Today we were braving the rainy weather for some warming hot pot at Jojo Pot‘s newest and second location in West Vancouver. Located on a second floor walk up, it is hard to notice from the side walk, and would require knowing where to go to find it.
This is an independent self serve hot pot chain with its first location in Burnaby. Last year we saw its rebrand from Grandma Liu’s with JoJo’s with its new name and new mascot.
Having been to their Burnaby location before, I loved how fresh and fun the West Vancouver location now looked in its white and orange theme. It was a whole lot more spacious with great lighting. Set up like a cafeteria with two person tables that could be combined or separated as needed.
As with other DIY hot pot concepts you start by grabbing a golden pot and tongs, then helping yourself to ingredients that are to your liking. A well lit showcase with rows of metal bins, each with either meat, seafood, vegetables, and/or noodles. I loved all their labels. Each ingredient has its own placard with cartoon character made alive with doey eyes and a smile. I would have loved it if they sold them as stickers, they were that cute.
Sadly, we planned our visit during in between meals, and as a result a lot of the bins were picked though with little to no ingredients left. I literally took what remained of the soy bean sprouts and over turned it into my pot.
You pay per weight, so the strategy for some is to load up on the lighter ingredients like the thinly sliced curls of beef or lamb and then plenty of leafy green vegetables. However my preference is for the meat and seafood balls, quail eggs, rice cakes, and lotus root slices. Basically ingredients that had my pot weighing heavier with less food than that of my friend’s.
What sets them apart from other hot pot spots is the option of adding in lobster. However this was a smaller lobster tail, sliced in half for $3.99 per half. It wasn’t all that impressive looking today, so we passed on it.
When you have filled your pot to your heart’s content you bring it to their weigh scale at the cash counter. There, you are asked to pay per weight, where 1lb is equal to $39.99.
Next you choose your broth, dry or wet with flavours like Szechuan Green Pepper, Miso, Tianshui Mala Dry Mix, and Kimchi and Cheese. Apparently the one to get is their Signature Jojo Pot. This is uniquely served in a clay/stone pot, instead of being served in the same gold pots that you scoop ingredients into. This clay/stone pot is known for its excellent heat retention, which allows all the ingredients to simmer together. And the result in a harmonious blend of flavours, and a unique texture that sets their pots apart from others.
Sadly, we did not get to try it. I chalk it up to the language barrier between ourselves and the lone clerk working the front and back of house. I tried to explain what I had heard and was looking for, but I wasn’t able to communicate this in English, and it was hard to get my ask across without mastery of one another’s language. Therefore, my guest went for the Tom Yum Broth and I my go-to of Tomato Dry Mix.
And when you order any of their pots you get a complimentary can of soda too enjoy with it. But you can also help yourself to complimentary, luke warm tea.
I did not taste any tomato from my dry mix. Neither tangy or sweet, more like a diluted mala and a little bland. However, this was easily enough to remedy thanks to the help yourself sauce bar. Spoon and pour as much or as little oils, spreads, and toppings to make you own custom mix. I preferred my friend’s pot with soup. The Tom Yum did have a hot and sour tang to it, but once again a more diluted flavour, stretched out.
As a whole, we enjoyed our time and meal, finding pleasuring in the scooping process as much as we did eating it all. This is a great spot for DIY hot pot in West Vancouver, with nothing else like it near by.
JOJO POT West Van
1373 Marine Dr, West Vancouver, BC V7T 1B6
(236) 323-2233
