Hot pot season is coming to Burlington, Massachusetts. Soup Zen Hot Pot, a Montreal restaurant that describes its whole menu as pork-free and "halal-friendly," is preparing its first location in the United States inside the Burlington Mall. The Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce's member listing now reads "OPENING NOVEMBER 2026!" and the restaurant's own Burlington page says "Boston opening soon." No exact opening date had been announced when we checked on Oct. 28.

For Muslim families north of Boston, a big, steaming, sit-down hot pot without pork on the menu is new territory. Here is what we know, what "halal-friendly" does and does not tell you, and the questions worth asking when the doors open.

Where it is

Soup Zen will sit at 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Unit 1079C, inside the Burlington Mall. Town planners cleared the way this spring: Hoodline reported that the Burlington Planning Board signed off on a Minor Engineering Change for the project at its March 19, 2026, meeting, and the filings show the restaurant taking over mall spaces numbered 1079, 1079A and 1079B, with new planter boxes and landscaping outside.

The restaurant first told What Now Boston in April that it was aiming for fall 2026, with October as a tentative goal. When the mall announced its 2026 expansion later that month, Soup Zen was "slated for a late fall debut," Boston Real Estate Times reported, and the Chamber listing now points to November.

The Burlington page on Soup Zen's website lists a phone number, (781) 818-1825, and posts hours of 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day, along with "Free Parking." Because the restaurant has not opened, treat those hours as planned rather than final.

How Soup Zen works

Soup Zen is not a do-it-yourself burner-at-every-seat hot pot. Diners pick their own ingredients and a broth, then the kitchen cooks the pot and brings it to the table. The company's website says it was "born in Montreal in 2025" and offers "100+ ingredients," nine housemade broths "made fresh daily," and pay-by-weight pricing. At the Montreal restaurant, at 1234 Bishop Street near Concordia University, Tourisme Montréal lists the price at $4.59 per 100 grams, in Canadian dollars. Burlington prices have not been posted.

What Now Boston reported that the Burlington location would offer both a fixed-price "premium" option and pay-by-weight, a sauce bar with more than 10 house-made sauces, and complimentary ice cream. The menu draws on hot pot traditions from Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Thailand, according to that report. "You have the freedom to choose your favorite menu items, ensuring that your dietary preferences are met," a company representative told the outlet.

What "halal-friendly" means here, and what it doesn't

Soup Zen's website lists "Halal Meats" alongside vegetarian and gluten-free options, and both its Montreal and Burlington pages carry the line "Pork-Free & Halal-Friendly." Tourisme Montréal files the Montreal restaurant under "Halal cuisine."

That is encouraging, but it is the restaurant's own description. We did not find a halal certificate from a certifying body for either location, and "halal-friendly" is not a certification term. It can mean different things at different restaurants. When Soup Zen opens, these are fair, polite questions to ask:

  • Which meats are halal, and who supplies or certifies them? Ask whether every meat on the line is halal, or only some.
  • Are the broths made with any meat or bone stock that isn't halal? A broth can carry meat even when no meat is in your bowl.
  • Do any broths or sauces use cooking wine, mirin or other alcohol? These are common in many Asian kitchens, so it is worth asking about each base and sauce you want.
  • Is anything cooked in shared broth or with shared ladles? Because the kitchen cooks for you, ask how your pot is kept separate.
  • Is the dessert ice cream made with gelatin? Soft-serve recipes vary.

If the answers matter to you, ask at the counter and decide for yourself. And if you visit, tell us what you learn so we can update our Burlington listings.

Already in Burlington

Soup Zen will join a short but growing halal list in town. Our Burlington guide from Oct. 25 covers four restaurants and two markets, including Halal Eatz at 195 Cambridge Street, which Halal Monitoring Services lists as certified for chicken, lamb and beef. Halal Eatz is also preparing a larger flagship in Framingham, Massachusetts, which we reported on last week.

For prayer, the Islamic Center of Burlington is at 130 Lexington Street, a short drive from the mall. The center says it holds the five daily prayers and Jumu'ah. Times change through the year, and clocks fall back this Sunday, Nov. 1, so check icburlington.org before you go.

Tell us when it opens

We will update this story when Soup Zen announces an opening date. The restaurant posts updates on social media as @soupzenhotpot. If you spot the doors open first, or you get clear answers on the halal questions above, use the "Report a correction" link on our directory or message us on Facebook.