Qianfeng Charcoal-Jar Barbecue, Nanhu Road flagship (钱锋炭缸烧烤 南湖大路总店)

Qianfeng Charcoal-Jar Barbecue's Nanhu Road flagship is a Dongbei barbecue restaurant located 120 metres east of the junction of Nanhu Road and Dongling South Street, on the south side of the road, in Changchun, Jilin Province, northeastern China. The house is named for its charcoal jar, a ceramic or metal cylinder in which charcoal burns to cook skewers placed over it, a style that gives an even, smoky heat and is common in northeastern barbecue. Dongbei barbecue is a sociable evening meal, where tables order skewers by the handful, drink cold beer and linger for hours. This flagship is known for tendon, veal and trotter skewers. Signature dishes include jiangyou jin, soy-seasoned tendon that is chewy and gelatinous; jinpizi, the tendon skin that is grilled until its surface is lightly crisp; veal skewers, a milder and more tender meat than lamb; and pig trotter, braised or grilled until sticky. Typical spend is about ¥82 (roughly $12) per person, a little higher than a basic street barbecue, and the restaurant holds a rating of about 4.3 on review platforms. The dining room is a lively, casual space with large tables, a smoky atmosphere and a mostly local evening crowd of friends and families; dress is casual and the noise level is high at peak times. The beverage programme is built around draft and bottled beer, soft drinks and tea. Reservations are not commonly required on weekdays, but Friday and Saturday evenings are busy, so groups of five or more should call ahead or arrive before about 18:30. Because the charcoal jar cooks skewers in small batches, orders arrive in waves, and the usual approach is to order a first round of veal and tendon, then add trotters and sides as the table decides. As a flagship branch it is a dependable introduction to Changchun's barbecue culture for visitors staying in the southern districts.