The North Side isn’t flush with hot pot spots but Chengdu Aroma shouldn’t be overlooked. This Lakeview restaurant specializes in Sichuan dishes and does hot pot too. The signature Chengdu-style broth takes two-to-three hours to prepare and consists of more than 20 ingredients including beef tallow and crushed chilis. Those who want the best bang for their buck can indulge themselves — for $23.95 per person — during specific all-you-can-eat hours. Online ordering is available here.

Pilsen residents don’t have to go far to get their hot pot fix thanks to YY Hot Pot. Feast on a diverse array of soup bases, meats, seafood, veggies, tofu, mushrooms, and more. A robust sauce bar, where diners can mix and match to create the perfect flavor combinations, complements the food.

Stylish and decorated with modern Chinese accents, Laojiumen is a hot pot newcomer that’s worthy of attention. In addition to the standard meats, seafood, and veggies, the menu also boasts a variety of tofu, meat/seafood balls, and noodles. And there’s all-you-can-eat for $24.88 per person.

The largest hot pot chain in China, Haidilao is a high-end experience filled with rich broths, premium ingredients, and entertaining service. Guests will find luxurious items like Prime ribeye, A5 wagyu, Kurobuta pork, and sliced abalone, as well as “dancing noodles” that are hand-pulled at the table. The restaurant adds theatrics to the meal by using robots to bring out the food, and there’s an extensive sauce bar that’s also stocked with fruits and desserts.

One of the most popular spots in Chinatown, Happy Lamb is a quintessential communal dining experience. The flavorful broths and high quality proteins are the restaurant’s strengths, and the all-you-can-eat option — priced at $23.99 per person — is ideal for first-timers or novices, letting them easily order a bit of everything by checking off items (and quantities) on a paper menu. There’s also a longer a la carte menu and a dipping sauce bar. After the hot pot action, cool off with complimentary soft serve ice cream.

A China-based hot pot chain that was established in 1987, Mrs Gu made its way to Chicago last year with the help of local restaurateur Tony Hu. Start by choosing between several soup bases, including spicy, sour pickle, black chicken mushroom, and tomato. Then head to the sauce station to get some flavor boosts. Finally, go to the fridge and pick up as many skewers of meats and veggies as the heart (and stomach) desires. The selection features a bunch of offal cuts, such as chicken gizzards, duck feet, pork intestine, and beef throat.

There are plenty of Chinese restaurants spread across the city but only a few that tackle Taiwanese cuisine. At this Bridgeport cafe, diners have four different Taiwanese-style hot pots to enjoy. There’s a popular seafood hot pot loaded with shrimp, scallops, crab meat, mussels, squid, and more, plus an “adventurous” option full of pork intestines, pork blood, and stinky tofu. Spicy food lovers can dial up the heat with a kimchi hot pot. Online orders are available here.

Travel a bit south of Chinatown to Bridgeport for chuan chuan — which translates to skewers — hot pot. Originating in China’s Sichuan province, this style is characterized by an assortment of ingredients on bamboo sticks. Folks select a soup base and walk over to the self-service fridges to grab their proteins. Similar to fondue, the skewers are then dipped into the broth until they’re fully cooked. Online ordering is available here.