There can be few more sure-fire ways to create a successful business than to open a hot pot restaurant. Ubiquitous, universally loved and inexplicably popular all year round, hot pot is the go to for family fun or a raucous night out with friends.

Therein the problem. Their sheer volume means The Nanjinger has in its 12 years never actually done a review of a hot pot restaurant. Just where on Earth to start?

Or we could argue that we have just been biding our time to make sure we have done sufficient research.

And we have. Loads of it.

Most times, a trip to a hot pot joint has been a somewhat divine experience. But also usually one in which something was not quite right. That might be the upset stomach the following day, or the fact that without being completely smothered in spice ’n’ sauce, the cuts of meat are often somewhat tasteless.

But there’s one place in Nanjing where none of that has been true on any of our five or six visits.

Hence we are happy to be able to say with confidence that Nanjing’s top hot pot be Qiweijia Fat Beef Restaurant Seafood Hot Pot (QWJ). With another branch in Nanjing, our chosen haunt is their outlet 600 metres from exit 3 of Focheng Xi Lu / Hohai University Metro Station on line S1.

To be honest, QWJ is nothing to look at from the outside. Situated right beside the airport expressway, the only exterior plus is there has never been a problem bagging a parking spot.

Inside, it’s not that different a story, but we don’t come for the decoration. Booths for both four or six comprise the majority of the seating options, each offering generous space. And a table large enough for everything you might order.

QWJ is one of those places where each diner gets their own pot, leading to the fun had in controlling the electric hob below, hidden under the tablecloth as an extra challenge. And just as elsewhere, the first thing to do is to choose the “soup” for your pot.

Then, the fact that Angus veal is the first thing on the meat menu is the promising sign it sounds. Other options include beef sashimi, tripe and so very many varieties of lamb.

For seafood lovers, there is a mighty tempting array of water-borne beasts (some still alive and kicking) to fling into your pot. A seafood platter, cuttlefish, clam slices and frozen squid are just the start.

Back to that spice ’n’ sauce. At QWJ there are 24 to choose from. Therein of course the usual suspects; garlic, coriander, chives, chillis, sesame paste, etc. But this is the only hot pot restaurant we have encountered that also features cumin as a sauce. Let us say that again for extra emphasis; “cumin as a sauce”.

QWJ has earned for itself a “Nanjing Five Star Merchants” badge on Dianping, while that app’s community awards 4.8 stars. And now it has a “Best in Class” award from The Nanjinger too. With an average price per head of ¥103, what more could a body ask for?

Qiweijia Fat Beef Restaurant Seafood Hot Pot 齐味家肥牛海鲜火锅 is located at 66-6 Focheng Dong Lu in Jiangning 江宁区佛城东路 66-6号. Tel 57695769. Another branch located walking distance from IKEA at 45 Yongle Nan Lu 永乐南路 45号.

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