What are the operating hours and exact address of Bashuwangpotaisha (Chongwenmen Branch)?

Bashuwangpotaisha (Chongwenmen Branch) operates daily from 10:30 AM to 1:30 AM. The address is No. 3 Dongdamochang, Chongwenmen, Dongcheng District, Beijing.

How much does a small (level 1 spice) shrimp hotpot cost at Bashuwangpotaisha?

A small shrimp hotpot with spice level 1 costs 118 RMB, which is approximately ~$16. You can place your order using the QR code on your table.

How is Bashuwangpotaisha's shrimp hotpot eaten, and how are the complimentary noodles served?

The shrimp hotpot is eaten in two stages: first, you enjoy the mala stir-fried shrimp, and then broth is added to the remaining sauce to be enjoyed as a hotpot. The noodles are provided as a complimentary service, and a staff member will perform a noodle-pulling show before adding the chewy noodle dough to your pot.

What is the fee for using Bashuwangpotaisha's salad bar, and what should I be aware of when ordering additional meat?

The salad bar incurs an additional charge of 8 RMB per person, which is approximately ~$1. When ordering additional meat, be careful not to choose marinated meat.

Beijing's Bashuwangpotasha: A Must-Try Shrimp Hotpot…

You Can't Find This Back Home!

Beijing Restaurant Recommendation:

Shrimp Hotpot at Bashuwangpotasha

Words/Photos ©HiCouple

Are you like me, always on the hunt for unique, characteristic dishes when you travel abroad?

Before my trip to Beijing, I stumbled upon the concept of 'shrimp hotpot' and was immediately captivated by its distinctive preparation and mouth-watering visuals!

Today, I'm excited to share my review of the incredible shrimp hotpot I savored in Beijing, complete with tips on how to enjoy this amazing meal!

1. Beijing Restaurant Recommendation: Bashuwangpotasha Shrimp Hotpot

Bashuwangpotasha

巴蜀王婆大虾(崇文门店)

Hours: Daily 10:30 AM - 1:30 AM

Location: No. 3 Dongdamochang Street, Chongwenmen, Dongcheng District, Beijing

Bashuwangpotasha boasts several branches across Beijing, including popular spots near Nanluoguxiang and Beijing Railway Station.

I ventured to the branch near Beijing Railway Station, which is a bit further from the main tourist hubs. While the Wangfujing branch is quite famous among international visitors, this particular location felt like a genuine local secret – I didn't spot any other tourists!

2. Restaurant Ambiance

The interior reminded me of a casual shabu-shabu restaurant, with tables equipped with stovetops. The setup, where you can pick your own ingredients and sauces, felt very familiar and comfortable.

I arrived after 10 PM, and there were only a few local young patrons enjoying their late-night meal.

Near the entrance, there's a simple salad bar and a variety of sauces you can refill as much as you like.

A basic charge of 8 Chinese Yuan (approximately ~$1) per person is added for the salad bar, which is a very reasonable price.

The sauce selection included garlic, oyster sauce, and chili oil – plenty of options to create a custom dip that suits your taste. However, the salad bar itself had limited choices, with only the fruit being particularly appealing.

3. The Shrimp Hotpot Experience

Ordering is conveniently done via a QR code at your table. First, I made sure to order some beer, which is an absolute must-have with shrimp hotpot!

They offer both chilled and room-temperature beer. I opted for chilled, but it was surprisingly only slightly cool, so keep that in mind when you order!

Then, the shrimp hotpot arrived! We ordered the small size with spice level 1 for 118 Chinese Yuan (around ~$16).

Even after having dinner, the sheer quantity of the 'small' size for four people was astonishing!

The shrimp hotpot is a two-part dish: first, you enjoy a delicious stir-fried mala shrimp, and then broth is added to the remaining sauce to transform it into a hotpot.

The ingredients are simple, mainly fried whole shrimp with some corn and potatoes, but the shrimp make up about 80% of the dish!

Since we ordered the mildest spice level, it had just a subtle hint of mala flavor and wasn't spicy at all. The shrimp were fried, making the heads crispy and perfect as a beer snack, while the bodies, once peeled, were plump and full of succulent meat.

Getting so much shrimp for the price of a hotpot felt like incredible value!

Once you've devoured all the shrimp, just let your server know, and they'll pour in the hotpot broth. You can then add the complimentary vegetables, noodles, and any extra meats you've ordered, and enjoy it like a traditional shabu-shabu.

The noodles are served as a complimentary bonus, and they'll keep adding them until you say stop! It was fun watching the staff perform a noodle-pulling show as they added the chewy dough to our pot.

And let me tell you, these noodles were absolutely delicious!

We also ordered extra fish cake, beef, and cabbage. Since the shrimp portion was already so generous, we were quite full by this point.

The hotpot broth itself was savory and rich, so the added ingredients absorbed the flavors perfectly. We made our own dipping sauces, but honestly, the broth was so good, we didn't even need them!