A new self-serve hot pot restaurant is now open in Richmond.
Datang is located at 100-8140 Leslie Rd, in the former Blue Whale House Restaurant space and opened in mid-March.
Much like its popular contemporaries, Datang offers a build-your-own hot pot experience and charges by weight. Customers pick up their bowl and tongs at the front door before walking through the ingredients, displayed on two walls in an L-shape. There are over 100 ingredients, including an array of seafood, thinly-sliced meat, fresh vegetables, and several kinds of noodles, along with things like quail eggs, pork blood, or frog legs.
Over 50 broth options possible with two-tier menu
Where Datang hopes to set itself apart is in its broth customization. The restaurant has five bases: Chicken (Hong Kong Wellness), Pork (Japanese), Beef (Phot); Fish, and Tomato (vegan). However, customers then have the option to further customize by adding a second level of broth flavour, with options like Sichuan Mala, Thai Curry, Pickled Mustard, Korean Kimchi, Malaysian Laksa and more. And, yes, you can opt to just stick with your base broth. Datang boasts there are over 50 possible broth combinations to make.
Additionally, Datang has a few dry mix options available.
Menu add-ons and free ice cream at Datang
As add-ons, the Datang menu includes beef or lamb grilled skewers or a Chinese Burger, which is a patty formed of chopped seasoned meat in a flaky pastry bun. The Chinese Burger has been part of Datang's ongoing soft opening promo, which grants each diner the option to choose it or a tea beverage when their hot pot purchase is $15 and up.
The dining room at Datang is bright, modern, upscale and spacious, which also sets it apart from its biggest competitors in Richmond. A self-seve sauce bar includes usual components like chopped garlic, green onions, sesame oil, sugar, soy sauce, sriracha, chilis, and black vinegar.
When guests are finished their meal, everyone can help themselves to a cone of soft-serve ice cream from the machine next to the sauce bar. The ice cream flavour rotates but could be banana or rose vanilla.
Restaurant has spacious dining room layout
The overall dining experience at Datang is pleasant and the food is high quality. The broth bases skew towards lighter, fresher, and less oily, and the flavour boosts add a nice depth of flavour. The staff is friendly and helpful, and the layout of the tables allows for comfortable space.
Guests may notice that the staff wear uniforms that read "Hi Panda" and that name appears on napkins and wrappers. It seems the concept began as Hi Panda but underwent a name change just ahead of opening. The business does not have a website but has an Instagram account, @datang_official.
Datang's current listed hours as 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, making it another one in the ranks of Richmond hot pot restaurants open for late-night eats.
Video: Trying new Richmond hot pot spot Datang
@forkingawesomevia New hot pot alert! 🍲Datang in Richmond just opened and brings a unique two tier broth system to the self serve scene. I tried fish broth + Sichuan Mala 🔥 and loved how light and balanced it was. Bonus: roomy seating, great sauce bar, free serve yourself ice cream and late hours (open until 2am daily). Note: Went independently, not hosted or sponsored. Total bill was $29 for two people with tax & tip. #richmondbc #hotpot #forkingawesome ♬ The Luxury Lounge - Cassiopeia
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