Today I took Lisa and Garth for their very first Haidilao experience. They have been to other hot pot experiences before, however if you are looking to impress, Haidilao is the international chain that does it all.
I made sure that they knew to give secret code phrases for free gifts and that we took advantage of all their food specials and new drink features. What we missed was the mask changing show, which I didn’t realize only happens at 1pm and 7pm, daily.
Also news to me was their birthday celebrations. This weekend was the kick off to my birthday month, and after seeing that they gave out gifts in “happy birthday” themed boxes, I had to inquire about taking part. I don’t know many restaurants still celebrating customer’s birthdays, let alone one that goes this hard for them.
I got the full royal treatment starting with the crowning of my own Haidilao themed birthday crown. A board was placed behind me to announce that it was my birthday, and I got to hold a dual sided paddle to that same effect. A foam cake with a real candle was lit before me, and two staff members sang two songs in my honour. I smiled joyously and clapped along, before making a wish and blowing out the candle. I even got a present. I am not sure if all the birthday gifts are the same, but I got a plastic fan, some individually portioned out snacks, and a small Haidilao stuffed panda mascot. I felt precious and celebrated in the moment and after it, as they weren’t quick to remove the accessories and let us take photos with them.
However the birthday show piece was the giant plastic bowl with a single, giant, thick, and long strand of noodle. This was a longevity noodle and the intention is to eat it without breaking it for a long lasting life. It was delicious, my ideal kind of chew, soaked in a lovely bone broth, alongside a soft boiled egg and a sprig of leafy green vegetable. I wish this was on their regular menu and that I could order a bowl of it whenever I visit.
Instead, we settled on the noodle dance, which is on the regular menu. It doesn’t have the same thick chew, but it is the same style of noodle and it comes with an at the table song and dance number. A trained staff member pulls noodle dough and flings it towards your phone in play. The whole spectacle lasts less than a minute, leaving you wanting more and the actual noodles to cook in your chosen broth.
For the full hot pot experience I went with the four way split pot, to allow my guest to try the most. We went for the Golden Broth Fish Maw Chicken Hot Pot that is yellow in colour and includes chicken and fish pieces that you add into the boiling broth. This was delicious just as a soup, and the staff make an effort to stop at your table to scoop you some into a bowl, so that you do not miss it as such.
The Thai Tom Yum Hot Pot Soup Base tastes just like the traditional sour soup with fragrant lemongrass. Another one I wouldn’t mind drinking as is, as a soup. The broth also comes with shrimp in shell as a bonus.
I thought the Spicy Soup Base With Milk was an interesting option. My guests like a spicy broth and I have never heard of one coming with milk before so was drawn to it. The milk didn’t make the soup creamy, but it did offering a tofu like texture into the mix, once it curdled.
And as a personal favourite I always get the Tomato Soup Base. It is my go-to with its thick, sweet soup.
For hot pot ingredients we took advantage of the Richmond specific promotions and specials. Like their new Sichuan Sweet Sausage. These were like mini Chinese sausage sticks, you can either have them as is, like jerky. Or give them a swim in the hot pot broth for a more softened chew. I liked how compact this was and how they offered small bites, but I was never a fan of this sweet meat, so would skip it next time.
Also new on their menu is the ability to order skewers. This comes on a separate menu page, where everything else is available for ordering on their iPad menu. You had your choice of meat or vegetable, both seasoned identically in a mala spice. They were a nice appetizer and something you gnaw on as you wait for your hot pot to boil or the food to cook. Otherwise I didn’t think they were such an innovation or worth considering when there are so many different hot pot ingredients you can go for instead.
We did like their new Ding Ding Fruit Tea as a great sweet and fruity refresher, to have in between our spicy and saucy bites.
During our afternoon visit there was a lunch time buffet promotion that we could have taken advantage of. At $36 per person it is an all you can eat option that includes unlimited servings of selected meats, unlimited vegetables, your chosen soup base, and access to their iconic sauce bar. A great deal if you are prepared to eat all that you can.
We opted for à la carte meal instead, me wanting a more curated dining experience for my newbie guests. However, had we visited after 9pm we could have taken advantage of the Haidilao Richmond specific Late-Night Specials. This includes a plate of iron steak for $7.95, and a plate of both their signature lamb and marble beef at only $5.95. This is basically their reverse happy hour, meant to encourage late night eating.
I am not a fan of fish filet in hot pot, but had to order the Snakehead Fish Slices for this next promotion. I could have also chosen their Crispy Grass Carp to be eligible, but thought the former was more exotic sounding.
When you order either plate of sliced fish you are given a Fish Card to draw, colour, and/or decorate. Doing so, then posting your finished art work on Instagram and tagging @haidilaorichmond,enters you to win prizes. Three lucky winners will win an entire grilled fish for their next visit. And three grand prize winners will win a 999 pure gold mystery gift.
And in order to end your meal on a sweet note, they offer complimentary creamy Melona bars for dessert, in either a strawberry or melon flavour. I love how you get so much more than you expect from them, and you really walk away feeling like you are getting your monies worth.
In hindsight, I appreciated all the difference promotions, but it felt like too much. They were hosting this many to draw in new guests and returning diners. However, this felt like a lot to consider, and even more to sort through. Even when writing this post I feel overwhelmed by the decisions. Not to mention each location has their own thing and a lot of this was Richmond specific, so you might see different else where.
In the end, we cooked all our food, engaged in jovial conversation, and were able to try a lot of new and different things for dinner. I appreciate Haidilao not just for a delicious meal option, but for the entire experience, as a fun activity to engage in.
Haidilao Hot Pot Richmond
5890 Number 3 Rd Rm 200,Richmond, BC V6X 3P6
(604) 370-6665
haidilao-inc.com
