Haidilao Hot Pot Richmond — Restaurant in Richmond

You can't swing a cat without hitting a hot pot place in Richmond so to stand out, you have to be very good. This place is quite good, but I've had more memorable hotpot experiences in Richmond. This came highly, highly recommended and I can see why.

It's modern, clean, fast, and high quality and very fresh ingredients. Not sure you can ask for anything more from a hotpot spot. For me, it was only okay because of the reliance on ipads for all the ordering. I know a lot of people like never speaking to serving staff, but I do find it helpful at a new place to get a sense of what I'm ordering. Perhaps if we had ordered from a human being, we wouldn't have ended up with way more food that we could ever possibly finish.

Prices in Vancouver are high, so when I see a hot pot side of beef for $18 I just assume it's good beef, but probably not that much. Wrong! We got SO MUCH for our money here. And normally that is great, and I would be ecstatic except we ordered a lot and felt so wasteful not being able to finish.

Some other hotpot places I've been to charge less for less, because the thing is: you can always order more. You can't order less once you've been served. Like, I can't see 12 prawns and say, "Oh, I only want 6 of those. Please give me half my money back, take back the rest of the shrimp, and serve them to someone else." No, they get thrown out. It's wasteful, both of food and my money.

So, just be prepared, unlike us. The servings are huge for 1 or 2 people, but probably too small for adult men, or groups of 4+.

The other problem about this is that when I have hot pot, I like to have a bit of everything. Not just a plate of beef. So, with sides this large, unless you're with a bigger party or you have an incredible appetite, there just isn't room for a little of everything. It's not possible. And considering most tables we're couples, not families or big friend groups, it's too bad they don't have a "half" option for all their sides.

However for a group of 4 or more, I definitely think this place would be perfect.

The chilli sauce at the self-serve station is not hot at all. Like, at all. Nothing at the station is, which originally I was annoyed about, until I tasted the mala spicy side of the broth we chose and almost died 😅. And we had ordered that less spicy than normal. I can't even imagine what regular heat level is.

The robot thing is cute, but under-utilized or unnecessary, not sure which. When a human comes around with the robot and serves you anyway, I just am not sure I see the point in the robot giving you instructions on what to do. That said, I did appreciate the chance to talk to a human being, and our server was incredibly nice!

One problem was there is NO leg room! I am not exactly tall and I could not fit in the booth. Very uncomfortable.

Overall, it's a very good place, but lacked just something that would have made it really good to me.

But had I known about the survelliance cameras spying on every table and sending data back to China... eh. Maybe we wouldn't have chosen this place at all. They lose a...

There is something clearly wrong about the waiting system. My party of three came in and put down our names at 5 and a worker told us the wait would be around 30 minutes, our table number was A103. 30 minutes we could tell that the table number being served wasnt moving and was still in the A70's. At 7:45 we called in and asked for the table number currently being served and it was A98. However it had been A98 for almost an hour already. The guy on the phone told us that people from previous table numbers (in the A80's) have come back and thats why the table numbers aren't moving. However, he clearly told us when we put our names down that you would only get 10 minutes to come claim your table. Initially he told us at 7:50 that from A98 to A103 would take another hour or so, which was absolutely ridiculous. Then he promised us for 30 minutes. Finally at 7:50, after nearly 3 hours we received a call saying that our table was ready. We suspect that it had to do because we complained about the wait, otherwise we doubt we would have gotten seaten that quickly. Not sure what is going on with this system, but it seems that there is a chance that something unfair is going behind the scenes. Maybe its because we were English speakers, maybe. Funny thing was when we went back to the restaurant at 7:50, the greeters at the front thought we were leaving and asked us how our meal was. Even they knew it was absurd.

While people wait they do serve water and snacks though.

However when we got seated, the workers inside were helpful and attentive. We saw an interesting Bian Lian performance and the noodle dancing was unique.

The food itself overall was good but honestly nothing special especially considering the higher end pricepoint. Only thing that was really different were the variety of broths you could order in one pot ( At an average of 5 dollars each for 1/4 of a pot ). In fact I noticed the meat was pretty fatty and not very lean. The portions were also pretty small. I'd recommend only ordering one dancing noodle to get the experience and ordering the regular noodles if you want to eat it to fill you up.

Also after leaving the restaurant, I noticed that I forgot to bring my shirt. I called back and asked if they found it but they said no. So I drove back to go take a look and sure enough, a worker did indeed find it and put it at the front desk. Miscommunication issues are evident.

To conclude I'd say that once you actually get seated, the experience is good but I will definately not wait another 3 hours to eat here again. Dont trust how long the workers estimate the wait as well, our guy told us it will be 30 minutes time after time.

Don't trust the hype. Stick...

HaiDiLao Hotpot Richmond

📍 5890 #3 Road, Room 200, Richmond, BC V6X 3P6

As one of the world’s most renowned hotpot chains, HaiDiLao has built a reputation for its high-quality ingredients, extensive menu, and interactive dining experience. The Richmond location maintains this standard, offering a diverse selection of broths and premium ingredients in a lively, fast-paced setting.

Food

Soup Bases Mushroom Soup Base – Rich, aromatic, and full of umami depth, this broth provided an excellent base for cooking meats and vegetables. Tomato Soup Base – While pleasant, the tomato broth lacked the depth and complexity of the mushroom base.

Both were enjoyable, but the mushroom broth was the clear standout. 8/10

Hotpot Ingredients Ordered • Fine Marbled Beef • Squid Rolls • Shrimp Balls with Salted Duck Egg (Recommended) • Hong Kong-Style Fish Tofu • Boneless Basa Fish • Sliced Black Pork • Broccoli • Lettuce • Noodles (Recommended) • Tofu Puff • Spicy Double Pepper Beef Belly (Recommended) • Signature Specialty Lamb • Signature Beef Trachea • Shrimp Wonton • Deep-Fried Buns (Recommended) • Rice

The quality of the meats and seafood was excellent, with well-marbled cuts and fresh selections. Among the highlights was the spicy double pepper beef belly, which delivered a bold, fiery kick, making it a must-try for spice enthusiasts. The shrimp balls with salted duck egg offered a rich, savory depth, while the deep-fried buns, served with condensed milk, provided a perfect balance of crispy texture and sweetness.

Ambiance

The restaurant is spacious, modern, and well-maintained, but its immense popularity makes it one of the busiest hotpot spots in Richmond. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, though the high volume of diners means it can feel a bit crowded during peak hours. 7/10

Service

Service was efficient but not particularly outstanding, especially compared to HaiDiLao’s reputation for top-tier hospitality. While orders arrived promptly, small details—such as refilling the water pitcher—took longer than expected. A more attentive approach would enhance the experience. 7/10

Price

Pricing is reasonable given the quality and portion sizes, making it a solid option for those seeking a premium hotpot experience at an accessible price point.

Verdict

HaiDiLao Hotpot Richmond delivers a consistently high-quality hotpot experience with an impressive selection of ingredients and broths. While the service lacked the extra polish expected from the brand, the mushroom soup base, spicy double pepper beef belly, and deep-fried buns were standouts. A return visit is warranted to explore more...