Where We Are Going Today: Hot Pot - a Chinese cuisine in Riyadh

Photo/Supplied
Short Url
Updated 03 February 2023
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Hot Pot - a Chinese cuisine in Riyadh

  • It offers a selection of add-ons to the hot pot concept: meat, vegetables and noodles, an array of seafood including shrimp, fish, and crab balls or squid rings, or more common selections such as crab sticks or sea bass

While the temperatures are still low in Riyadh, what better way to send off the winter season than to gather with friends and family for a hot meal?

In your next hunt for comfort food, head to Hot Pot, a local joint where diners get to experience a modern take on Chinese cuisine.

Historically, Mongolian warriors would keep warm as they gathered around a fire beneath the pot in which they had cooked their meal.

In modern times, restaurants offer a divided or split pot, commonly known as yuanyang pots, for diners to fill their soup with different ingredients, or choose a different broth-base for each side.

Hot Pot, located on the northern end of King Abdulaziz Road, is a cozy spot.

It offers a selection of add-ons to the hot pot concept: meat, vegetables and noodles, an array of seafood including shrimp, fish, and crab balls or squid rings, or more common selections such as crab sticks or sea bass.

One of the more popular dipping ingredients is beef rolls made of thinly sliced meat, but it also offers sausages, chicken wings, tofu, and much more.

A miso-based sculpted teddy bear is placed in one of the yuanyang pots as the server pours the hot broth into the container, dissolving the figure into a hearty base. The selected ingredients are added in, including veggies and noodles.

The meal can also be made vegan just by removing any meat orders to the pot.

Diners can also add on various dips to their bowls, such as Chinese chive flowers, chili sauce, and sesame paste. Pour in the cooked creation onto your sauce-glazed bowl, and pack a punch with the flavorful meal.

The restaurant is also decorated with modernized Chinese murals and lantern motifs, overlayed by East Asian instrumental melodies, giving a cozy but authentic ambiance to the dining experience.

Hot Pot is open to the public from 12-2 p.m., and opens again from 6-11 p.m. daily with limited seating.

 


Where We Are Going Today: Crozy

Updated 12 March 2026
Follow

Where We Are Going Today: Crozy

Some desserts look heavy before you even take a bite, but that was not the case at Crozy. From the first try, the pastries were airy, fluffy and light, offering a comforting taste without the feeling of consuming overly high-calorie sweets. 

The pastries lean toward a fruity and slightly sweet profile, avoiding the common pitfall of being overwhelmed by sugar. The texture is puffy and delicate, and I genuinely loved and savored my first bite. 

I opted for the berry filling, though the menu offers a variety of flavors. The balance between the fruitiness and the soft pastry made the experience feel indulgent yet surprisingly light. 

The coffee was another highlight. It had a dark, toasted profile with a rich and favorable coffee taste. What stood out most was the savory aftertaste, which lingered pleasantly and paired beautifully with the sweetness of the pastry. Together, the pastry and coffee created a wonderful combination. 

Crozy also stands out for its presentation. The packaging is stylish and thoughtfully designed, and the creativity in the flavors reflects a brand that clearly puts effort into both aesthetics and taste. 

Boxes are priced between SR95 ($25.30) and SR200, depending on the size and variety of pastries included. 

One downside is accessibility. The brand appears to have only one branch located in Dhahrat Al-Laban, meaning you may need to make a dedicated trip if you want to try it. It is also available via delivery apps.

While the pastries themselves are truly impressive, flavorful, light and beautifully presented, service consistency could improve. On one occasion, an order for creme brulee was substituted with pistachio because the original item was unavailable, which was disappointing. 

Despite this, Crozy delivers a memorable dessert experience. The flavors are creative, the pastries are deliciously light, and the coffee pairing makes it a place dessert lovers will likely find themselves returning to.