6In Town Hotpot Budapest (镇堂子)
Hot potting has been trending in China and Chinatowns around the world, including that of Budapest; In Town is currently the most elaborate hot pot restaurant locally in terms of flavors and interior design. A split pot is ideal for trying several kinds of broths: the Sichuan, the chicken, and the Thai-style, for example (even the mild Sichuan broth imparts a dramatic amount of spicy heat, inducing feelings of both pain and pleasure).
Ingredients: beef, lamb, seafood, offals, Chinese vegetables, the options are limitless. The raw meats arrive rolled up and paper thin and only need a minute or two in the boiling liquid. The pre-made "Thai" sauce in the fridge is delicious and customers can also mix their own. I loved the fresh noodles (lamian), served dangling from a wooden rack.
Two desserts designed to soothe the palate at the end of the meal: a sweet jelly and fried rice rolls filled with caramelized brown sugar. Chinese tea, non-alcoholic cocktails, and beers are available, as well as a tablet for ordering and a helpful English-speaking staff. Beware, In Town is pricey: a full meal with a drink comes out to about €40 per person.
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