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Hotpots without Fire

What is your impression of Chinese hotpot restaurants: A bunch of guys and gals sitting around a table facing a roaring fire with a big pot with boiling ingredients bubbling over it? No way, you are totally out.

Yizunhuangniu, which opened in March, 2008 will surprise every customer with its special recipe. Marking itself as “professional and dedicated expert in beef catering,” it truly stands out from the other hotpot restaurants. The reception area on the first floor, accessed via a tiny door, is not all that outstanding; it could easily get lost in the sea of nearby glittering restaurants. As it turns out the reception area exists so customers can read magazines or relax while waiting for their table, but the whole second-floor belongs to Yizunhuangniu. It is decorated with mainly dark red and black walls, tables and chairs; so walking into the restaurant gives you a feeling of walking into some cold place, but this is useful: you will feel hot when eating hotpots, won’t you?

Now what is this about hotpots without fire? The pots are all electromagnetic. Never fear burning yourself here. Four small buttons hidden under the tablecloth controls the cooking temperatures and waitresses are ready to come to help you at any time. You will feel a little bit hot at your knees. I do not know why, but they say it is the magic of the electromagnetic pots, and of course, it is safe. You do not have to share the same pot in the middle. Every customer can have a small pot of their own.

The “diamond rib-eye” consists of small ball-shaped beef. The supreme Angus beef ribs are sliced into squares. When you put them in the pot for only a little while, they will taste soft and smooth and melt in your mouth.

Though beef is the specialty, other meats are available, and this is something you should know. They have combinations of Angus beef ribs and goose liver. Think you can try hotpot with goose liver? You can!