One of the most exciting parts of eating hotpot—besides the bubbling broth and endless dipping—is customizing your own dipping sauce. Sauce bars are a signature feature at many hotpot restaurants, offering dozens of ingredients to mix, match, and experiment with. But if you’re hosting hotpot at home, there’s no reason you can’t recreate this experience in your own kitchen. Here’s how to build the ultimate hotpot sauce bar that brings restaurant-level flavor to your table.

Start with the Base Sauces
Every great hotpot dipping sauce begins with a flavorful base. Here are a few essential starting points:

• Soy Sauce: A salty, umami-rich foundation
  
• Sesame Paste or Peanut Sauce: Nutty and creamy, often thinned with a bit of water
  
• Sha Cha Sauce (Chinese BBQ sauce): A bold, garlicky condiment made from dried shrimp, brill fish, and shallots
  
• Chili Oil: Adds heat and depth—store-bought is fine, but homemade offers more control over spice level
  

You can find most of these ingredients at local Asian markets or online at sites like H Mart and Weee!.

Add the Mix-Ins
Once you’ve selected your base, it’s time to customize. Common mix-ins include:

• Minced Garlic
  
• Chopped Scallions
  
• Fresh Cilantro
  
• Crushed Peanuts or Sesame Seeds
  
• Vinegar (black or rice)
  
• Fermented Tofu
  
• Sugar (to balance heat)
  

These elements bring crunch, freshness, acidity, and complexity. Let your guests build their own sauces or pre-mix a few crowd-pleasers for inspiration.

Spice It Up (Optional)
If you’re catering to spice lovers, offer heat-level options:

• Chili Crisp (like Lao Gan Ma)
  
• Fresh chopped Thai chilies
  
• Sichuan peppercorn oil
  
• Doubanjiang (fermented broad bean chili paste)
  

Not everyone can handle intense spice, so label everything clearly and keep neutral options on hand.

Provide Small Bowls and Spoons
The sauce bar should be set up with plenty of small bowls, tasting spoons, and napkins. Allow each person to experiment and remix as they go. Having printed or written recipe suggestions nearby—like “spicy garlic sesame” or “umami herb blend”—helps inspire creativity.

Pro Tips for a Smoother Setup

• Use a muffin tin or small ramekins to neatly organize toppings
  
• Keep everything chilled until just before serving
  
• Offer a variety of textures: creamy, crunchy, liquid, and thick
  

If you’re planning a DIY hotpot night, it’s also worth picking up a portable induction cooker and divided hotpot pot. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target carry affordable models suitable for home use.

Looking to Save on Ingredients?
Before shopping for sauce bar supplies, check platforms like Rakuten or Ibotta for grocery deals. You can also use a gift card purchased via Fluz to earn cashback at select stores, stretching your budget for this flavorful DIY night.

Creating your own hotpot sauce bar at home brings flavor, fun, and interactivity to the table. With just a little prep and a mix of essential ingredients, you can rival even the best restaurant setups—on your own terms.