Aliu IsaThere’s nothing homier than gathering around a steaming, boiling pot of goodness while catching up with loved ones. Sharing soup, plus an array of meats and veggies on the same table, is something I look forward to each month.
Sure, there are some good hot pot places in Toronto. But trust me when I say that in Scarborough, there are only a few places that are worth going to for top-notch hot pot.
These amazing spots offer delicious meats, fresh veggies, yummy sides, addictive soup bases, and most of all, quality service.
Let me save you the time and money. Here are the only hot pot places you should visit in Scarborough.
Liuyishou Hotpot
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Website: https://www.liuyishouna.com/scarborough
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liuyishou.toronto
Address: 4188 Finch Ave E Unit 14 & 15
Hours:
- Mon – Thurs, Sun: 11:30 AM – 1 AM
- Fri – Sat: 11:30 AM – 2 AM
Contact: (416) 412-2088
Must-Order: Royal Traditional Spicy Soup
If you like your hot pot on the spicy side, Liuyishou Hotpot truly brings the heat, literally. This place, which has over 600 locations in China, serves an authentic Chongqing hot pot experience—so when they say “spicy,” they mean it.
Every time I go here, I’m all in with their Royal Traditional Spicy Soup (medium spice level, but still packs a punch). But for anyone who doesn’t want that burn, their Tomato Soup Base is a solid runner-up.
As for meats, I always go for the pork neck—tender and flavorful—but you could also go for sliced beef, lamb, beef tripe, and a huge variety of veggies and sides. And their Chinese dessert lineup is definitely something to look forward to.
If you’re celebrating a birthday, you get a free Beef Birthday Cake with your meal!
Pro Tip:
Liuyishou (Scarborough location only) has awesome weekday-only specials. For instance, on Mondays before 9 PM, one person eats for free for every group of four—check their socials for more info!
Haidilao Hot Pot
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Website: https://www.haidilao-inc.com/ca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hdl_scarborough/
Address: 1571 Sandhurst Cir #106F
Hours: Mon – Sun: 11 AM – 5 PM
Contact: (437) 778-6616
Must-Order: Tomato Soup Base
Opened in 1994 in Sichuan, Haidilao now has over 600 restaurants worldwide. In fact, due to their amazing offerings and service, they were dubbed the ‘Ferrari of Chinese Hot Pots’ by the LA Times!
For me, the title is well-deserved—where else can you get free neck massages, manicures, aprons, hair ties, and even board games while you wait? Sometimes, the staff even performs a noodle dance, twirling ribbons of dough through the air.
As for food, my fave here is their Tomato Soup Base, which pairs beautifully with fish, but it’s just as incredible with fatty beef slices, grass-fed lamb, and sirloin beef.
And if you’re a frequent diner, signing up for a Haidilao membership is a no-brainer. Every visit earns you points, which can be redeemed for all kinds of products.
Pro Tip:
Haidilao has this fun little thing going with “secret codes”—just say the right phrase to your server, and you’ll snag a surprise! One example is “I like your golden bricks,” which can score you free golden steamed buns.
Ye Skewers Hot Pot
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Website: https://www.yeskewershotpot.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeskewershotpot
Address: 3260 Midland Ave F111
Hours:
- Mon – Thurs: 12 PM – 10:30 PM
- Fri – Sun: 12 PM – 11 PM
Contact: (647) 340-1818
Must-Order: Pork Bone Soup Base
Ye Skewers isn’t your typical hot pot spot—it offers a Sichuan experience. Instead of tossing in loose slices of meat and veg into the pot, you’ll be dunking bite-sized food in bamboo skewers (which is pretty cool).
There are over 100 items on the menu, from marinated meats and seafood to a wide range of veggies. My go-to here is their Pork Bone Soup Base, which is rich and salty (in a good way).
Since it’s AYCE, feel free to go to town on those meat skewers, but don’t forget to try their handmade pork balls, too. They’re juicy, springy, and very addictive.
Another thing I enjoy here is their service. Servers are very attentive—they check in often, clear empty plates quickly, and they also give you an apron, wet wipes, and a hair tie before your feast.
Pro Tip:
Keep an eye out for Ye Skewers’ socials, especially around holidays. They run limited-time promos—like moms eating free on Mother’s Day (if accompanied by two or more guests), or unlimited Snow Crab Legs on Father’s Day.
Happy Lamb Hot Pot
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Website: https://happylambhotpotca.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happylamb_canada
Address: 2543 Warden Ave.
Hours: Mon – Sun: 11:30 AM – 11 PM
Contact: (416) 916-9866
Must-Order: Signature Original Soup
Happy Lamb is known for serving traditional Mongolian hot pot, and true to its name, it offers lamb in all its glorious forms.
Let’s talk broth first—I love their Signature Original Soup. It’s made by slow-stewing hens and beef bones for over six hours, then seasoned with 36 different ingredients like ginseng, goji berries, and other herbs.
As for their lamb offerings, you get to choose from fresh sliced lamb shoulder, prime-aged lamb, lamb skewers, lamb loin, and even a lamb tower if you’re feeling extra. And if you’re with a group, go for their Signature Lamb Platter.
Don’t like lamb? Go for their prime short ribs or sliced Wagyu beef.
Pro Tip:
If you’re a sucker for a good dessert, don’t miss Happy Lamb’s White Rabbit-flavored ice cream. Yep, they turned that nostalgic candy into a creamy, dreamy dessert.
Pot-licious Stew
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Website: https://www.newlyopened.ca/place/pot-licious-stew-toronto
Yelp: https://www.yelp.ca/biz/potlicious-stew-scarborugh
Address: 4188 Finch Ave E
Hours:
- Mon – Thurs, Sun: 11:30 AM – 12 AM
- Fri – Sat: 11:30 AM – 1 AM
Contact: (416) 299-0322
Must-Order: 5 Spices Lamb Spine Hot
Pot-licious Stew introduces Scarborough to Northwestern-style stew, which focuses on bold, rustic flavors straight from China’s inland regions.
My favorite here is their 5 Spices Lamb Spine Hot. The broth is rich and fragrant, and the lamb spine meat is fall-off-the-bone tender—for me, this is probably the best lamb soup in the city.
That said, lamb isn’t the only highlight here. They also offer beef brisket, pork stomach, and pork knuckle—all equally worth a try.
Just a heads-up—there’s a first-come, first-served policy here. Your best bet is to show up right when they open, or avoid the dinner rush between 5 PM and 7 PM.
Pro Tip:
Don’t sleep on Pot-licious Stew’s range of traditional desserts. You can choose from Sticky Rice Cake with Red Bean Paste, Iced Jelly, Cheese Corn, and even Deep-Fried Fresh Milk.
Daimaru Shabu Shabu
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Website: https://www.daimarushabushabu.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daimarushabushabu
Address: 390 Silver Star Blvd, Unit 117
Hours:
- Mon – Thurs: 12 PM – 11:30 PM
- Friday: 12 PM – 12:30 AM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 12 AM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 11 PM
Contact: (647) 559-7580
Must-Order: Sukiyaki Soup Base
Daimaru Shabu Shabu is an AYCE Japanese-style hot pot, which offers clean flavors and high-quality ingredients.
Their Sukiyaki Soup Base is hands-down my favorite—slightly sweet and deeply savory. And if you’re feeling fancy, splurge on the Wagyu beef—the fattiness melts into the broth, making every dip better and better.
As for sides, go for their Hokkaido potato chips, chicken wings, and steak cutlets.
Lastly, to round out your Japanese hot pot experience, grab a bottle of their fruity sake. They offer exotic flavors like peach, pear, yuzu, and plum.
Pro Tip:
Visit Daimaru Shabu Shabu on a weekday (Monday to Thursday) for cheaper AYCE prices—you won’t regret it, I promise!
Hongkong Seafood Hotpot
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Website: https://www.fantuanorder.com/store/hongkong-seafood-hotpot-sc/ca-2536
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hongkong_seafood_hotpot/
Address: Scarboro Village Mall, 3300 Midland Ave Unit 41
Hours: Mon, Wed – Sun: 11 AM – 11 PM
Contact: (416) 292-8800
Must-Order: White Peppered Chicken Soup Base
Hong Kong Seafood Hotpot delivers a comforting taste of—you guessed it—Hong Kong-style hot pot.
Ask for their House Special, the White Peppered Chicken Soup Base. This broth is pure comfort in a bowl—light, clean, infused with the flavor of white pepper and juicy chicken.
They also offer a wide range of meat cuts, but my personal pick is their Sichuan Pepper Chicken. I love its subtle numbing heat from the peppercorns.
In addition to hot pot, they also offer rice and noodle dishes, as well as traditional HK plates that hit just right.
Pro Tip:
Hong Kong Seafood Hotpot’s DIY sauce station is a crowd fave here. You can mix and match everything, from garlic and scallions to sesame oil, satay, and chili sauces.
