You have seen diners at HaiDiLao Malaysia or worldwide cheekily tell the staff some ‘secret codes’ and receive freebies in return. With so many videos of successful ‘decoders’ circulating the social media, you would not want to miss the chance to get those freebies too! So, here’s a compilation of HaiDiLao hacks for you to crack open the secret that HaiDiLao never tells, but we know~
10 HaiDiLao Hacks / Secret Codes
The hack is easy, all you have to do is say the words out to the staff there and they will understand your cues. However, you probably have to say it in mandarin. We included the Chinese Pīnyīn for you to read it out in case you don’t speak mandarin, no worries!
1. Compliment the snacks of HaiDiLao – Snacks hacks
Everyone loves compliments, and so do HaiDiLao. Tell them ‘你家零食好好吃’, which translate to ‘Your snacks are tasty’ and you will receive a package of free snacks from them!
What to say: 你家零食好好吃 Nǐ jiā língshí hǎo hào chī
Translation: Your snacks are tasty
What you’ll get: Free snacks
2. Compliment the soup of HaiDiLao – Soup base hacks
Another compliment to make for the hotpot restaurant. Undeniably, their soups are really delicious. So, why not let them know about it and unlock the HaiDiLao soup base hacks. Praise them with ‘今天的汤很好喝’, which translate to ‘ The soup today is very delicious’.
What to say: 今天的汤很好喝 Jīntiān de tāng hěn hǎo hē
Translation: The soup today is very delicious
What you’ll get: Free HaiDiLao soup base packet
3. Let them HaiDiLao know their watermelon is sweet – Watermelon hacks
The hotpot restaurant takes pride in all the food they offer to customers, including the watermelons. Once you tell them ‘你们家的西瓜好甜哦’, which means ‘Your watermelon is so sweet’, they will serve you a watermelon platter or even give you a free watermelon to take home!
What to say: 你们家的西瓜好甜哦 Nǐmen jiā de xīguā hǎo tián ó
Translation: Your watermelon is so sweet
What you’ll get: Free watermelon
4. Announce your ‘fairy identity’ to HaiDiLao – Magic wand hacks
Yes, only fairies deserve that magic wand. To make the announcement, just say ‘我是小仙女’, which translate to ‘I am a little fairy’ to them and they will present you your magic wand.
What to say: 我是小仙女 Wǒ shì xiǎo xiān nǚ
Translation: I am a little fairy
What you’ll get: Free magic wand
5. Act like a child – Toys hacks
For sure, you shouldn’t really act like a child. All you have to do is ask if you look like a child. Ask ‘我看起来像小孩子吗?’, which translate to ‘Do I look like a child?’. What you will get is a free toy! There are no specific types of toys that they will give you, it all depends on what do they have in stock for you.
What to say: 我看起来像小孩子吗? Wǒ kàn qǐlái xiàng xiǎo háizi ma?
Translation: Do I look like a child?
What you’ll get: Free toys
6. Announce your friend’s birthday – HaiDiLao birthday celebration hacks
It’s your friend’s birthday, or maybe it isn’t. Whichever it is, just tell the staff about it and they will celebrate it without any questions! Say ‘今天是我的朋友生日’, which means ‘Today is my friend’s birthday and get ready for the loud and very high key celebration in the restaurant.
What to say: 今天是我的朋友生日 Jīntiān shì wǒ de péngyǒu shēngrì
Translation: Today is my friend's birthday
What you’ll get: Free birthday fruits platter + birthday song from the staff
7. Express your interest in making the noodles – Noodles hacks
The noodle dance show in HaiDiLao has always been the highlight of the restaurant. If you think it’s cool and you’d like to learn how to do it too, you can get a free lesson from them! All you have to say is ‘我想学拉面’, which translate to ‘I want to learn how to make the noodles’. Then, the noodle man will gladly teach you.
What to say: 我想学拉面 Wǒ xiǎng xué lāmiàn
Translation: I want to learn how to make the noodles
What you’ll get: Free noodle dance lesson
8. Long hair benefits – Haidilao free hairband hacks
Your comfort is one of their priorities. If you have long hair and did not bring your hairband, just let the staff know and they will give you a new hairband. Say ‘我想绑头发,没带发圈’, which means ‘I want to tie my hair but I didn’t bring a hairband’.
However, you may receive a hairband even without asking one for it in some outlets. Especially in Malaysia, the staff will usually give it to you upon your arrival.
What to say: 我想绑头发,没带发圈 Wǒ xiǎng bǎng tóufǎ, méi dài fā quān
Translation: I want to tie my hair but I didn’t bring a hairband
What you’ll get: Free hairband
9. Tell them your makeup needs – Lipstick hacks
If you need to reapply some makeup after your meal, you can also ask for lipstick from HaiDiLao. Just kindly say ‘我忘了带口红’, which translate to ‘I forgot to bring my lipstick’ and they will give you a new lipstick.
What to say: 我忘了带口红 Wǒ wàngle dài kǒuhóng
Translation: I forgot to bring my lipstick
What you’ll get: Free lipstick
10. Proudly tell them you’ve finished your meal
Food wastage is a big no. At HaiDiLao, they will reward customers that have finished everything that they ordered.
Once you’ve finished your meal, tell the staff ‘锅已捞净’, which means ‘The pot has been cleaned’ to enjoy free packets of snacks. Before giving you the freebies, the staff will check your pot to see if there’s anything left. Once they confirmed it’s cleared, the gift is yours.
What to say: 锅已捞净 Guō yǐ lāo jìng
Translation: The pot has been cleaned
What you’ll get: Free snacks
Everyone loves freebies
Although not all the HaiDiLao hacks work in all outlets, we are sure that at least most of them work in each outlet. Don’t be shy and just go ahead and say the secret codes to get your freebies!
Save this guide for your next visit to HaiDiLao!