First let me just get this out of the way: I LOVE Shanghai Hinabe.

This simple spot tucked into a block in Benmore Gardens has only one square room, bare walls, and about six tables. But they are all full of happy diners tucking into giant vats of soup.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, hot-pot is a dining style where patrons order a selection of meats, seafood, veg and noodles, then drop them into a boiling pot of broth built into the center of the table. In this case, it’s a Japanese concept executed by a Chinese owner, with Chinese ingredients and preparation.

It’s more social dining than haute cuisine, and appeals to those who are good at collaborative ordering –and who don’t mind taking a hands-on approach to their meal. The round tables are conducive to groups, who noisily chatter away as they dunk their scallops and noodles from the broth then fish them out again a few minutes later. You can order the broth in either the mild or spicy version, but I recommend going with the spicy – it’s not THAT spicy and it’s much better than the bland unspiced variety. You can also get a half-and-half pot, but this is a bit awkward to maneuver your food into if you like spicy broth and have the misfortune of being on the wrong side of the table to easily reach that particular half of the pot.

The diminutive middle-aged owner personally oversees the place and will occasionally pop round to check on you, though I can’t say the same of the other staff, who were sometimes nowhere to be seen. There were also a few communication glitches regarding what types of drinks were available and what the names of the condiments were at the condiment bar, but like I said, this is NOT a fancy place.

It may be plain, and the service somewhat erratic, but Shanghai Hinabe is friendly, tasty, and above all offers great value – my companion and I paid less than R150 (US$14) for an absolute HEAP of food. In this way it is unique among Joburg restaurants.