1. Suspended dragon artwork at Panda Hot Pot Carlton.
    Photograph: Supplied / Panda Hot Pot
  2. Sichuan hot pot.
    Photograph: Supplied / Panda Hot Pot
  3. Performance at Panda Hot Pot.
    Photograph: Supplied / Panda Hot Pot
  4. Suspended dragon at Panda Hot Pot.
    Photograph: Supplied / Panda Hot Pot

Panda Hot Pot

Step into ancient China at this theatrical hot pot extravaganza, where a 1.5-tonne dragon floats overhead and nightly shows transport you to the Wuxia realm
  • Restaurants | Chinese
  • Carlton
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Time Out says

Forget your standard Chinese restaurant — Panda Hot Pot is a full-blown sensory assault (in a good way). The former Dracula's site has been transformed into an epic homage to Sichuan cuisine and martial arts fantasy, complete with an enormous 16-metre, 1.5-tonne dragon suspended from the ceiling and an LED sky backdrop. It's that kind of place.

This is hot pot on steroids. Choose your broth (ranging from 'mild' to 'oh my God'), then go to town on over 80 ingredients to dunk in the bubbling cauldron at your table. We're talking everything from classic sliced beef and plump prawns to more adventurous options like duck intestine. Don't fret if you're a hot pot newbie — the staff are on hand to guide you through the process.

For drinks, there's a solid range, including plum juice, coconut milk, and cocktails with a lychee twist, alongside beers and wines.

Here’s the best part — free nightly performances that include face-changing shows, traditional music and dance, and even family-friendly 'panda' appearances.

Whether you're here for the Sichuan flavours, the entertainment, or simply the Instagram-worthy dragon, Panda Hot Pot delivers on both spectacle and substance.

Panda Hot Pot is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Bookings are recommended, especially on weekends.

Chinese food is one of the most varied, complex and delicious cuisines in the world. Here's where you can taste the best takes around Melbourne.

Details

Address
100 Victoria Street
Carlton
Melbourne
3053
Opening hours:
Daily noon-3pm, 5pm-11pm
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