Hot-pot Factory Shanghai

Custom Dining Chairs — A signature chair designed exclusively for Hot-pot Factory. Solid blackened ash frames, their finish achieved through a traditional Japanese shou sugi ban process adjusted for commercial use — the wood surface lightly charred, brushed, and sealed with a matte lacquer that is heat-resistant and impervious to moisture. The seat cushions are upholstered in deep oxblood performance leather, selected for its ability to conceal the inevitable chili oil splashes while developing a rich patina over time. Each chair frame is reinforced with Dual Jade's proprietary corner-block joinery, engineered for the weight shifts and lateral forces of diners leaning, reaching, and rotating across hours of service.

Custom Hot-Pot Tables — Heavy-gauge solid timber tabletops in reclaimed elm, each table built around a central induction cooktop housing in brushed copper. The table edges are raised by 8mm — a subtle rim that contains spills before they reach the floor — and the timber surfaces are treated with a multi-layer heat-resistant and oil-resistant matte sealant. Beneath each table, a concealed drawer holds napkins, chopsticks, and condiment menus, eliminating tabletop clutter while keeping essentials within arm's reach.

Banquette Seating — A continuous banquette in the same oxblood performance leather runs the length of one exposed-brick wall. Its backrest is divided into broad panels with horizontal stitch detailing that echoes the rhythm of the brickwork behind. The banquette frame is solid blackened ash, its seat depth generous enough to accommodate the relaxed posture of hot-pot dining — slightly reclined, leaning in, reaching forward — without fatigue.

Bar Counter Stools — Slim-profile stools in blackened ash and copper-toned leather line the drinks counter, their narrow footprint designed to allow passage in the tight space between the counter and the main dining floor. The footrest bar is positioned higher than standard, calibrated for the elevated posture of guests who perch briefly between courses rather than settling in for the evening.

Service Stations & Condiment Carts — Custom mobile condiment carts in blackened ash with copper detailing, designed to be wheeled tableside for sauce preparation. Each cart features a solid timber top with recessed compartments for sauce bowls, a concealed towel rail, and soft-close castors that glide silently across the polished concrete floor.

The shou sugi ban finish on the chair frames was adapted from traditional Japanese technique to meet commercial fire safety and durability standards. The charring depth is precisely 1.5mm — deep enough to create the characteristic alligator-skin texture and carbon-layer protection against moisture, shallow enough to maintain structural integrity under high-frequency use.

The oxblood performance leather was selected from a supplier to the automotive industry, tested for colourfastness under steam exposure and resistance to oil penetration. Six samples were aged in accelerated conditions replicating six months of hot-pot service before the final selection was made.

A significant technical challenge was the integration of induction cooktop housings within reclaimed elm tabletops. The timber's natural movement — expanding and contracting with Shanghai's seasonal humidity — required each housing to be engineered with a 2mm expansion gap concealed beneath a flexible silicone gasket, allowing the wood to breathe without compromising the seamless visual junction between timber and copper.

All table surfaces were treated with a custom-formulated sealant co-developed with Dual Jade's finishing partner, rated for continuous contact with 100°C cooktops and resistant to Sichuan chili oil penetration after 2,000 test cycles.

The banquette leather was specified in an extra-wide hide cut to minimize the number of visible seams. Each cushion panel was individually templated to accommodate the irregular curvature of the exposed-brick wall, with the leather hand-stretched and secured by a single senior upholsterer to ensure consistent tension across the full length.