Drama Hotpot is Richmond’s newest DIY self-serve hotpot restaurant, and it’s already drawing attention for its fun concept and huge ingredient selection. Located at 1623-4791 McClelland Rd, this spot lets you completely customize your hotpot experience — from choosing your own broth and ingredients to picking your spice level and even pairing your meal with deep-fried sides.
We were invited to try it out during their grand opening, and it was such a unique and enjoyable experience that we had to share all the details.
13 Broth, Dry Mix, and Dry Pot Flavours
Drama Hotpot offers 13 different base flavours, including both soups and dry mixes, all priced by weight at $3.99 per 100g.
We went with their HK Collagen Creamy Broth, which is slow-simmered for over 6 hours using high-quality ingredients to develop a silky, rich texture and savoury flavour. The broth was incredibly creamy — it coated every bite perfectly and made the ingredients shine.
As recommended by our server, we also tried one of their dry mix flavours — the Tomato Spicy Szechuan Dry Mix. We went with mild since we don’t like things too spicy, but honestly, it wasn’t spicy at all and could easily be enjoyed by kids or people with low spice tolerance. This was my first time trying a dry mix at a hotpot restaurant, and it felt like a creative twist on the traditional hotpot experience — kind of like an Italian-style tomato spaghetti with a savoury kick. I loved it.
Drama Hotpot’s Massive Ingredient Bar
Their ingredient bar is easily one of the most impressive parts of Drama Hotpot. There’s an entire wall of fresh ingredients for you to choose from — seafood, meat, noodles, vegetables, and more, comparable to the variety available over at Deer One Hotpot.
A few standouts for us were:
- Crayfish – surprisingly easy to crack into once cooked
- Abalone – tender and flavourful
- Duck breast – rich and juicy when simmered
- Aesthetic noodle choices – like green spinach noodles and purple yam noodles
You pay by weight, so it’s super flexible depending on how hungry you are or how adventurous you’re feeling.
Deep-Fried Section
One thing that makes Drama Hotpot stand out is their deep-fried section, also priced at $3.99 per 100g. You’ll want to grab a separate bowl for this section before picking your items.
We were recommended to try their Tornado Potato and Deep-Fried Scallops, which were both excellent. The scallops were crisp on the outside and juicy inside, and the tornado potato had that satisfying crunch that pairs perfectly with a hotpot meal. They also had deep-fried chicken and spicy sausages that was really flavourful.
It’s a fun addition that most hotpot spots don’t have, and it makes the dining experience even more interactive.
Don’t Miss the Snack Bar
While you’re waiting for your food to cook, check out the free snack bar. You can munch on some spicy cucumbers or kimchi, which are perfect little bites to enjoy while your pot simmers.
The snack bar also doubles as a sauce bar, so be sure to create your own customized dipping sauce while you’re here.
Drinks & Dessert
Drama Hotpot is also running a Grand Opening promo where you get a free drink with any meal purchase, and there were three drink flavours available when we visited.
That said, we opted to try their Queen of Mango Smoothie instead — one of their top 5 recommended drinks — and it did not disappoint. It had the perfect amount of sweetness, and the jelly added a nice bounce to every sip. At $5.99, it’s a must-try for mango lovers.
We also got the Brown Sugar Boba Fresh Milk, which was creamy and rich, though the mango smoothie definitely stole the show.
And to top it all off? Free vanilla ice cream after your meal — the perfect cool-down after a spicy hotpot session.
Grand Opening Promos at Drama Hotpot
If you’re planning to visit soon, make sure to take advantage of their Grand Opening offers:
1️⃣ Sign up for a free membership (just an email) and unlock:
- 10% off your first visit (drinks excluded)
- A free coconut latte (no dine-in required)
- A $15 voucher for your next visit
2️⃣ Free drink with any meal purchase (limited-time offer).
3️⃣ Free vanilla ice cream after your meal.
4️⃣ BOGO drink promo – Buy one, get one free on Honey Lemon Specials (excluding Signature Lemonade), Classic Teas, and Sparkling Refreshers. Both drinks must be the same.
5️⃣ Students get 10% off their entire table with valid student ID.
Final Thoughts on Drama Hotpot
Drama Hotpot brings something new and exciting to Richmond’s food scene. The DIY hotpot format, the huge selection of broths and ingredients, and their creative deep-fried section make this a must-try for hotpot lovers.
The staff were friendly, the ingredients fresh, and the variety impressive. Whether you’re going for the fun self-serve concept, the tomato-based dry mix, or just the Queen of Mango Smoothie, you’ll definitely leave full and satisfied.
📍 Drama Hotpot
1623-4791 McClelland Rd, Richmond, BC
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Interested in another DIY hotpot spot in Richmond? Check out Deer One Hotpot.