Guiyang Junjun Beef Hot Pot: Beef skin like Jelly?
Recommended by my buddy, Junjun Beef Hot Pot has two stores close to each other on Bagayan Road.
The two-person set costs less than 80 yuan, and it can comfortably serve three people.
1️⃣ Clear Broth Base 🍲
We chose clear broth. Spicy or double-flavor broth （at an extra charge） is also available . Mixed with Guizhou-style cowpeas, the soup delivers authentic homely flavor. Slow-cooked cowpeas taste soft, tender and savory.
2️⃣ Fresh Beef & Beef Skin 🥩
The set comes with two kinds of meat.
▫️The fresh beef is premium and fresh. Simply blanch it until it changes color. It tastes tender and retains its original savory taste.
▫️The biggest highlight is the beef skin. Cut extremely thin, it offers an unexpected chewy and bouncy texture after cooking. Rich in collagen, it feels smooth and gelatinous, just like jelly.
3️⃣ Seasonal Vegetables 🥬
A wide variety of seasonal vegetables are self-served with unlimited refills, including spearmint, Chinese cabbage, coriander, crown daisy, leaf lettuce, pea sprouts, baby cabbage, cabbage, potatoes, tofu and vermicelli.
▫️Plain tofu tastes mild, and turns rich and flavorful with local dipping sauce.
▫️Spearmint is a distinctive ingredient popular in Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. It carries mild minty aroma with unique savory notes, a rare delicacy worth trying.
▫️Pea sprouts are a classic local hot pot ingredient. Light and refreshing, it perfectly balances the mild broth. Other vegetables can be picked according to personal preference.
4️⃣ Dipping Sauce & Rice 🍚
Both are self-service.
Traditional Guizhou dipping sauce is mixed with Houttuynia cordata, fermented bean curd, fermented chili and minced garlic. I also add Chinese prickly ash and vinegar for layered sweet, sour, spicy and savory tastes.
5️⃣ Vermicelli & Potatoes 🥔
It is advised to cook potatoes and vermicelli last. They release starch while boiling and thicken the soup, which may affect the taste of other ingredients.
📖Summary
This light hot pot meal is great for balanced diet and greasiness relief. Pair it with a meat-based main meal in the day for a well-rounded healthy diet.
Boasting fragrant cowpea broth, uniquely textured beef skin and free-flow vegetables, Junjun Beef Hot Pot is well worth a visit.
#chinesefood #guiyang #chinatravel2026 #foodideas #chinafood
Having visited Guiyang Junjun Beef Hot Pot myself, I can attest that the standout ingredient truly is the beef skin. Its thinly sliced, gelatinous texture after cooking provides a delightful chewiness that sets this hot pot apart from typical offerings. This beef skin is loaded with collagen, making it a nutritious choice that’s also satisfying for the palate. Cooking it briefly in the clear broth allows it to soften yet retain that unique bounce reminiscent of jelly, which is quite a novelty in hot pot dishes. The broth itself is noteworthy. Unlike the heavy, oily broths commonly found in other hot pot restaurants, Junjun’s clear broth is gently infused with slow-cooked Guizhou cowpeas, which add a mild sweetness and a comforting homely taste. This lighter soup base complements the meats and vegetables without overwhelming their flavors, perfect for those seeking a balanced and less greasy meal. The self-serve seasonal vegetables are a huge plus, especially the spearmint and pea sprouts. Spearmint’s mild minty aroma combined with savory notes enhances the dipping sauce experience, while pea sprouts refresh the palate between bites of meat and broth. Their unlimited refills mean you can enjoy as much greenery as you like, which is great for health-conscious diners. The traditional Guizhou dipping sauce deserves a mention. Its complex layers—from fermented bean curd and chili to minced garlic and Houttuynia cordata—create a burst of sweet, sour, spicy, and savory tastes that perfectly elevate the hot pot ingredients. I personally like to add a dash of Chinese prickly ash and vinegar for an extra zing. One cooking tip I learned the hard way is to add potato and vermicelli last. Since they release starch, adding them too early can thicken the broth and mask the subtle flavors you want to savor fully. Waiting ensures the broth stays clear and fragrant. Overall, Junjun Beef Hot Pot offers an authentic and hearty experience that suits both casual diners and those looking for a nourishing meal. The price is very reasonable, especially considering the portion sizes and quality ingredients. If you’re ever in Guiyang and want to taste a light yet flavorful hot pot with unique beef skin, Junjun is definitely worth a visit.
