The wait is over, hotpot lovers. Two days ago, the team behind 18th Street Hotpot opened the doors to their brand-new and highly anticipated Henley Beach location. And as no surprise whatsoever, it’s already drawing crowds.
The store is the cult-favourite brand’s biggest yet, seating around 60 diners and a bold new look to match the seaside suburb.
“Henley Beach is a really key location for us, so we’ve gone all out with the store design and branding,” owner Tom Lau told Glam Adelaide back in July. “It’s definitely more eye-catching and has a lot more logos.”
While the familiar build-your-own soup experience remains, Lau said the Henley menu has been shaped by the area’s tastes.
“We’ve done some research into what locals in the area enjoy, especially being close to the beach,” he said. “There’ll be a few new ingredients you wouldn’t normally see on our hotpot menus.”
Expect the signature spread of broths, noodles, dumplings, marinated meats and seafood, alongside more adventurous options like duck blood, fish roe balls and wood ear fungus.
If you’ve ever wandered past one of 18th Street’s glowing red shopfronts and wondered what all the fuss is about, here’s the lowdown. Diners grab a bowl and tongs, pile up their ingredients, then pay by weight before choosing a spice level – from mild to fiery (that’s sweat-droplets-down-the-neck fiery, by the way).
Hotpot places might be a dime a dozen right now, but none pull the crowds quite like 18th Street. Their queues are almost as famous as the food, snaking out the door night after night, filled with hungry regulars braving the elements and testing patience for the hearty umami broth.
As for why, Lau put it down to flexibility and simplicity.
“It gives you a lot of choice,” he said. “Other places might give you a set dish where there’s always something you don’t like. With hotpot, you pick exactly what you feel like on the day – seafood, veggies, meat, whatever suits your mood. Every visit can be different.”
And with the new Henley venue, he told us the team have made sure it can handle the crowds.
“We’ve definitely planned for it to be busy,” he said. “We’ve factored in the popularity we’ve seen at our other stores and planned accordingly. More staff, more space, more stations. We’re ready.”
Located just beside the mall, the new store joins fellow newcomer Yochi in bringing fresh dining energy to Henley ahead of summer. So if you’ve been waiting for your next hotpot fix or curious to test the hype, this is your cue.
“Henley has such a strong community, and we’ve designed the store with that in mind,” said Lau. “It’s going to be a great new addition.
What: 18th Street Hotpot Henley Beach
When: Open now
Where: 354 Seaview Road, Henley Beach
For the website, click here.
For the Instagram, click here.
For more info on new locations, click here.
Current locations include Adelaide Central Market, Hindley Street, Burnside, Glenelg, and Henley. Arndale opening soon.
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