We Eat at Da Long Yi Hotpot, Bilbao's First Hot Pot

If you're a fan of Asian food and looking for something different in Bilbao, don't miss a truly unique dining experience: the hot pot at Da Long Yi Hotpot. It's in the Urkixo Zumarkalea area, next to La Alhóndiga (Azkuna Zentroa), and offers the authentic Chinese hot pot experience.

Da Long Yi Hotpot at a glance

• What it is: Bilbao's first Chinese hot pot restaurant.
• Where: Urkixo Zumarkalea 34, next to La Alhóndiga (Azkuna Zentroa).
• How it works: you choose broths, raw ingredients and your sauce, and cook them in the pot at your table.
• Price: around €30–35 per person (there are also set menus).
• Opening hours: every day, from 13:00 to 16:30 and from 20:15 to 00:00.
• Booking: recommended, especially at weekends (tel. 676 47 84 46).
• Ideal for: groups, families and Asian-food lovers.

How does hot pot work?

The hot pot is much more than a meal, it's a whole dining experience. You can choose from several broths (up to three different ones) to prepare your pot. At the table, they'll set down a large pot with the broths and you'll be in charge of cooking your own food. Here's how it works:

They'll give you a menu and a pen so you can tick whatever you'd like to order.

1. Choose your broths

The first thing is to select the broths for your hot pot. You can choose 1, 2 or 3 different broths. We went for a tomato one (we loved it) and the classic pork-bone broth. The flavours are intense and perfect for cooking the ingredients. The waiters come round often to top up the pot with more broth.

2. Select your ingredients

This part is the trickiest, as the menu is packed with options: king prawns, fresh vegetables, meatballs, tofu, mushrooms, meats… everything you can imagine! Luckily, Dani, our waiter, explained everything and gave us a few recommendations. They also have vegetarian and vegan options like tofu, yuba and fresh vegetables, so there's no problem if you have any preferences or dietary restrictions.

3. Create your own sauce

And here comes the most fun part! On a table you'll find all the ingredients you need to make your sauce to taste. From spicy to sweet, you can follow the step-by-step recipes or dare to create a unique blend to complement your ingredients.

What did we order?

This is what we ordered to share at Da Long Yi Hotpot:

• Drinks: 1 Coca-Cola and 1 Nestea – €2.80 each
• 2-broth pot (tomato and pork bone) – €16.50
• Chinese bread – €2.50
• Vegetable gyoza – €5.90
• Meat gyoza – €5.90
• 2 king prawn skewers – €1.50 each
• Mixed mushroom combo – €12.50
• Sliced beef – €6.50
• Sliced Iberian pork – €7.80
• Noodles – €3.30

The approximate price per person is around €30–35, which we thought was excellent value given the quality of the ingredients and how fun the experience is. They also have set menus in case you'd rather not order à la carte.

Beyond the food, we were struck by how friendly the staff were and, especially, the presence of a fun little robot that serves the food, making the experience even more fun.

Address

Da Long Yi Hotpot is located at Urkixo Zumarkalea, 34 (next to La Alhóndiga).

Opening hours

Open every day from 13:00 to 16:30 and 20:15 to 00:00.

It's worth booking, especially at weekends. You can do so by phone (676 47 84 46) or via Instagram (@dalongyihotpot.es).

Can you go with kids?

Yes, and in fact it's a great family outing: the robot that serves the food delights the little ones, and cooking your own food in the pot turns the meal into something really entertaining. That said, bear in mind that in the middle of the table there's a pot of boiling broth, so it's wise to keep an eye on younger children to avoid burns.

Why should you try hot pot?

The hot pot isn't just a meal, it's an experience. It's ideal for groups or for enjoying a fun, different meal. You have complete freedom to choose what you like best and customise your dish to your taste. If you love Asian food, this is a plan you shouldn't miss in Bilbao.

I recommend reading: The 16 best things to do in Bilbao