Go to 99 Ranch Market to stock up.
Ask for "Haidilao (海底撈) spicy hot pot". It comes in a bag. For a non-spicy soup base, you can also ask for a tomato flavored Haidilao (海底撈) brand soup base.
On a stove, pour the hot pot base into a pot and heat it up until it sizzles a bit, then add water until the pot is maybe 3/4ths full. Toss some whole garlic cloves and the white halves of green onions in there.
Once the mixture boils, you can transfer it to a table. We suggest using an induction cooktop (e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Duxtop-8100MC-Portable-Induction-Countertop/dp/B0045QEPYM/) along with a pot that is induction compatible. There are dedicated all-in-one hot pot cookers, but those tend to be less powerful and may not be able to heat up the water quickly.
The soup boils away as you eat - you can replenish it with hot water.
You can pretty much put anything you want. Here are some common ingredients though:
- Thinly sliced meat - beef, pork belly, lamb, etc
- Veggies - napa cabbage, spinach, bok choy, bean sprouts, etc.
- Enoki mushroom (cook for a while)
- Fish cake / fish balls (cook for a while)
- Spam
- Small sausages
- Wide mung bean noodles (cook for a while)
- Firm tofu
This is totally up to your own taste, but the standard sichuanese sauce is sesame oil, oyster sauce, and thinly sliced green onions.