AI and Hot Pot: A New Paradigm for Dining Experiences

During the Spring Festival of 2026, the emerging dining brand “X-HotPot” made its debut on multiple Spring Festival Gala broadcasts, including those from Beijing Satellite TV, Oriental TV, and Jiangsu Satellite TV. Founded less than a year ago, X-HotPot quickly captured attention as a rising star in the dining industry. With a strategic approach to media outreach, the brand achieved significant visibility during the holiday season, highlighting its unique narrative of “Nature’s Inspiration Meets AI Wisdom.”

Breaking Through in a Competitive Market

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, X-HotPot represented the offline dining sector on the stages of various mainstream television stations, reflecting its strong position in the highly competitive hot pot market. In today’s dining industry, mere expansion and low pricing are no longer effective strategies; refined operations and value innovation are essential for new brands to thrive.

In this context, X-HotPot has chosen a different path from traditional hot pot establishments. By blending Sichuan-style hot pot with natural, wild ingredients, it has attracted a broad consumer base with its authentic approach. Since its inception in 2025, X-HotPot has quickly risen to prominence, becoming a culinary landmark in cities such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Xi’an, while also embarking on a rapid global expansion plan with an ambitious goal of opening 10,000 stores in three years. The new year has already seen the opening of locations in Suzhou Bay and Rizhao Wanda, allowing more customers to experience the unique charm of mountain-style hot pot.

“Embracing Nature with Technology”

For dining brands, the product remains the core competitive advantage. The first secret weapon that attracts diners to X-HotPot lies within its broth. The brand’s innovative “Boiling Beef Fat Broth” revolutionizes the traditional slow-cooking method by pouring hot beef fat into the pot to release an intense aroma, creating a dual sensory impact that has led to over 80% order rates and nearly 100% satisfaction ratings.

The concept of “mountain and wilderness” is deeply embedded in the brand’s appeal. X-HotPot has established a “global direct sourcing supply chain” and plans to invest in ten ecological agriculture bases in 2026, starting from key production areas like Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan. This initiative aims to create a more complete, stable, and distinctive product offering, ensuring that natural ingredients like mushrooms are “harvested daily and delivered the next day,” maximizing freshness and authentic flavors.

Additionally, with a store ambiance designed around natural aesthetics, X-HotPot transforms the dining experience into an immersive journey through the wilderness. The brand extends the “mountain” experience beyond taste to engage all five senses, incorporating customized atmospheric elements and a unique beverage series inspired by nature, creating an urban “nature healing space” for customers to enjoy a serene dining experience.

If the extraordinary product is the magnetic force attracting customers, the seamless integration of AI technology and smart systems serves as a powerful engine for efficient operations and competitive differentiation. In-store, X-HotPot employs welcoming robots, robotic dogs, and intelligent food delivery systems to enhance service efficiency and enjoyment, solidifying the brand’s youthful and innovative image. On the operational side, an AI-driven ordering system accurately forecasts demand and minimizes waste, while a dynamic pricing model optimizes profits. The membership management system leverages data analytics for targeted marketing, boosting repeat purchases. With technology enabling operations, flagship stores have seen human resource costs reduced by approximately 30%, significantly improving operational efficiency and profitability.

From Regional Success to Global Expansion

X-HotPot has received favorable market feedback, with its Shanghai flagship store achieving a table turnover rate of over 4.5 times. New locations have quickly ranked among the top hot pot spots in their regions, demonstrating the robust replicability and vitality of the X-HotPot model. The proven health of its single-store model has laid a solid foundation for rapid growth.

In 2025, X-HotPot launched its global strategy, recently securing 81 store agreements across three countries and nine cities, expanding its footprint to Singapore, Cambodia, and beyond. The brand’s debut at the Shanghai Franchise Exhibition attracted nearly 700 potential global partners. Just before the Spring Festival, X-HotPot was also featured at the prestigious “Super Bowl” event, signaling its ambition for global expansion, with plans for its first North American store on the horizon.

From Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai to national and international markets, including Singapore, Cambodia, and the United States, X-HotPot is rapidly bringing its innovative hot pot experience of “Mountain Flavor + AI Wisdom” to the world. The brand’s appearances on significant platforms like the Super Bowl and Spring Festival Gala not only provide high visibility but also mark important milestones in its development journey. They illustrate how dining brands can leverage “product differentiation” and “operational intelligence” to break traditional barriers and achieve high-quality, sustainable growth in a new consumer era. As X-HotPot embarks on this new chapter, its vision for global expansion continues to gain momentum, rapidly becoming a reality.