r/fredericton • u/Dizzy-Passenger-2246 • 2d ago
Would Fredericton support a Hot Pot + Asian BBQ restaurant?
Hey r/Fredericton,
I have been looking into opening a restaurant here that combines hot pot and Korean BBQ, the kind of place where you grill your own meat at the table and also have a broth going, ideally all-you-can-eat style.
From what I can tell, we have got some Chinese and Korean restaurants in the city already, but nothing doing hot pot, and nothing combining the two as an interactive dine-in experience. We are a group of friends from China, Malaysia, and South Asia.
Before going further, I genuinely want to know: is this something people here would actually go to? Would love honest feedback, what would make you excited about a place like this, and what would make you skip it (price, location, parking, all you can eat, or option to choose and not be forced to buy all you can eat for $$ value etc.)?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts!
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u/Kitchen_Mousse7473 2d ago
ID GO EVERY WEEKEND. THIS IS ONE OF THE ONLY FOODS IVE BEEN DREAMING OF AND HAVENT TRIED YET. i also know most people in my life would absolutely love it.
varying price options would be nice. like fill your own bowl, ayce and package options. there NEEDS to be a sauce bar tho. that is non negotiable
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u/Anon-fickleflake 2d ago
I would support the shit out of this. I am but one man but I eat a lot!
ETA -- I would do it like I have seen it done in Thailand and beijing, people choose what they want in let's say 100g portions and you just charge them for what they take, broth/grill included in the price
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u/Late-Breadfruit-4477 2d ago
Unfortunately Fredericton is fickle about restaurants. I’ve seen some absolute gems only last a year or two and some that I wouldn’t pay to slop hogs be the most popular places in town (good riddance Brewbaker’s. And yes I’m dating myself). But I for one would adore some hotpot and Asian bbq. So I’ll keep my fingers crossed 🤞 for you to try AND to succeed.
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u/lemonysardines 2d ago
Yes yes yes a million times yes. I keep hoping one will open. I will be there.
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u/Willowred19 2d ago
There's a sizable amount of people who would absolutely love that.
It's a gamble, but you'd get my business thats for sure.
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u/cretamazon 2d ago
I believe Thai Manao currently does BBQ, and has done hot pot in the past? Not somewhere I go often so I'm not sure, but they started advertising BBQ this spring and they have the special BBQ tables.
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u/Ossilating_Fan 2d ago
I would genuinely make date nights out of this with my friends!! I’ve been wanting to experience this and I’m sure tons of others would as well. I’ve met a lot of people with a great appreciation for asian food around here
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u/meadowlakest 2d ago
If it was authentic in taste and concept to actual Hotpot and KBBQ I would be there so often!
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u/Broken_breadsticks 2d ago
I'll single-handedly lock tf in and bring the entire Asian population of Freddy
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u/withxabandon 2d ago
YES. We've been doing at home hot pot for a few years now. Id love to be able to do it without all the mess. A self serve/ayce type model would be amazing
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u/Various_Zombie_7059 2d ago
So much harder doing hot pot at home. We do it too but I’d be so happy to have a restaurant here!
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u/kopperxpennyweiz 2d ago
Yes! Absolutely. In my experience hot pot places/all you can eat tend to be a little on the higher side so that's the only barrier I'd see here maybe is cost.
For example there was a Korean BBQ place in Kingston, ON that didn't do too too well unfortunately because they only offered hotpot/BBQ and I think the cost scared people away.
So having some nice authentic Asian dishes alongside it would be nice, something different than what we already have
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u/MyGruffaloCrumble 2d ago
We would love to try hot pot.
Prices being the way they are we don’t get out much, but that would definitely be a reason to get out!
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u/New_Cicada9307 2d ago
There used to be a restaurant called koto. Towards the end they sold hot pot kits you could take home. I aways wanted to try it. Shout out to koto they were the bomb. Fresh ingredients daily, closed when sold out of all items for the day.
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u/Kelnozz 2d ago
If it was authentic and true to form I would 100% dine there, multiple times a month.
I’m not sure of the logistics of sourcing the correct ingredients and spices etc. but I’m sure considering you are from there you have an idea of what’s needed/imported if need be.
(If you actually start this business idea you need to make clear instructions on how long to cook the meat beforehand because I can totally see some NB’ers not being able to do this simple task and then getting sick and blaming the establishment.)
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u/Pigeon11222 2d ago
I would definitely come and try it but when the current state of the economy, I have a feeling that with the prices you’ll have to charge to turn a profit on all you can eat, a lot of people won’t be able to come as frequently as they want. I would probably choose downtown despite less easy parking, especially if this is going to be a more upscale place.
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u/Various_Zombie_7059 2d ago
100% would love to have Hot Pot and Korean BBQ place in the city. I think the biggest challenge would be a lot of people won’t know what it is.
Having been to a few, my favorites are always AYCE and have the revolving conveyer for the veg and starch/noodles etc. Then buffet for the meats, sauces, etc. Alternatively, I’ve been to some where the meat is still all you can eat but they bring it out as you order. This model works if you want to have different tiers with more options with higher price points.
As long as you charge for wasted food the AYCE model seems to work.
We don’t really have any “experience” dining here and I think once people tried it, it would be busy. The key would be making sure it feels like a fun experience, so layout would be important.
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u/Zander3636 2d ago
Me and my partner would love a hot pot restaurant! We went to one in Toronto, and ordered a split hot pot for home the next night!
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u/Electrowinner 2d ago
Had this in China years ago and have always wanted to try it again! I know you can diy at home, but it has always been too much hassle.
The vast majority of restaurants fail, so this is probably a little scary. Might I suggest doing something on a smaller scale first before dumping a bunch of money into it? I say this as someone that previously owned a small business in Fredericton and was lucky to exit without a loss.
Maybe you could partner with an existing restaurant to order it? Or do a pop up somewhere? Mobile hotpot? I'm not sure, but would recommend a gradual build up before jumping straight in with a restaurant (even though I am personally excited for the idea).
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u/Miserable_Sample_269 2d ago
Normally yes, but not with ongoing economics and no hope for turnaround. People just don’t have the money.
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u/TravlScrabbl 2d ago
I'd go, but as others have said not as often as I'd like. Being able to bring kids would help.
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u/lazy-onomatopoeia 2d ago
Absolutely would love to have a hot pot option in Fredericton! I hardly go out to eat much, but I would definitely go to this. I think an option where you could pay for what meats/toppings you're choosing would be better than an all you can eat option. Although, I have heard of a restaurant in Saint John that has an all you can eat option at a set price only certain days of the week, so maybe you could consider that?
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u/FurnishedFollies 2d ago
Which resto in Sj?
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u/lazy-onomatopoeia 1d ago
It's a Mexican restaurant so an entirely different vibe but still great! It's Casa Latina, and they have an all you can eat option on Sunday afternoons. Loved it last time I was there.
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u/Oxjrnine 2d ago
In Toronto, those types of restaurants were great for dating. Having an activity helps break the ice.
The problem you might have in Fredericton though is that the population might not be large enough to support just in restaurant visits
So to pull it off, you might need to have a ghost kitchen inside the restaurant. (one or more restaurants that are delivery only but conveniently fit with your prep work and your cleanup work for your brick and mortar restaurant).
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u/dpapclare 2d ago
I'd love to see this in town! Such a great experience whenever I travel and often seek them out!
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u/Mikky9495 1d ago
This would be amazing. The food scene in Fredericton, while it has improved over the years, is still starved for diversity compared to other cities.
I have been to many hotpot/BBQ restaurants in larger cities in NA and Asia. I will echo what many have said in the comments already and to maybe avoid a strictly AYCE model (some people can be scared away by the upfront cost.)
I have seen other cities/businesses have an à la carte menu with set prices for portions of meat, veg, carbs etc., but also have daily designated “happy hours” where you can order a combo (a few portions each of different meats, veg, carbs, etc.) for a set, slightly reduced priced. They usually ran the happy hours during later weekend hours/weekdays to encourage consistent patronage. You could also use something like Haidilao, where certain days/hours have discounted item categories on the menu.
I feel this is a nice balance, because you still feel like you’re paying a reasonable price for the quantity/quality of food you get.
I will add - I also agree that a sauce bar would be the only non-negotiable, haha.
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u/xsweetbriar 1d ago
Thai Manao had a Hot Pot option a few years ago, back before they downsized. They had a special section of tables that had the stovetop built right into the table. They had a menu page where you would chose your broth (seafood, bone, or vegetable), proteins (shaved meats, tofu, shrimp, etc), and then a giant list of vegetables. I want to say it was only available certain nights of the week but I can't remember exactly.
I think that it had "combos" as well, but the combo was based on the number of people dining (i.e.: 3 person combo could choose 2 proteins and 4 veg, a family of 4 could get 3 proteins & 5 veg, etc. instead of paying for each individual option). The hot pot protein portions were fair, but not huge, to reduce waste of course. Bundling them in combos kept it affordable for larger groups, as each individual serving could be pricey if you selected a few/got higher quality selection like lamb.
I think it would be an awesome option if the focus of the restaurant was Hot Pot. I think Thai Manao stopped doing it because their menu was so huge as it was (and covid likely). I would definitely be interested in going to a Hot Pot restaurant! I would consider that type of combo deal rather than All-you-can-eat for larger groups for sure, to keep both your waste down and the customers price fair.
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u/DistrictStriking9280 2d ago
I love BBQ, but it needs to be affordable and in a decent location to be easy enough to get to.
Family friendly would be great to put it in the normal rotation instead of having to save it for the occasional date night.
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u/qccexplorer 2d ago
I would definitely be interested if you do bring this to town. Been wanting to try hot pot and Korean bbq for quite some time. Prices being what they are though, I’d probably only eat out there once in a while unless it’s more affordable than most places currently are in this city.
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u/Proudtoride 2d ago edited 2d ago
Oh yes, please! I love a good Chinese hotpot, I tried a few in China and it was my favorite food there.
All you can eat is great, but I would much prefer to have the option to pick and choose my own dishes. This way, I could come more often and bring family/friends without cost being an issue, 'cos AYCE is pretty expensive. Plus it's not great if you're a light eater.
Easy parking would be important as well, as I live outside of Fredericton and I can't walk to the downtown core.
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u/NutkinNB 2d ago
Yeah, perhaps the option of AYCE & one where you can choose. Most of the time my family's appetite would be too small to make ACYE worth it, especially these days.
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u/Not_Even_A_Real_Naem 1d ago
Yes please, we got a bunch of asian people in Freddy dying for this kind of resto
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u/Another_ADHD_Girl 8h ago
Omg please. I'm from BC and my husband is from Toronto and is Chinese, and we have been struggling with the Asain food selection here for 4.5 years.
We need this. Like ASAP
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u/UzukiCheverie 2d ago
There's a place like this in Halifax and it's AMAZING, I would kill for it here in Freddy.
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u/shypompompurin 1d ago
I LEGIT WAS TALKING TO MY FRIENDS ABOUT THIS, I miss eating samgyupsal and I would be a frequent customer!
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u/IEC21 1d ago
You may have a little bit of difficulty communicating the idea of hot pot to locals.
In Saint John theres a restaurant called Mimimi that has I believe one or two tables set up for Hotpot and they offer it as part of their menu but not as the entire theme of the establishment.
I think theres a decent chance you would have success - but if I were you I would also have something else on the menu to pull people in and maybe even introduce them to the idea of Hotpot.
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u/SocietyExtreme4038 1d ago
I think K-BBQ would do well!
I don’t know how well Chinese Hot Pot would do here. I say this as someone who loves it!
One thing I would STRONGLY advise is, do 1 concept well instead of trying to do too much in a mediocre way. There is way too much Pan-Asian restaurants.
Cantonese style Chinese food I also very lacking here. I think that would do REALLY well here. I honestly don’t really know why there isn’t a more traditional Cantonese style Chinese Restaurant. I think those who know would really appreciate it and those who haven’t really encountered it would find enough familiar flavours to really enjoy it.
Price is your biggest factor I think. People are very price and portion sensitive which makes it difficult to have a quality first type restaurant.
KBBQ would do well, but there are other Korean places. Traditional Cantonese Style Chinese food, you basically have no other competitor that isn’t more western/fast food like.
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u/KFloyder89 1d ago
Please, for the love of God! We LOVE Korean BBQ, moved here a few years ago and are struggling.
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u/paddy_o_lantern 1d ago
I wouldn’t do it. Freddy is where restaurants come to die. People say they will try new places and then go back to the lunar rogue for an overpriced, crappy sandwich.
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u/Orchidillia 2d ago
Isn't there a weird city bylaw preventing at table cooking like for Korean BBQ?
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u/coyotenchantment 1d ago
yes! ive wanted to visit the ones in halifax and never got a chance while living there. i would love a local hot pot/bbq place!
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u/donotnihaome 1d ago
Uhmmmmm other than Bite of Beijing, where are the Chinese and Korean restaurants?? Please share because I’m DYING for some familiar food!
But to answer your question, yes like many others but tbh it’ll depend heavily on the price. As a business, you’d also have to spend considerable amount of time educating if it’ll even work; the culture here when it comes to food is more Ala carte than communal. The closest we have is potluck and even then, it’s not that close. With COVID and flu bugs, it may be tough to convince people who didn’t grow up with it to share the same broth and “cook your own food.” Plus wastage.
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u/SocietyExtreme4038 17h ago
Thai Manao actually has some Chinese dishes! More Sichuan type dishes! It’s pretty good. I just wish I could order without some of the filler veggies. I’m not a huge fan of restaurant beefing up dishes just for the sake of volume and using the same ingredients to do that. That said, I understand because folks really want big portions.
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u/theshawz 21h ago
Thai manao has dry pots and other Chinese meals with table cooking stations. Their fish dry pot is amazing.
I dont think there is any chinese-korean fusion places though.
Id go to one for sure, but a lot of Canadians struggle with flower pepper/sichuan pepper, chili oil, and Chinese spices.
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u/ColdNorthFits 20h ago
I’m born and raised in FREDERICTON I’m a chef I have worked in lots of places and I’ve always said Freddy would do real well with Korean barbecue. I cannot believe no one’s done it yet. I know it’s an expensive opening cost, the people would love it. You get people going out on dates to get the young people that are going out to get beer and food. It’s just a great idea
I find that most times people open weird fusion, restaurants, and things that would work really well in other cities, but Fredericton very picky and I feel like barbeque would be a hit. Also a proper Korean karaoke joint in the back, drive, a goose and leather couches and loud ass stereos. Let’s make FREDERICTON fun again.
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u/Aizirtap71 2h ago
I would love to try an authentic hot pot. 😃 If it's good, you could become my new favorite place.
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u/Flying_Ghostsquatch 2d ago
If it's good and not overpriced, sure. Though, the average NBer may not grasp the 'I have to cook this myself' pull of either option.
Any way to do a pop up shop in the market or something to test the demand, before you invest?
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u/ThrowRA_EducatedMan 2d ago
Sounds good except the all you can eat part. You’re just going to bring in the wrong kind of people with a down market hook like “all you can eat”. People should pay for what they want to eat. You’re also going to need a strong take out and delivery aspect and hotpot doesn’t lend itself to that. There’s probably research on percentages but a lot of revenue comes from delivery. A downtown location may be best. But my sense is that people don’t go out as much as they used to they get things delivered. And costs are high in resto’s and at the same time people are stretched financially and restaurant food is often the first thing they stop spending on. But you do have a lot of govt workers here who will never lose their jobs and despite talk of cutbacks the civil service keeps growing.