錢都日式涮涮鍋CHIEN TU HOT POT 宜蘭礁溪店

The impression is that it’s a shop that hasn’t been open for long. I’ve passed by a few times before and it was always crowded, so I finally had the chance to try it out. I arrived around 5:30 PM and there were still available seats, but by around 6 PM it was fully booked.

After being seated, I scanned the QR code to order. You can choose the broth first and then select the main ingredients. I personally think there are a good number of broth and meat options available, as well as seafood to choose from. The ratio of main ingredients to vegetables can be adjusted according to your preference; as a meat lover, I found it quite good. You can also choose between large or small vegetable plates, and there are quite a few items to select from. Dining time is limited to 90 minutes, and if you exceed an hour, a cleaning fee of $100 per person will be charged. There's also a charge for children who do not order a hot pot.

This time I ordered a cheese milk pot paired with beef. When it first arrived, the milk pot looked light and the cheese slices were placed to the side. The staff informed me to add the cheese once it was boiling. Initially, I thought it looked just okay, but it tasted richer than it looked. The beef wasn’t too fatty, and I also ordered spicy braised pork rice, which I thought was quite good; it was indeed spicy and quite fragrant, but the meat was on the fattier side. Overall, I found the portion sizes a bit much for me.

My friend, who was watching their diet, ordered a fragrant vegetarian hot pot. The broth was really quite light, and the vegetable platter had greens as well as mushrooms, but there were fewer ingredients than expected. Personally, I didn’t like the soup, but my friend thought it was nice and light.

Aside from the set menu, there’s also a self-service bar where you can add your own broth, mix sauces, and enjoy desserts like soft serve ice cream (three flavors) and seasonal sweet desserts like grass jelly. They also offer a wide variety of drinks, including basic carbonated drinks, coffee, red tea, milk tea, green tea, and other specialty drinks. I think their beverage selection is really extensive.

Overall, the dining environment is bright and clean, and the space doesn’t feel too crowded. Even though it was summer, the air conditioning was well set, so it was comfortable to eat. The staff's attitude was decent, and the portions were generous. Coupled with the self-service bar, I left feeling completely full. When it came time to settle the bill, I felt it was quite reasonable.