Do Valentine's Differently This Year With Hotpot in a Tent at Gulou

Legend has it that the first ever servings of hotpot were consumed in a tent by Genghis Khan’s army, after the tyrannical leader’s cook spontaneously invented a way to quickly feed the troops before battle.

If you want a taste of what that rustic meal might have felt like, then visit Gulou’s Zoo Yoo Beijing for a comfier, cutesier rendition and let your imagination run wild.

The venue (situated a few blocks east from the street’s intersection with Nanluogu Xiang) looks like any other generic hutong café upon entry. But upstairs, they have pitched some tents, filled them up with adorable cushions, and invited patrons to curl up inside with everything needed for a night of romance between you and your loved one over a steaming pot of meat and veg.

The idea of eating hotpot in a tent was so novel that we were stoked to try it out. Unfortunately, the first of several letdowns occurred after we were settled in the tent, clutching mini hot water bottles that were given to use by the courteous staff. Yes, our hearts sank when the waitress opened the tent’s flap and set down a standard hot plate with a generic spicy/mild pot on top. It looked like the same setup that anyone could quickly come up with at home, rather than one befitting a professional restaurant.

We were also surprised by the price – RMB 238 for a plateful of lamb, beef, slices of spam, and a bowl of mushrooms and other veggies. The ingredients were fine, but were neither extraordinary enough in their flavor or texture to warrant that cost.

If you’re looking for a tastier, more affordable experience then we recommend trying the more authentic Mongolian hotpot at Houhai's Nanmen Shuanrou, the walls of which are adorned with the legend about the Khan army's invention of the time honored dish. But for a fun meal in cozy close with your special someone or some of your gamest friends, then you could certainly do worse than this ambitiously conceptualized, albeit flawed, restaurant.

For reservations, add the owner on WeChat (ID: korea1789). Her English is good, making the experience very foreigner friendly.

Zoo Yoo Beijing
Daily, 11am-10.30pm. 62 Gulou Dongdajie (132 4026 8500)
鼓楼东大街62号

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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
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Photos: Kyle Mullin