Perfect Winter Food: Clay Pot Hot Pot

One of my favourite hot pot restaurants a while back was 沙煲 or Claypot Hot Pot.  I know, before that it wasn't the cleanest place on earth (cleaner than HKYK though), but the beef was good and you actually got what you ordered.  I was a bit distraught when they were sold off to another owner, since it wasn't up to standards then.

After that I didn't return until recently.  It had undergone a renovation and looked much better than before with its apple green walls.  The tables are new and fancy now and made out of granite.  The same stoves are still used though, which I prefer over those flat electric stoves.  There is something about the huge flame underneath the pot that makes the experience more enjoyable.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

The menus are pretty similar to the old clay pot, and they offer all you can drink pop and plum juice for $1! Not many AYCE hot pot restaurants offer plum juice since it's sort of an aperitif

We ordered the preserved egg and parsley soup base ($7), though I would've preferred the vegetable and tofu (also $7) because I'm boring and not a huge fan of parsley.  The parsley wasn't that bad though since I had my favourite garlic with my soy sauce.  I don't care if I stink after, it's too good.  They do charge extra here ($0.75), but it's a small and worthwhile investment because I eat a lot more with it (since everything is so much more delicious).

#21 sliced boneless short ribs 頂級雪花肥牛

#31 sliced lamb shoulder 肥羊片

There are a few different types of beef, just like before.  The best is still the slice boneless short ribs (頂級雪花肥牛).  This beef is definitely better than the type I had at Posh recently and not tough to chew at all.  It wasn't overly fatty either.

The oysters were quite big and delicious.  They were firm and not mushy at all.  (Actually, I went back again before this post went up, and the oysters were much smaller this time but still firm.  Oysters vary too much.)

My favourite items besides for the beef slices were the taro, pumpkin, rice cake, beef balls, and cuttle fish balls (finally! somewhere as good as Deer Garden! I was disappointed with the pig skin, which wasn't very soft, and chive dumplings, which were mostly dumpling skin.

They also have deep fried fish skin which I feel isn't as good as the old Claypot, but still good. 

Another surprise was that they had desserts, and it wasn't red bean soup! There were two choices, either kwai fa go (桂花糕/osmanthus jello) or red bean jello (I think).  We ordered the kwai fa jello both times.  It's a pretty small chunk presented on a saucer, not that presentable, but I liked it.  You have to give credit to them for offering complimentary desserts when you've already eaten AYCE.  And it wasn't watered down jello either; it was the real stuff!

Rating: ★★★★
This place is still one of my favourites for hot pot (aside from at home, which is even better).  This place used to have a bad rep for being somewhat dirty (still better than HKYK though), but after renovations, that has improved.  The beef has improved even more and is good and consistent.  Oysters -- not so much, but like I said they vary too much.  The other ingredients were pretty good too, and their cuttlefish balls are good.  The price is also pretty standard in comparison to the other hot pot places around Richmond.


Claypot Hotpot and B.B.Q. 農場火鍋
105-8291 Alexandra Rd
Richmond, BC
(604) 284-5181