Hotpot Instinct G/F, 52 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay Tel: 2573 2844
Grub: Chinese hotpot and seafood.
Vibe: Both the ground floor and upstairs level have a casual and lively atmosphere. Space is tight and tables are closely packed, which means things can get noisy, and very steamy, at busy times. Large groups can reserve the VIP room.
Who to bring: A group of friends who aren't too worried about coming home with their hair and clothes smelling strongly of cooking.
What's hot: The restaurant has a wide range of soup bases, including a tasty pork bone and tomato broth and some unusual options such as chicken and fish maw, and the expected range of fish balls, dumplings, meat, seafood and vegetables. The beef balls were particularly tasty.
What's not: The Sichuan pepper soup base was deliciously fiery, with the bright red chillies forming a rich foam, but it was too heavy on the peppercorns, overwhelming the taste of items we cooked in it.
