LAO SI CHUAN --- BA SHU SPICY HOT POT (04) 2319-8789 343, GongYi Road Hours: 11:30 am-2:30pm;5:30 pm-1:30 am

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This restaurant's main branch is in Harbin, China, with over 30 branches spread across northeastern China. Taiwanese visitors, who got addicted to the flavors and great taste of the all-natural hot pot base, have now introduced it to Taiwan. Two Kaohsiung branches have enjoyed immense popularity and Taichung's first branch just officially opened its doors. The minimum charge per table here is NT$650. One pot is divided into white soup and red soup. Besides being filled with spicy ingredients, the red soup is cooked with over 30 different kinds of spices supposed to help protect one's stomach as well as retain the hot pot ingredient's flavors. The duck's blood pudding and tofu are immediately edible and unlimited in supply. The white soup has an entirely different taste but is thoroughly refreshing. Free appetizers include deep-fried peanuts, pickled cucumbers and Iron Pot Ba Bao Tea, imported from Japan. Diners may try the fresh-made handmade fish cakes or Squid Paste in Bamboo Casings (NT$200 per casing), which also are available with fresh shrimp paste, beef and pork (NT$220 each), although daily supply is limited. There are over 50 ingredient choices, including flavored kidneys, thinly-sliced cow heart, eel slices, pork and specially-selected fatty beef. In April, free dining coupons are available--NT$999's worth for three people and NT$1,234 for four. If you can't finish everything you ordered, feel free to doggy bag it home. --By Lishea Zheng, translated by Cara Steenstra