🔅Actual dining date: 2024/08/09
*Please do not repost or use the photos for commercial purposes without permission.

This is a well-established spicy hot pot place in Banqiao. I haven't eaten here since about 8 years ago, and my impression back then was that it was a very traditional hot pot without anything special, and the decor was basic. However, I felt that my perspective changed this time.

▪️Dual-flavor hot pot small pot $320
There were quite a few pieces of duck blood, which I don’t really eat, but my friend thought they were good. The spicy hot pot has a mild level of spiciness, and the chili oil really does pack a punch. I heard it uses traditional Chinese medicinal ingredients, so the flavor is quite rich but not bitter, although it is pretty salty.

▪️US beef short ribs $520 ▪️Pork $300
I must highly praise the quality of their meat; it's delicious! Especially the pork, which surprised me with its marbling (I had seen others mention that the meat wasn’t fresh, but we didn’t encounter this issue at all).

▪️Fresh shiitake mushrooms $80 ▪️Cauliflower $60 ▪️Cabbage $70
You get a lot of shiitake mushrooms, the vegetable portions are normal, and the cabbage has a hint of sweetness.
▪️Egg dumplings $70 ▪️Squid paste $200 ▪️Sweet and spicy fish cake $60
The egg dumplings tend to fall apart easily, but the squid paste is a generous portion and also tasty. The sweet and spicy fish cake is very fragrant and comes in a large serving.
▪️Beef balls $180 ▪️Pork rib crisps $120 ▪️Fried dough sticks $30
The beef balls come with 8 large pieces, which are firm and juicy when you bite into them. The pork rib crisps are well-seasoned, but the meat is a bit tough with many small bones. The fried dough sticks are typically good with the spicy hot pot.
▪️Taro meatballs half portion $40 ▪️Tofu skin $50
My friend who doesn’t eat salty food said the taro meatballs were very good (the table next to us kept raving about them). The tofu skin was average.
▪️White rice $10
Standard white rice, nothing memorable.

Everything on the menu without a “*” can be ordered in half portions.

Overall, I really liked it! The ingredients completely shattered my previous impressions, and it was really delicious. The portions were quite ample, and later on, I felt that many of the meatball items should have been ordered in half portions to avoid excess. The service staff were quite casual 😂, not particularly asking to refill the soup, and clearing plates was quick, but the overall experience was still quite good.

·No service fee / Reservations recommended.

Reviewer comment: The restroom is very large, with two sinks, which is very convenient.

This is a famous spicy hot pot place in Banqiao, located near Banqiao Station. This time, two of us dined and ordered fourteen items.

The yin-yang hot pot small pot is $320 (we ordered it with a little spicy; I think the spiciness was just right but a bit salty). The duck blood tofu in the small serving was quite a lot; the duck blood was tender and juicy, and the tofu was soft and tender. 👍

US beef short rib is $520 (the meat quality is good, and it has thickness; recommend).

Pork is $300 (it should be from the marbled pig; it is also good).

Fresh mushrooms are $80 (cut into quarters, it looks like a lot).

Cauliflower is $60 (when placed in the spicy pot, it absorbs the broth, which is nice).

Egg dumplings are $70 (they fall apart easily when cooked; they taste good).

Cabbage is $70 (quite sweet).

Squid paste is $200 (there's quite a bit of squid inside, and there's celery in it; recommend).

Beef balls are $180 (when bitten into, they are chewy and juicy; recommend).

Pork ribs are $120 (for me, with braces, they were a bit hard, but the taste was good).

Taro meatballs half portion is $40 (this is my favorite dish; it's super delicious; must order; recommend).

Sweet potato tempura is $60 (thick slices in irregular shapes; tasty).

Tofu skin is $50 (just average).

Fried dough sticks are $30 (perfect when added to the spicy pot).

White rice is $10 (just plain rice).

The spicy hot pot is flavorful even without dipping sauces. Highly recommend the taro meatballs, US short rib, beef balls, and squid paste.

There were quite a few people on Friday night. I will definitely visit again next time.

#banqiao #banqiaostation

Qiwei is my most recommended spicy hot pot restaurant. I have been patronizing it for almost 10 years. From the old interior to eating in the store next door to the renovation, I still feel that Qiwei is the best spicy hot pot restaurant in the north!

It is an a la carte spicy hot pot. Their red pot soup base is warm and mellow, you can drink the soup directly!
The bottom of the pot is super delicious! ! ! ! ! Every time I add some more bottom of the pot to eat.
There are some cabbage and crispy pork ribs in the white pot, and the soup is delicious.

I don't eat beef, but I always order pork every time I come here. Their pork is really delicious, and I don't like spicy food now. I mostly eat white pot except for the bottom of the pot, and the pork doesn't have any fishy smell.

One advantage of their meals is that you can order half portions of some items, so you can eat a variety of different foods. The way to identify it is to see if there is an asterisk in front of the egg on the menu. If there is, it means that the asterisk is not allowed. Half-point items.

I have to order the taro balls every time I come here, but I don’t eat taro, so I haven’t tried this product 😂
But everyone who travels with me loves it so much that they will definitely order it.
I personally prefer fried dough sticks. The soft fried dough sticks cooked in the red pot soup are really delicious!

Others are quite satisfactory. After all, if the soup base is good and the ingredients are basically fresh, it won’t be too bad.

It is said that their restaurant was opened by Zhan Ji's relatives. It is said to be a cheap version of Zhan Ji, and the prices are really affordable. That's why I like this spicy hotpot the most.

It is recommended that those who have never eaten it should go and try it!
(I said in a low voice that I have eaten at Qiwei branches in other counties and cities, and it was very unpalatable. If you really want to eat, it is better to come to this one!)

Ah, but now that I’m older, I can’t eat food with too strong flavors. The last few meals I’ve had have felt that they taste a bit salty, so I’ve reduced the frequency of meals.