Beijing Hot Pot Restaurants

Among the many delicacies available in Beijing, one of the most famous is the "hotpot". With a history of over 1,000 years, the dish known as "Huokuo" can be found in many forms throughout the country. Particularly popular in the Northern provinces, you will often see groups of people in homes and restaurants enjoying this ancient tradition.

There are several theories to explain the arrival of the hotpot in China. Some say it was originally enjoyed as a dish in Sichuan province and gradually made its way to the north. Others believe that it was introduced to China by the nomadic Mongols, who used their helmets as a pot to cook food that they hunted on the open plains. It is thought that this practice spread south to China during the Tang dynasty and has been enjoyed ever since.

Since its arrival, the hotpot has become an extremely visible part of Chinese culture. A large metal pot full of stock is placed in the center of the dining table and is kept simmering by a flame below. Whilst the stock boils, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked from raw at the table. Typical items placed in the pot include thinly sliced meat, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, wontons, and seafood. Once the ingredients have been cooked in the boiling stock, the food is usually eaten with a dipping sauce, along with spices, nuts and herbs.

Aside from being a delicious meal, the hotpot also serves many other purposes that have made it such a popular dish in China. Enjoyed from the comfort of the indoors, the warm and hearty dish is particularly effective during the bitterly cold winters experienced in the north of the country. The communal eating of the hotpot is also an extremely social occasion that fits within the habits of Chinese culture. Many people can eat at the same time in a cozy and informal environment whilst drinking and talking in groups. This form of social eating creates the perfect conditions for a culture that places so much importance in the family unit.
 

Hot Loft

Address:北京市朝阳区工体西路8号5楼； 北京市朝阳区工体北路4号；

The staple Beijing dining experience has been given a stylish boost into the modern era at Hot Loft. The traditional hot pot experience has been enhanced with the introduction of a deliciously inventive array of soups and dipping sauces. Choices include a spicy, sour Thai broth as well as a flavorful duck broth. The Loft also offers a set menu for RMB 56 that includes a choice of beef or lamb, accompanied by a mixture of fresh vegetables, meatballs, and dipping sauces. The paper –thin beef sirloin comes highly recommended. Hot Loft is one of the most uniquely stylish and comfortable hot pot experiences Beijing has to offer!

Add: 5th Floor, 8 Gongti Xi Lu, Chaoyang (6552 7992);Metro Dongsishitiao; 4 Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang
Tel: 6501 7501

Epicure Hot Pot

Address:建外大街16号东方瑞景大厦西侧底商2层

It is Epicure Hot Pot's ambiance that captures any visitors attention at first glance. Low lighting, plush red couches, and deeply tinted mirrors set the stage for an unforgettable dining experience that ranks at the top for Beijing's hot pot connoisseurs.  Epicure's signature mushroom broth served in individual sized hot pots adds a unique flavor to their delicately sliced select rib eye steak. Also be sure to accompany your meal with their home made smoked plum juice, a delicious pairing to Epicure's hot pot experience.
Add: 2/F, Bldg 3 Park Evenue Apartments, 16 Jianwai Dajie, Jianguomen
Tel: 6569-6750

Hongyuan Nanmen Hot Pot

Address:崇文区永定门东街，:010-67017030 朝阳区日坛东路9好，010-85628899 西城区后海南沿，010-66167033

Situated on Houhai Lake, Gongyuan Nanmen's courtyard style setting provides an intimate dining experience as well as outdoor seating with views of the lake and its many visitors. The hot pot here follows traditional Chinese practices, serving up thinly sliced strips of fresh beef and mutton, as well as a wide variety of fresh vegetables. This Beijing legend is popular among locals and visitors alike.

Long Island Hong Kong Hot Pot

Address:建外大街16号东方瑞景1层

Bearing a flavorful resemblance to Taiwanese style hot pots, Long Island Hong Kong Hot Pot is known most notably for its diverse selection of fresh seafood. A Hong Kong favorite, this style of hot pot is characterized by its lighter flavor and a wide variety of different soups and dipping sauces that enhance the flavorful, fresh seafood.
Add: First Floor, Dongfang Ruijing, 16 Jianwai Dajie, Chaoyang district
Tel: 6569 1616

La Ting Ting

Address:西大望路28号珠江帝景南112号

La Ting Ting offers a refreshingly comfortable hot pot experience even during those warm summer months. Elegant French interiors separate La Ting Ting from Beijing's typical hot pot fare. Frequented by hot pot regulars, Ting Ting serves a variety of soups so flavorful you may not even need one of their many dipping sauces. Their traditional red pepper broth is most popular and is a perfect complement to their lean, finely carved slices of beef, fresh vegetables, and tofu dishes.
Add: Regal Riviera, Guangqu Road,
CBD/Guomao
Tel: 5863-1870