Step Aside Haidilao: Try Xiangcao Xiangcao Yunnan Hotpot

Step aside Haidilao, there’s a new kid on the block offering friendly service/excellent hotpot and they’re straight out of Kunming (or at least inspired by the city). If you have locavore leanings, stay away – Xiangcao Xiangcao’s menu has an airplane icon for items flown in from Yunnan and you’ll find it on almost every page.

Of the restaurant’s multiple soup bases, Xiangcao offers two seasonal choices (one spicy, one not) for free. While no half and half soup bases are on offer, all the hotpots are divided into two parts, one for boiling your chosen ingredients and a separate center part so you can have a bowl (or two) of soup throughout your meal. Xiangcao is vanilla in Chinese and the ingredient turns up throughout the menu and even in the tea and soup.

They don’t offer a DIY condiments bar, but there are a number of Yunnan minority inspired choices on the menu and a variety of (all you can eat) snacks and preserved vegetables are brought to the table while you’re waiting for your pot to start boiling.

Mushrooms are a Yunnan staple and Xiangcao Xiangcao offers page after page of rare mushrooms, though they can get pricey. Another popular choice is the mixed tofu platter, which was a real crowd pleaser. As an avowed meat eater, it’s rare to be overjoyed by a tofu platter, but their tofu was excellent, especially the jianshui tofu, which was more like pea jelly (wandou fen, 豌豆分) than tofu, but was delicious.

While even the meat section includes ingredients flown in from Yunnan, including interesting options like tea marinated chicken and yak meat. It’s not all unusual options though; all the usual hotpot favorites are on the menu and are really fresh. With so many ingredients traveling such a long way, the freshness of everything was a pleasant surprise. There are a number of fresh juices on the menu and for those looking for something alcoholic, a variety of house infused rice wines are offered alongside all the usual choices.

Xiangcao’s service was attentive and helpful, offering suggestions that weren’t focused on getting us to spend more money and quick with an answer to any questions. The staff spent a lot of time tableside, checking up to see if anything was needed and going the extra mile. Our server, for example, seeing we really enjoyed the tea, gave us each a small container of it to take home.

There are also a few servers directly from Yunnan who perform minority songs throughout the night. And like Haidilao, there are free manicures and shoe shines available.

The interior is uniquely designed; the two Beijing branches take their inspiration from two of the most popular Yunnan destinations: Dali (Haidian) and Lijiang (Sanlitun). Sure, they’ve copied the Haidilao plan, but their Yunnan influences and air mailed ingredients add a unique touch to the experience.

CBD, # 2/F Xiashing Guoji Zhongxin (below Tumaris), 237 Chaoyang Beilu (south of and across the street from Chaoyang Hospital East Gate), Chaoyang District

Zizhuyuan Park, # 2, F Mingshang Building, 55 Suzhou Jie (near west gate of People's University), Haidian District