I’m writing this review the morning after enjoying the best restaurant experience I’ve had so far in 2023, Lazy Boy Hot Pot at Mawson Lakes in the northern suburbs of Adelaide. Lazy Boy is a new establishment situated on Victoria Parade in Mawson Lakes. It offers a unique culinary experience with its Malatang Hotpot, a Chinese-style hotpot where the ingredients are already cooked for the customers.
Unlike traditional hotpots where customers cook their own food at the table, at Lazy Boy Hot Pot, customers simply select their desired ingredients and choose between two broths – the standard Malatang broth or the Tom Yum soup. The Malatang broth is renowned for its numbing and spicy flavor, as “Malatang” translates to “numbing, spicy, and soup.”
The eatery has now expanded its menu to include stir-fry dishes which is what I had, and can be ordered in a similar fashion to the hot pot. I had mine with the sweet and sour sauce, and it was cooked to perfection!
The ambiance of the restaurant is vibrant and contemporary, adorned with a bright red color scheme. In addition, the restaurant provides ample parking right in front of the establishment for customers’ convenience. Also, it is just a 5 minute walk from Mawson Lakes interchange, so that’s 20 mins from Adelaide by train and about 30 mins from Gawler by train.
Upon entering Lazyboy Hotpot, your attention is immediately drawn to a white neon sign featuring a man holding a bowl of noodles. The interiors of the establishment are designed by Faculty Design, with a bold red, black and white colour scheme that adds to the overall striking appearance. The spacious area is perfect for groups, with numerous tables available. Lazyboy Hotpot is exclusively dedicated to serving malatang dishes.
The Process
Heads up the place is very popular, so can get busy quickly. Best to go earlier in the evening.
Heading inside you get greeted quickly. The concept behind the place is quite impressive: simply take a bowl and fill it with your desired food items – ranging from a diverse selection of meats, vegetables, noodles, fish, tofu, and more – to create your perfect combination.
The marinated beef, in particular, is exceptionally delicious. Afterward, at the counter, the bowl is weighed, and you can choose between a hot pot or stir fry cooking style. I went with the stir fry.
Personally I couldn’t get enough of the egg noodles and marinated beef. Really fantastic, mouth is watering just thinking about it again.
Your cooked food arrives at the table very quickly, they don’t take long to cook it. It truly is a fast food place, but healthy, tastes great and it has a fun atmosphere.
I’m more of a meat with vegetables and noodles person, not so much fish or shellfish fan.
Oyster mushrooms and fish roe balls are just a couple of the popular ingredients at Lazyboy Hotpot, as the variety of options seems endless. Customers can choose from an assortment of eggs, including quail, raw, and boiled, as well as other savory items such as fried dough, pumpkin, oysters, dumplings, tteokbokki (rice cakes), bitter melon, and okra.
The menu also features the classic hotpot ingredients like bok choy, choy sum, daikon, lotus root, kang kong (water spinach), and Chinese cabbage and broccoli. For noodle enthusiasts, there are several options available, including udon, hokkien, flat-rice, and instant noodles.
You have the freedom to choose your portion size, and the cost is determined by the weight of your bowl. It’s worth noting that the price can add up quickly if you’re not mindful. Alternatively, sharing a large bowl with others could be a more cost-effective solution.
To soothe your palate, Lazyboy Hotpot also offers a range of Asian grocery favorites, such as Yeo’s canned drinks (including lychee, soya bean, sugar cane, and wintermelon) and Mesona Grass Jelly, in addition to soft drinks, iced tea, soju, and a small selection of beers. I had a Welch’s, always a favourite, and tried the strawberry which was a new flavour to me.
Will I be back for more?
Absolutely. If you’re looking for a place where you can customise your meal with fresh ingredients, this is one of the top options. The staff provides excellent service, going above and beyond to make you feel welcomed. The venue is clean and comfortable, offering tables for both small and large groups. While there may be a short wait to secure a table due to their popularity, it’s well worth it. Furthermore, you can also order food for pickup via UberEats, so take advantage of this option!
