Revisiting Zhan Ji's Deliciousness

Feeling under the weather today and had no appetite! I recalled the delicious spicy hot pot I had in Taipei last year, so I decided to share it with everyone today. We chose the Dun Nan branch of Zhan Ji Spicy Hot Pot. We tried calling for reservations for a long time in the morning but couldn't get a table! So, the four of us decided to try our luck by going directly to the restaurant. Fortunately, we got a spot to enjoy the spicy hot pot we had been craving. Next to the reception, there was an elevator that we seriously pressed to enter the restaurant. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be just a decoration. Once inside, the door opposite would open, and this tricky elevator made us laugh for a long time, hahaha. After being seated and placing our order, we could go to the self-service seasoning area to mix sauces for the hot pot. No need to worry if you don't know how to mix them because the restaurant provides instructions. Just follow the guide to make authentic Taiwanese sauces. When eating spicy hot pot, you must have cold drinks! We chose barley tea and oolong tea, each for TWD$80, served in nostalgic small cups that were super cute. In no time, our hot pot and ingredients arrived! The portion was just right for lunch. The two gentlemen at the table couldn't handle spicy food, so we ordered a mild spicy twin pot for TWD$480, which included duck blood and tofu in the spicy broth. The duck blood was tender, juicy, and flavorful. Even the two gentlemen who couldn't handle spicy food eagerly tasted it! Besides the broth, you could also purchase an extra half portion for TWD$210, which we did, and everyone was very satisfied and delighted. We had to order two main dishes because three of us didn't eat beef, so we ordered all pork. The special plum pork for TWD$360 was actually pork shoulder, which was fresh and not greasy. However, I preferred the Taiwanese Matsusaka pork for TWD$380! The pork neck had a great texture and was more flavorful with each bite, perfectly matching the spicy broth. The taro meatballs for TWD$140 had a creamy taro texture, a must-try for taro lovers. The cuttlefish balls for TWD$120 were bouncy, and each piece was irregular, giving a handmade feel. The Fuzhou fish balls for TWD$150 were chewy and had a rich meat flavor, quite tasty. The best companion for spicy hot pot is the fried dough sticks for TWD$70! Soak them in the spicy broth to absorb the flavorful soup, making them irresistibly delicious. Vegetables are also essential, so we ordered baby cabbage for TWD$130, which was tender and sweet, very pleasing. You can't miss water spinach for TWD$90 when in Taiwan! The crispy texture and sweet flavor make it endlessly enjoyable. After the meal, they served specially packaged candy-shaped ice cream. It was solid and not as smooth as regular ice cream, but a bit of sweetness after a meal always brings happiness. I heard that Zhan Ji has opened a branch in Ximending. Next time I go to Taiwan, I must visit it.