Eight Birds Hokkaido Shabu Shabu 八鸟

Exuding the kind of tranquility you don’t usually expect from a hot pot restaurant, Eight Birds is a Japanese take on the DIY cooking experience. A number of set meals include your choice of meat or seafood – from chicken (RMB 148) to the fortuitously priced lobster (RMB 888) – as well as a standard selection of vegetables, sashimi, tea and dessert. With only a generic hotpot broth available, this place is set apart by its selection of dipping sauces. The prime shavings of beef (from RMB 98-880) combine well with the egg and soy sauce, while the frozen tofu (RMB 20) is better suited with the sesame sauce; and the radish tastes superb in the mashed garlic and shallot sauce. The quality of the ingredients cannot be faulted, especially the beef. Attentive staff are on hand for every step of the cooking process. Private Japanese-style washitsu rooms are also available.