The Best Hotpot in Malaga, Spain: Where to Find It

The hotpot or steamboat is one of the best comfort foods that you can share with your family or friends, especially after a long and stressful day. This dish of Asian origin not only has a wonderful depth of flavor but is also very nutritious. Find out more about this dish, where it came from, and what its main ingredients are by reading this guide. We also give you a list of the places where you can get the best hotpot in Malaga, Spain.

1. What is Hotpot?

Hotpot or steamboat is a traditional Chinese dish that consists of a flavorful broth or soup stock served in a large metal pot and kept simmering on the dining table. It is usually served with a variety of thinly sliced meat and vegetables that diners gradually add in as the soup simmers throughout the meal time. They can also dip the cooked ingredients into dipping sauces as they eat. This is a main course that is usually shared with family or friends.

1.1 Origin of the Hotpot

The royal Zhou dynasty of China (1046 BC to 256 BC) used three-legged bronze cauldrons called ding for cooking, storage, and ritual offerings to their gods or ancestors. This is believed to be the earliest prototype of the hotpot. Copper hotpots appeared during the Three Kingdoms period (200 to 280 AD), and they became popular among emperors during the Qing dynasty (1644 to 1912). It was a fixture during daily meals, banquets, and winter months. Then, it made its way to the global scene when Chinese immigrants moved to the United States in the 1990s.

1.2 Hotpot Ingredients

The common ingredients of a hotpot vary according to preferences and available ingredients. Typically they would include meat, mushrooms, beans, tofu, seafood, leafy vegetables, and egg dumplings. The raw meat is pre-sliced thinly so that it will cook quickly when added to the simmering broth, which is often made of water, salt, and spices. Condiments, on the other hand, could be soy sauce, vinegar, housing sauce, minced garlic, sesame oil, chili oil, fermented bean curd, scallions, or a combination of any of these.

1.3 Variations of Hotpot

In China, the southern styles of steamboat tend to be spicy and have more seafood, vegetables, and mushrooms. Some use a dipping sauce made of sesame oil, crushed garlic, and chopped spring onions. The Sichuan version features stir-fried ingredients, and the Cantonese variation mixes a raw egg with the condiments to temper the heat of the soup. Hainan hot pots are served in small woks, and the Jiangsu and Zhejiang versions add chrysanthemum flowers to create a floral essence.

The northern Chinese styles, on the other hand, are simpler and typically use meat such as mutton. The Manchu hot pot uses suan cai (Chinese sauerkraut) to create a sour flavor, and the Hubei version uses hot spices and Sichuan pepper.

In Taiwan, locals eat steamboat dishes during the Lunar New Year’s Eve. It commonly comes with a dipping sauce made of Chinese barbecue sauce and raw egg yok with stir-fried beef. Because of its proximity to the sea, the main ingredients usually include seafood and beef. Japan also has its own variations, which include the nabemono, sukiyaki, yosenabe, oden, chankonabe, and shabu-shabu. Korean versions are called Jeongol and Budae-jjigae, both of which are spicy dishes that contain noodles, kimchi, sausages, Spam, and vegetables.

Southeast Asian countries also have their versions of the steamboat. Cambodian cuisine has yao hon, or chhnang pleurng, which uses coconut milk as the base of the soup. In Laos, the sin joom uses brown clay pots containing meat broth. In the Philippines, Chinese specialty and all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants serve it with cooked rice on the side and topped with hard-boiled eggs. Thailand’s Thai suki, or mu kratha, uses clay pots and a charcoal stove. The Vietnamese version is called lẩu or cù lao, which often uses seafood as the soup base.

2. Best Hotpot in Malaga Restaurants

Do you want a taste of this steaming hot comfort food to share with your family and friends? Allow us to point you to the places where you can eat the best hotpot in Malaga, Spain.

2.1 Restaurante Coreano Chingu: Best Spicy Hotpot

Restaurante Coreano Chingu serves the best hotpot in Malaga for those who prefer their soup spicy and savory. This Korean restaurant in Malaga’s city center exudes a modern yet cozy vibe with its warm lighting and minimalist interior. Bring a friend with you and order the budae jjigae, which is good for at least two people. Their hot pot set includes noodles, crab sticks, shrimp, mushrooms, tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), and sausages, all topped with cheese.

If you want an upgraded version of their hot pot with two cups of rice, order their budae jjigae caldo especial con variedades. You can also order additional banchan (side dishes) to complement your meal, such as kimchi, spicy cucumber, and wakame (seaweed). Other showstoppers on their menu are bulgogi (Korean beef barbecue), kimchi soup, jajangmyeon (noodles in black bean sauce), bibimpap and (rice mixed with vegetables).

Aside from serving hearty dishes, this Korean eatery also offers several beverage options. These include wine, whiskey, and gin. Non-alcohol drinkers can order coffee, while the health-conscious ones could opt for either their barley or ginseng drink.

2.2 Restaurante Japonés Kyoto: Best Sukiyaki Hotpot in Malaga

One of the special dishes of Restaurante Japonés Kyoto is sukiyaki, which consists of thinly sliced beef simmered in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and mirin for that hint of sweetness. For an authentic Japanese hotpot experience, dip the cooked ingredients in raw, beaten eggs before you eat them. Don’t forget to try some of their appetizers, such as shrimp skewers and mini maki. They also offer salmon, tuna, or eel poke bowls.

Another highlight on the menu of this Japanese restaurant is the Sushi on Boat, which is an aesthetic arrangement of sushi, maki, and nigiri on a wooden food boat. If you’re big on rice, try their fried tofu, stir-fried pork, katsu don (pork schnitzel), or unagi gohan (rice with eel). Plus, you can watch as the chef cooks up teppanyaki, a dish with meat or fish and vegetables fried on a griddle built into a table.

For those who just want to hang out and chill after a satisfying hotpot in Malaga, this establishment has a wide range of beverages that include beer, soda, wine, and champagne. You can also get a wee sip of Japanese drinks like Kirin beer, sushi wine, souchu (barley brandy), sake (rice wine), or umeshu (sweet plum liquor).

2.3 Macha Mochi Hot Pot: Most Diverse Hotpot Options

Not sure if you want a Korean, Thai, or Japanese hotpot in Malaga? Grab a table at Macha Mochi Hot Pot and decide which variety you want once you get there. They offer Coreano, Tom Yum, and Sukiyaki hotpot options, each serving is good for two to three people. Plus, you can order additional ingredients like langostino (spiny lobster, tofu, shrimp, noodles, corn, seaweed, and yoppoki (Korean sticky rice cake) for as low as €2.50 per serving.

This place is about a half-hour drive from Malaga city center, but the little trip to this restaurant is worth it, and diners rave about the quality of their food. Aside from being one of the excellent places for hotpot Malaga has to offer, it is also a good choice for vegetarian diners. Other highlights on their menu include ramen, whole fried chicken, Korean spicy chicken with cheese, sour-spicy meatballs, kimchi tofu egg soup, Thai rice with pineapple prawn, and prawn gyoza.

2.4 Kosei Ramen Hot Pot: Malaga’s Best Shabu-shabu

Kosei Ramen is a cozy little restaurant that offers authentic Japanese hotpot in Malaga. If you prefer a hotpot with a fatty yet lighter meat flavor, go for shabu-shabu here. Just remember to pre-order your hotpot since it is not listed on their regular menu. True to its name, it also offers ramen of different varieties, which include Kuro Tantan, Sapporo Ramen, and Curry Ramen. 

Try their delicious appetizers, such as edamame (grilled soybeans), gyoza (Japanese dumplings), chicken tempura, fried tiger prawns, takoyaki, and baked eggplant with sweet miso. Other main dish options here include gyoza soup, mazesoba (ramen noodles with mixed salad, poached egg, and vegetables), and tsukemen (noodles with chashu meat and vegetables). 

Wrap up your dinner with a taste of Japanese desserts, like white chocolate soup, matcha green tea creme brulee, matcha green tea ice cream, or mochi stuffed with mousse. This place also offers a modest selection of beverages, such as sparkling water, cola, draft beer, wine, and tea. You can also try any of their Japanese beer, sake (rice wine), and cocktails.

2.5 Campo de Arroz: Most Affordable Hotpot in Malaga

Campo de Arroz is the place to be if you want to taste a good Chinese hot pot without breaking the bank. It’s got the lowest price for this dish among all the contenders in this guide. Order the Fon Du Chino (Chinese fondue) and share it with one or two other companions. Enjoy the complex flavor of the broth brought about by the combination of ingredients simmering together in the pot. You can also pair your order with one of their special dishes, such as Peking duck, Cantonese style lamb chop, duck with orange, cinnamon duck, or crispy pork ribs.

This quaint Chinese restaurant also offers a couple of set meals for children who are picky eaters. They could choose between the rice meal with chicken nuggets or the one with a fried egg. Other menu items worth trying here are fried wontons, Chinese tapas, Three Delights Noodles, beef with mushrooms and bamboo, and spicy squids in salsa picante. You can wash your meal down with beer, lemonade, or coffee.

3. Hotpot in Malaga: Homecooked Edition

Do you want to try having a hotpot meal at home? It could be quite daunting, but it’s fairly easy once you have all the things you need laid out. First, you’ll need an electric or camp-style burner, a stainless steel pot, bamboo or wooden chopsticks, and small sauce bowls. Then, gather your preferred ingredients. These would include the soup base, thinly sliced meat, assorted vegetables to pair with your meat, and your dipping sauces. You can go to the nearest Asian store and buy a pre-packaged set with noodles, tofu, assorted raw veggies, and protein.

Start by turning your heat source on and boiling your stock or soup base in the pot. Arrange the raw ingredients on a dish beside the pot and mix your desired dipping sauces while waiting for the soup to boil. Once it boils, start adding the ingredients and wait for them to be thoroughly cooked. Just a word to the wise: let the pot boil for at least one minute after you add raw meat or seafood to the pot. Then, it’s time to dig in and enjoy this comforting meal.

Love dim sum, noodles, and sushi? Check out our guide to the Best Asian Restaurants in Malaga to see your top five options. If seafood dishes are your favorite, get to know the Top Seafood Restaurants in Malaga. 

Visit Malaga’s official Tourism website for more information on the city’s top tourist destinations. You can also browse Malaga’s Metro Lines for easier planning of your vacation routes.