Panda Hot Pot

The Verdict

It's been two years in the making, but Panda Hot Pot is now open in Melbourne.

Formerly known as Dracula's theatre restaurant, the site has been transformed into a family-friendly restaurant that features stage shows every night, and an enormous 1.5-tonne floating dragon looking down upon diners.

Melbourne's Panda Hot Pot is one of more than 400 restaurants around the world and will feature the group's signature hot pot recipes with ingredients, and chefs flown in from China's Sichuan province.

Ordering is simple, order a soup base (crazy, hot, or mild), order some dishes from the menu (Panda Hot Pot recommends 4-5 dishes per person), create your own dipping sauce from the array of sauces on the table, and you're good to go.

Image credit: Annika Kafcaloudis