Chinese Hot Pot

Header Photo Above: Families enjoying hot pot together at Palace Tang in Ann Arbor, near North Campus (November 1, 2025). Photo by Shannon Chang.

A typical order of hot pot, enjoyed with friends. Everyone helps each other reach for sliced lamb, noodles, enoki mushrooms, and other ingredients (November 1, 2025). Photo by Shannon Chang

The Taste of Home

by Shannon Chang

As winter approaches, with snow powdering the sidewalks and harsh winds biting at our skin, there is no more perfect way to beat the cold than over a steaming bowl of hot pot. Originating in China, its name 火锅 (huǒguō) translates to “fire pot” (“What is Hot Pot and Why”). And there really is no better explanation for it; it's quite literally “a communal pot of simmering broth at the center of a table in which diners cook razor-thin slices of beef and pork, clumps of white enoki mushrooms, crisp leaves of Napa cabbage, fresh fish cakes, and other raw ingredients” (Mesier, 53). Even on the coldest nights, it has meant crowding around the table, cheeks still flushed from laughter, letting the warmth chase away the winter chill. Hot pot is the one tradition that brings my family together.

For as long as I can remember, my parents have prepared hot pot for every holiday gathering. This timeless ritual extends far beyond my own experience. It’s history dates back centuries, with legends tracing back to the Mongolian Empire, when soldiers boiled food in their helmets over open fires (“What is Hot Pot and Why”; Koetse). However, others claim that Chongqing fishermen, under pressure to conserve resources, developed this communal style of cooking (Koetse). Despite the complex history, hot pot has endured through the centuries, cementing itself as a symbol of Chinese legacy.

I can’t say specifically when I first had hot pot, only that it was a part of every Thanksgiving celebration. Platters of thinly sliced lamb replaced the turkey, sweet potato noodles instead of mac and cheese, and stacks of cabbage in place of the green bean casserole. Slowly, it’s become our tradition. And with it, an all-day endeavor. My family and I would drive to our favorite Asian market, an hour away, and waste even more time going down every aisle picking out our favorite ingredients. Back at home, we tediously prepared everything; we washed our ingredients and arranged them prettily on our fancy, special-occasion china, acting like we were Michelin chefs. Finally, when relatives arrived, we would sit around the table, somehow squeezing in twelve people, crack open a bottle of Sprite, and enjoy our hard work.

The interior decorations inside Palace Tang. The authentic Chinese restaurant takes inspiration from traditional Chinese art (November 1, 2025). Photo by Shannon Chang.

The self-serve dipping sauce bar at Palace Tang. A sneak peek at my peanut-sesame creation. Spoiler: it changes every time (November 1, 2025). Photo by Shannon Chang.

Chinese hot pot has always carried a sense of nostalgia. Part of that nostalgia comes from the savory, perfectly tender meat, the vegetables and noodles that hold their bite and soak up flavor, and the peanut-sesame sauce leaves a rich, creamy flavor on my tongue. It’s the same flavors every time that remind me so much of holiday reunions. The smell, however, is less enjoyable. The stench of fat, oil, and meat clings to your clothes, unrelenting. It’s the kind that lingers, forcing you to do an extra load of laundry, but it’s the smell of home. And at home, that smell is accompanied by constant noise. The clatter of metal chopsticks fills the air as I fight with siblings to fish out the best ingredients. Like any good little sister. In the background, cousins interrogate one another about relationships, parents brag about their children, and siblings pester each other. It’s a mess, but it’s truly irreplaceable. After our bellies are full and the post-meal sleepiness hits, I am reminded that nothing feels more like family than hot pot. This feeling of contentment is even backed by research, with studies finding that communal eating promotes mental health, providing a perfect pick-me-up for both body and heart (Chen et al.).

More than a reminder of home, hot pot has bridged the disconnect between me and my Chinese heritage. In China, hot pot is a social gathering that brings people closer together. For Asian Americans, it serves as a celebration of diverse culture and an intimate reminder of loved ones (Jiang). And it holds true for me, too. My Mandarin is embarrassing, and I’ve been to China a grand total of once, but food has always carried a part of my heritage, allowing me to experience the same memories of love, just as my parents have.

What started as a family tradition has developed into something that links every aspect of my life. It’s a reminder of home and the new memories I get to make with friends. The very far thirty minutes between my house and campus means I can’t enjoy home-cooked meals every day anymore. But whenever I’m feeling homesick or missing home, I find myself heading to UM’s North campus with friends in tow to dine at Palace Tang. For me, hot pot is a ritual that continues to create connection, even in new places and with new people.

Works Cited

Chang, Shannon. Photo of a hot pot order with friends. 1 Nov. 2025. Author's personal collection.

Chang, Shannon. Photo of families enjoying hot pot together. 1 Nov. 2025. Author's personal collection.

Chang, Shannon. Photo of indoor decorations at Palace Tang. 1 Nov. 2025. Author's personal collection.

Chang, Shannon. Photo of Palace Tang’s self-serve sauce bar. 1 Nov. 2025. Author's personal collection.

Chen, X., et al. “Who Experiences Greater Happiness When Dining Together? A Study of the Relationship Between Dining with Family Members and the Mental Health of Chinese Students.” Child Indicators Research vol. 17, pp. 1995–2010, 17 July 2024. Springer Nature, doi.org/10.1007/s12187-024-10150-5. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

Jiang, Allison. “For Gen Z-ers Celebrating Lunar New Year, Hot Pot Offers a Sense of Home.” The New York Times, nytimes.com/2024/02/05/dining/lunar-new-year-hot-pot.html. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.

Koetse, Manya. “What Actually Is ‘Hot Pot’?” Hotpot Ambassador, 20 Feb. 2022, hotpotambassador.com/hotpotambassador/what-actually-is-hot-pot/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

Meiser, Ellen T. “Hotpot as a Reflection of Societal Changes.” Contexts, vol. 23, no. 3, 29 Aug. 2024, pp. 53–55. Sage Journals, doi.org/10.1177/15365042241271609. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Qin, Hongqiao, et al. “Dietary Habit Helps Improve People’s Adaptability to Hot Climates: A Case Study of Hotpot in Chongqing, China.” International Journal of Biometeorology, vol. 69, no. 6, pp. 1311–24, 19 Mar. 2025, Springer Nature, doi.org/10.1007/s00484-025-02893-9. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

“What Hot Pot Is & Hot Pot’s History.” Chinese Hot Pot, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2025, jiewenw2.web.illinois.edu/about/. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

“What Is Hot Pot and Why Did It Spread Across Asia?” Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News, 20 Mar. 2023, abc.net.au/news/2023-03-20/what-is-hot-pot-and-why-did-it-spread-across-asia/102119272. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

“What Is Hotpot? Exploring Origins, Ingredients, & Varieties.” Chowbus, chowbus.com/blog/what-is-hotpot. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.

Page updated

Report abuse