Qiqi Fish Pot, Taishan South Road (齐祺渔锅·泰山南路店)

Qiqi Fish Pot, Taishan South Road branch, is a fish-pot restaurant on the southeast corner of Taishan Road and Xiangjiang Road in Yuanhui District, Luohe, Henan Province, China. Fish pot (yuguo) is a style of Chinese shared-pot dining in which fish is cooked in a seasoned broth or sauce in a pot placed at the table, with vegetables, tofu and other ingredients added as the meal goes on. The restaurant is a casual local operation rather than a chef-led or Michelin-listed venue, so its character comes from its straightforward, hearty cooking. The fish pot is the signature and the main reason to visit; diners usually order one pot for the table and supplement it with rice, side dishes and cold plates. Luohe sits on the Shaying River in central Henan, and river and freshwater fish feature widely in local home cooking, which gives context to the dish. The dining room is a standard Chinese casual restaurant, with tables suited to families and groups, steady background chatter and no dress code. Noise is moderate and increases at weekday evenings and weekends. Drinks include tea, soft drinks and beer, and there is no notable wine programme. Reservations are by phone at 0395-3398889; no booking lead time is published, but a call ahead is sensible for larger parties in the evening. The ranking lists roughly 48 yuan (about 7.1 US dollars) per person, which is inexpensive for a shared-pot meal. The corner location on Taishan Road puts the restaurant in the southern part of Yuanhui District, a short ride from the central Renmin Road area. Visitors who prefer less strongly spiced food can ask staff about milder broths, and sharing a pot among three or four people usually gives the best value. Lunch is quieter than dinner.