Squeezy Hot Pot: Suriname's DIY Chinese Comfort Ritual
Bubbling broths, thirty-plus toppings and karaoke rooms tucked into a quiet Paramaribo side street.
Why Go
When the tropical downpour finally breaks and you want something warming, communal and a little theatrical, locals point you toward Plutostraat ΓÇö where Squeezy has quietly held the crown as Suriname's best hot pot spot for years.
The Experience
Squeezy strips Chinese hot pot down to its most fun form: you're handed a bubbling pot of broth (mild or fiery Sichuan-style spicy), a stack of dipping sauces and a menu of thirty-something raw ingredients to swish, simmer and share. The dining room is unpretentious ΓÇö bright lights, wipe-clean tables, the constant hiss of induction burners ΓÇö but the mood is warm and family-loud, with Surinamese-Chinese regulars, Paramaribo expats and the occasional karaoke-fuelled birthday spilling out of the private rooms in back. Service is friendly and used to first-timers; if you've never done hot pot, they'll walk you through cook times so you don't chew through rubbery beef. Come hungry, wear something you don't mind smelling like broth for the rest of the night.
What to Try
Order the split (yuanyang) pot so you can taste both the clear herbal broth and the spicy chili-oil version in one sitting. Load up on thinly sliced beef, hand-cut lamb, fresh shrimp and fish balls, then balance the protein with bok choy, enoki mushrooms, lotus root, tofu skin and a coil of glass noodles dropped in at the end to soak up the flavour. Build your own dipping sauce at the condiment bar ΓÇö sesame paste, garlic, chili oil, scallion, cilantro and a splash of soy is the classic combo.
Insider Tip
Ask for separate pots if you're dining with someone who doesn't eat pork or shellfish ΓÇö Squeezy is one of the only spots in town that will happily split you up rather than making you compromise. Groups of six or more should call ahead and book one of the private karaoke rooms; it's the same food but you get your own space, a mic and no judgement when the second round of Mandopop kicks in.
The Practical Stuff
Plutostraat 62, Paramaribo (some listings show No. 118 ΓÇö same block, look for the red signage). Free on-site parking and free Wi-Fi. English and Chinese menus available, staff speak both plus Dutch. Takeout is possible but you'll miss the point ΓÇö this is a sit-down, cook-at-the-table experience. Prices are mid-range and considered great value; budget roughly SRD 150ΓÇô250 per person depending on how much meat and seafood you pile on. Cash is safest; card acceptance can be hit-or-miss. Reservations recommended on weekends and for groups.
Pair It With
- 101 Suites Guide — A short drive from Plutostraat, so you can roll straight from the hot pot table into bed without navigating Paramaribo late at night.
- 597SpeedUp Watertubing Guide — Burn off the hot pot the next morning with a high-adrenaline tubing run ΓÇö the classic 'eat big, move big' Suriname combo.
- Aanansi ATV Tours Guide — Book a jungle ATV tour for the day after; hot pot is the ideal carb-and-protein loading meal the night before a muddy off-road adventure.
- 4x4xJankie Guide — If you're renting a 4x4 for interior road trips, fuel up at Squeezy first ΓÇö it's the last real sit-down meal you'll get before hitting the bush.