Jin Jie’s Authentic Hot Pot

In April, a group of friends and I embarked on a culinary adventure in Shanghai, which I documented and published […]

In April, a group of friends and I embarked on a culinary adventure in Shanghai, which I documented and published on April 6, 2021, at 8:09 AM. The trip was an exploration of food, photography, and a touch of bohemian flair, with each person contributing 150 yuan towards the experience.

We were on the hunt for Jin Jie’s Authentic Hot Pot, a local gem that was recommended to us. Upon inquiring about its location, a local resident enthusiastically directed us, “Jin Jie’s Authentic Hot Pot, right? Go straight and turn left!” Despite its somewhat hidden location on Pudong Avenue, it was well-known among the locals. Young men and women frequent this establishment, making it a popular spot in the neighborhood.

Great hot pot restaurants often hide in the most unexpected places, and Jin Jie’s is no exception. It embodies the essence of “great seclusion in the world,” having opened its doors the previous year and quickly gaining a reputation for being nearly full during weekdays at lunchtime. It remains a top choice in this magical city.

Jin Jie’s Authentic Hot Pot
– Address: No. 1108 Pudong Avenue
– Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
– Transportation:
1. A 1.5 km walk from Exit 3 of Line 4 Pudong Avenue Station
2. A 1.4 km walk from Exit 1 of Line 6 Yuanshen Sports Center Station

The ambience of this three-story hot pot restaurant, transformed from a raw warehouse, is unique. On the first floor, drinking tea and playing mahjong are everyday activities, unremarkable in the hustle and bustle of Shanghai life. Yet, this restaurant offers a different experience with its long benches, square tables, round wooden stools, and steaming kettles on the stove. Palm leaf fans add to the rustic charm. On one side, there’s a Great Wall, neatly arranged and waiting for you to play, adding a touch of history and culture to the dining experience.Drinking tea and playing mahjong in the riverside teahouse. If you’re not satisfied, you can go next door to cook a pot. As if you’ve traveled to Chongqing. Wouldn’t such a dining and entertainment method make you want to come and spend every day?

Second floor: The golden words ‘Golden Pavilion’ on the wall catch the eye, echoing with the 1930s and 1940s dressed poster decorations of Jin Jie, making you feel as if you’re in a 1930s and 1940s movie dock warehouse scene. Late at night, who else is there? Why would you want to share a pot of Chongqing old hot pot with me at the dock? Baby, you really don’t want to tell me? Why do you have marinated #bone-in tender beef# in your mouth, and #fresh tripe#, which is only one piece on a pig, with your chopsticks? If you’re deeply infatuated, it will wear down your taste buds.

Third floor: Dive into the urban art gallery experience. Color and light are the sources of vitality in this gray, pure space. The decorative paintings hung on the walls highlight the creativity and inspiration of avant-garde art. The unfinished concrete floor shows a wild and unrestrained temperament, giving the entire space a rebellious quality, perfectly interpreting why we should dine in an avant-garde and individualistic environment.

The first thing that amazes oneself is the all-red hot pot base of Jin Jie. It is like a work of art. All spicy ingredients are here: butter (the cheese in white hot pot), Chinese prickly ash, peppers, exclusive seasonings, garlic, green onions, and so on, all neatly arranged.The visual and taste sensations that Chongqing hot pot should have are all there! These vivid colors come together and finally become a richly fragrant, numbing and refreshing, spicy and fresh red soup hot pot base. In the boiling pot, having a meal of Chongqing old hot pot that doesn’t care about presentation but only about taste. The satisfying spiciness soothes the stomach and makes people feel comfortable all day.

Among the new favorites of old hot pot are marinated boneless beef with bones, the pig gum on a pig which there is only one piece on a pig, and dried cauliflower. The tripe in Chongqing hot pot must be buffalo tripe. The surface has coarse particles and thick leaves with chewiness. After tearing by hand, it is directly thrown into ice water to maintain a crisp and tough texture. The tripe is really large, and one piece can fill most of the pot. The tripe with soup and juice can spread a long-lasting aroma in the mouth.

When I eat spicy hot pot, I also need to match it with the three masterpieces of the store:

1. #Old Chongqing Ice Powder# – Crystal clear, with a hint of sweetness slowly seeping into the mouth. This bowl is spicy-relieving, refreshing and cool to the core.
2. #Glutinous Rice Balls with Fermented Glutinous Rice in Iced Water# – This bowl of Chongqing’s landmark snack. Many people who have eaten it say it is a unique specialty of the store. At the bottom are glutinous rice balls, in the middle is brown sugar shaved ice, and the spoonful of fermented glutinous rice with a sour and sweet fermented smell on top is the finishing touch.Spring has passed and summer is coming. Brown sugar is simply punk health preservation for girls in summer. One mouthful of brown sugar ice makes the whole summer cool. #Cold Cake# Taking a bite, it is soft and not sticky to the teeth, sweet but not greasy. The taste is smooth and refreshing, cool and pleasant.

The preference for hot pot stems from the yearning for individual freedom. The irresistible spiciness in #Jin Jie Old Hot Pot# is probably the most stress-relieving lifestyle for people in Shanghai.