Japanese magazine LDK tests 17 hot pot broths, 10 earn top scores

People in Hong Kong love hot pot all year round. It's not just delicious but also nutritious. Plus, its convenience makes it an ideal choice for those nights when you don't feel like putting effort into cooking. Japanese magazine LDK tested 17 different hot pot broths available on the market, including Japanese-style, spicy, and ginger-flavored options. They comprehensively compared each product based on taste, satisfaction, and repurchase intent. In the end, 10 products earned an A-grade rating.

LDK released its findings on 17 hot pot soup bases in 2026, evaluating them on three key criteria: taste, satisfaction, and likelihood of repeat purchase. The test included 4 broths featuring ginger, 6 spicy varieties (such as kimchi hot pot, mapo tofu hot pot, and standard spicy broths), and 7 broths based on healthy Japanese-style stocks like seafood dashi and chicken broth.

Here are the complete results from the LDK hot pot broth test:

Ginger-Flavored Broth Rankings

• 4th Place (2.33 points) Grade C: Kikkoman "Heartwarming Grated Daikon & Ginger Nabe" (¥213 JPY / ~HK$11)
• 3rd Place (2.67 points) Grade C: Yamasa "Yamasa Crispy Texture Ginger Nabe Tsuyu" (¥4458 JPY / ~HK$225)
• 2nd Place (4.00 points) Grade A: Nisshoku "Seiryuu Shimanto Ginger Nabe Tsuyu" (¥350 JPY / ~HK$18)
• 1st Place (4.67 points) Grade A: Moranbong "Dynamic Ginger Miso Nabe Soup" (¥520 JPY / ~HK$26)

Spicy Broth Rankings

• 6th Place (2.67 points) Grade C: S&B Foods "Lee Kum Kee Sichuan-style Hot Pot Mix" (¥248 JPY / ~HK$13)
• 5th Place (3.33 points) Grade B: Ajinomoto "Nabe Cube Umakara Kimuchi" (¥295 JPY / ~HK$15)
• 4th Place (3.67 points) Grade B: Mizkan "Delicious Until the Last Bite Kimchi Nabe Tsuyu" (¥398 JPY / ~HK$20)
• 3rd Place (4.33 points) Grade A: Ninben "Seafood Dashi Spicy Nabe Tsuyu" (¥378 JPY / ~HK$19)
• 1st Place (5.00 points) Grade A: Daiso "Authentic Chinese Chef Tetsuji Yasukawa Supervised Mabo Nabe Soup" (¥277 JPY / ~HK$14)
• 1st Place (5.00 points) Grade A: Yamasa "Yamasa Tsubu Mameru Creative Mabo Nabe Tsuyu" (¥4458 JPY / ~HK$225)

Japanese-Style Broth Rankings

• 7th Place (3.00 points) Grade B: Kubara Shoyu "Ago Dashi Kyushu Chanko Nabe (Chicken Salt)" (¥5262 JPY / ~HK$265)
• 6th Place (3.33 points) Grade B: Moranbong "Green Onion Salt Nabe Soup" (¥506 JPY / ~HK$26)
• 5th Place (4.00 points) Grade A: Yamaki "Ryoma Nabe Tsuyu Jidori Dashi Salt" (¥298 JPY / ~HK$15)
• 3rd Place (4.67 points) Grade A: Moranbong "Sai no Takumi Sai no Dashi Nabe Soup" (¥412 JPY / ~HK$21)
• 3rd Place (4.67 points) Grade A: Nissui "Scallop Umashio Nabe Base" (¥300 JPY / ~HK$15)
• 1st Place (5.00 points) Grade A: Mizkan "Delicious Until the Last Bite Grilled Ago Dashi Nabe Tsuyu Straight" (¥340 JPY / ~HK$17)
• 1st Place (5.00 points) Grade A: Mizkan "Delicious Until the Last Bite Hokkaido Scallop & Clam Shell Dashi Nabe Tsuyu Straight" (¥398 JPY / ~HK$20)

What Makes the Top-Rated Broths So Good?

Ginger Broth Champion

Taking the top spot in the ginger-flavored category and earning a "Best Buy" title is Moranbong "Dynamic Ginger Miso Nabe Soup" . LDK testers raved about its rich, delicious ginger flavor. The broth cleverly uses both grated ginger and fresh ginger, allowing the rich, savory miso soup base to perfectly complement the ginger's spiciness. They found every drop incredibly satisfying and recommend pairing it with thinly sliced pork and vegetables, finishing the meal with a bowl of ramen noodles.

Spicy Broth Champions
In the spicy broth category, there's a tie for first place, with both earning "Best Buy" honors.

• Daiso "Authentic Chinese Chef Tetsuji Yasukawa Supervised Mabo Nabe Soup": Testers found the spiciness from the doubanjiang (fermented broad bean chili paste) irresistibly appetizing. Seasoned with Sichuan peppercorns and packed with umami, it allows you to easily enjoy an authentic mapo flavor at home.
• Yamasa "Yamasa Tsubu Mameru Creative Mabo Nabe Tsuyu": This broth impressed professionals with its authentic profile, combining the numbing spiciness of whole Sichuan peppercorns with the savory depth of radish.

Japanese-Style Broth Champions

The Japanese-style category also saw a tie for first place, with both products receiving "Best Buy" designations.

• Mizkan "Delicious Until the Last Bite Grilled Ago Dashi Nabe Tsuyu Straight": Praised for its exquisite aroma, this broth masterfully blends six different types of stock, achieving an exceptionally well-balanced flavor.
• Mizkan "Delicious Until the Last Bite Hokkaido Scallop & Clam Shell Dashi Nabe Tsuyu Straight": LDK testers described this broth as incredibly delicious with a rich seafood flavor so enjoyable you could have it every day without tiring of it. The clever combination of shellfish stock with various extracts significantly enhances the umami, leaving a lasting and delightful impression.