Ma La Tang (spicy hot pot) in Vancouver: Big Way Richmond

Big Way Hot Pot is a popular Chinese ma la tang (spicy hot pot) chain that’s recently made its way to Vancouver—and it’s been creating quite a buzz! I’ve been wanting to try it for a while now, but every time I passed by, the huge lineups at the door were a bit intimidating.

This time, we decided to visit the Big Way Richmond location, and since we went outside of peak dining hours, the line wasn’t bad at all. We were pretty lucky and only had to wait behind a few groups before it was our turn!

How It Works: Grab a Bowl and Pick Your Ingredients

Once inside, you grab a large golden bowl at the entrance and head to the self-serve ingredient bar. The vegetables were fresh, and the meat selection was impressive—I couldn’t resist loading up on my favourite beef slices! They also had a variety of seafood like shrimp, squid, and fish fillets. Honestly, they’ve got everything you’d want in a hot pot lineup.

Pricing is by weight at $3.99 per 100g, and I found that 500g was more than enough to leave me feeling full. Choose your favourite type of noodle for that extra satisfying bite!

Soup or Dry? So Many Flavourful Broth Options

Big Way offers many soup bases to choose from, with both spicy and non-spicy options. If you’re feeling like something more rich, I recommend going for the dry mix style. But if it’s a chilly day and you want something warm and cozy, the classic mala soup is perfect.

Tomato Spicy Dry Mix (Mild): This one was packed with flavour—the sauce was rich, and the noodles had a great chewy texture after soaking up all that goodness. Even though I chose the mild level, it still had a decent kick! I love deep-fried egg, soaked in sauce, it was bursting with savoury flavour. So satisfying!
Signature Ma La Tang (Mild): I also tried the classic spicy broth version. Since it was soup-based, the spice level felt a little more toned down. The flavour was milder and lighter than the dry mix, but still very comforting—especially on a chill day!

After finishing our meal, the staff brought out a surprise treat—a small vanilla ice cream cone for each person! It wasn’t too sweet or too creamy, just the perfect refreshing finish to balance out all the spice.

If you’re in Richmond and craving something spicy, flavourful, and fun, Big Way Hot Pot is definitely worth a visit. Just try to avoid the rush hours unless you’re ready to line up!

📍Big Way Hot Pot (Richmond)
4940 Number 3 Rd #123, Richmond, BC V6X 3A5