Introducing Readers to Sichuan Skewer Hot Pot

Malubianbian, a Sichuan restaurant with a cult following in China, is introducing a different kind of hot pot to Angelenos: skewer-style hot pot. Opened in November 2019, the restaurant already draws average waits of two hours. 

The biggest trend in SGV last year was Sichuan ma la (numbing spice) hot pot restaurants. Because there are already so many styles of Chinese hot pot in the San Gabriel Valley, from dry pot to Beijing to Cantonese to Taiwanese to Chongqing, the region has become ground zero for Chinese brands looking to open their first U.S. locations. The latest trend is known as chuan chuan huo or skewer-style hot pot.

Chuan chuan hotpot restaurants are very popular with China’s younger generation since they evolved from street food stalls. Malubianbian, pronounced (mah-lou-bee-yan-bee-yan), is the most famous of the recent slate of Chinese chains coming to the U.S. Malubianbian, which translates to “side of the road”, is a skewer hot pot restaurant chain that was started just three years ago. The business now has more than 1,000 restaurants globally that target a younger demographic with focused front-of-house service, hip music, and nostalgic decor.

I’m so excited about MLBB. They are really good. Make sure to read my full post on Eater to learn more!

Click here.