Big Way Hot Pot New West: Menu, Opening & Reviews (2025)
Anyone who has tried to find a quick, satisfying hot pot meal in New Westminster knows the hunt can be frustrating. Big Way Hot Pot, with its self-serve model and transit-friendly location at 800 Carnarvon St, aims to change that, covering everything from the menu and how it works to what early reviewers are saying so you can decide if it’s worth the trip.
Address: 800 Carnarvon St #344, New Westminster, BC ·
Rating: 4.0/5 (Tripadvisor) ·
Reviews: 2 (as of July 2025) ·
Cuisine: Hot Pot ·
Service Style: Self-serve, cooked to order
Quick snapshot
- Address: 800 Carnarvon St #344, New Westminster BC (Tripadvisor)
- Average rating 4.0/5 from 2 reviews (Tripadvisor)
- Official website lists New Westminster location (Big Way Hot Pot)
- First Tripadvisor review from January 18, 2025 (Tripadvisor)
- Exact opening date
- Full menu with prices
- Operating hours (Tripadvisor lists 11 AM – 2 AM, but not verified)
- Availability of vegetarian, vegan, or halal options
- First Tripadvisor review: January 18, 2025 (Tripadvisor)
- Blog review published: July 17, 2025 (Sherman’s Food Adventures)
- Inferred opening: sometime in 2025 (based on official site listing) (Tripadvisor)
- More reviews expected as word spreads
- Possible expansion of menu or hours
- Competition from other hot pot spots in the Lower Mainland
Big Way Hot Pot transforms a traditionally group-oriented, hour-long meal into a solo-friendly 15-minute affair. For commuters stepping off the SkyTrain at New Westminster Station, that speed is the difference between a rushed lunch and a proper one.
When did Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster open?
Opening timeline
The exact opening date of Big Way Hot Pot in New Westminster hasn’t been officially announced. The earliest public evidence comes from a Tripadvisor user review posted on January 18, 2025, suggesting the restaurant was already operating by mid-January 2025. The official Big Way Hot Pot website includes the New Westminster location on its location list, but no opening date is published.
First reviews and blog posts
The first professional review came from restaurant guide Sherman’s Food Adventures on July 17, 2025, describing the space as “a former pub with a spacious dining room” and noting a view of the Fraser River. A Reddit user in the r/NewWest community also shared their experience, praising the quick-service format.
Bottom line: For anyone tracking Big Way Hot Pot’s expansion, the New Westminster location was already serving customers by January 2025, though the company hasn’t confirmed an official opening date. Early visitors found a functioning restaurant with a fully operational self-serve setup.
Unlike many chain openings that issue press releases, Big Way Hot Pot appears to have launched quietly. The gap between the first customer review (January) and the first blog review (July) suggests the restaurant built its customer base through word-of-mouth and foot traffic from the adjacent mall.
What is on the menu at Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster?
Meat and seafood options
Customers select raw ingredients from a self-serve bar. According to Sherman’s Food Adventures, the New Westminster location offers a variety of meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and eggs. The official Big Way Hot Pot website lists broth bases including Signature Mala Broth, Collagen Bone Broth, Classic Mala Broth with Sesame Paste, Tomato Broth, Miso Broth, and Tom Yum with Coconut Broth. The specific New Westminster selection may vary.
Vegetables and broths
The blog review specifically highlights the lemongrass broth as “super fragrant with a big hit of lemongrass as well as the galangal.” The self-serve bar includes a wide range of vegetables, making it easy to build a custom bowl. A review by Sincerely, Loewe mentions that a typical bowl costs around $15 (price varies by weight).
Sauces and toppings
A YouTube review by VEGANTWOSOME describes a DIY sauce bar at other Big Way locations. While the New Westminster branch’s sauce selection isn’t documented in detail, the chain’s standard offering includes a range of sauces and toppings to customize the final bowl. After the meal, complimentary soft-serve ice cream is offered — a detail confirmed by both Sherman’s Food Adventures and Sincerely, Loewe.
The chain’s menu components provide a clear picture of what to expect at this location.
| Category | Options (examples) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Broths | Signature Mala, Collagen Bone, Tomato, Miso, Tom Yum with Coconut | Big Way Hot Pot |
| Proteins | Beef, chicken, shrimp, fish balls, tofu | Sherman’s Food Adventures |
| Vegetables | Bok choy, mushrooms, spinach, corn, tomatoes | Wanderlog |
| Noodles & More | Udon, rice noodles, eggs, dumplings | Wanderlog |
| Sauces | DIY sauce bar (soy, sesame, chili, garlic, etc.) | VEGANTWOSOME YouTube |
| Free dessert | Soft-serve ice cream after meal | Sherman’s Food Adventures |
Where is Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster located and how do I get there?
Exact address and mall location
The restaurant is at 344-800 Carnarvon St, New Westminster, BC V3M 0G3. It’s inside the New Westminster Station mall, where the former pub space was converted into a spacious dining room with crescent booth seating, according to Sherman’s Food Adventures.
Nearby SkyTrain station
The mall is directly connected to New Westminster SkyTrain station on the Expo Line. You can walk from the platform to the restaurant in under two minutes without going outside — a major convenience for transit users.
Parking availability
Sherman’s Food Adventures notes that a paid parkade is available on-site. Parking costs are not confirmed, but given the mall location, expect standard hourly rates. Street parking is limited.
Bottom line: The location is designed for transit access. If you’re driving, factor in paid parking. For SkyTrain riders, it’s about as convenient as a restaurant gets in New Westminster.
How does the self-serve hot pot experience work at Big Way New Westminster?
Step-by-step ordering process
- Join the waitlist — Use the Snappy app to add your name before arriving, or use the tablet at the entrance (Sherman’s Food Adventures).
- Grab a bowl — Walk through the self-serve bar and pick your ingredients: meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, eggs. Fill your bowl to your preference.
- Choose a broth — Select from broths like Mala, Collagen Bone, Tomato, Miso, or Tom Yum with Coconut (chain menu; confirmed on Big Way Hot Pot’s website).
- Select sauces — Visit the DIY sauce bar to add dressings and seasonings.
- Hand it over — Staff weigh your bowl, cook it in the chosen broth (typically 5-10 minutes), and serve it back ready to eat.
- Enjoy your meal — After finishing, grab a complimentary soft-serve ice cream cone on your way out.
Cooking method
Unlike traditional hot pot where you cook ingredients yourself at the table, Big Way’s staff does the cooking. A Reddit user explained: “They cook it for you and it’s served ready to eat. You pick out the ingredients yourself at the bar.” This makes it a quick-service meal, not a slow communal event.
Dining experience tips
The entrance and start of the self-serve line can create a bottleneck, especially during peak hours — Sherman’s Food Adventures warns that the line can be awkward. Go on off-peak times (early afternoon or late evening) to avoid the crush.
Convenience comes with a compromise: you lose the hands-on fun of DIY hot pot. For solo diners or quick meals, that trade-off works. For groups wanting a slow, interactive meal, a traditional hot pot restaurant may be a better fit.
What do customers and reviewers say about Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster?
Tripadvisor rating and reviews
As of July 2025, the restaurant holds a 4.0 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor based on 2 reviews. The small sample size makes it premature to draw strong conclusions, but both reviews are positive. If you’re looking for a great hot pot experience in New Westminster, check out Big Way Hot Pot’s menu here Irish pub Helsinki opas.
Blog review highlights
Sherman’s Food Adventures praised the lemongrass broth, the spacious seating, and the free soft-serve. The reviewer noted the bottleneck at the entrance as a downside but said the overall experience was solid.
Reddit community feedback
A Reddit user on r/NewWest summarized the concept: “They cook it for you and it’s served ready to eat. You pick out the ingredients yourself at the bar.” Community sentiment was curious and generally positive, with interest in the quick-service model.
“It is super fragrant with a big hit of lemongrass as well as the galangal. The coconut comes through with aromatics and the tanginess makes…”
— Sherman’s Food Adventures, describing the lemongrass broth
“They cook it for you and it’s served ready to eat. You pick out the ingredients yourself at the bar.”
— Reddit user, r/NewWest
The pattern: Reviewers consistently highlight the speed and the broth flavors as strengths. The main caveats are the bottleneck at the entrance and the limited number of reviews so far.
Upsides
- Self-serve allows full control over ingredients
- Quick cooking (5–10 minutes)
- Lemongrass broth singled out as standout
- Free soft-serve ice cream included
- Convenient SkyTrain access
Downsides
- Bottleneck at entrance and self-serve line
- Paid parking only
- Very few reviews (only 2 on Tripadvisor)
- Exact prices not confirmed
- No explicit vegetarian/vegan/halal options confirmed
Timeline: Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster’s early months
- January 18, 2025 — First Tripadvisor review posted (Tripadvisor)
- July 17, 2025 — Detailed blog review published by Sherman’s Food Adventures (Sherman’s Food Adventures)
- 2025 — Official Big Way Hot Pot website lists New Westminster as an active location (Big Way Hot Pot)
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
What we’ve confirmed
- Address: 800 Carnarvon St #344, New Westminster
- Tripadvisor rating: 4.0/5 (2 reviews)
- First customer review: January 18, 2025
- Blog review date: July 17, 2025
- Official website lists location
What remains unclear
- Exact opening date
- Full menu with prices (weight-based pricing not confirmed)
- Operating hours (Tripadvisor says 11 AM–2 AM, unverified)
- Whether vegetarian/vegan/halal options are available
- Waitlist via Snappy app availability (mentioned in a single review)
- Complimentary soft-serve after meal (unconfirmed by the restaurant)
- Future menu or service changes
Summary: Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster offers a fresh, fast take on hot pot in a transit-adjacent location. The self-serve model works particularly well for solo diners and commuters who want a hot, customizable meal without the hour-long commitment of traditional hot pot. For families or groups seeking a shared experience, the quick-service format may feel rushed. The limited review data means early visitors are shaping the restaurant’s reputation — your feedback could help clarify what’s currently unclear. For New Westminster residents and SkyTrain commuters, the choice is between convenience and tradition; Big Way clearly picks the former.
For a broader look at the chain’s concept and other locations, check out the Big Way Hot Pot self-serve guide for more details on the self-serve experience.
Frequently asked questions
Does Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster have a loyalty program?
There is no public information about a loyalty program at this location. The official website and social media don’t mention one. You can check with staff when you visit.
Can I make a reservation at Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster?
The restaurant uses a digital waitlist via the Snappy app rather than traditional reservations. You can add your name before arriving to reduce wait time (Sherman’s Food Adventures).
Is parking available near Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster?
Yes, a paid parkade is available at the mall. Street parking is limited. The easiest access is via SkyTrain (Sherman’s Food Adventures).
Does Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster offer vegetarian or vegan options?
The self-serve bar includes vegetables, tofu, and noodles, so a vegetarian bowl is possible. However, the restaurant has not officially confirmed vegan options or whether the broths are plant-based.
What payment methods does Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster accept?
Payment methods haven’t been listed publicly. Most Big Way locations accept credit and debit cards, but it’s best to have cash as backup until more reviews confirm.
Is Big Way Hot Pot New Westminster wheelchair accessible?
The mall is wheelchair accessible, and the former pub space has a level entrance. The self-serve bar is reachable, but the narrow bottleneck at the start could be tight. Contact the restaurant directly for specifics.
Are there any discounts for students or seniors?
No student or senior discounts have been mentioned in any reviews or on the official website. You can inquire at the counter during your visit.
Related reading
- Craft Beer Market False Creek: Menu, Reviews, Guide — Another dining guide in Vancouver’s Lower Mainland, perfect for foodies exploring the region.
- All You Can Eat Near Me: Best Ireland Buffets & Tips — Buffet-style dining concepts similar to self-serve hot pot, with tips for maximizing value.
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