Did you think Shanghai's hotpot was just all about the spicy, bubbling Sichuan beef tallow broth? The hotpot scene in this city is far more exciting than you can imagine! Hills recommend: Skip the generic chains and dive into these hyper-local gems. From the tender, freshly sliced beef in the light broth of Chaoshan to the juicy lamb simmering in the copper pot of Old Beijing ; from the fragrant coconut chicken of Hainan to the street-style skewered beef from Leshan —Shanghai packs the fiery flavors of much of China into one single hotpot. Pro Tip: Whether you're seeking to challenge your taste buds with intense spice or prefer a more soothing, warming dish , the city’s inner loop streets have got you covered. Keep this hotpot map handy and unlock the bustling, steamy universe of Shanghai!
Chaoshan Beef Hot Pot
A delicate Cantonese-style hot pot featuring ultra-fresh beef cuts (from various primal parts) briefly cooked in clear beef bone broth. Served with savory “shacha” (satay) dipping sauce.
1. 今日牛事（静安寺店）Beef Today (Jing'an Temple Branch)
Freshly cut beef daily with authentic salsa.
Dishes: Hanging dragon, hand-beaten beef meatballs, beef bone clear soup pot
Address:静安区胶州路709号/ No.709, Jiaozhou Road, Jing'an District
Per capita: RMB120-150
2.八合里牛肉火锅（中山公园店）Ba He Li Beef Hotpot (Zhongshan Park Branch)
Shantou Non Legendary Beef Hot Pot, Budget-friendly.
Dishes: Beef Hotpot, Crispy Fried Tofu Skin Rolls
Address：长宁区长宁路1018号龙之梦购物公园8F/ Longemont Shopping Park, 1018 Changning Road, Changning District
Per capita: RMB100-130
Sichuan Butter Hot Pot
Fiery crimson broth made with beef tallow, loaded with chili peppers and Sichuan peppercorns. Known for its “málà” (numbing-spicy) punch, best paired with offal cuts like tripe and duck blood pudding.
1.鸿姐老火锅（静安店） Sister Hong's Old Hot Pot (Jing'an Branch)
Chongqing air transport base material, heavy hemp and spice to carry the leader
Dishes: chicken claw, fresh tripe, mash ice dumplings
Address：静安区愚园东路20号/No.20 Yuyuan East Road, Jing'an District
Per capita: RMB 150-180
2. 珮姐老火锅（魔都直营店）Pei's Old Hot Pot (Company Owned Store)
Nine Palace Classic Pot Base, King of the Queue.
Dishes: Tribute vegetable balls, fish roe and shrimp slip, secret spicy beef
Address: 静安区茂名北路185号/ No.185 North Maoming Road, Jing'an District
Per capita: RMB 140-170
Coconut Chicken Hot Pot
Mild aromatic broth brewed with young coconut water and flesh, poaching free-range chicken for tender meat. Signature dipping sauce blends lime, ginger, and chili.
1.凤园椰珍·广州椰子鸡（长宁来福士店） Fengyuan Ye Zhen · Guangzhou Coconut Chicken (Changning Raffles)
Guangzhou beautiful soup base, sweet and refreshing.
Dishes: passion fruit coconut chicken, crispy coconut chicken
Address: 长宁区长宁路1191号来福士5F/5F Raffles, 1191 Changning Road, Changning District
Per capita: RMB 130-160
Beef hotpot on stilts
Sichuan's herbal-infused beef broth simmered with medicinal spices like star anise, tenderly cooking beef slices and offal. Named after street vendors' casual dining style.
盡膳口福跷脚牛肉火锅（静安久光店）Jin Shan Kou Fu Qiao Jiao Beef Hotpot (Jiu Guang Jing'an Branch)
Non-legacy techniques of medicinal soup base, light and nourishing school.
Dishes: nine seconds beef, pea tips
Address: 静安区南京西路1618号久光百货8F/8F, Jiu Guang Department Store, No. 1618 Nanjing West Road, Jing'an District
Per capita: RMB 140-160
Old Beijing Shabu-Shabu Hot Pot
Traditional mutton hot pot cooked in a charcoal-fired copper vessel. Thinly sliced lamb swished in clear boiling water, dipped in “májiàng” (sesame sauce) with fermented tofu.
1. 南门涮肉（上海四店）Southgate Shabu Shabu (4 locations in Shanghai)
Cloisonné copper pot + secret sesame sauce, Huangpu River view.
Dishes: Freshly cut sheep's upper brain, sesame sauce baked cake
Address: 黄浦区四川中路166号/166 Sichuan Middle Road, Huangpu District
Per capita: RMB 120-150
2. 东来顺（外滩店）Dong Lai Shun (The Bund)
A century-old restaurant with a ritual of shabu-shabu in clear water.
Dishes: hand-cut fresh lamb, sweet garlic
Address: 黄浦区南京东路66号/66 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District
Per capita: RMB120-160
Chongqing Old Hot Pot
Chongqing's intensified cousin: thicker beef tallow base aged with fermented chili bean paste (“dòubànjiàng”). Features volcanic spiciness and bold ingredients like pig brain and quail eggs.
巴奴毛肚火锅（陆家嘴中心店）Banu Tripe Hot Pot (Lujiazui Centre)
Unique base, fresh ingredients and richness of taste.
Dishes: Classic tripe, snowflake beef
Address: 浦东新区浦东南路899号陆家嘴中心L+MALL商场10F/10F, L+MALL Mall, Lujiazui Centre, No.899 Pudong South Road, Pudong New Area
Per capita: RMB 160-200
Pork Belly Chicken Hot Pot
Cantonese comfort food combining pork stomach and chicken in a milky-white peppery broth. Prioritizes sipping the collagen-rich soup before adding other ingredients.
1. 汤有家·骨汤胡椒猪肚鸡（斜土路店）Soup Youjia - Pepper Pork Belly Chicken in Bone Soup (Xietu Road Shop)
Pepper pork belly chicken soup is boiled for 8 hours, a must-try in autumn and winter.
Dishes: signature pork belly chicken, preserved meat pot rice
Address: 黄浦区斜土路197号/197 Xietu Road, Huangpu District
Per capita: RMB 90-120
2. 捞王锅物料理（上海世茂广场店）Lao Wang Pot Cuisine (Shanghai Shimao Plaza)
Pork Belly Chicken + Cheese Shrimp Balls in White Soup
Dishes: Pork Belly Chicken with Pepper, Water Chestnut and Bamboo Cane Water
Address: 黄浦区南京东路829号/829 Nanjing East Road, Huangpu District
Per capita: RMB150-180
The essence of hotpot is finding a flavour that resonates with your ‘pot’ energy. Whether it's the smoky energy of a shared feast or the healing power of a solo meal, hotpot restaurants hidden in Shanghai's lively neighbourhoods all tell the same spicy story in different dialects. At your next gathering, come and try Hills' recommendations of dipping beef in Chaoshan's satay sauce, warming up with Leshan's medicinal broth, or savouring the sweetness of lamb in Beijing's sesame sauce - after all, the world of hotpot is by no means a one-flavour world.