Drunk teens film themselves urinating into hot broth at Chinese restaurant leaving 4,000 customers compensated

Two teenagers sparked outrage after filming themselves urinating into a broth at a popular Chinese hotpot restaurant.

The incident was captured on video, showing the two standing on a table and urinating into the pot—despite the restaurant having proper bathroom facilities.

This happened on February 24 in a private dining room at a Shanghai branch of Haidilao, China’s biggest hotpot chain.

However, the restaurant only found out about it four days later when the video began spreading online. According to police, the two boys, both 17, were intoxicated at the time and were detained shortly after.

Haidilao admitted that its staff failed to stop the teenagers. It also took a week for the company to confirm which of its many Shanghai branches the incident occurred at.

For those unfamiliar with hotpot dining, it involves a communal experience where customers cook ingredients in a simmering pot of broth at their table.

Normally, people expect a fresh and enjoyable meal—but this incident changed that perception.

The company released a statement addressing the situation:

“In the early hours of February 24, two individuals urinated into a hotpot in a private room at our Shanghai Bund location.

“Our staff was not trained to handle such a situation, which is why they did not detect it at the time or ensure a safe dining environment.”

While there is no evidence that anyone consumed the contaminated broth, Haidilao has decided to compensate over 4,000 customers who dined at the location.

Anyone who ate at the branch between February 24 and March 8 will receive a full refund and additional compensation worth ten times the amount of their bill.

Haidilao also reassured customers that it does not reuse broth or dining equipment for multiple customers. However, it is unclear if the area was thoroughly cleaned before the next diners arrived.

The restaurant chain has since replaced all hotpot equipment and dining utensils and ensured that crockery and cutlery were properly disinfected.

Haidilao, which operates over 1,000 restaurants worldwide, is known for its customer service, offering unique experiences like noodle performances and small treats for children.