This Aussie hot pot chain just opened its first M’sian outlet in KL & it has 150+ ingredients

When Dragon Hot Pot opened its first store in Melbourne back in 2017, few expected it to become a cult favourite among late-night diners. The brand started with a simple idea inspired by traditional ma la tang, let customers build their own bowl, then charge by weight. The concept quickly took off, spreading across Australia and later to Indonesia, Vietnam, and now, Malaysia.

I paid a visit to its first Malaysian outlet at Low Yat Park, curious to see what this Australian-born chain could bring to KL’s already fiery hot pot scene. Could anything good really come from Down Under? Aside from Vegemite, of course.

You can’t miss Dragon Hot Pot. Sitting right across from the Low Yat Plaza tech hub, the restaurant’s bold red and yellow signage makes its presence known long before you reach the door. When I arrived on a Saturday morning, a queue had already formed, which seemed like a good sign.

Choosing your ingredients

Dragon Hot Pot is a buffet-style restaurant. Instead of ordering from a menu, you grab a brass pot and fill it with anything that catches your eye. With over 150 ingredients to choose from, this is where most people end up overdoing it.

I took generous helpings of beef and lamb before loading up on sweet potato noodles, fried beancurd and baby cuttlefish. Once you’re done, your pot is weighed at the counter. Every 100g costs RM6.90, regardless of what you pick, so it pays (literally) to choose your ingredients wisely.

Reminder to future self: Take more premium ingredients next time.

Picking the soup

Next comes the broth. There are seven options, I went with the Signature Ma La Tang, which is simmered for over 12 hours with more than 20 Chinese herbs. Spice levels range from Mild to Dragon Hot, I went with Mild, a decision I would later come to regret.

Bottomless drinks & comfort snacks

A spicy soup needs to be offset by a cooling drink. Other than sodas and bottled drinks, you can opt for the DIY bottomless cup (RM6.50). Aside from unlimited refills, you can treat yourself to toppings like nata de coco, boba and fruit pulp. That morning, they had Taro Milk Tea and Winter Melon.

Once you have made your payment and chosen your soup, your pot is taken into the kitchen to be prepared accordingly. While waiting for your food to be ready, you can pick a table and get your snacks and sauces ready.

I decided to go with the Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar, Popcorn Chicken, and Fried Shiitake Mushroom (RM11.90 each). They’re meant to be shared, but let’s just say I didn’t quite stick to that rule.

The sauce station

Dragon Hot Pot also has a self-service sauce counter featuring 10 suggested recipes. Just follow the ratio of ingredients, and you will get it made right. I made one of the sesame oil-based mixes, which turned out perfectly nutty and aromatic against the soup’s spice.

The hot pot arrives

My steaming food eventually arrived at my table in a large bowl. The mala tang looked tantalising, with its bright red and orange colour. In retrospect, I should have challenged my taste buds instead of playing it safe with the spiciness.

Despite that, the hot pot was a cornucopia of tasty treats drenched in soup. Even at a low heat, the soup left parts of my tongue numb. The mala tang on its own was flavourful, with the right blend of spices, keeping it rich and savoury.

The ingredients also did their job of absorbing the soup perfectly. The sweet potato noodles were especially springy, making it a fun exercise in slurping them up. The meats were oozing with soup with each bite, and the beancurd was also an addictively chewy treat.

Will I be back for more?

Dragon Hot Pot’s arrival in Malaysia might feel overdue, but it’s a welcome addition to KL’s hot pot scene. The ingredients are fresh, the soup is full-bodied, and the concept is fun without being gimmicky.

Would I come back? Absolutely. Next time, though, I’m taking on the “Dragon Hot” level. My taste buds might regret it, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. My tongue and stomach may hate me, but victory ultimately requires sacrifices.