The best hot pot in Milan
Five spots to warm up, share food and discover authentic Chinese tradition
Have you ever tried hot pot? If not, with the biting chill and damp air wrapping Milan right now, this is definitely the time. Picture a steaming pot in the middle of the table, broths gently simmering and an endless choice of ingredients to cook at your own pace: meat, seafood, vegetables, mushrooms and noodles. Everyone creates their ideal bite, rounded off with custom dipping sauces made from spices, oils and aromatics. In China, hot pot is almost a social ritual: playful, deeply warming, shared and open to culinary experimentation. Every dip of chopsticks tells a different story, bringing people together around the fragrant steam of a millennia-old tradition that feels right at home in Milan. Here are the best spots in the city, chosen by Flawless, for a proper hot pot feast.
Ba Hot Pot
Viale Certosa, 32
A firm favourite among enthusiasts, Ba Hot Pot offers an authentic Sichuan-style experience. The room is welcoming, accented with subtle traditional touches, letting you focus on the real star: the broth. Here, everything can be tailored to taste, from the heat level to the fresh ingredients. Highlights include maodu (beef tripe) and pig brains, perfect for those who enjoy punchy flavours and unusual textures. The sauce station is top-notch, prices match the quality, and there is also a second branch in Loreto.
Yuanzi Hot Pot
Viale Zara, 73
Set in the Maciachini area (with two other established venues in Porta Venezia and Navigli), Yuanzi is a Milan classic, hugely popular with the local Chinese community—always a reassuring sign. The space is generous, lively and pleasantly noisy, ideal for big group dinners. Meat is the main draw: lamb, various cuts of beef, pork and duck ensure an intense, deeply satisfying meal. A well-run all-you-can-eat option, fresh ingredients and a well-stocked sauce station complete the picture.
Little Lamb Sarpi
Via Paolo Sarpi, 8
In the heart of Milan’s Chinatown, Little Lamb is a genuine temple of traditional hot pot—also frequented by Chinese locals—where you can choose from diverse broths, over a hundred ingredients including meats, fish, vegetables, dumplings and noodles, plus an extensive sauce bar. Lamb, as the name suggests, is the house signature dish, though you can also order ready-cooked barbecue skewers: the experience is authentic, sociable and delightfully bustling, true to tradition.
Mao Hot Pot
Via Giuseppe Giusti, 41
A key mention goes to the newest venture from the Mao group, behind some of Milan’s most exciting Chinese restaurants, including Mao Hunan, Mao Ji, Chi Fa and Mood Market. Mao Hot Pot delivers a street-food spin on the concept, with an all-inclusive, self-service format. Many ingredients are skewered on wooden sticks, reminiscent of chuanchuanxiang, a Chengdu variety of hot pot: a more informal, dynamic style that makes dinner even more engaging and fun. Flavourful broths, serious heat options and a generous selection of vegetables, meat, fish and tofu guarantee a great-value meal.
Shoo Loong Kan Hotpot Milano
Via Carlo Farini, 21
The first Italian outpost of the famous international chain, Shoo Loong Kan brings Sichuan hot pot to Milan in its most dramatic form. The venue is vast: around 1,200 sq m of immersive design with deep respect for tradition. Here, broths range from gentle classics to fiery extremes, alongside options for vegetarians and vegans, while the ingredient selection is remarkably wide, featuring offal and premium cuts. Mix your own dipping sauce following ancient custom. Ideal for large parties and convivial evenings.
