Dating to around 2001, Longrenjia is a long-running skewer hotpot known for beef-tallow broth and hand-threaded beef. The meal revolves around selecting skewers rather than ordering a fixed set of plates.
Beef skewers and other signatures
- Sweet-garlic beef
- Beef wrapped around sweet-and-sour garlic, retaining a crisp sweetness after cooking — our first recommendation.
- Pickled-mustard beef
- Tender beef with sharp, crisp Sichuan pickled mustard, offering a sour-spicy contrast.
- Gongcai and shallot beef
- Crisp gongcai contrasts with soft beef, while fragrant shallots lighten the richness.
- Beef brisket fat
- This cut is rich without greasiness and lean without dryness. Also consider spicy beef, gizzard, coriander beef or pickled-chilli beef. Cook pea shoots for only a few seconds so they stay sweet and refreshing.
Broth, snacks and branches
- Mild is still Sichuan mild
- The beef-tallow broth is aromatic on arrival and becomes richer as it simmers, described as spicy without harshness. Even mild can be very hot for visitors, so choose a divided pot with qiaojiao beef or tomato broth if needed. The dry dip contains a noticeable amount of sugar; switch to an oil dip if that is not to your taste.
- Cold desserts and rice
- Watermelon or cucumber-grape ice slush is a cooling counterpoint to chilli, sometimes complimentary with a check-in. Freshly fried milu shu rice snacks are crisp outside and soft within, while laozao fenzi is a warm, chewy fermented-rice dessert. Freshly cooked fried rice with pickles and sausage or crisp pork crackling is another option.
- Five branches
- The main Waishuangnan branch is small, popular with locals and busy at mealtimes. Xinjieli has three floors for over 280 diners, yet still queues on holidays. MixC offers a more polished mall setting; Kuixinglou connects with Kuanzhai Alley and Chunxi Road is convenient for visitors. Choose the branch nearest your plans rather than crossing the city for the flagship.
Reference prices and queues
- Budget
- For reference, CNY 70–100 per person, a CNY 40–50 broth and about CNY 0.59 per skewer. Smaller groups may spend more per person; verify current charges.
- Get a number early
- Queues are possible even at 19:00–20:00 on working days, with one-to-two-hour waits on weekends and holidays. Arrive before 17:30 or queue online where available. Choose air-conditioned indoor seating: outdoor tables can be hot, noisy and smoky, with less attention from staff. Semi-open areas are especially difficult for smoke-sensitive diners. Raise any concern about tableware or food promptly.