In the heart of winter, few pleasures are more comforting than gathering around a hotpot with friends and family! In Huangpu district, a selection of distinctive hotpot restaurants offers warmth and flavor, bringing a welcome sense of comfort to the season.

Xin Mei Ju

This restaurant first gained popularity back in the 1990s. The chefs who slice mutton are longtime specialists dedicated to their craft. The clear broth follows a classic recipe, featuring scallions, goji berries, small red dates, white cardamom, and dried shrimp for a truly traditional taste.

Many locals consider Xin Mei Ju the go-to spot for fresh, tender mutton. With two branches on the same street, the restaurant is consistently bustling, and tables fill quickly during peak hours.

The mutton here is presented with care, tender and juicy. Each bite offers a satisfying, chewy texture, a result of using only hind leg cuts, ensuring every slice is delicate, flavorful, and perfectly textured.

📍Where: Nos 295-297 East Ninghai Road

Sheung Fong Hotpot

When it comes to upscale hotpot in Shanghai, Sheung Fong Hotpot is always part of the conversation. From king crab and hairy crab to rose lobster, mantis shrimp, tiger prawns, green abalone, and giant whelk, each premium seafood ingredient is meticulously sourced from around the world.

Their broth selection is equally impressive and prepared without compromise. Alongside the much-loved whole chicken and fish maw soup, the Boston lobster hotpot stands out as another crowd favorite. Simmered with fresh grass shrimp, the golden broth comes alive when a whole lobster and clams are gently poached for just one minute, delivering an instant burst of flavor.

📍Where: 2F, No 51 Guangdong Road

Wuliguan Hotpot

A long-standing leader on Chengdu's hotpot popularity charts, Wuliguan Hotpot made its Shanghai debut in 2022, blending Sichuan-Chongqing culinary spirit with the city's local lifestyle.

Its signature braised beef, which undergoes a meticulous 36-hour, nine-step preparation process, is a true favorite among connoisseurs. Marbled with glistening aspic, each thick, aromatic piece is rich in flavor and melts in the mouth.

The tender pig trotters are another standout, using meaty and springy front hocks slow-cooked for hours until the braising liquid permeates every fiber. Briefly simmered in spicy broth, each bite is packed with collagen, offering a soft, sticky, and deeply savory experience.

📍Where: 2F, No 261 South Yunnan Road

Yu Nannan Shanghai Hotpot

This restaurant is designed with Shanghai tastes in mind, offering local-inspired broths such as borscht and salted pork with bamboo shoot soup, along with a classic nine-grid hotpot selection featuring candied lotus root, egg dumplings, tofu skin rolls, and other local delights.

At the same time, it does not overlook Sichuan-Chongqing staples. Fresh frog, rabbit meat, spicy beef, and other classics are all on offer, ensuring a complete hotpot experience that brings every kind of joy to the table.

📍Where: 1F, No 255 Middle Jiangxi Road

Banu Hotpot

Banu Hotpot's wild mushroom soup captures the truest essence of forest mushrooms. On a cold winter day, starting your meal with a bowl of this warm, earthy broth offers pure comfort and healing straight from nature.

The tripe is another star here. By using natural enzymes like papain during processing, Banu ensures the tripe remains tender and flavorful while keeping production eco-friendly and safe.

Its Inner Mongolian lamb, sourced directly from the grasslands, is sliced to order to preserve maximum freshness. Tender and beautifully balanced in richness and texture, each bite carries a subtle, creamy aroma.

📍Where: 6F, Raffles City, No 268 Middle Xizang Road

Sources: WeChat account of Huangpu district administration of culture and tourism at "shhplyj", restaurants mentioned above