Haidilao is the most well-known Sichuan-style hot pot chain in China, with branches at home and abroad. There are currently 8 branches in Hangzhou, each of which has a high rating, and almost all of them are located in popular business districts, with a superior geographical location.
The taste of Haidilao varies from city to city, and it is generally modified in a timely manner according to local tastes. The taste of Hangzhou Haidilao spicy pot base is basically the same as that of Shanghai, both of which are much lighter than the pot base in Sichuan, but for most local diners, this spicy level is moderate, and if you like spicy food, you may need to ask the waiter to adjust the spiciness when ordering. In addition to the spicy pot base, every store in Hangzhou also serves the most common pot bases: bone broth, mushroom soup and beef broth. However, the pork belly chicken soup, which is more popular in Guangdong, is cold in Hangzhou, and some branches do not even stock it, so diners who want to taste the pork belly chicken soup base are advised to check with the merchant in advance. If diners are interested, they can also try the hottest "Douyin Internet celebrity pot bottom", just click on a tomato pot, a butter pot, and the remaining two grids to choose water, and DIY the bottom of the pot with seasonings, not only the process is interesting, but the taste is also controlled by yourself.
Haidilao has a raw material production base and four modern logistics and distribution bases across the country, and dishes such as hairy tripe and duck intestines are directly delivered to the Hangzhou store from the headquarters, while other non-air dishes in the store are purchased through specific channels, and then distributed to each store, so that the freshness of the ingredients is guaranteed. The restaurant also has a standard process for handling ingredients, and the hygiene and stability of the dishes are basically reassuring. In 2017, after a store in Beijing was exposed to a loophole in kitchen hygiene, Haidilao carried out a comprehensive rectification, and the current kitchen management is more standardized.
After becoming famous overnight on Douyin, there are not a few customers who make a special trip to Haidilao every day to taste this Internet celebrity dish, and Haidilao has also included this dish in the menu. A serving of jitter gluten balls contains an egg, a shrimp slip and a grease gluten, customers need to beat the raw egg into an empty cup and shake it well, then poke the oil gluten open and pour in the egg mixture, and finally seal it with a shrimp slip, put it in a pot and boil it for about 5 minutes before enjoying. After the scalded gluten ball is clamped and cut open with chopsticks, the egg and shrimp slip inside have been fused together, and the taste is more fragrant and tender than ordinary shrimp sliders. If you feel that the process is troublesome, you can also ask the waiter to help you operate, and all the service staff in the store are basically proficient in this method.
Haidilao's noodles have always been famous, and the form of live performances at the table has attracted a lot of attention. The noodle master is skillful and has a strong sense of rhythm, and a wide noodle becomes as slender as Lanzhou ramen after a while under his pulling and waving, and the whole process is completed in one go, and the diners are engaged in it, which also adds a lot of points to this dish. The freshly pulled noodles are elastic and strong, and no matter which pot they are cooked in, they will not taste too bad, but because there is a lot of flour on the surface of the noodles, it will have a certain effect on the bottom of the pot when boiling, so it is best to put the noodles near the end of the meal. All dishes in Haidilao can be ordered only half a portion, providing customers with the opportunity to taste more dishes, and the service is more intimate.
There is little difference in the taste and environment of the dishes between the different branches, and the seats in the dining area of each restaurant are relatively spacious, the indoor lighting is bright, and the environment is clean and tidy, so that people will not feel crowded or uncomfortable. Although the waiting time during peak hours is basically 1-2 hours, most diners still praise Haidilao by providing snacks, folding thousands of paper cranes to deduct meal expenses, nail art and other small discounts when waiting for a table. If you don't want to go out, diners can also order takeout directly through the official website or WeChat, and you can eat steaming Haidilao hot pot at home.
