Introduction


In recent years, hotpot has become increasingly popular globally, and hotpot chains and restaurants have become a staple in many Asian countries. Growing up in China and Southeast Asia, I’ve been able to experience hotpot restaurants and chains in China that are more authentic, as well as more popular chains like Haidilao in Singapore. I’m interested in exploring not only my personal experiences with hotpot but also the cultural significance of this traditional Chinese cuisine and how sharing food at the table has been popularized and adopted worldwide. 

Sharing a meal has always been a way for people to bridge cultures and build community, and that is especially true in Chinese culture. A traditional Chinese meal is served on a round, rotating table, with large portions of each dish. People seated around the table then help themselves and each other to each dish. In Western society, this type of food-sharing culture is often labeled ‘family-style’, and is growing in popularity due to various benefits such as the ability to try a wider variety of dishes per meal, and an overall sense of closeness due to eating the same dishes together. 

Hotpot truly embodies the idea of togetherness and community through food-sharing culture. Hotpot is traditionally served in a large metal heated pot placed in the middle of the dining table. The pot can be separated into multiple sections to allow for different broth flavors to accommodate different preferences, for example, spicy and non-spicy options. Then, different raw ingredients are shared amongst diners to cook in the broth. This type of dining creates a unique experience where all the diners can contribute and participate in making the meal, creating an even more inclusive family-style dining experience. In this way, it’s no wonder that hotpot is becoming a staple of Chinese food globally, and can be studied to see the rise in popularity of regional Chinese cuisines and food-sharing culture.