Try this spot for an interactive dinner

Are you looking for an interactive dining experience in Grand Junction?

Taste of Chang’An is a Chinese restaurant with a variety of options including hot pot and barbecue. Located at 757 Horizon Drive, Taste of Chang’An is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Chang’An is the former name of the Chinese city of Xi’an and translates to “eternal peace.”

Upon entering, you will notice most of the tables have heating elements. This is because you will be cooking your own food if you order the hot pot or barbecue.

The staff is super friendly and helpful. Let them know if it is your first time at the restaurant and they will take you on a tour and help you get set up.

The restaurant can be a bit overwhelming at first with so many choices, so here is a guide to help.

• Decide if you are ordering Chinese food from the menu, hot pot with all-you-can eat buffet or the barbecue. I think the hot pot/buffet is a good deal for lunch at only $12.99.

The buffet is a large rectangle and includes refrigerators underneath with more meat and seafood. If you like grilling, go for the barbecue and all-you-can eat buffet combination for $24.99.

¦ If you want hot pot, visit the buffet and find a stainless steel bowl. Then move to your right and choose one of the broth selections. (I think the mushroom broth is tasty and look forward to trying others.) Fill your stainless steel bowl halfway up and take it back to your table. Place it in the opening in front of your seat and make sure you turn up the heat to a 5 or 6. Everyone has their own control panel to adjust the heat during the cooking process and you want to get it boiling so you can properly cook any meat, etc. (You will turn the temperature down as the meal progresses and you can add more broth along the way if desired.)

¦ Head back to the buffet and get a plate, bowl and utensils. Then choose items to go into the soup such as noodles, vegetables, mushrooms, beef, pork, shrimp or tofu. Bring that food back to your table, and then return to the buffet to get an egg roll and wontons to eat as an appetizer while you cook.

¦ Go to the condiment station near the entrance and get a cute little platter to hold different dipping sauce combinations. You will also find soy sauce, peanut sauce, etc. there. (While, yes, there is a bit of prep at the beginning, it’s nice to get everything set up at your table so you can then just settle in and enjoy your meal.)

¦ Now you are ready to start cooking! Add the ingredients you want in your hot pot, with the foods that take the longest to cook first. Have fun with this and don’t get too serious. Ask for advice as needed, add other spices or try a different broth.

¦ If you decided on barbecue and buffet, you will be given a menu to select which type of meat and/or seafood you want to grill. (You will be asked during your meal if you want more meat or something different, so don’t worry about ordering it all at the same time.)

Your server will spritz some oil on the center grill and turn it on. The meat is brought to the table almost immediately and it cooks quickly on the grill. When it is ready, put it on your plate and cut it into bite-size pieces using the stainless steel scissors provided. Your dipping sauces are then used for the cooked meat.

The people I dined with particularly liked the combination of sesame oil with chili powder, but there are lots of options.

¦ If you don’t want to cook your own food, no worries! The buffet also offers a variety of dishes such as sesame chicken, egg drop soup, rice and more. You can just sit back and watch your companions cook.

There is something for everyone at Taste of Chang’An, including vegan, vegetarian, seafood, gluten-free and meat options galore.

The pricing varies depending on your age and if it is lunch or dinner. Meals include soft-serve ice cream and fresh fruit.

You definitely will not go hungry and you will even receive a “member card” for 10% off future visits.

I enjoyed experimenting with different flavor combos and it gets easier each time you return. Have fun!

Email Christine Gallagher at allthingsfoodchristine@gmail. com.

Taste of Chang’An, 757 Horizon Drive, is a Chinese restaurant offering hot pot, barbecue and a buffet.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

After gathering ingredients, Christine Gallagher and her group are ready to start cooking in their hot pots at Taste of Chang’An. Gallagher’s first hot pot creation at Taste of Chang’An included a variety of mushrooms, noodles, vegetables, tofu and lotus root.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel

An assortment of beef and pork cooks on the barbecue at Taste of Chang’An.

CHRISTINE GALLAGHER/Special to the Sentinel