Photo credit: Izaac Niemann
It’s bright, airy, bubbling away with fiery broth, and already bringing a buzz to Adelaide’s west.
Little Ladle Hotpot has officially opened at Westfield West Lakes, bringing customisable hotpot, fresh daily ingredients and the bold flavours of Malatang to one of Adelaide’s busiest shopping destinations.
Located on Level 1, the new restaurant is welcoming groups for steaming bowls, trays piled high with fresh ingredients, and the kind of lively hum that makes hotpot a real occasion.
Diners start by choosing their broth, then build their own bowl from a huge selection of marinated meats, seafood, vegetables and hotpot favourites. Whether you’re after something light and nourishing or spicy enough to warm you from the inside out, every bowl can be made to suit your own taste.
“It’s a place where friends and families can come together to enjoy a dining experience that’s as much about connection as it is about food,” Little Ladle Hotpot owner and manager Michael Du said. “Little Ladle offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere that captures the essence of comfort and community dining.”
Soup bases include tomato, mushroom and tangy tom yum, but for those chasing the real heat, the Sichuan Malatang is a major drawcard. Rich, spicy and full of depth, the milky broth is traditionally made from slow-cooked beef or pork bones, then layered with chilli bean paste and Sichuan peppercorns for that signature kick.
You can also skip the broth entirely and go for the dry stir-fry hotpot option, which delivers the same bold flavour in a different style.
There are plenty of sides to round out the meal too, including crispy fried youtiao pastry, made for dipping into broth, hollow sesame doughnuts and other snack-style bites that pair perfectly with a big bowl of hotpot. Plus, there’s a DIY sauce station with 12 sauces to finish your bowl.
Hotpot has surged in popularity across Adelaide in recent years, and Little Ladle taps right into what people love about it. It’s flexible, social, generous and ideal for everything from casual catch-ups and date nights to family dinners where everyone wants something slightly different.
With its open, welcoming fit-out and choose-your-own style menu, Little Ladle brings a fresh dining option to the West Lakes centre giving locals a new place to settle in, spice things up and build their perfect bowl.
Little Ladle Hotpot
When: 10am to 10pm daily
Where: Westfield West Lakes
For more information, click here.
