Hot pot restaurants have complex lighting, so how should LED screens be used?

Introduction

Hot pot is the perfect combination of delicious food and socialising. But have you ever considered how lighting and LED screens can add a unique charm to your hot pot restaurant?

This article will reveal how clever lighting combinations and creative LED screen content can immerse customers and keep them coming back.

1. Characteristics of Hot Pot Restaurant Lighting

1) Warm Tones, Relaxing Atmosphere

Hot pot restaurants often feature a warm, yellowish-orange hue. The light shines on the ingredients, making the meat more shiny and the vegetables appear fresh and tender, making you want to dig in.

Entering such a restaurant, you feel inexplicably relaxed, and the atmosphere naturally becomes relaxed.

2) Dynamic Lighting Adds Fun to the Space

Small pendant lights on the tables, neon signs on the walls, and light strips at the bar—some of which even flash with the music—give the entire restaurant a sense of life.

The flickering lights and lively conversation blend together to create a lively atmosphere, making dining more than just a meal, but a small indulgence.

3) Bright tabletops, slightly darker surroundings

The tabletops and pot edges are usually well-lit, making it easy to see and pick up food; the surrounding area is slightly darker, creating a sense of privacy.

The interplay of light and shadow creates a distinct, yet not overwhelming, space with distinct layers, making the food stand out more.

4) Too many lights can be dazzling

Hot pot restaurants have a plethora of lighting: chandeliers, downlights, neon lights, LED strips, and even the glow from the hot pot itself.

While a rich array of lights is beneficial, the overabundance of brightness and colour can sometimes be dazzling and distracting.

The ideal lighting is warm and comfortable, allowing for a clear view of the pot without disrupting the mood of eating and chatting.

2. Benefits of LED screens in hot pot restaurants

1) Enhance the atmosphere

LED screens in hot pot restaurants can display dynamic images with warm tones, or the restaurant’s own short films or themed videos.

For example, a screen displaying “Fresh beef delivered daily” or a slow-motion close-up of the hot pot meat could instantly liven up the atmosphere.

The lights, the steam rising from the hot pot, and the images on the screen all animate together, creating a lively atmosphere.

Young customers easily grab their phones to take photos and share them on social media. This small interaction makes the restaurant more engaging.

2) Flexible and intuitive promotions

LED screens can constantly update menus, recommended dishes, special offers, or holiday themes.

For example, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, the screen could display a message like “Full Moon Special Set Meal, 10 Yuan Off Shabu-shabu Lamb.”

Or, they could showcase new hot pot items like hand-cut beef and secret recipe fish fillets, letting customers know about the latest deals as soon as they enter and making ordering more straightforward.

Compared to paper menus and posters, the information is clear and eye-catching, and restaurants don’t need to print posters frequently, saving time and effort.

3) Enhance brand image

High-definition LED screens can give hot pot restaurants a more modern and technological feel.

They’re particularly suitable for chain hot pot restaurants or small establishments seeking to establish a buzz online. For example, displaying the restaurant’s logo, short videos about hot pot culture.

Or anecdotes from customers dining on the screen can subtly enhance customers’ impressions of the restaurant, making them feel it’s stylish and thoughtful, and even more likely to bring friends.

4) Draw Customers' Attention

While waiting for a table, LED screens can play short videos recommending dishes or hot pot recipes.

For example, a video looping “3-Second Optimal Doneness Demonstration for Lamb Shabu-Shabu” or “Tips for Dipping Sauce Mixing” allows customers to learn new ways to enjoy the dish while waiting and.

In turn, be drawn to trying new dishes recommended on the screen, thereby increasing sales conversion rates.

5) Interactive and Fun

LED screens can also interact with customers, such as by scanning a QR code to participate in a raffle, posting a message board, or playing mini-games.

For example, “Take a photo of your hot pot and upload it to the screen’s message board for a chance to win a small gift.”

Customers can not only enjoy the hot pot but also interact with the screen, making the dining experience more engaging and increasing the social atmosphere of the restaurant, encouraging repeat visits.

3. Where should LED screens be installed in hot pot restaurants?

1) Entrance or Entrance

Placing an LED screen at the entrance allows customers to see the store logo, business hours, and latest promotions upon entering.

For example, a screen displaying “Today’s Special: Buy One Get One Free Hand-Cut Beef” or showing an image of a steaming hot pot base instantly catches customers’ attention and makes them eager to step in and try a bite.

2) Waiting Area or Tabletop

While waiting for a table, LED screens can play recommended dishes or short videos about hot pot techniques.

For example, a screen demonstrating “The Optimal Doneness of Lamb Shabu-shabu in Three Seconds” or “Tips for Mixing Dipping Sauces” can help customers pass the time while also providing inspiration for their orders. This makes waiting less boring and more interactive.

3) Small Screens on Tabletops or Tablesides

Some hot pot restaurants use small screens on tabletops or tablesides to directly display images of dishes, dipping sauce tutorials, or hot pot tips.

For example, when an LED screen displays “The Best Shabu-shabu Beef Tripe,” customers can immediately learn how to make the dish, making hot pot more enjoyable and preventing them from ordering the wrong dish.

4) Large Wall or Background Screens

The restaurant’s walls or central background can be enlarged to play warm, atmospheric videos, brand stories, or holiday-themed content.

For example, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, playing a “Full Moon Hot Pot” event video on the LED screen instantly creates a festive atmosphere for the hot pot restaurant and gives the space a more modern and sophisticated look.

5) Near the Bar or Cashier

Screens near the bar or cashier can announce discounts, points, or queue reminders.

For example, an LED screen could say, “Scan the QR code to follow our official account and get 20% off your next meal.”

This allows customers to easily scan the QR code at checkout, making it convenient and increasing customer retention.

4. How to Create an Atmospheric LED Display Content Style

To truly create an “atmospheric” LED display in a hot pot restaurant, the content style is key. First, you can create emotional content that matches the restaurant’s music rhythm or holiday theme.

For example, when upbeat music plays, the animation on the screen can flash to the beat.

During Christmas, warm, shimmering snowflakes or Christmas elements can be displayed.

During Spring Festival, red, festive lanterns and firecrackers can be displayed to sync the content on the screen with the overall atmosphere of the space.

As soon as customers enter the restaurant, they’ll feel instantly immersed in the festive world.

Secondly, in terms of content type, food-inspired short videos and dynamic customer review walls are particularly well-suited to hot pot settings.

For example, slow-motion close-ups of beef and lamb slices tumbling in a pot, or images of boiling hot pot base bubbling, can be seen on the screen, making it tempting for customers to pick up their chopsticks.

Or, scrolling customer reviews and ordering recommendations on the screen not only increases interactivity but also subtly encourages new customers to try the popular dishes on the screen, increasing order rates.

In this way, the LED screen becomes more than just a decorative feature; it can also stimulate appetite and enhance engagement.

Finally, the content style should be consistent with the hot pot restaurant’s brand identity. The fonts, colours, animation styles, and logo presentation on the screen should all be consistent as much as possible.

This ensures that customers immediately associate the LED screen with the restaurant’s unique character and brand identity.

For example, a modern hot pot restaurant might use minimalist fonts and clean animations, while a retro or traditional restaurant might use warm colours and animations with traditional elements.

This way, the screen blends seamlessly with the overall style of the space, creating a unique visual memory.

In short, an atmospheric LED screen isn’t just a tool for displaying information; it’s also a multifunctional presence that creates an atmosphere, stimulates appetite, and reinforces the brand.

As long as the content aligns with the music, theme, and customer preferences, combined with visual aesthetics and interactive gameplay, customers can truly experience the unique charm of a hot pot restaurant while dining.