"Shancheng Lameizi Hot Pot, an upscale hotpot chain headquartered in Beijing, boasts a 30-year history of providing a fancy version of the spicy Chongqing specialty spiced with Szechuan peppercorns and dried chiles. At the restaurant, customers can choose from various soup bases, including mala Szechuan style and mild, milky pork bone broth. Its extensive a la carte menu includes fatty beef belly, sliced mutton, and beef tripe. Be sure to try the house-made mashed shrimp paste, as well as the Kobe beef, which can be cooked at the table. The unlimited snack counter can make your eyes pop with the choices, ranging from black rice porridge, iced jelly, tangyuan in fermented rice soup, and sesame balls." - Helen I. Hwang