Dive Into Little Sheep's Hot Pot Heaven: A Guide To Ordering Like A Pro

Little Sheep is a popular hot pot restaurant chain that first opened in Baotou, China, in 1999. It now has a global presence with nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience, specialising in Mongolian-style hot pot cuisine. Ordering at Little Sheep involves selecting a variety of ingredients to cook in the hot pot broth. The process typically starts by choosing a soup base, which can be plain or spicy, followed by an array of meat, seafood, and vegetable options. The menu also includes specialities like the Inner Mongolian Style Lamb Spine Hot Pot and Longjiang Wagyu Beef Chunk. Sides, sauces, and beverages are also available to complement the meal.

Little Sheep's signature broths

Little Sheep is a hotpot restaurant that first opened in 1999 in Baotou, China. It now has nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities worldwide. The restaurant serves what it believes to be the world's best hot pot, made with the highest-quality, most natural, and rarest ingredients sourced from across the globe.

Signature Classic Soup Base

The specific ingredients in this soup base are not listed on Little Sheep's website. However, according to customer reviews, the soup base includes sunflower oil, salt, fermented soybeans, wolfberry (goji berry), monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.

Signature Traditional Spicy Soup Base

Little Sheep's spicy soup base includes sunflower oil, chili, cumin, salt, fermented soybeans, Sichuan peppercorn, whole cloves, monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, and disodium guanylate.

Other Soup Bases

Little Sheep also offers a variety of other soup bases, including mushroom, tomato, and mala spicy. These soup bases can be purchased online and prepared at home.

Little Sheep's soup bases are known for their authentic and exquisite flavours. Customers particularly enjoy the spice and numbness of the spicy soup base, as well as the convenience of being able to recreate the restaurant experience at home.

The history of the hot pot

Hot pot, or "steamboat", is a dish that involves keeping a pot of soup stock simmering over a heat source placed on the dining table. An array of raw ingredients, such as meat and vegetables, are then placed into the broth to cook. The cooked pieces are then dipped into sauces for additional flavour.

The origins of the hot pot date back to over a thousand years ago during the Jin dynasty in neighbouring Mongolia. Horsemen would cook a rudimentary version of the dish in their upturned helmets. The basic stew featured meats such as beef, mutton, or horse.

By the 17th century, hot pot had become an integral part of Chinese cuisine. Vegetables, fruits, herbs, spices, and even chrysanthemum petals were added to the broth. Empress Dowager Cixi, who controlled the Chinese government during the Qing dynasty, was particularly fond of hot pot and would eat it often. Over time, more protein was added to the dish, including pork, chicken, offal, fish, seafood, tofu, and eggs. The addition of dipping sauces made from sesame, chilli, soy, and garlic also became common.

Today, hot pot is a beloved dish in China and has spread globally, with Little Sheep, a hot pot restaurant chain that first opened in China in 1999, now boasting nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities worldwide.

What to order with your hot pot

Little Sheep is a hot pot restaurant chain that was founded in Inner Mongolia in 1999. It has since expanded to nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities worldwide. The restaurant prides itself on using the highest-quality, most natural, and rarest ingredients sourced from across the globe.

When ordering your hot pot, you can choose from a variety of soup bases, including the Signature Classic Soup Base and the Signature Traditional Spicy Soup Base. You can also select from a range of meats and vegetables to cook in your broth. Some notable options include:

• Longjiang Wagyu Beef Chunk
• Deluxe Whole Lamb Platter
• Inner Mongolian Style Lamb Spine Hot Pot

In addition to the hot pot, Little Sheep offers an assortment of side dishes and beverages. The restaurant provides dipping sauces, such as sesame sauce, which can be customised with fixings like garlic, chives, and cilantro.

The menu also includes unique items like shrimp paste, which can be shaped into shrimp balls, as well as chicken breast slices and watercress. For beverages, Little Sheep offers beer and Japanese sake, though the availability of specific drinks may vary by location.

When ordering your hot pot, you can expect a wide range of options to cater to different tastes and preferences. Whether you're a hot pot fanatic or a newcomer to this dining experience, Little Sheep offers a variety of choices to create your ideal meal.

The best drinks to pair with your meal

Little Sheep is a hot pot restaurant that first opened in 1999 in Baotou, China. It now has nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities worldwide. The hot pot is a popular soup in northern China, and the restaurant offers a variety of ingredients to cook in the pot, such as vegetables, noodles, shellfish, and meat.

When it comes to drinks, there are a few options that can complement your meal. Here are some recommendations for the best drinks to pair with your Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot:

Tea

The Drunken Pot in Hong Kong offers a unique pairing of hotpot with gynura tea, also known as 'Longevity Spinach'. This tea is served in quirky former lightbulb cups and is believed to complement the spicy and bold flavours of the hot pot.

Sake

The same restaurant also offers a private label of premium sake from the renowned sake-producing region of Nagahama in Shiga Prefecture. The slight sweetness and chilled serving temperature of this sake are said to balance the heat of chilli-laden dishes.

Whisky-based Cocktails

For those who enjoy a bolder drink, The Drunken Pot also serves Tiki-style cups of sake and whisky-based cocktails. These cocktails are designed to take the edge off the spicy chilli that is often present in hot pot dishes.

Bamboo Cane Juice

Another offering from The Drunken Pot is the refreshing bamboo cane juice, served in a former lightbulb cup. This drink provides a crisp and cooling contrast to the hearty and spicy hot pot.

Wine

If you prefer wine, there are a few options to consider. Champagne or sparkling wine is the safest choice, as the acidity and fruitiness of these wines pair well with the mild and subtle flavours often found in hot pot ingredients. For shellfish ingredients, a wine made with the Sauvignon Blanc grape is a good option. For meat-based hot pots, a red wine made from the Grenache grape, such as those from the Chateauneuf du Pape region in France or Spain (where Grenache is known as Garnacha), will exhibit bright ripe fruits and soft tannins that complement the meat.

For those who enjoy a bold, spicy broth, a big, fruity, and alcoholic Australian Shiraz or Amarone served slightly chilled can be a daring pairing. The high alcohol, low tannins, and sweetness of these wines balance the spiciness of the hot pot.

Ultimately, the choice of drink comes down to personal preference, and experimenting with different combinations can be enjoyable.

Little Sheep's international locations

Little Sheep is the world's largest hotpot brand, with nearly 170 stores in more than 120 regions and cities worldwide. The company was founded in 1999 in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China, and has since expanded to over 300 restaurant chains in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, the United States, Japan, and Canada.

In 2001, Little Sheep established its meat product processing base, and in 2002, it opened branches in Beijing and Shenzhen, China. The following year, in 2003, Little Sheep opened its condiment base and its first overseas chain store in Los Angeles, USA.

As of 2019, Little Sheep has over 30 locations in the US alone, including a branch in San Diego, California. The San Diego branch is located in a Chinese part of town and offers an extensive menu with options like the Signature Classic Soup Base, Longjiang Wagyu Beef Chunk, and Inner Mongolian Style Lamb Spine Hot Pot.

Little Sheep aims to serve the world's most comforting hot pot, sourcing the highest-quality and rarest ingredients from around the world. With its seven magic spices, the brand promises a flavourful and nutritious pot of broth that will leave customers with an unforgettable experience.

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