First, let me say the conclusion: this is my second time eating here! A hot pot restaurant with unlimited free winter melon tea is really great 👍 The peeled chili chicken hot pot and beef flank are highly recommended, and the plum sorbet served after the meal is also a must-try.

This is a super large hot pot restaurant in Taichung! Although there are plenty of seats, it's still safer to make an inline reservation if you want to eat. The background music is always filled with charming Taiwanese songs; both times I ate there, it was the same 🤣 It's quite an interesting setup!

This time my family ordered the seafood hot pot and kelp hot pot, along with a seafood platter, and we all gave them good reviews. The peeled chili chicken hot pot that I tried twice was also excellent, but they also have a special satay hot pot that those interested can give a try.

The only small downside is that after eating, the hot pot smell clings to you quite strongly 🤣

Taichung Nantun District - A well-known hot pot restaurant, open from 11:00 AM to 4:00 AM, with exquisite decor and spacious surroundings. They specialize in soju and sesame oil hot pot, and guests can enjoy unlimited winter melon tea!

📍 Chilled Black Pork Tender Shoulder Soju Hot Pot NT$458
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
The soju hot pot comes with chicken, and the accompanying pepper salt really enhances the flavor! The broth has a strong alcohol taste, which is fragrant but rather bitter, with ginseng and Chinese medicinal herbs simmered in it. The vegetable platter is rich, including three clams, though the vegetables are not abundant. However, the black sesame glutinous rice balls and cheese balls do not pair well with the soju hot pot.

The chilled black pork tender shoulder has a firm texture, fresh and not overly fatty; it is genuinely delicious, and I highly recommend it!

📍 Extra NT$18 for Fried Enoki Mushrooms
🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
The fried enoki mushrooms that come at an extra charge are said to be a signature dish by the staff, but I found them just okay, and they tend to be a bit greasy.

▶️ Environment
🔹 The dining space is very large, with strong and cool air conditioning.
🔹 Men’s and women’s restrooms are separate and quite clean.
🔹 Drinking water and winter melon tea are available for self-service.
🔹 The sauce area allows for self-service dipping sauces.

▶️ Friendly reminder
🔹 It is recommended to call ahead for reservations (can be done inline).
🔹 Orders need to be placed by scanning the QR code on your phone, with payment options including LINE Pay or cash/credit card at the counter.

▶️ Overall evaluation
🔹 The dining environment is spacious and comfortable, quite impressive. Considering the quality at a price point under NT$500, it is quite good, which explains the high ratings. I particularly like that the winter melon tea is not too sweet! They also serve a sorbet after the meal.

🌟Dining for 2 hours, pets are prohibited, reservations are recommended.
🌟Check out at the counter after QR self-service ordering.

"The Soup Hut Public Welfare Store" is located on Gongyi Road in Nantun District, Taichung, a primary battle zone, specializing in sesame oil chicken hot pot and skinless chili hot pot. If you’re exhausted and it’s chilly outside, having hot soup that’s spicy and nourishing is truly delightful. The air conditioning is extremely strong, and the spacious dining environment is very relaxing.

The Soup Hut features a Japanese Zen-style decor, with warm lighting and a spacious, comfortable area, so it’s advisable to bring a jacket. It makes you so full that you just want to fall asleep 😙. There are tables for 2, 4, and even 6 people, making it easier for a group of friends to dine together. The condiment area has unlimited drinks, including winter melon tea and drinking water.

Parking is not very convenient near The Soup Hut, as it’s located in a primary battle zone on Gongyi Road in Taichung. Even though there are several parking lots, they easily fill up during peak hours, so parking might be a matter of luck!!

Let’s eat!
Refrigerated Black Pork Sesame Oil Hot Pot 💰458
The vegetable platter includes cabbage, bok choy, tofu skin, enoki mushrooms, crab meat sticks, clams, and white mushrooms. All the ingredients are very fresh, with a rich aroma of sesame oil. The broth is smooth and warm, with ginger’s spice not being too overpowering, creating a comfortable sesame oil soup base. The refrigerated black pork is tender, with evenly distributed fat, so when cooked in the hot pot, it doesn’t feel greasy and has its own meaty aroma.

Spicy Duck Meat 💰68
The flavor of the spicy duck blood is a bit light and not very spicy. Overall, it’s average.

Deep-Fried Egg 💰30
Out of curiosity about what a deep-fried egg in a hot pot restaurant would be, it turns out to be just a crispy and fluffy fried egg—quite interesting.

My friend’s skinless chili chicken hot pot has a broth that’s both spicy and sweet. If you enjoy spicy food, I recommend it; it’s a bit too spicy for me 🤣🤣
(However, I was also attracted to it at first!!)

In the end, a cup of slushy ice was served, which relieved all the greasiness.

Thoughts: The soup base truly is important for hot pot. The slushy dessert at the end is a great design that alleviates all the greasiness. Overall, The Soup Hut is very comfortable.

If you prioritize the meal: sesame oil chicken leg and skinless chili are quite good.

If you prioritize the environment: strong air conditioning and spacious.

If you prioritize parking: it’s not very convenient, scooters might be parked nearby; cars will need to find street parking or a parking lot (depending on luck).

If you prioritize toilets: separated for men and women, and they are spacious.

If you prioritize waiting: reservations are recommended.

If you prioritize service: it is quite good.

If you focus on cost-performance ratio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
(Discussing food and prices only)

Taichung can be said to be a heaven for hot pot lovers, as you can find almost any type of hot pot you desire. This large hot pot restaurant under the Kiyosato brand, called Soup Station, offers a variety of unique broth bases. It's definitely a no-brainer to come here with friends; the flavors range from sesame oil, rice wine, peeled chili, kombu, to satay and vegetarian options, catering to all preferences.

Despite the strong aroma of sesame oil being quite tempting, I couldn’t resist ordering it even in the sweltering summer. For sesame oil hot pot, I felt chicken should be the right pairing, but I eventually chose beef belly instead. The thickness of the meat slices was just right, and after a few dips, I could enjoy the tender beef, leaving me quite satisfied.

The flavor of sesame oil thoroughly enveloped all the ingredients in the hot pot. Whether it was vegetables, tofu skin, mushrooms, or meat slices, every bite was filled with the rich aroma of sesame oil.

My friend opted for the peeled chili broth, which was comparatively subtler in richness; however, it did contain a whole peeled chili, giving it a fragrant mild spiciness. If it were winter, this would definitely be a warm and comforting choice.

Soup Station also offers a complimentary special drink—winter melon tea. It’s delicious, cold, fragrant, sweet, and not watery at all, making it a perfect match with the Taiwanese flavors of sesame oil and peeled chili.

We had made a reservation in advance, so we didn’t have to wait too long, but if you go without a reservation, it might not be a good idea. Overall, Soup Station left a very good impression on me, and in the future, if I get the chance, I would also love to try other broth flavors like rice wine and satay, which also look quite appealing!

I had a spicy chicken soup base with sliced pork. First of all, the broth is rich, and the chicken in the soup base is very tender, with quite a few pieces as well. The sliced pork is not chewy at all, and the vegetable platter has plenty of variety, including more than two types of greens and two or three hot pot ingredients. Overall, the dining experience was good, and the pace of the meal was not too rushed, allowing us to relax and chat while enjoying the food.