Dongtan hotpot for mala first-timers with fenmozi: Lao Chongqing

Dongtan hotpot restaurant and private-room dining recommendation: Lao Chongqing Hotpot, Dongtan branch

For some reason I kept craving malatang or hotpot lately, haha. I only eat it maybe once or twice a year, but the craving lasted for days, so I finally went to Lao Chongqing Hotpot (라오충칭훠궈) in Dongtan, a well-known spot in Bansong-dong. I like spicy, hearty soups, so I went in with high hopes, and I was happier than expected, from the atmosphere to the food quality. Here's my review.

What are the restaurant and rooms like at Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan?

Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan is spacious, most tables are set up privately, and there are separate private rooms too. It feels a bit more upscale than a typical hotpot place, like a Chinese restaurant, so it also suits company dinners and family gatherings.

The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how big it is. The tables are spaced generously, so it never felt cramped, and most tables are private, which made it easy to relax and eat. It felt a little more refined than an ordinary hotpot place, like a Chinese restaurant, and it was kept clean, so the first impression was good.

There's plenty of space for groups, and with the separate private rooms I thought it would work well for company dinners or family gatherings too.

Is the self-serve sauce bar easy for hotpot beginners?

The self-serve sauce bar at Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan has sauce recipes written out, so even hotpot beginners can follow along and mix their own. There are lots of ingredients, like sugar, cilantro and sesame, and everything was kept clean.

The sauce bar is kept clean, too.

I'm a beginner at hotpot and malatang and don't know anything about sauce recipes, but the recipes were kindly written out, so it was fun mixing several sauces.

Sugar, cilantro, sesame... there are so many ingredients to combine! You can make all kinds of sauces to your own taste, so even the same ingredients tasted different each time.

What did we order?

At Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan, I picked two broths, the sauce bar, and meat and add-ons to taste. Here's what I ordered.

• Chongqing mala broth
• Chengdu Sosa bone broth
• Self-serve sauce bar, 1 person
• Sliced beef brisket
• Konjac noodles (fenmozi)
• Fish cake skewers
• Wood ear mushrooms
• Quail eggs
• Mixed vegetables

The fun of hotpot is putting in whatever you like, so I loaded up on a bit of everything.

Is the Chongqing mala broth too spicy for a mala beginner?

A staff member told me the Chongqing mala broth at Lao Chongqing has a bit less mala flavor than the Chengdu mala broth, so it's the one they recommend to first-timers. It's spicy but the spices aren't overpowering, so even a mala beginner can enjoy it.

The staff member recommended the Chongqing mala broth because it has a bit less mala flavor than the Chengdu one and is easy for newcomers, and once I tried it I understood right away why.

The first sip was spicy but the spice aroma wasn't too strong, so a mala beginner can definitely enjoy it. You still get that signature numbing tingle in your mouth, but it's not overly stimulating, so it was a broth I kept going back to.

Half and half with Chengdu Sosa bone broth

The Chengdu Sosa bone broth, on the other hand, was rich and nutty, which impressed me. Sipping it between bites of the mala side cleansed my palate, so I was really glad I chose both broths. You can alternate between spicy and mild flavors, so I think even first-time hotpot eaters can enjoy it without any pressure.

How were the sliced beef, konjac noodles and other add-ons?

Everything I picked at Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan was satisfying: the sliced beef brisket, mixed vegetables, quail eggs, konjac noodles (fenmozi), fish cake skewers and wood ear mushrooms. The konjac noodles in particular stayed chewy to the end without falling apart, even after long boiling.

The beef was sliced thin, so just a few seconds in the broth cooked it tender, with a rich, nutty flavor.

The mixed vegetables came fresh and made the broth feel cleaner, and the quail eggs had a soft texture that went well with the mala broth.

Konjac noodles (fenmozi) are of course a must in hotpot. I loved the chewy texture soaked in broth, and they didn't fall apart even after long boiling, so I enjoyed them to the end.

The fish cake skewers soaked up lots of broth and got more savory the more I chewed, and the wood ear mushrooms were crunchy, perfect to nibble on in between.

Who is Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan recommended for?

Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan is a Bansong-dong hotpot restaurant I'd recommend to mala beginners and to anyone looking for a spot for a date, family meal or company dinner. The Chongqing mala and Chengdu Sosa bone broth combination meant I never got tired of it and finished happily.

I don't eat malatang or hotpot often, but this visit gave me a little insight into why so many people love hotpot. The Chongqing mala broth in particular isn't overwhelming in mala flavor, so it works as an entry point, and paired with the Chengdu Sosa bone broth I never got sick of it and enjoyed it to the end.

The place is big and has lots of private seating, so I'd recommend this Bansong-dong restaurant for dates, and also for family meals or company dinners. Next time I visit, I'd like to try the other add-ons I missed this time.

Summary

• Visited Lao Chongqing Hotpot Dongtan, a Bansong-dong favorite
• Spacious, private seating and rooms available
• Chongqing mala broth recommended for mala beginners
• Recommended for dates, family gatherings and company dinners