Hotpot’s been around for donkey years, but it’s enjoyed a renaissance in recent years for some odd reason. With hundreds of hotpot joints blossoming up all over the country, and with stalwarts like Hai Di Lao & Beauty In A Pot, it really is becoming an oversaturated market.

However, Shi Li Fang’s claim to fame is that it’s the cheapest(?) hotpot place around. And I might actually be inclined to agree here, as the spread that’s pictured here plus more on the side set my buddy and I back about fifty bucks. Not bad considering that we’re two big eaters and we got some of those tasty, tasty premium meats.

The mala hotpot is as you’d expect; hot, peppery and guaranteed to make you sweat. The collagen chicken broth, on the other hand, was simply stellar. Wobbly collagen chunks are slowly melted down with wolfberries to form a deliriously delicious and wonderfully wholesome broth that’s thicker than Christina Hendricks. It’s so good that I didn’t really want to cook anything in it, instead longing to just pour it all down into my stomach.

Their meats and other offerings are decent, but nothing particularly outstanding. Their premium pork slices were quality stuff, and the beef was a beauty to behold. Seafood was super fresh and there’s really nothing to complain about. It’s certainly good eating at a good price, so round up the gang to bang this hottie of a pottie.