Beijing Eat: Baheli Shantou Beef Hotpot (八合里汕头牛肉火锅)

Baheli Shantou Beef Hotpot (八合里汕头牛肉火锅) is a Chinese restaurant chain that specialises in authentic Chaoshan (Teochew-Swatow) beef hotpot. Originated in Shantou / Swatow, the restaurant chain has many outlets in other parts of China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, etc. We visited the outlet in Jinbao Shopping Centre (金宝汇) in Beijing.

Baheli is well-known for its fresh, hand-cut beef and clear, savoury broth boiled with beef bones. Their beef hotpot focuses on the quality of the beef, with various fresh cuts served to be cooked quickly in the broth.

The Tender Beef (爽口嫩肉) and Diaolong Beef (吊龙) are the two most recommended beef cuts. "Tender Beef" refers to the meat on the bottoms of a cow whereas Diaolong is the meat on the cow's back which includes sirloin, tenderloin and ribeye. Each dish of fresh beef slices is accompanied by a suggestion on how long to quick-boil the meat. Before boiling the meat, get the dipping sauce ready — it is self-service and customisable to personal preference.

Other than the two "tender" cuts, the Beef Shank (五花趾), on a cow's hind leg, has meat with tendons for crisp and chewy texture.

Unlike spicy Sichuan-style hotpot, Chaoshan beef hotpot uses mild, rich beef bone broth. When the broth starts to boil, quick-boil each plate of meat within the suggested time (usually few seconds) — the staff may assist to cook them. The meats that are cooked this way are tender with natural beef flavours — and with varying textures of the different meat. The taste will vary depending on the concocted dipping sauce — so, avoid strong-tasting condiments.

Baheli's beef hotpot is really a great way to try fresh meats from different parts of a cow. Aside from the fresh meat cuts, Baheli also serves popular dishes like hand-beaten beef balls, beef tendon balls, and stir-fried rice noodles with beef. 

Address:

北京市东城区金宝街88号金宝汇购物中心 — Baidu Map

88 Jinbao Street, Jinbao Place Shopping Centre, Dongcheng District, Beijing City, China

Opening Hours:

11am to 10pm | Daily

Nearby: Beijing Eat: Yu Shi Ji (豫石记羊汤) Mutton Soup + Sesame Pastry