Beijing: Hot Pot

Our hot pot

After we checked into our hotel we first ventured out for lunch because we were starving. But what to eat first? You should know that Beijing is in Northern China, so the most famous dishes are with wheat rather than rice. So that means lots of buns, noodles, and dumplings! We decided to just venture out and stop somewhere that looked good. That brought us to a delicious hot pot restaurant!

What is hot pot? Hot pot is a Chinese cooking method, prepared with a simmering pot of soup stock at the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, the ingredients we ordered are placed into the pot and cooked at the table. Normally you order a dipping sauce to dip the cooked vegetables. We ordered a very garlicky one!

This is the first time I was really at a lost at a restaurant. I had no idea what dishes to use for what. I had no idea how to order. Luckily they had an English menu, so we just checked all of the ingredients we’d like to have. Then the waitress looked at us shocked and told us that it was too much food. By she told us, I mean she needed the help from other customers to help translate that we ordered too much. Even when we eliminated 3 vegetables it was still way too much – but very delicious!

I really want to tell you where we ate this delicious hot pot, but it just isn’t possible. As I mentioned in my last post, we stayed in the hutongs, so that means the little alleyways are filled with delicious restaurants. Did I also mention Google Maps doesn’t work in China? There’s no Google in China, actually. No Whatsapp and no Instagram, too. Basically everything I use is not available!