China is home to diverse regional cuisines¹ and a growing foreign food scene, but nothing tops the hotpot ritual of placing fresh ingredients into a boiling broth², according to a new survey.

中国有着多种不同菜系，近年来异域美食热也开始日益上升，然而，根据一项最新调查显示，它们都不能超越火锅这种美食--即将多种新鲜的食材涮到滚烫的汤里。

The survey, published by consulting firm OCC this week, found that hotpot is China's favorite meal. A total of 2,600 people the firm surveyed in 21 Chinese cities in February also placed domestic hotpot chain Haidilao at the top of the list of the country's 10 favorite restaurants.

欧析企业管理咨询公司本周发布的报告指出，火锅是中国人气最高的美食。此外，该公司2月份对中国21个城市2600个消费者的调查报告也显示，国内的火锅连锁--海底捞在最受国人欢迎的TOP 10餐厅中高居榜首。

Others that made the top 10 included foreign fast food chains KFC and McDonald's as well as casual dining spots Pizza Hut and TGI Friday's.

其他进入前10的餐厅还包括外国快餐连锁肯德基和麦当劳，以及休闲餐厅必胜客和星期五餐厅。

Hotpot was originally eaten to stave off the winter cold, but has become a favorite year-round food in China. Famous hotpot chains often have long lines of people waiting hours to get a table, even on scorching³ summer days.

吃火锅原本是为了在冬天御寒，现在却成了一种四季皆宜、非常受欢迎的食物。在知名的火锅连锁店，食客经常得排队等候数小时，即便在炎炎夏日也是如此。

Data from Euromonitor International showed that seven of China's top 15 full-service restaurant chains specialize in hotpot.

来自欧睿国际的数据显示，在中国TOP 15的全方位服务连锁餐厅中，有7家都专营火锅。

Stephen Dutton, an analyst⁴ with Euromonitor International, wrote in a recent research note that hotpot restaurants have become omnipresent nationwide, serving as go-to spots for social events and adapted for regional preferences. Much of hotpot's popularity, Dutton said, comes from the participatory nature of the cooking process and time available for socializing.

欧睿国际的分析师史蒂芬· 达顿在最近的一份研究报告中写道，火锅餐厅作为一个社交活动的好去处，在国内到处都是，同时它也根据区域饮食偏好进行了改善。达顿表示，火锅的高人气主要来源于它整个烹饪过程的参与性以及社交活动的时效性。

OCC added that hotpot's success also lies in the customer service at leading chains. Restaurant chains such as Haidilao provide attentive⁵ service to customers, including entertainment, such as a dance performance in which waiters fling dough⁶ to make noodles.

此外，欧析还补充说明，火锅的成功还源于这些领先的连锁店的客户服务。像海底捞这样的连锁餐厅还给食客们提供包括娱乐在内的贴心服务。比如，在服务员将面团制作成面条的过程中会伴随的舞蹈表演。