return: Yes ‍

    Yuan's Hot Pot is located in the Aberdeen Mall so plenty of free parking which is always a plus…read more It is clean with high ceilings and pretty good ventilation which is needed as...we are doing hot pot. We went with 1/2 soup base and 1/2 extra spicy. And the extra spicy is definitely spicy...no need to add any dipping sauces with that base. Ordered a variety of proteins and vegetables. I liked that most of the items were on skewers which made getting it out of the base much easier. I did find the beef overly salted. And I really enjoyed the corn on the cob. Service was great and definitely needed a shower and a change of clothes after dinner. They were having a buy one get one free anniversary promotion. You can return and have the same items ordered for free on your next visit. It is a pretty good promotion. It was a positive food experience.

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    YUAN’S HOT POT - Dining area

    Dining area

    YUAN’S HOT POT
    YUAN’S HOT POT

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    Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Inside

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot

    3.7(44 reviews)
    0.4 kmGolden Village

    My family loves coming here for lunch. You get a variety of meat, vegetables and sides. You can…read morealso create your own dip, which makes the experience even better. I love the individual pot setup, which allows every diner to get what they want. There's a variety of meat to choose from. You don't need to be an expert to cook your food. Everything comes out great and is rarely overcooked. To avoid overcooking your veggies and meat, just put one serving of the ingredients for each round. Once it boils, you're ready to go!

    === 1. VERDICT/VALUE What?! All you can eat hot pot for…read more$18.99 per person, any day, all-day and kids eat free?? It's not perfect, but it's pretty decent, so sign me up :) === 2. FOOD The cost of entry is pretty low: $18.99 per adult for all-you-can-eat hot pot and it comes with: - As much beef and lamb as you would like. - Choice of clear water or chicken broth for soup. Anything else: other or better quality meats, other broth choices, vegetables, mushrooms, seafood, plum juice, etc, all costs extra. What's neat: - Wide range of selection for food. - Kids eat free (families - rejoice!). - The meat orders are filled quickly (unlike other AYCE places). - DIY sauce bar is decent. - The milk ice cream bar is authentic comes straight from Asia. - Private rooms offer individual burners: everyone gets their own small pot and choice of broth! Is there a downside? The self-serve buffet may seem small by comparison to other restaurants, only serving: - Three types of cake for dessert (mango, chocolate, vanilla/coconut). - Edamame - Peach slices and honeydew chunks. - Peanuts and chilli flakes. - (No hot foods or otherwise.) - It was all good - but you may or may not be wanting more. Oh...the beef slices seem a little on the fatty side compared to every other hot pot restaurant I've ever been to around the world - not a bad thing per se (you're boiling a lot off) but something interesting here - I presume likely to keep the costs down. === 3. SERVICE Wait staff appeared to speak Cantonese and Mandarin with some able to speak a little English (thankfully for me!). All (many brought in different dishes) were quick, efficient, and professional. === 4. ENVIRONMENT It's the typical hot pot restaurant experience - on the cleaner/brighter/more modern side compared to some in Richmond. Despite the busy nature of the place, the ventilation works well - your clothes won't smell completely like hot pot on exit :). Wheelchairs and baby strollers would have no issue here. Parking is literally right outside in the expansive Lansdowne Centre parking lot.

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    Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Inside

    Inside

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Front Door

    Front Door

    Happy Lamb Hot Pot - Authentic Broth

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    Authentic Broth

    Chef Pin - hotpot - Updated September 2026

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