The first time I ever tried hot pot, I was living abroad in Chongqing, China — the hot pot capital of the world. My friends and I gathered around a large metal pot of boiling broth packed with different oils, spices and peppercorns. The server brought out raw meats and vegetables that we cooked ourselves, and we talked for hours while sipping on Tsingtao and stuffing our faces.
Here in Denver, you can find a few hot pot spots, like Yummy Hot Pot, 2500 W. Alameda Ave., and The Bronze Empire, at 1591 S. Colorado Blvd., but you’d be hard pressed to find any in restaurant-heavy dining districts like Downtown, RiNo, LoHi, Uptown and Berkeley. Most are located along suburban stretches, like Havana Street in Aurora.
Tasty Pot has plans to change that. The national hot pot chain recently announced that it’ll be taking over Dana Rodriguez’s former Cantina Loca space at 2890 Zuni St., in Denver Lower Highland neighborhood, within the next four months.
Franchisee Alex Lung, who already opened one Tasty Pot in Aurora three years ago, has high hopes for the new eatery.
“Having started in the suburbs, we’ve seen a great response, and we’re excited to bring this unique dining experience to a trendier neighborhood like LoHi,” Lung, a Colorado native, said. “Denver has a growing appetite for international cuisine, and the city has embraced various culinary trends from different cultures, with people eager to explore new and authentic dining experiences.”
He makes a fair point. Just this past month, we’ve seen the grand openings of international concepts like Xiquita in Uptown, chef Erasmo Casiano’s love letter to masa and traditional Mexican ingredients; and Kakigori Ken, a kakigori (traditional Japanese shaved ice dessert) pop-up in The Source Hotel by chef Kenta Kamo of Temaki Den.
“I chose this location in LoHi because it’s a vibrant neighborhood with a great atmosphere. The area has a fantastic mix of dining options, and Tasty Pot fits right in,” Lung said. “As far as I know, there aren’t any other hot pot restaurants in the LoHi/downtown Denver area offering the same style that we do.”
The style Lung refers to is Tasty Pot’s individual servings. “Unlike the traditional all-you-can-eat hot pot (presented in one large pot that everyone shares), we serve individual hot pots, each crafted with a choice of 16 different broths and packed with a variety of ingredients, delivering distinct flavors in every bowl. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience in this area.”
Customers start by picking their broth base, which includes flavors like Sacha (a popular umami-rich Taiwanese broth); Sichuan (a bold and spicy Chinese-style broth packed with flavor and peppercorns); Tom Yum (a tangy Thai broth with hints of lemongrass and lime); and Kimchi (crafted from Tasty Pot’s home-fermented kimchi).
Next, they choose a spice level – ranging from none to flaming spicy — and add-ons, which include veggies like enoki mushrooms and lotus root; meat options like beef slices to the more adventurous pork aorta and baby octopus; plus dumplings, eggs, noodles and more. Finally, diners cook it all up in their own personal hot pot.
“Each of our broths is carefully crafted to represent the authentic taste of its origin, offering a diverse and flavorful hot pot experience that you won’t find anywhere else,” Lung said.
Besides its signature hot pots, Tasty Pot offers other items like sizzling skillets (with options like BBQ beef rib and seafood pasta prepared right at your table), ramen, chef’s kitchen specials, dumplings, Cajun fries, boba teas, Vietnamese iced coffee and more.
“We’ll soon be offering a full bar with mixed cocktails exclusive to Tasty Pot Colorado and will offer Soju with all sorts of different flavors,” Lung said. Customers can also enjoy a free house jasmine green tea on weekdays between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Beyond the food, Lung thinks hot pot will be a hit in downtown Denver due to its communal nature.
“Hot pot is not only about the food but also about the interactive and communal experience it offers, which fits well with Denver’s vibrant and social culture,” Lung said.
In the future, Lung has ambitious plans to expand Tasty Pot to new markets, including near Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs.
“Bringing Tasty Pot to Denver is about sharing a piece of this dining tradition and creating a space where people can enjoy delicious food and connect over a shared meal,” Lung said.
