Haidilao is a popular Chinese hot pot (huoguo) restaurant chain known for its exceptional service, high-quality ingredients, and unique dining experience. Founded in 1994 in Jianyang, Sichuan Province, Haidilao has grown into an international sensation with locations across Asia, North America, and Europe.
The heart of the Haidilao experience is the huoguo, or hot pot, which is a traditional Chinese communal dining style. At Haidilao, diners cook their own food in a pot of simmering broth placed at the center of the table. The broth can be customized with various flavors, ranging from mild and herbal to intensely spicy, reflecting the restaurant's Sichuan roots.
Photo Credit: Haidilao
Haidilao Century City offers a vibrant and contemporary atmosphere, reflecting the modern and lively spirit of Los Angeles. The space is designed to facilitate the interactive hot pot experience, with open dining areas and well-organized tables that encourage communal eating. The atmosphere is lively and engaging, enhanced by attentive service and a bustling environment that captures the energetic spirit of Haidilao.
The first thing you need to do is order the soup broths. You can select up to 4 broths per table with varying spiciness from mild to mouth-watering hot. Note though, that you are billed per broth, so if you don't think you can finish all 4 broths, order plain water to fill the pot.
Our soup broths are out, and I'm starving!
As we were waiting for the broth, the super-attentive server brought us aprons, hair ties, and sanitizing wipes for phones. The staff at Haidilao is known for their attentiveness, and this commitment to customer satisfaction was evident in our entire dining experience.
They even give you a toy if you go with the kids!
Photo Credit: Haidilao
As you wait for the broths to boil, you should check out the salad bar and make some dipping sauce! The restaurant provides an extensive condiment bar where diners can create their own dipping sauces, enhancing the flavors of the cooked ingredients. You can, of course, make your own dipping sauces, but Haidilao shares amazing dipping sauce recipes that are proven to pair well.
Photo Credit: Haidilao
This Spicy and Sour Dipping Sauce is my favorite!
Haidilao offers a wide selection of fresh ingredients, including thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, which are dipped into the boiling broth and cooked to the diner's preference.
Fresh mussels!
I love fish balls! They are protein-packed, right? The real, authentic fish balls are made with ground fish paste, so they should be an excellent source of protein. The cheaper kinds usually have higher carb content as they contain more fillers. The ones I had at Haidilao tasted decent to me.
I highly recommend getting veggie trays, including mushrooms.
Haidilao is widely celebrated for its hot pot, but it also offers a selection of other Chinese dishes. I tried their Dan Dan noodles and Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), and they exceeded my expectations.
Haidilao's dan dan noodles are a Sichuan specialty that features a combination of savory, spicy, and slightly tangy flavors. The dish included thin wheat noodles served in a rich, aromatic broth or sauce made from ingredients like chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, minced pork, and spinach and green onion as garnish.
These delicate dumplings are filled with minced pork and a rich, savory broth, making them a popular choice among diners. They were good, but I personally prefer Din Tai Fung.
If you aren't full enough, finish your meal with some starchy noodles.
You can have the leftover broth to-go, and enjoying leftover Haidilao can be just as satisfying if done right! For best results, reheat your leftovers on the stove or in the microwave. If reheating broth-based items like a hot pot, gently heat it on the stove to avoid overcooking the ingredients.To refresh your leftovers, consider adding a few fresh ingredients like vegetables, herbs, or even a splash of broth or water to rejuvenate the flavors and textures. There's another hot and satisfying meal for you!
Haidilao is a popular Chinese hot pot (huoguo) restaurant chain known for its exceptional service, high-quality ingredients, and unique dining experience. Founded in 1994 in Jianyang, Sichuan Province, Haidilao has grown into an international sensation with locations across Asia, North America, and Europe.
The heart of the Haidilao experience is the huoguo, or hot pot, which is a traditional Chinese communal dining style. At Haidilao, diners cook their own food in a pot of simmering broth placed at the center of the table. The broth can be customized with various flavors, ranging from mild and herbal to intensely spicy, reflecting the restaurant's Sichuan roots.
Photo Credit: Haidilao
Haidilao Century City offers a vibrant and contemporary atmosphere, reflecting the modern and lively spirit of Los Angeles. The space is designed to facilitate the interactive hot pot experience, with open dining areas and well-organized tables that encourage communal eating. The atmosphere is lively and engaging, enhanced by attentive service and a bustling environment that captures the energetic spirit of Haidilao.
The first thing you need to do is order the soup broths. You can select up to 4 broths per table with varying spiciness from mild to mouth-watering hot. Note though, that you are billed per broth, so if you don't think you can finish all 4 broths, order plain water to fill the pot.
Our soup broths are out, and I'm starving!
As we were waiting for the broth, the super-attentive server brought us aprons, hair ties, and sanitizing wipes for phones. The staff at Haidilao is known for their attentiveness, and this commitment to customer satisfaction was evident in our entire dining experience.
They even give you a toy if you go with the kids!
Photo Credit: Haidilao
As you wait for the broths to boil, you should check out the salad bar and make some dipping sauce! The restaurant provides an extensive condiment bar where diners can create their own dipping sauces, enhancing the flavors of the cooked ingredients. You can, of course, make your own dipping sauces, but Haidilao shares amazing dipping sauce recipes that are proven to pair well.
Photo Credit: Haidilao
This Spicy and Sour Dipping Sauce is my favorite!
Haidilao offers a wide selection of fresh ingredients, including thinly sliced meats, seafood, vegetables, tofu, and noodles, which are dipped into the boiling broth and cooked to the diner's preference.
Fresh mussels!
I love fish balls! They are protein-packed, right? The real, authentic fish balls are made with ground fish paste, so they should be an excellent source of protein. The cheaper kinds usually have higher carb content as they contain more fillers. The ones I had at Haidilao tasted decent to me.
I highly recommend getting veggie trays, including mushrooms.
Haidilao is widely celebrated for its hot pot, but it also offers a selection of other Chinese dishes. I tried their Dan Dan noodles and Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), and they exceeded my expectations.
Haidilao's dan dan noodles are a Sichuan specialty that features a combination of savory, spicy, and slightly tangy flavors. The dish included thin wheat noodles served in a rich, aromatic broth or sauce made from ingredients like chili oil, Sichuan peppercorns, soy sauce, minced pork, and spinach and green onion as garnish.
These delicate dumplings are filled with minced pork and a rich, savory broth, making them a popular choice among diners. They were good, but I personally prefer Din Tai Fung.
If you aren't full enough, finish your meal with some starchy noodles.
You can have the leftover broth to-go, and enjoying leftover Haidilao can be just as satisfying if done right! For best results, reheat your leftovers on the stove or in the microwave. If reheating broth-based items like a hot pot, gently heat it on the stove to avoid overcooking the ingredients.To refresh your leftovers, consider adding a few fresh ingredients like vegetables, herbs, or even a splash of broth or water to rejuvenate the flavors and textures. There's another hot and satisfying meal for you!