The first time I ever tried hot pot, I was living abroad in Chongqing, China — the hot pot capital of the world. My friends and I gathered around a large metal pot of boiling broth packed with different oils, spices and peppercorns. The server brought out raw meats and vegetables that we cooked ourselves, and we talked for hours while sipping on Tsingtao and stuffing our faces.
Here in Denver, you can find a few hot pot spots, like Yummy Hot Pot, 2500 W. Alameda Ave., , but you’d be hard pressed to find any in restaurant-heavy dining districts like Downtown, RiNo, LoHi, Uptown and Berkeley.
Most are located along suburban stretches, like Havana Street in Aurora. Tasty Pot has plans to change that. The national hot pot chain recently announced that t 2890 Zuni St.
, in Denver Lower Highland neighborhood, within the next four months. Franchisee Alex Lung, who already opened one Tasty Pot in Aurora three years ago, has high hopes for the new eatery. “Having started in the suburbs, we’ve seen a great response, and we’re excited to bring this unique dining experience to a trendier neighborhood like LoHi,” Lung, a Colorado native, said.
“Denver has a growing appetite for international cuisine, and the city has embraced various culinary trends from different cultures, with people eager to explore new and authentic dining experiences.” He makes a fair point. Just this past month, we’ve seen the grand openings of in Uptown, chef Erasmo Casiano’s love letter to masa .