For a chef, broth is a blank canvas just waiting to be tinkered with, adding this and that to achieve the right flavor profile. In hot pot dining—a traditional East Asian experience—that canvas is yours. A pot of boiling broth sits at the center of the table, surrounded by an array of raw ingredients, from meats and seafood to vegetables and tofu. Often communal but also customizable for individual servings, hot pot allows diners to tailor their meal, whether keeping it vegetarian or piling on proteins. It sounds like fondue, but with a distinctly Asian twist.
At Mala Tang in Arlington, hot pot add-ons range from frog legs and quail eggs to bamboo shoots, lamb, flounder, enoki, tofu, and noodles. “Hot pot is special because it’s not just about eating—it’s a shared experience and an interactive one,” says Head Chef Jeff Liu.
Mala Tang’s signature is the bold, lingering heat of numbing Sichuan peppercorn, but spice-averse diners are welcome, too—it’s all part of the personalized experience. Beyond the flavors fit for each eater’s tastebuds, Liu believes hot pot’s rise in popularity is thanks to the immersive, communal nature of both the cooking and the eating. “No matter how the dining trends evolve, the warmth and shared joy of hot pot will always make it a favorite.” Mala-Tang.com
Rizvisual, courtesy of Mala Tang
Hot pots at
Arlington’s Mala Tang.
Dig into the heat at these hot pot stops in Virginia
Hot pot 757
Multiple locations, HotPot757.com
Nah Mor Hot Pot
7048 Spring Garden Dr., Springfield, NahMorHotPot.com
Omy Hot Pot & Bar
4230 Annandale Rd., Annandale, OmyHotPot.com
Qing Shu Spicy Hot Spot
14359 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, QingShuVa.com
QPot Hot Pot & BBQ
11740 W. Broad St., B103, Henrico, QPotHotPot.com
This article originally appeared in the June 2025 issue.
