Da Huang Guan Huoguo Chicken Weihai Review 2026: Hotpot & Stew

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Weihai Local Restaurant Recommendation

Dahunguan Huoguo Ji

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Where will Eunsu's travelogue take us this time?

This time, among Weihai's must-try spots,

I visited Dahunguan Huoguo Ji Dashijie Branch, where you can enjoy

jjimdak (braised chicken) and hotpot all in one pot!

If you've been curious about Chinese hotpot but hesitated

because the numbing spice of mala was a bit daunting,

this could be a fantastic choice for you.

I've put together everything you need to know, from spice levels,

prices, and the eating sequence, to the self-service bar,

all from the perspective of a first-timer.

Table of Contents

1. Restaurant Information and Location

2. How to Order and the Interior Ambiance

3. Daxia Huoguo Ji Review

4. Wrapping Up the Journey

1. Restaurant Information and Location

Locally, 大凰冠火锅鸡 (Dahunguan Huoguo Ji) is pronounced 'Dah-hwang-gwan Huo-guo Ji'.

凰冠 (Huangguan) means a crown adorned with a phoenix,

and 火锅鸡 (Huoguo Ji) is a combination of 'huoguo' (hotpot)

and 'ji' (chicken), literally meaning 'chicken hotpot'.

On the bottom right of the signboard, there was a prominent phrase:

十桌顾客 八桌回头客 (Shí zhuō gùkè, bā zhuō huítóukè).

This means 'Out of ten tables of customers, eight are returning regulars',

emphasizing their confidence in the flavor.

On the bottom left, there was also 吉祥鸡 幸福吃

(Jíxiáng jī, xìngfú chī), which means 'eat auspicious chicken happily'.

Category	Details
Restaurant Name	大凰冠火锅鸡 大世界店 (Dahunguan Huoguo Ji Dashijie Branch)
Address	No. 53 Tongyi Road, Huancui District, Weihai City
Map	📍[Gaode Map Link] (Search for 大凰冠火锅鸡)

Dahunguan Huoguo Ji is a homegrown Weihai chain brand that started in 2021.

The Dashijie Branch I visited isn't registered on Gaode Map yet.

That's why I've included a link that searches for the brand name,

大凰冠火锅鸡, rather than a specific branch.

When you open the link, you can immediately find

the nearest branch to your current location.

There are several branches just within Weihai city,

so it's perfectly fine to visit one near your accommodation.

When taking a Didi taxi, you can simply paste the Chinese address or the branch name above.

2. How to Order and the Interior Ambiance

Inside, the tables are arranged in semi-private spaces.

Perhaps because it's a franchise, it felt wonderfully clean and tidy.

Ordering is done via the QR code on your table.

You can scan it with Alipay or WeChat!

The menu I ordered was 大虾火锅鸡 (Daxia Huoguo Ji), which includes prawns.

大虾 (Daxia) means 'large shrimp' or 'prawn', so this dish comes with both chicken and prawns.

You can choose the spice level when ordering.

I ordered the 'medium spicy' level, or 中辣 (Zhōnglà).

Menu Item	Spice Level / Quantity	Price (RMB)
大虾火锅鸡 (Daxia Huoguo Ji)	中辣 (Zhōnglà)	128
Beverage	1 bottle	19
Rice / Sauce	-	Free
Total		147

For two people, the total came out to 147 RMB, meaning it was about 74 RMB per person.

Rice and sauces are provided for free.

You don't have to worry about extra charges for them, so it's a simple setup: just a main dish plus a beverage.

3. Daxia Huoguo Ji Review

The reason you get to enjoy both jjimdak and hotpot in one pot is all thanks to this sequence!

⭐ Here's the eating sequence at a glance:

Step	Details
Step 1	It arrives fully cooked, so you can eat it immediately like jjimdak (braised chicken).
Step 2	Cabbage broth slowly accumulates at the bottom.
Step 3	A staff member adds broth, and then you enjoy it like a hotpot.

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⭐ Stage 1: Enjoying it Jjimdak-Style!

When you order, it arrives perfectly prepared from the get-go,

so you can dive right in without any wait.

Despite its name, "Huoguo" (Hot Pot), its initial appearance is less like a soup

and more like a saucy, dry-seasoned dish.

The flavor was reminiscent of a seasoned Jjimdak (Korean steamed chicken), completely free of any gamey taste.

The salty sauce offered a delightful umami,

and the spices were subtle,

so even if you're not usually a fan of intense mala flavors, you'll find it incredibly approachable.

The chicken was incredibly tender and pre-cut into perfect bite-sized pieces,

so no need for extra work! There were also a generous amount of delicious large prawns.

⭐ Stage 2: The Secret Behind the Rising Broth!

As you enjoy the dish, you'll notice a delightful broth forming at the bottom,

That's because cabbage is thoughtfully laid underneath,

releasing its natural moisture!

⭐ Stage 3: Pour in the Broth, and Voila — It's Hot Pot Time!

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After you’ve savored some of the initial dish, a staff member

will come over and pour in the delicious broth.

This is the magical moment when your Jjimdak transforms into a bubbling hot pot!

This is your cue to head to the self-service bar, pick your favorite ingredients,

and add them to the pot! Here’s a peek at the amazing selection:

There was such a fantastic variety that choosing what to add to my hot pot

was half the fun!

Category	Items
Vegetables & Mushrooms	Napa Cabbage, Bok Choy, Potatoes, Bean Sprouts, Enoki Mushrooms, Wood Ear Mushrooms
Tofu & Fish Cakes	Dried Tofu, Various Tofu, Various Fish Cakes
Others	Sausage, Dumplings, Various Glass Noodles

The sauce bar was equally impressive, stocked with Hoisin sauce (海鲜酱, Hǎixiānjiàng),

soy sauce, sesame oil, chili oil, minced garlic, green onions,

peanuts, and even Zhima jiang (芝麻酱)!

Zhima jiang is a Chinese-style sesame sauce,

and it's a super popular ingredient to mix into your hot pot sauce for that authentic flavor!

The drink we enjoyed with our meal was Liziyuan (李子园),

a delightful sweet Chinese milk beverage.

Upon tasting it, I realized it tasted exactly like a melted Melona ice cream bar,

which makes perfect sense, as it’s a melon-flavored milk drink.

You can totally imagine the taste, right?

While it wasn't spicy, it perfectly complemented the savory sauce,

making it a wonderful drink to alternate with bites of the meal.

The method for selecting ingredients from the self-service bar

is exactly like choosing items for Malatang in Korea!

You simply fill a basket with your desired vegetables, tofu, fish cakes, and dumplings,

then add them to the pot with the broth and let it simmer away.

If you're already familiar with choosing ingredients at a Malatang spot,

you'll be a pro in no time, even on your very first visit!

What’s brilliant is that you continue eating in the very same pot you started with for the Jjimdak!

Just add your chosen ingredients to transform it into a hot pot, meaning

no need to switch pots or wait around.

⭐ Here’s an honest tip: even if you order the "medium mala" spice level,

it's actually quite mild and not overly spicy.

If you’re someone who loves a good kick,

definitely consider ordering one level spicier!

4. Wrapping Up Our Culinary Journey

Just seeing the name "Huoguo" (Hot Pot) and expecting a rich, spicy broth...

I had an idea of what to expect, but when I actually tasted it, the initial flavor reminded me more of a delicious, seasoned jjimdak (Korean braised chicken).

But then, we poured in the broth and added all sorts of fresh ingredients from the self-serve bar, and *that's* when it transformed into a proper jeongol (hot pot)! It was like getting the best of both worlds – jjimdak and jeongol – all in one glorious pot.

For two of us, enjoying generous portions of chicken, large shrimp, and all the wonderful additions from the self-serve bar came out to 147 yuan – a truly affordable and satisfying meal!

With several branches scattered across Weihai city, if you spot a Dahwanggwan Huoguo near your accommodation, I highly recommend adding it to your culinary radar as a top Weihai dining spot!

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​	Thinking about a Weihai adventure??