If you’ve been around Richmond’s food scene for a while, you’ve probably heard of Deer Garden, an OG Hong Kong noodle spot. Well, the same team is now behind an exciting new project — Deer One Hotpot — a DIY self-serve hotpot concept that lets you build your own bowl from scratch.
How Self-Serve Hotpot Works
If you’ve never tried DIY self-serve hotpot before, here’s how it goes:
Grab a bowl and a pair of tongs from the front station, then make your way down the long ingredients bar. You’ll find everything from classic seafood and sliced meats to noodles and fresh greens. Once you’ve got everything you want, place your bowl on the scale at the counter — pricing at Deer One is $4.30 per 100g — choose your broth or dry mix, and you’re set!
After paying, the kitchen cooks your selections to perfection. You’ll get a small numbered sign for your table so the servers can deliver your hotpot once it’s ready. It’s an interactive experience that’s both fun and easy to customize.
🍄 12 Broths and Dry Mixes to Choose From
One of the biggest highlights at Deer One Hotpot is their wide selection of 12 soup bases and dry mixes. Whether you like mild, spicy, or tangy, there’s something for everyone:
- Tomato Soup
- Thai Tom Yum Soup
- Mixed Mushroom Soup (Vegan)
- Signature Soup Base
- Satay Soup
- Malay Laksa Soup
- Peppery Pickled Cabbage
- Pork Bone Soup
- Spicy Tomato Soup
- Tan Tan Soup
- Sichuan Spicy Dry Mix
- Spicy Tomato Dry Mix
On our visit, I went with the Tomato Soup Base — rich, tangy, and perfectly balanced. Definitely one of my go-tos when I want something flavourful.
🥬 Massive Ingredients Bar at Deer One Hotpot
The ingredients bar at Deer One is seriously impressive — it spans an entire wall of the restaurant. There’s plenty of space between the bar and the seating area, so you never feel cramped while walking around and choosing your items.
Some standouts for me were the pea shoots, which you rarely see at pay-by-weight hotpot places since they’re usually expensive. You can also choose between peeled or non-peeled shrimp — obviously I went with peeled, because who wants to do extra work at the table?
Another thing I noticed — some ingredients are wrapped in plastic for sanitation, which is something I’ve never seen before at a hotpot restaurant. Huge props to Deer One for keeping things clean and thoughtful.
🍗 Drinks and Snacks
While waiting for your pot to cook, you can grab something from their drinks and snacks menu. We tried the Lychee Cucumber Green Tea (refreshing and surprisingly good — the cucumber worked way better than I expected) and the Coco Mango Shake, which was creamy and tropical.
Snack-wise, they offer Deep Fried Chicken Wings ($6.50) and Meat Skewers ($7 for 2) — both great appetizers. The wings were crispy and well-seasoned, definitely something I’d order again.
🍨 Don’t Skip Dessert
After your meal, you’ll be treated to a free dessert. It changes from time to time, but on our visit, we had the choice between a vanilla cone and black sesame pudding — both light, sweet, and a perfect way to end the meal.
🌶️ Final Thoughts on Deer One Hotpot
Deer One Hotpot brings something new and fresh to Richmond’s dining scene. It’s spacious, clean, and modern, with that same comforting Deer Garden vibe we all know. The price point is a little higher than some other DIY spots at $4.30 per 100g, but the quality, selection, and overall experience more than make up for it.
If you’re a fan of hotpot or already love Deer Garden, Deer One is definitely worth checking out.
Interested in another DIY hotpot option in Richmond? Check out Drama Hotpot.
Want to see this in live action? Check out our reel review on Instagram!
📍Location: 8119 Park Rd #120, Richmond
Free parking available.