Have you ever imagined having a personal hotpot meal while watching a movie in the cinema?
It’s no longer a dream because Dadi Cinema at Pavilion is introducing the first-ever hotpot cinema experience in Kuala Lumpur soon, where you can enjoy a steaming bowl of hotpot while watching your favourite movies.
Pre-launch Experience Session
The cinema operator has recently organised an experience session for a group of influencers during the premiere of The Unwavering Brotherhood.
They took to Facebook to announce that “The first ever hotpot cinema is coming soon” and shared the about the session hosted.
The diners can be seen having a full set of hotpot meals in the dark with a lamp at every seat. The post also shows that the cinema is collaborating with a renowned hotpot brand as their food provider.
In the post, they have yet to announce other details of how the hotpot cinema is going to work.
Sneak Peek from Influencers’ Posts
However, some details can be found in the short videos shared by some influencers invited to the session.
The hotpot ingredients were fixed and plated in a nine-square grid plate.
As for the soup base, moviegoers got to choose one from three including tomato soup, collagen chicken soup or the brand’s signature butter-based traditional Sichuan Mala soup.
Netizens: Are you sure?
While this idea sounds like a foodie’s dream not everyone’s excited about it. One of the biggest concerns? Hygiene.
Most netizens expressed concerns that serving hot food in a dark cinema could invite unwanted guests—like cockroaches and rats—if cleanliness isn’t up to par.
The idea of strong food odours lingering in the theatre also didn’t sit well with some, who feared it could mess with the movie experience for other patrons.
“Polluted and chaotic—just to make money, they’ll think of anything. The strong smell of hotpot in a closed-off cinema will leave you reeking of it when you walk out. It’s enough to suffocate anyone.”
Not A New Thing In China
Although this might be the first hotpot cinema in Malaysia, it’s not an entirely new idea—hotpot cinemas have already been a hit in Chengdu, China since last year.
The initiative has drawn mixed reactions from netizens back then too. Supporters praised the comfort and the idea of enjoying a meal while watching a movie, but critics pointed out potential drawbacks.
They felt that this approach could do a disservice to both the food and the movie, with loud slurping and chewing noises potentially overpowering the movie’s dialogue.
There were also concerns that if viewers focused on the screen, their hotpot ingredients, like beef tripe, might end up overcooked.
What do you think about the hotpot cinema idea? Share with us in the comment section!
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