China's hotpot chain Banu takes first international step in Hong Kong

The restaurant is scheduled to open in mid-November at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay.

Mainland Chinese hotpot chain Banu is preparing to open its first Hong Kong outlet, marking the brand’s first expansion beyond the Mainland.

The restaurant is scheduled to open in mid-November at Hysan Place in Causeway Bay.

The opening will serve as Banu’s first overseas market entry as the company looks to expand internationally.

Banu’s move into Hong Kong comes as it seeks to introduce its operating model to a more mature and competitive dining market.

Hong Kong’s hotpot sector ranges from mass-market chains focused on affordability and convenience to higher-end restaurants centred on premium seafood and luxury dining.

Banu is positioning itself in the mid-to-high-end segment, emphasising Sichuan-style hotpot, ingredient selection, and a more standardised dining experience.

The company has expanded rapidly across Mainland China in recent years.

Banu said its first outlets in 13 newly entered cities in 2025 achieved an average table turnover rate of 4.3 times per day on a monthly basis.

Banu operated more than 200 directly managed stores across 57 Mainland Chinese cities as of July 2026.

The number of new store openings increased annually from 2023 to 2025, with 25, 35, and 44 new locations opened, respectively, according to company data.

The Hong Kong launch will be closely watched as a test of whether its Mainland expansion model can be replicated in an overseas market.