Cherie Aria
- 2023年8月10日
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Best Upscale Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Hot Pot Review + Limited Time Offer

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Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Menu & Price

Lao Lao Spicy Hotpot is located near Nanjing Fuxing Station and is a premium hotpot restaurant in Songshan District. However, they also offer an affordable lunch menu on weekdays between 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The lunch deal includes premium meat and a variety of seafood, as well as all-you-can-eat ramen noodles and rice. In addition to hotpot, they also serve a selection of stir-fried dishes and chef's specials. You can check out Lao Lao's menu on their official website at this link.

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Broth

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Traditional Chongqing spicy hotpot uses beef tallow as the base which can feel quite heavy, Lao Lao spicy hotpot reduces the amount of fat in the broth, making it more refreshing and less heavy, allowing the flavors of the ingredients to shine through. Despite reducing the fat, the broth remains spicy and flavorful, with the perfect blend of chili peppers and other spices. We chose the medium spiciness level. I personally love spicy food, so I found it just right, I even felt that it could be a tad spicier. On the other hand, my friends who are not as good with spicy food thought that the food cooked in the broth was delicious, but found the soup a bit too spicy. If you are not accustomed to intense spiciness, I would recommend that you choose the mild version.

The aftertaste of the spicy broth is invigorating, leaving a tingling sensation from the Sichuan peppercorns in my throat, making it an addictive experience. If you're like me and love spicy food, don't miss out on the opportunity to try the medium or maximum spiciness levels! The tofu in the hotpot is incredibly soft and flavorful, the duck blood is tender and doesn't turn rubbery even after being cooked for a long time. It's definitely one of the best hotpot places near Nanjing Fuxing Station.

Lao Lao's is dedicated to its hotpot broth, offering classic flavors with a unique twist, making it a must-try upscale hotpot in Taipei. The peppery pig stomach and chicken broth base is another must-order. As soon as the pot is placed on the stove, it emanates an irresistible aroma, without having to rely on the flavor given by the ingredients. The rich pepper flavor and the fragrance of the chicken broth instantly fill the air. The chicken meat in the hotpot is incredibly tender and well-seasoned, and easily falls off the bone. Even when we were all super full toward the end, we still eagerly fought over the delicious chicken.

Lao Lao spicy hotpot not only excels in its selection of broths but also pays great attention to the crafting of each broth. Using fresh and carefully selected ingredients to ensure the richness and delightfulness of every soup base. With the current promotion of Lao Lao's Crazy Hotpot Festival, it's the perfect spot for a gathering!

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Meat

Lao Lao Mala Hotpot, located near Nanjing Fuxing Station, is one of the best hotpot restaurant in Songshan District of Taipei. Offering a diverse selection of meats, Lao Lao ensures a satisfying hotpot experience. One of their standout dishes is the Sliding Beef, where the beef is meticulously sliced, marinated, coated with egg white, and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. Even after extended cooking, the beef retains its tenderness. It is best enjoyed in the spicy and numbing broth, which enhances the flavors. A lot of hotpot restaurants serve Sliding Beef but they are often sliced into small pieces that disappear or turn into tiny nuggets once cooked. Lao Lao's Sliding Beef comes in nice large slices that are far more enjoyable.

Another must-try meat selection is the Yellow Cow Chest, made from beef from Kinmen. Kinmen beef jerky is renowned for its tenderness because the cows are fed with distilled sorghum grains from the famous Kaoliang Liquor Factory in Kinmen. The large white patches seen on the Yellow Cow Chest is not fat but connective tissue, which is the essence of the meat. When the Yellow Cow Chest is served, the staff will demonstrate how to eat this unique cut. Once the broth boils, it only takes about 5–10 seconds to cook. The white connective tissue offers a bouncy yet slightly crunchy texture, which is eons better than the typical fatty marbling. Just this dish alone makes Lao Lao a the best upscale hotpot in Taipei.

Another unmissable meat selection is the Cherry Duck. This type of duck has less fat and a more tender texture without gaminess. Lao Lao uses tender duck leg meat instead of the more common duck breast, making the meat incredibly soft, almost falling apart before it's cooked. Unlike chicken, duck meat does not need to be fully cooked. I found that dipping it in the hotpot for about 5 seconds, keeping it medium, was the most delicious way to enjoy it. Lao Lao's pork belly slices have even marbling, offering a delightful chewiness. Whether cooked in the Mala broth or the chicken stomach soup, they bring out the rich flavor of the pork.

Lao Lao Mala Hotpot offers an extensive selection of 13 meat choices, including beef, duck, chicken, pork, and lamb. Everyone can find their favorite items at Lao Lao. Combined with the delectable broth, the fresh and flavorful ingredients shine even more brightly.

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Seafood

Lao Lao Mala Hotpot offers a rich and diverse selection of seafood, we had the Deluxe Seafood Platter.

This luxurious platter includes fresh sashimi-grade scallops, cuttlefish, Akkeshi oysters, shrimp, clams, and codfish slices. The scallops are of exceptional quality, perfect for a quick dip in the hotpot without cooking it for too long. They have a tender yet chewy texture with a delightful oceanic flavor. The clams are particularly impressive, larger than what you typically see, and the meat is plump and succulent, bursting with savory broth as you bite into them. The freshness of the shrimp is also praiseworthy, with sweet and juicy flesh that easily peels away from the shell.

The Mazu Mussels are a unique delicacy at Lao Lao Mala Yuanyang Hotpot, usually available from summer until around Mid-Autumn Festival. The mussels are steamed with ginger, preserving their natural freshness, requiring no additional seasoning. They carry a subtle salty taste of seawater. To enjoy them, you separate the two halves of the shell and use the empty half as a spoon to scoop out the meat while holding onto the seaweed. Lao Lao's mussels are incredibly fresh, easily separating from the shell, and each one is large enough to fill the shell completely, brimming with flavorful juice and a rich taste of the sea.

Lao Lao Mala Hotpot offers excellent seafood options, with even better freshness compared to other upscale hotpot restaurants in Taipei. Throughout the meal, there was no trace of any fishiness. They also provide a wider range of choices not commonly found in other hotpot places. If you're a seafood lover, you definitely shouldn't miss out on this culinary gem near Nanjing Fuxing Station.

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Hot Pot Ingredients

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For vegetables, we had crown daisies. Crown daisies are usually only available in winter. However, Lao Lao collaborates with local farmers and utilizes hydroponically grown vegetables, making it available all year round. The vegetable leaves are particularly tender and when cooked in the spicy and numbing hotpot broth, they retain a refreshing taste, complementing their inherent sweetness.

Lao Lao Mala Hotpot also offers a diverse selection of premium hotpot ingredients, including a variety of dumplings and balls. We tried their assorted dumplings platter, which consisted of handmade egg dumplings, Hsinchu swallow dumplings, and Sanji fish dumplings. The Hsinchu swallow dumplings were surprisingly impressive being much plumper compared to the usual small ones. What sets them apart is the incorporation of crunchy water chestnuts in the pork filling, adding a unique texture. The egg dumplings were evidently handmade from their irregular, slightly charred surface, indicating that they were not mass-produced by machines. I am usually picky about egg dumplings because many store-bought ones have a porky stink. However, Lao Lao's egg dumplings had a savory filling with a delightful egg aroma, leaving a memorable taste.

The assorted balls included Sichuan-style meatballs, beef balls, taro balls, shiitake mushroom balls, celery balls, and fish-roe balls. The shiitake mushroom balls were generously filled with large pieces of mushrooms in each bite, providing a meaty and flavorful texture. Taro balls were particularly suitable for cooking in the spicy and numbing broth, offering a powdery texture and a delightful sweetness that perfectly contrasted with the hotpot base.

One of my favorite choices among the balls was the beef balls. The meatballs also contain jelly cubes of broth that melts after being cooked, and bursts in your mouth as you bite into them. I had the pleasure of stumbling upon one with a particularly large piece of soup filling that had not entirely liquefied, creating a soft layered texture, making it exceptionally delicious.

The Sichuan-style meatballs were best suited for the peppery pork belly and chicken soup base, fully showcasing the pork's aroma. The tender texture combined well with the water chestnuts. Unlike typical Sichuan-style meatballs from other hotpot places that tend to fall apart quickly after cooking, Lao Lao's Sichuan-style meatballs retained their integrity even after prolonged cooking.

As an upscale hotpot restaurant in Taipei, Lao Lao Mala Hotpot not only provides the freshest and most delicious soup bases but also offers a premium selection of hotpot ingredients. The dumplings and balls are not just cheap wholesale goods but thoughtfully chosen and even handcrafted. Often, hotpot ingredients are considered as mere fillers to take up stomach space, but Lao Lao's dumplings and balls are worth ordering as they are an essential part of the delightful experience at the best hotpot near Nanjing Fuxing Station.

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Drink Snacks

In addition to the delicious hotpot broths and a variety of premium hotpot ingredients, Lao Lao Mala Yuanyang Hotpot also offers unique Chef's Specials, including a variety of delectable stir-fried dishes that goes great with some alcohol, making it a must-visit place for those seeking more than just hotpot.

One of the best signature dishes is the Spicy Fire Trio. While many hotpot places offer a combination of beef tendon, beef tripe, and intestines, Lao Lao takes a creative twist by adding king oyster mushrooms, creating the Spicy Fire Trio. The ingredients in this dish are well-marinated and paired with spicy chili, resulting in a flavorful and mouth-watering treat that perfectly pairs with both alcoholic beverages and rice. The beef tendon and tripe are cooked to perfection, offering a delightful chewy texture that keeps you craving for more. This dish is undoubtedly a must-order at Lao Lao, leaving a lasting impression.

Another dish worth mentioning is the Mentaiko Cold Bamboo Shoots, a refreshing appetizer that pairs well with chats and drinks. Unlike the usual mayo-based dressing, Lao Lao's creative twist incorporates mentaiko (spicy cod roe), adding a distinctive flavor to the crunchy bamboo shoots. The combination of the crispy texture and the unique taste of mentaiko creates an unexpected delight.

With the abundance of hotpot restaurants in Taipei, Lao Lao Mala Hotpot stands out with its distinctiveness and exceptional Chef's Specials, which have also attracted numerous food enthusiasts. In this upscale hotpot restaurant in Songshan District, guests can savor both hotpot and a wide range of stir-fried and cold dishes, making it a perfect place for gatherings and celebrations. The Chef's special menu also includes premium seafood such as king crabs, snow crabs, and sashimi. If you plan to enjoy a hotpot meal at Nanjing Fuxing, and wish to indulge in private kitchen delicacies, be sure to reserve these dishes in advance!

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Beverages

If you prefer non-alcoholic beverages, Lao Lao offers a variety of teas and drinks. We tried a bottle of Hibiscus Plum Juice, and it was delightful. Unlike other overly sweet drinks, Lao Lao's plum juice is refreshing and mildly sour, perfect for quenching thirst.

Becoming a LINE friend of Lao Lao comes with perks, including a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on beer! My friends and I enjoyed a tower of 1664 beer. It was an interactive experience as we pulled the tap to pour our own beer, adding to the fun. Although I no longer drink alcohol, my college drinking experiences weren't in vain! Just a sip of 1664 beer showed me its smooth and rich wheat flavor, making it a widely accepted choice for both men and women. My friends had a great time enjoying their drinks.

Apart from 1664, Lao Lao offers various other beers and a selection of liquor like whiskey, as well as premium Japanese sake, plum wine, and Chilean red and white wines. Besides savoring the delicious hotpot in this upscale Taipei establishment, you can also indulge in some alcoholic beverages. Personally, I think the Spicy Fire Trio mentioned earlier would pair exceptionally well with beer or whiskey.

Best Hotpot in Taipei—Lao Lao Spicy Mala Hot Pot: Lao Lao Crazy Hotpot Promo

This limited time offer goes on until the end of October.

By filling out the Google form below, you can get a free dish using the confirmation text you receive when you visit Lao Lao in a part of 4 or more. The free dish is different every month, our freebie was the Deluxe Seafood Platter. You also get double the LINE member points when eating here using this promotion!

Lao Lao Crazy Hotpot Promotion:

Time: 2023.05–2023.10.31

Link: https://reurl.cc/01a48k

Usage: Fill out a form and show the text when visiting with a party of 4 or more.

Expiration date: 1st day of the month till 15th of the next month (eg. If you fill out the form in June, it is valid till July 15th)