Hot pot restaurants are especially popular during the winter season when the city cools down and diners are looking for a nice hot meal. For newcomers to this style of eating, ordering at hot pot restaurants can be a little tricky, as finding the best mixture of meats and vegetables is developed through experience.

So here are nine reputable hot pot restaurants in downtown Beijing for newcomers to start their hot pot journey.

Similar to fondue cooking, hot pot is a style of cuisine in which diners select meats and vegetables and prepare their own communal meal in a large pot filled with a usually spicy broth. Hop pot restaurants are especially popular for large parties as they create a collective cooking and eating experience.

Longshunyuan Spicy Pot: Spicy heaven

Hot pot at Longshunyuan is a bit different. It doesn't have as much broth as an ordinary hot pot. Diners may put whatever they like into the drier pot to fry. The combination of bamboo shoots, luncheon meats, broad vermicelli and dried beancurd sticks comes highly recommended. Diners may also choose how spicy they want their meal. Medium-hot alone is enough to numb the mouths of those with a penchant for spice. After dinner, customers are treated to corn porridge.

Some diners recommend the airport branch over other Longshunyuan branches for its amazing spiciness. Definitely try the spicy crabs.

Airport store location: No.2, Capital Airport South Road, suburb of Beijing

Tel: 010-64573581

Koufuju hot pot restaurant: reminiscent of old Beijing

A typical Beijing hot pot restaurant, with independent small pots, Koufuju looks much cleaner than common hot pot restaurants. Its mutton, sugar garlic and seasoning are known as the best three of the hot pot world and have attracted the patronage of many Chinese celebrities. Though the price might be a bit high, its strong old Beijing flavor makes up for it. A good place to dine with friends.

Location: No.29 Zhichunlu, Haidian

Tel: 010-82355888/82356888

Taipo Tianfu Shanzhen Jiulou: mushroom hot pot

Taipo Tianfu Shanzhen Jiulou is among the first few restaurants to sell mushroom hot pot. Various fresh mushrooms cooked in nutritious black-bone chicken broth taste quite different. Finished off with a cup of red bitter deer blood tea, the meal is almost perfect except for the dim lighting.

Location: Building Jia No.19, southern end of Erqi Juchanglu, Fuxingmenwai

Tel: 010-68019641