Just when we thought Richmond’s hot pot craze might be slowing down, another one’s opening up.
And this time, it’s taking over a very familiar space.
We previously reported that longtime Taiwanese dessert shop Meet Fresh had shuttered its Union Square outpost and would be relocating.
Well, the signs are now up at the former location, and yes… it’s officially turning into another hot pot joint.
U Town Hot Pot is the newest name to join the increasingly saturated Richmond hot pot scene.
We spotted their signage up this week, confirming the takeover of the large Meet Fresh unit right next to SWEET7.
And in true 2025 fashion, it’s another malatang-style self-serve hot pot spot.
There isn’t much else known about U Town just yet.
A quick online search brings up nothing. No official website, no Instagram, not even a Google pin.
That likely means this is an independent operation rather than a franchise or known chain.
Which leads us to the burning question: what will U Town do to stand out?
Because let’s be honest, Richmond is already PACKED with the same concept.
From Big Way and Piping Hot, to Datang, Deer One (yes, Deer Garden’s new hot pot play), Grandma Liu, Meat Up, and more, self-serve hot pot has taken over nearly every corner of the city.
Sure, it was only a matter of time before Union Square (dubbed “Diabetes Plaza” by the Chinese community due to the insane amount of dessert and bubble tea shops) added another hot pot spot to the mix.
But with competition this steep, U Town will need something truly different to make a splash.
Meanwhile, the original Meet Fresh is moving just across the plaza into the former Pomona Coffee unit.
U Town Hot Pot joins a wave of upcoming food spots in Union Square, including Xin Snacks, Molly Tea, Blooming Spice Fish House, and of course the returning Meet Fresh.
We’ll keep our eyes peeled for U Town’s grand opening details, and fingers crossed they bring something fresh.
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: #1136, 8328 Capstan Wy, Richmond, BC V6X 4B6