Alright, full disclosure: It’s a bit weird to get a bill for RMB750 when you’re wearing a bib smothered in garlic sauce. That kind of money in Beijing normally gets you a white tablecloth, or at least royally f*cked up. But at Boiling Pot, it gets you a series of large plastic bags, plastic gloves, garish plastic bibs and one round of Coronas for the table.
But if you think this is about to be a bad review, you, my friend, are wrong. For Boiling Pot is serving a truly noble purpose in Beijing. Have you ever walked down Gui Jie, seen all the long lines, and wondered what all the fuss around crayfish is about? Have you ever, upon expressing interest in trying said crayfish, been silenced by people around you, piping up to share gastrointestinal horror stories from their own visits to Ghost Street? Do you still, just a little bit, kinda wanna eat some crayfish?
Boiling Pot does so much for the humble seabug by serving it in its most perfect form: a New Orleans-style boil. All that entails, really, is tossing it in a big ugly bag with butter and hot sauce.
Here’s how it works: Go to Boiling Pot’s new Sanlitun location, and order a drink off their Comic Sans cocktail menu (stick with Coronas). Then, switch to the food menu (both are laminated, smart) and go to town on crustaceans. Order crayfish, clams, shrimp, lobster and crab by the pound. But be warned: the premium seafoods (like our King crab legs) come at premium prices. That’s because, if you dare, your server will lead you to the tanks, where you can choose which animal you want slaughtered and smothered in butter sauce. Fun! Ultimately, this is how you get a bill as expensive as ours. This is also how you get damn delicious crab legs. I don’t know what to tell you, really. It’s your decision.
After picking your favorite creature to kill, you can choose the spice level and the sauce. Your server will recommend the signature sauce (whose name we’ve forgotten, but is something like ‘Boom’ or ‘Pizazz’), but we’re partial to the garlic-butter stuff. You can also add vegetables – it’s like hot pot, but in a bag. They should really change their name to Boiling Bag.
There are also sides – French fries, fried chicken, sandwiches (?!) – but don’t waste your time with those. You’re here for the seafood. And damn, that fish cray.
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