Xiangbala Hot Pot
- Food served: Mon–Sun 3pm–10pm
- Bar open: Mon–Sun 3pm–11pm
- Number of wines sold by the glass: 2
- Also offers: Vegetarian options (at least ¼ main courses), Children's high chairs
- Music on stereo: Chinese pop/love songs
- Capacity: 35
- Largest group: 35
Tell us more about this place.
- Average price:
£15 (lunch)
£15 (evening meal) - House wine: £11.90 per bottle
The 2012 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).
This review is taken from the 2011 edition.
Edinburgh’s most authentic Chinese restaurant is not for the faint-hearted. Vainly will you search for Peking duck or lemon chicken on this menu: rather, prepare for interactive eating. Park yourself before your very own steaming cauldron of broth and order a giant platter of raw ingredients ranging from pak choi to razor clams, via squid, soy beef and chilli chicken claw (order as much as you like for £15 each in a two-hour sitting). You then simmer your own dinner – beware if you’re not sure how long a prawn takes to cook… The startlingly bright pink and green walls contrast sweetly with the intensely polite and informative service, which is very quick but can be ever so slightly forgetful of the details. The wine list stretches to one choice of modestly priced white or red, and Chinese love songs play at a friendly level. Though a newcomer to the dining scene, Edinburgh’s Chinese community have already laid claim to this place, so be prepared to fight for a table.
- High point: Fun and unapologetically different dining experience.
- Low point: The loos could/should be cleaner.
Reviews of Xiangbala Hot Pot (63 Dalry Road, Edinburgh)
- 2. grubbychops, Edinburgh – 27 August 2010, 5:19pmXiangbala Hot PotReport
-
This is a great place to go for a fun night out with a group of friends, especially if you fancy something a bit different. You begin by choosing two stocks from a selection of 4 or 5 and a variety of foods from a large selection - whole prawns, razor clams, mussels, slivers of meat, tofu, noodles and veg. You can choose as many as you like and are brought a large platter-ful along with a steaming hotpot which is kept warm at your table on a hotplate.
Everyone is given a small noodle-bowl to which they can add accompaniments such as fresh ginger, coriander, garlic, soy sauce etc. Then the fun starts as you dip various items into the pot and watch them quickly cook before eating them and starting the whole process again. If you finish your platter and still have room for more, the friendly staff are on-hand for you to order seconds.
The staff are extremely friendly and explain the whole process, advsing on cooking times etc and never making the uninitiated feel stupid or unwelcome.
While I would say that the meat probably isn't the greatest quality, the veg are super-fresh and the sheer volume of food you are given combined with the novelty-value of interactive cooking make this a great value eating experience to be highly-recommended.
- 1. Steelie, Polwarth – 20 August 2010, 2:14pm
Xiangbala Hot PotReport -
This place is a definite 'Must try', staff are so friendly and will guide you through what to do. The food is fantastic and can be cooked to your choosing. you forget what's in your pot so it's a bti of a lucky dip as to what you'll find at the bottom of yoru pot.
To post a review you'll first need to sign in: Forgotten your password?
Not registered? Sign up – it only takes a minute.
RSS feed of these reviews
