Rock Your Pot & Spice Things Up with Hot Pot

Even if you’re on your own this Valentine’s day, there’s no reason not to heat things up a little. Agenda has dipped and dunked its way through the city and found the best places to dive into hot pot.

Chongqing Kongliang Huoguo 重庆孔亮火锅 A standout amidst Gui Jie’s plentiful hot pot options, Kongliang delivers a well-rounded huoguo experience that pushes all the right buttons. A pleasant courtyard ambiance, lively fellow diners, and spicy soups whose deep red hue alone will set your taste buds tingling – this is hot pot at its best. Daily 10am-330am. 218 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Chaoyang District (8404 4906) 朝阳区东直门内大街218号

Dong Lai Shun 东来顺 With many branches in Beijing, Dong Lai Shun’s essence remains its famous mutton hot pot. Boiled, as ever, in distinct-ive copper pots over white-hot charcoal, Dong Lai Shun’s broth gets so deliciously thick towards the end that you don’t even need a dip to add extra flavor to the thin-sliced strips of meat. 1)Daily 630am-930am, 11am-9pm. 12 Xinyuanxili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District (6467 3707/6460 0671) 朝阳区新源西里中街12号 2)Daily 11am-10pm. 5/F, APM Mall, 138 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (6528 0932) 东城区王府井大街138号新东安大厦5楼

Haidilao Hot Pot 海底捞火锅 This Beijing establishment is famous for many things: great service, break dance noodle stretching, a sauce bar with endless options, and complimentary manicures and shoe shines if you have to wait in line. Open 24 hours. Numerous locations around the city, including 1) 2/F Donghua Shang Dasha, 2 Yanjing Xili, Hongmiao, Chaoyang District (6506 0403) 朝阳区朝阳区红庙延静西里2号东华商大厦2楼 2) 29 Nanmofang Lu Pingle Yuan, Chaoyang District (8779 8911) 朝阳区朝阳区南磨房路平乐园29号 3) 8/F Tianyingtai Dept Store, 88 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (5762 0153) 东城区东城区王府井大街88号乐天银泰百货8楼 4) 2A Baijiazhuang Lu (next to No. 80 Middle School), Chaoyang District (6595 2982) 朝阳区白家庄路甲2号 (八十中学西侧)

Huang Cheng Lao Ma 皇城老妈 This swanky and often crowded Sichuan hot pot restaurant is famous for its laoma niurou (mama’s beef), which becomes more tender the longer you boil it. Great place for large group dinners. 1) Daily 11am-11pm. 2/F Landgent International Center, Shuangjing, Chaoyang District (6779 8801) 朝阳区朝阳区东三环中路20号乐成中心2楼(双井桥东北) 2) Daily 11am-11pm. 3 Changchun Jie, Xuanwu District (6317 3369) 宣武区长椿街3号 3) Daily 11am-1130pm.Courtyard 9, Jiaochangkou Jie, Deshengmen, Xicheng District (8206 8882)西城区德胜门教场口街9号院

I Rock My Pot 锅儿滚 With ostrich meat, a self-serve/self-mix condiment bar and individual hot pots, this restaurant will rock your hot pot world. Those not inclined to ostrich it will still enjoy the variety of broths (including curry and tom yum goong) and extensive selection of vegetables, meats and seafood. Daily 10.s30am-2pm, 5-10pm. 37-38 Chaowai Dajie, Chaoyang District (5879 0999) 朝阳区朝外大街37-38号(昆泰国际中心步行街)

Little Sheep 小肥羊 Little Sheep sets itself apart from the flock through its sauce. This hot pot chain (with locations all over China and overseas) from Inner Mongolia boasts a special recipe —a soup so flavorful you don’t need to dip twice. 1) Daily 24 hours. 209 Dongzhimennei Dajie, Dongcheng District (8400 1669) 东城区东直门内大街209号 2) Bldg 3, Courtyard 19, Jiangtai Xilu (100m west of Guobin Building), Chaoyang District (8456 3495) 朝阳区将台西路19号院3号楼国宾大厦西100米 3)500m east of Xidan Sales Market, Xicheng District (8944 9168) 西城区西单大卖场东500米 4) Daily 11am-midnight.Northwest corner of Caishikou intersection, Xuanwu District (6316 6668) 宣武区菜市口路口西北角

Manfu Lou 满福楼涮羊肉 Packed with people and buzzing with activity, this long-running hot pot restaurant near Houhai and Beihai Park is always filled with lively customers. Locals flock to this place for the succulent beef and mutton slices, fresh veggies and individualized copper pots, as well as the authentic old Beijing ambiance. Each floor is a bit different, and the atmosphere gets quieter the higher up you go. Daily 11am-11pm. 38 Di’anmennei Dajie, Dongcheng District (6403 0992/3773) 东城区地安门内大街38号