Qian Zhou Hotpot

I've finally gathered enough inspiration to write about my discovery on Najda St in Abu Dhabi - the delightful little chinese family-run hotpot place that's called Qian Zhou.

In short, I'm addicted to the place. It seems the more often I go there the more often I want to go! I seem to discover new taste thrills on every single expedition.

Expedition seems to be the right word for it, as the entrance to the place is as dodgy as dodgy can get. (See picture)

The dilapidated old escalators look as if they belong to a building that is to be demolished in a week. All the dodgy men lurking around the entrance and the internet cafe cum billiards place at the top all add to the feeling you're entering a secret lair and nothing good can possibly come out of this exploration.

Bravery is rewarded however, and as you spy the flashing lights and colourful interior of Qian Zhou you experience a wave of relief that you have indeed come to the right place.

The restaurant itself is neat, the ambience simple and unpretentious and the staff (though lacking a great deal in english skills) pleasant and helpful. You start by ticking off a soup base (my favourite is the spicy) and size on an interactive menu. The staff accordingly bring in your soup and bowls and set it up on a hot plate while you tick off your ingredients. Once the menu is submitted, you take your personal bowl off to the sauces and condiments counter and mix and match according to taste.

Now, one should never underestimate the mixing process - it is best to take your time, smell (and if you're brave enough to risk looking rude - taste) your sauce mix till you've reached perfection. 

It took me a good couple of visits before I learnt the art of sauce mixing. There's just too much to choose from and no matter what anyone says - simply tossing a little of everything in does not work! The last time, I asked for extra bowls and did a bit of mixing and matching at the table through the meal - it worked well.

By the time you've perfected your sauce and return to your table, your fresh ingredients are ready and waiting.

In the picture is a large spicy soup base with beef strips, spinach, fish balls, mushrooms, chinese cabbage and bamboo shoots. The seaweed and peanut bowls are complimentary starters.

The seafood soup base comes with a crab in it - which is great fun if you enjoy crab.

I definitely recommend what's called 'fat beef' on the menu instead of the plain beef - it's more tender and barely has to touch the boiling water to cook perfectly. It can be identified by the white stripes among the pink. But really, anything on the menu we've tried so far is nothing short of delightful. I haven't been brave enough to try the really scary stuff - and believe me there's plenty to choose from!

One item that's not on the menu but is truly not to be missed are the dumplings. The only thing to arrive at your table cooked, they are also the only items that can be done as a takeaway.

 These are basically soft little packets made of flour and filled with minced meat or chicken and vegetables. I find the best dipping sauce for the dumplings is a very simple mix of soy sauce, vinegar and garlic (I also tried adding a spoon of tomato puree which added a very pleasant twist). Best eaten hot, these are very delicate and soft. Chances are if you're not good with chopsticks, you'll either end up having them slip through your chopsticks or being cut in half by them. They don't fare much better once you manage to get them into your mouth. The salty/sour of the sauce gives your tastebuds a real kick just before you bite and the mildly-spiced, meaty interior offers just the right amount of comfort straight after. You're as much not in control as you were with the chopsticks - all you can do is lean back, close your eyes, chew and savour the contrasting flavours, and before you know it - Poof it's gone - just as it slipped out of your chopsticks when you were trying to grab them. There's nothing left to do but to grab one more! :)

It's always quite a handful to make sure your ingredients don't overcook, to make sure you add ingredients at the right time, to watch and quickly pick out food that's cooked, to remember to wait till they're cool before dipping and eating. Spend too much time enjoying your dumplings and you're bound to forget something else. But therein lies the true beauty of this meal - it can never get boring, and it's only as different and as exciting and as crazy as you want it to be. The meal's in your hands and all you have to do is take control to totally enjoy yourself and come out feeling happy and full. 

Speaking of happy - I just have to mention an amusing story from my last visit. A television screen at the restaurant usually plays chinese tv programs, and if you don't understand Chinese, pretty soon your ears forget about the sound in the background. I was thus immersed in my world of soup and cooking and munching when my dining partner asked me to look at the screen. I did and the resulting scene left me rubbing my eyes and shaking my head with disbelief! It was a popular indian TV serial, complete with colourfully overdressed characters and heaps of melodrama...but in Chinese! I was absolutely flabbergasted - I would never have imagined those serials being so popular with a non-indian crowd...

Departing piece of advice - Don't go to Qian Zhou if you plan to catch up with an old friend - although the meal does stretch a bit, unless you're an expert - talking takes second place. And there's no waiting time involved!

Location: Al Markaziyah West, Najda St., National Cinema Building. Up the dodgy escalators and U-turn to your left.

Price Range: AED 150-200 (For two) Be sure to carry cash!

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Till next time folks!