Haidilao is the most well-known Sichuan-style hot pot chain in China, with branches at home and abroad. Haidilao currently has 9 branches in Suzhou, making it the hotpot brand with the largest number of branches in Suzhou.
Unlike the previous two hot pot chains, Haidilao's pot base is generally modified according to local tastes. If you are a spicy diner, you may need to ask the waiter to adjust the spiciness when ordering, or mix a spicy dry dish to enhance the flavor. Another signature tomato pot base is a few degrees sweeter than other regions, and the soup base is more viscous in the later stages of cooking, which is very popular with local customers. In addition to red soup and tomatoes, there are also bone broth and mushroom soup to choose from, and several pot bases can be single, double or quadruple.
In order to ensure the quality of the dishes in the country's directly-operated stores, Haidilao has a raw material production base and four modern logistics and distribution bases, and dishes such as hairy tripe and duck intestines are directly sent to stores in Shanghai from the headquarters, while other non-air dishes in the store are purchased through specific channels, and then distributed to each store, and 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.
My Xiaojun liver is a new dish launched by Haidilao in 2018, Xiaojun liver is chicken gizzard, and after the Xiaojun liver strings in District 5 of the steel pipe factory brought this dish to the fire, Haidilao subsequently included it in the menu. When processing the ingredients, the outer edge of the chicken gizzard is removed, leaving only the most tender part of the essence in the middle, which is crisp and plump after boiling, and then dipped in a dry dish of chili noodles to make it even more enjoyable. Green pea seedlings are also a new dish recently launched, green bean seedlings are similar to a pot of green bean potted plants when served, customers need to cut the bean seedlings from the green beans on the spot and then put them into the pot to boil, at the end of the meal, you can also directly take the potted plants home to cultivate by yourself, the process is interesting, and the basic table must be ordered. In addition to the two new dishes, the signature shrimp slippery, fat beef, fresh duck blood, hairy tripe and duck intestines are all Haidilao's signature dishes for many years, and the production is stable, so you can order it with confidence. It is worth mentioning that 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.
Haidilao's noodles are 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. 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.
Although there will be a long waiting time during peak hours, most diners still praise Haidilao by providing snacks, folding thousands of paper cranes to deduct meals, free nail art and other small discounts during the waiting period. Like Yuwei Xiaoyu hot pot, Haidilao also offers hot pot takeaway, and diners can place orders directly through the official website, WeChat or takeaway platform.
