Yet Another Chinese Hot Pot Chain Heads to Asiatown

The Houston hot pot trend shows no signs of slowing as yet another Chinese hot pot chain, Spice World, will debut in Asiatown next year.

A representative for Dynasty Plaza tells Eater that Spice World will be taking over the second floor of the former Metro Bank space at 9600 Bellaire Boulevard and will debut sometime in spring 2019 after renovations are finished. It’s just one of an exciting lineup of eateries slated for Dynasty Plaza including a forthcoming Japanese sushi joint, the reopening of Crawfish & Beignets, Korean dessert cafe Snowy Village, and announced last week: Mian, a new noodle house from the owner of Chengdu Taste.

Spice World, which operates locations China, Sydney, Singapore, and New York, is known for hot pots with cutesy-yet-weird presentations including Hello Kitty-shaped soup base that diners can watch slowly melt and a doll draped with thin cuts of meat that are fashioned into a dress. If the Singapore location is any indication, Spice World will bring its dimly lit black-and-red themed interiors to Houston. Its Singapore location features two aesthetics in one: an ultra-sleek contemporary interior on one side of the restaurant and a traditional Chinese wood-clad pavilion with a geometric lattice design on the other.

Spice World prides itself on hand-cut meats, fresh rather than frozen seafood, and no artificial flavoring or MSG. Diners can choose from seven different soup bases like a signature Sichuan mala broth, wild mushroom, tomato, tom-yam, and curry. The mala hot pot base is brewed in China for four to six hours, molded into Hello Kitty or teddy bear shapes, and shipped worldwide. Standouts meat cuts include wagyu beef, pork belly, and tripe that contains the grass the cow has consumed, according to a press release announcing its Singapore opening — whether that makes it to the Houston market is up for debate.

When Spice World debuts next year, it will join other hot pot newcomers Hai Di Lao in Katy Grand, plus these two forthcoming shabu shabu eateries.

• A New Noodle Destination From The Minds Behind Chengdu Taste Heads to Asiatown [EHOU]
• Two New Shabu Shabu Restaurants Will Open In Houston [EHOU]
• A Chinese Hot Pot Chain Known for Seriously Over-the-Top Service Heads to Katy [EHOU]
• Snowy Village’s Fluffy, Fruit-Topped Shave Ice Will Soon Arrive in Asiatown [EHOU]