I'm constantly on the lookout for new, unknown Asian restaurants. Every time I visit a city, I look for Asian restaurants that I want to visit beforehand. This time I was in Cologne and tried out the Chinese restaurant "Hot-Point" with my girlfriend.
Hot-Point is a classic "Hot-Pott" restaurant; in English "fire pot" and represents the Chinese cuisine of the Szechuan province. Szechuan cuisine is one of the hottest and most delicious cuisines in the world and is very well implemented in the Hot Point. This is also evident in the many visitors (very many Chinese) who like to visit this restaurant because of the authentic dishes.
Fire pot is the traditional Chinese fondue, where different ingredients are cooked in different broths. From many types of meat, seafood, fish, vegetables to noodles, everything can be cooked by you personally at the table. You choose for yourself what you want to eat and what not. For fire pot you mix your own sauces. For newcomers this seems difficult when choosing several sauces, so ask the staff for tasty variations. I always stir the following sauce, in my opinion you can't go wrong with it:
Hoisin sauce with a tablespoon of garlic and some chives
What is special about Hot Point is that in addition to the hot pot, several Chinese side dishes are offered which are chargeable in other Chinese restaurants. In the Hot Point you get a complete buffet, which includes fire pot, many very delicious side dishes, salads and desserts, and all this for an unbeatable €18 (evening buffet).
You can choose many ingredients for your fire pot and additionally 10 more Szechuan freshly cooked side dishes. I list some of them below.
Fire pot Buffet
For the fire pot you can choose between lamb and beef, as well as various mussels and fish parts. The vegetable department is richly filled with cabbage, mushrooms, tofu varieties and noodles.
Side dishes
For many people probably disgusting, but if you overcome yourself to try this side dish, you will be catapulted into the 7th heaven. We are talking about pork intestines Szechuan style. The pieces of meat soak up the magnificent sauce and make your mouth water just by smelling it. There are several Chinese dishes that sometimes bear the name "Mouth-Watering". Here your mouth really waters.
Of course, we wanted to try every side dish and they all, almost all, convinced us! The only side dish I didn't like so much was the Chinese style pork knuckle, because it was too fatty for me. Otherwise, every side dish was absolutely insane
There is absolutely nothing to complain about the price. Considering that all the side dishes are included, the buffet price could even be a little higher. In no Chinese restaurant so far were so many side dishes included in the price.
Conclusion:
The visit to the Hot Point was absolutely worthwhile and I will definitely come back if I'm in Cologne and want to eat Szechuan cuisine. The price is, if you include all the dishes, very cheap and absolutely justified. In addition, the restaurant offers homemade tasty lemonades, which ideally reduce the spiciness in the mouth and cool it down again.
For me, the ambience doesn't play a big role, but the restaurant is very spacious and cozy. Because of the large open space, it can get loud with many guests.
The restaurant is open until 10 pm and after 9 pm side dishes may not be refilled if there are not enough hungry guests left. Otherwise, the side dishes are freshly cooked and refilled.
My overall rating: 10/10 → The BEST Chinese restaurant for my taste that I have visited in Germany so far. Many traditional Chinese dishes and side dishes of Szechuan cuisine for one single price. Be sure to check it out.
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