'Flavors of my homeland': Diners warm up to hot pot at Wei Shu Wu in Quincy
QUINCY − Bette Zhang said she eats at Wei Shu Wu Hot Pot every week with her family.
“This is the most authentic hot pot I have ever eaten," said Zhang, of Braintree.
Zhang isn’t alone. A growing number of South Shore residents are discovering the city’s newest hot pot restaurant, which took over the former Quincy Dynasty space on Billings Road in Wollaston.
“It’s not just the food, it’s the Chinese culture,” said Ryan Thomas, of Quincy, after he had a “wonderful” lunch.
The 5,000-square-foot restaurant can accommodate more than 80 guests. The menu offers a variety of broths, including chili broth, meats, seafood and veggies. Choices range from the conventional to the exotic. Chinese barbecue-style ribs are slowly braised in a five-spice broth and stir-fried with chili pepper. Adventurous eaters can try house-special beef omasum, bamboo shrimp paste, crisp grass carp, duck gizzard, pork kidney or fried squid tentacles.
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"Hot pot is the most famous and most popular dish in China," said Tina Chen, a Braintree resident and one of the restaurant’s owners. Chen is originally from Fuzhou, China. She immigrated to the South Shore more than 20 years ago with her family. She said she is happy to “bring the flavors of my homeland to the masses of Quincy."
At a hot pot restaurant, chefs prepare thin slices of meat and seafood options that are complemented by broths, vegetables and noodles. Diners are given food to cook for themselves in a large metal broth pot in the middle of the table.
Chen runs the restaurant with her brother LC Chen and Song Li. It opened Aug. 1.
“We planned to open this restaurant three years ago, but COVID-19 disrupted the construction and delayed its opening,” Li said.
The restaurant decor reflects the owners’ Chinese culture. Tables are separated by wooden doors that resemble ancient Chinese architecture. Warm lighting, a replica of a 500-year-old pavilion and exotic masks add to the mood.
"Most of the decorations here are selected and designed by ourselves. Tina picked these curtains and murals of Peking Opera masks on the wall," Li said.
The owners said they take pride in creating a family atmosphere. LC Chen said their family has not been back to China for more than 20 years.
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On a recent October afternoon, Dom Cork, a native of the United Kingdom, was dining on beef slices, which are served with a five-spice dipping sauce. “This is my first time eating hot pot,” he said. “When you bite into it, the juice literally shoots in your mouth. Very rich.”
Grant Anderson, of Lexington, said, “I have to give a big thumbs up. The beef short rib, it’s quite addicting.”
If you go
What: Wei Shu Wu Hot Pot
Where: 47 Billings Road, Quincy
When: noon-1 a.m. daily
Info: 617-481-5829, weishuwuhotpot.com
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Reach Wenjing Ding at dingding@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Feast on flavors of the Far East at Wei Shu Wu Hot Pot in Quincy
