Cyberpunk Spice and Sichuan Heat at YX Hot Pot on Bourke Street
Melbourne has no shortage of hot pot joints. From late-night haunts in the CBD to suburban staples, it's a scene that’s been simmering for years. But YX Hot Pot isn't just joining the table, it’s flipping it, adding a sci-fi twist and a serious design flex to the city’s growing obsession with Sichuan heat.
Now open on Bourke Street, YX Hot Pot is the latest project from TS Group, the hospitality powerhouse behind Sydney venues like YX Mini Hotpot and the Japanese-French fine diner Oborozuki. Known for bringing flair, precision, and deep pockets to every new venture, TS Group is expanding its reach into Melbourne, and they’re not tiptoeing in.
The new site is the first in a trilogy of concepts planned for the building. A Korean BBQ spot and rooftop bar are due later this year, but for now, it’s all about the hot pot. And this one comes with its own cinematic universe.
The space is a fever dream of chrome, neon, and moody lighting. Designed by a specialist interior team from China, the fitout channels the chaos of a Chongqing night market through a cyberpunk lens. Traditional Chinese mythological creatures stretch across walls bathed in the glow of futuristic signage. Reflective ceilings and sleek, minimalist tables keep the focus on the food, which is just as ambitious as the décor.
The kitchen is led by chefs trained in Sichuan, the birthplace of hot pot. They’ve brought with them a meticulous approach to broth-building. Each soup base is made in-house daily, with Hanyuan peppercorns handpicked from century-old trees and a three-chilli blend refined through 127 rounds of testing. It’s serious gear. There are ten base broths to choose from, and over 100 dishes on the à la carte menu, including M9 wagyu and seafood platters that look more like centrepieces than ingredients.
There’s also a private dining room built for ten, ideal for anyone who wants a quieter, more intimate hot pot moment. Whether you’re flying solo with a bubbling pot of your own, or turning dinner into a full-table dipping session, it’s all part of the experience.
As for the name, YX stands for Yun Xian (云仙), which loosely translates to “cloud immortal” a poetic nod to the steamy, soul-warming nature of hot pot and the shared joy it brings to the table. It’s a concept TS Group has grown into a multi-venue brand, starting with its single-serve hot pot format in Sydney.
The group has form when it comes to scale. Beyond YX, their portfolio includes 678 and 789 Korean BBQ, Panda Yum Cha, Machi Machi bubble tea, and the soon-to-open Tin Tin Seafood Harbour at the new Sydney Fish Market. They’ve got a 2,000-square-metre dual-concept space opening later this year at Chadstone too, split between YX and Panda Yum Cha.
So while hot pot in Melbourne is nothing new, YX brings something else entirely... a theatrical, design-driven, high-octane version that’s unapologetically over the top. It doesn’t whisper. It simmers, boils, and glows.
Melbourne has no shortage of hot pot joints. From late-night haunts in the CBD to suburban staples, it's a scene that’s been simmering for years. But YX Hot Pot isn't just joining the table, it’s flipping it, adding a sci-fi twist and a serious design flex to the city’s growing obsession with Sichuan heat.
