Mongolian hot pot restaurants have become so popular in East Asia that one franchise is even listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This, perhaps, explains the frequent crowds lining up outside Little Mongolian (小蒙牛麻辣蒙古火鍋), a swanky new restaurant that recently opened across the street from Taipower Building (台電大樓) in Gongguan (公館).
After tasting the broths, it’s easy to understand why reservations are generally required. Two varieties of soup are on offer: Mongolian-spicy and non-spicy (a chicken-based broth with Chinese medicinal herbs). Our party of two ordered both, which came in a metal bowl separated by a divider.
The server explained that the broths are made from scratch and infused with fresh and dried herbs and spices. Whole red chili peppers, cardamom, cumin and garlic were among the items that swam among chunks of ginger, slices of spring onion and “secret” ingredients. The spicy half was milder than its mala (麻辣) cousin, though didn’t suffer as a result, while the clear broth didn’t taste like Chinese medicine, thankfully.
Little Mongolian differs from the typical all-you-can-eat Taiwanese hot pot restaurant. Rather than store all the ingredients in open refrigerators, staff bring the dishes out as you order. Aside from the meat, which included slices of Angus beef, pork tenderloin and mutton, we also order four combo platters.
This was a mistake. The seafood platter arrived heaped with shrimp, crab meat, cuttlefish, clams and mussels, and the vegetable platter came with cabbage, pumpkin, melon, lettuce and tomatoes. On top of the four meat dishes and plates of assorted mushrooms and dumplings that we ordered, it was far too much food for two people. Such waste is enough to induce a fit of green guilt.
Little Mongolian’s interior is somewhat cramped, at least until you sit down. The spacious high-backed booths sit four to six comfortably and offer a reasonable degree of privacy.
The price tag — NT$399 for lunch and NT$450 for dinner, plus a 10-percent service charge — includes bottled soft drinks, juices, coffee and iced tea. Although we couldn’t finish the hot pot, we still managed to shovel down a few scoops of Movenpick ice cream.
Little Mongolian also has a location at 2F, 20, Nanjing E Rd Sec 2, Taipei City (台北市南京東路二段20號2樓). Tel: (02) 2536-1333.
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