Pao Men Hotpot (Canary Wharf) — Restaurant in London

The soup base tast like plain hot water 🤮🤮 — just salty, with zero flavor or aroma. The tomato base and spicy broth were both incredibly bland. Portion sizes were at most half of what you’d expect from a normal hot pot place, yet prices were even higher.

The food was clearly not fresh: • The beef was turning dark • The meatballs were a weird pink color • Celtuce was soggy • Enoki mushrooms had a strong muddy smell after cooking • The “spicy beef” wasn’t spicy at all — just salty

Secondly, why does a hot pot restaurant charge extra for every individual dipping sauce item? Even basic things like oyster sauce and chopped scallions cost £1.5 each. That’s just ridiculous.

And finally, the most outrageous part: After realizing we weren’t happy with the food, the staff brought us two bowls of white fungus dessert. My friend politely said “thank you,” and the server turned around and mocked her to another staff member, saying “You know what she just said to me? Thank you. So fake.” — with a super exaggerated expression.🤢🤢🤮🤮

Bad food, bad service, absurd pricing. Hard pass. Avoid...

We visited as a group of 13 adults and booked the private room for the hot pot buffet at £36.99 per person.

This should not be called a “buffet” if customers are prevented from ordering more food. After finishing our meat, we requested three more plates but were met with a waitress who abruptly told us about a £10 per 100g wastage fee and refused to take our order until every item on the table was cleared (there was not a lot remaining). While a wastage fee is understandable (and common in buffets), withholding additional orders and policing the table in this way is unacceptable and goes against the idea of a buffet.

Service was also poor—water and plum juice were not refilled, the hot pot soup was only topped up when specifically asked, and the private room had no air conditioning, making it very uncomfortable for a large group.

If you’re expecting good service, comfort, and a genuine buffet experience, this is not the place. I recommend Hai Di Lao which is in the o2 and also offer a buffet at a similar price.

Good luck to this restaurant but it’s...

Pao Men Hotpot is a must-visit for authentic Chengdu hotpot lovers!

The signature spicy broth is absolutely amazing—rich, flavorful, and perfectly captures the essence of Chengdu cuisine. If you’re visiting, don’t miss their pork trotters and beef tripe—both are incredibly delicious, tender, and soaked with the broth’s flavors. Every bite is pure bliss!

To top it off, the ice jelly dessert is a must-try. It’s refreshing and sweet, a perfect way to cool down after the spice, and it ties the whole meal together beautifully.

The service is attentive, and the atmosphere is lively yet clean, making it a fantastic spot for anyone craving authentic Chengdu hotpot. Highly recommend to all hotpot...