If you enjoy discovering restaurants that are out of the ordinary, this one deserves to be at the top of your list.
Located at the Caudan Waterfront in Port Louis, Lao Zhao Hotpot offers an interactive, fun and typically Chinese culinary experience: hotpot.
And honestly… I think I’ve found the best hotpot in Mauritius 🔥
🍲 What is hotpot?
Hotpot (or Chinese fondue) is a meal centred around an aromatic broth heated at the table, in which meat, vegetables, seafood, tofu, mushrooms and noodles are cooked.
At Lao Zhao Hotpot, each guest has their own individual hotpot, which is:
- more hygienic
- more practical
- and allows everyone to choose their own cooking method and seasoning
And the icing on the broth: you control the heat yourself (Low, Medium, High or Off).
When there is little broth left, the staff will come back to add hot water free of charge.
🇨🇳 Authentic Chinese Team & Atmosphere
One detail I absolutely loved:
The restaurant is run by native Chinese owners, and the staff speaks Mandarin, English and French.
You instantly get that real-deal hotpot feeling — like you’re eating somewhere in Shanghai or Chengdu instead of Port Louis.
🍱 How It Works — Easy & Fun
The system is simple, fun and accessible to everyone:
1️⃣ Choose your broth
Light, spicy, mushroom, tom yum… there’s something for everyone.
2️⃣ Grab your ingredients from giant fridges
Walk up with your tray and pick:
- Meat & chicken
- Seafood & prawns
- Dumplings & wontons
- Tofu of all kinds
- Noodles & vermicelli
- Mushrooms & loads of vegetables
You can go back as many times as you want!
3️⃣ Plates by color = price
Simple and transparent pricing:
- Glass plate: Rs 580 (seafood)
- Black plate: Rs 380 (meat)
- Red plate: Rs 380 (meat)
- Green plate: Rs 280 (ravioli, dumplings)
- White plate: Rs 280
- Orange plate: Rs 180 (vegetables or noodles)
Pick what you like — and no surprise bill at the end.
4️⃣ Don’t miss the sauce bar
There are two sauce stations with suggested combinations.
👉 My go-to: a slightly spicy mix — the server even prepared it for me 🔥 😋 ask for the “special”
🍻 More Than a Meal — It’s an Experience
Lao Zhao is designed for sharing moments:
✔️ Large round tables with lazy susans
✔️ Private karaoke room available (yes, you can sing 🎤 but you need to book in advance)
✔️ Great view of the Caudan Waterfront
✔️ Disposable aprons so you don’t splash your shirt
✔️ Relaxed, lively, and welcoming atmosphere
Perfect for:
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Friends’ night out
- Date night to avoid cooking (although we do cook a little bit anyway)
-
Family dinner (not ideal with children who move around a lot, especially small ones)
-
Birthday or group meal
-
Trying something new as a foodie
💸 Pricing & Our Bill
We were 4 adults, and our total came to:
➡️ Rs 4,640 (food only)
With an estimated conversion rate of 1€ = Rs 54:
💶 ≈ €86 for 4 people
🍜 ≈ €21 per person
Considering how much we ate (and how fun it was), the value for money is excellent.
You just have to be careful about the dishes you choose (the more black, red or glass plates there are, the more expensive it will be).
Here we chose a lot of “cheap” dishes for instance.
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📍 Practical Information
📌 Address: 2nd Floor, Observatoire Building, Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis
🔗 Facebook page
🕑 Opening Hours (usually)
Lunch: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Dinner: 5:30 PM – 10:00/10:30 PM
📞 Phone: +230 5733 9899
💡 Tip: No need for a reservation on weekdays, but better to book on weekends
⭐ Final Verdict
Lao Zhao Hotpot delivers on every front:
✔️ Big choice of fresh ingredients
✔️ Friendly team who guide beginners
✔️ Clean restaurant with a fun vibe
✔️ Hotpot experience that feels authentic
✔️ Fair price and full control of what you eat
Would I go back? 100% yes — and I already plan to.
If you love:
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Asian food
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Cooking while eating
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Social dining
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Trying something new
👉 Add Lao Zhao Hotpot to your Mauritius foodie list!
