Hot pot continues to be one of the hottest food trends, with new restaurants popping up in nearly every major neighborhood.
And as hot pot lovers, we’re not complaining.
With so much love for hot pot going on in the city, the city’s favourite hot pot brand is again expanding.
Our community member (@yukk028) spotted signage for Big Way Hot Pot going up at the former Menya Itto tsukemen shop, which shuttered back in November.
This marks the 2nd downtown Vancouver outpost for the popular hot pot brand, which first began in 2021 on Kingsway.
Big Way Hot Pot has built a loyal following thanks to its pick-and-choose hot pot style.
Diners can select from over 100 fresh ingredients, including a wide array of seafood, vegetables, and noodles.
Pricing is based on the weight of the bowl, making it a fully customizable experience for any appetite or budget.
You’ve likely seen the fun trend on social media of customers guessing the cost of their bowls, adding to the playful appeal of Big Way’s concept.
Back in July, Big Way announced plans for five new locations, including spots in the U.S., UBC, New Westminster, and Coquitlam.
The New Westminster location opened back in October, while the UBC outpost has faced delays.
Interestingly, the West End location wasn’t part of the initial announcement and seems to have come about following Menya Itto’s closure.
While there’s no confirmed opening date yet, word on the street is that this outpost is set to open very soon.
Based on our memory of eating inside Menya Itto, the size of unit is likely closer to Big Way’s Kerrisdale and Ackroyd locations.
A neat thing about Big Way is that each location’s interior is different and is based on the customer base of the location.
So we’re excited to see what they have in store for the West End location!
But West End residents can soon enjoy the self-serve, weighted hot pot experience Big Way is famous for.
We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about the opening date and interior details.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 1479 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC