LA | Viral “Diguoji” Clay Pot Chicken 🍲 – Perfect for a Group Hangout

Found this popular spot for “diguoji” (clay pot chicken) and decided to give it a try! Big portions and private rooms — great for gathering with a group of friends to chat over a hot meal. Northeastern Chinese food lovers, this one’s for you! 📍 Happy Valley Village / Shanlitun 1655 S Azusa Ave E, Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 🍲 Iron Pot Free-Range Chicken with Mushrooms Includes: free-range chicken, shiitake, Changbai Mountain mushrooms, cordyceps, potatoes 🍗 We added extra rice noodles, tofu skin, and Northeastern beans. Since some said the fish pot can be fishy, we went for chicken. The flavor is Northeastern-style sweet and savory — a bit too sweet for me (I’m from Anhui), but the mushrooms and cordyceps add a unique herbal aroma soaked in the broth. The cornbread pancakes were hand-pressed by the server and steamed in the pot for over 10 minutes — crispy outside, tender inside. Even better soaked in the broth! The chicken was tender with a nice chew, not overly soft. Highly recommend the tofu skin and Northeastern beans — they get soft, flavorful, and juicy when cooked. Toward the end, the potatoes melt a bit, making the broth thicker and richer — perfect for coating the rice noodles, which I loved! (You can choose wide or round rice noodles.) ▶️ Guobaorou (Sweet & Sour Pork) 🥓 As someone from Anhui, I just learned this dish is sweet and sour 😅. Crispy fried pork slices coated in tangy-sweet sauce — decent with rice, but nothing special. ▶️ Fermented Rice Dumpling Soup (Láozāo Tāngyuán) 🍨 Black sesame rice balls in a mild fermented rice soup with lots of egg ribbons. Light sweetness, subtle osmanthus aroma — refreshing and great for cutting through the richness of the clay pot! ▶️ Braised Pork Bone (forgot to take a photo) Marinated pork bones with a touch of sweetness — nice as an appetizer. But since the clay pot is already meaty, maybe go for a cold veggie dish instead. 💰 Total for three dishes + clay pot came to around $160. 📜 Menu attached for reference! The restaurant has a strong Northeastern theme — decor and staff outfits inspired by traditional errenzhuan culture. Be prepared for lines — come early! They serve alcohol, the vibe is lively, and private rooms make it great for catching up with friends over drinks and food. #NortheasternFood #LA #LAFood #PasadenaEats #LAClayPotChicken 🍖🥘