Your Ultimate Guide To The Best Hotpots In Singapore!
Singaporeans love hotpots, but which one's the best? From Chinese to Japanese and even Korean, find your favourite hotpot at our malls in Singapore with our ultimate guide!
EDIT: List updated in June 2020
Whether it’s for an after-work date night, a family night out, or to catch up with friends, one thing’s for sure -- in Singapore, hotpot is always a good idea!
When it comes to reaching a consensus on a hotpot place, it’s not always a stroll in the park. There are tons of unique hotpots with their own distinct flavour that leave you spoilt for choice. As hotpot is a common style of eating across Asia, from China to Japan and Korea (just to name a few), there’ll be plenty of options to choose from, but what you deem as the ‘best’ hotpot depends on your own palate. Thankfully here in Singapore, possibly the world's food capital, we've got endless options for you.
To help you take your pick, we’ve compiled a list of Chinese, Japanese and Korean hotpots that you can try and decide for yourself!
Seoul Garden Hotpot
Be Seoul-fully delighted at Seoul Garden Hotpot indulging in personal pots of warmth served in generous portions, fulfilling a well-balanced nutritional and healthier diet.
Seoul Garden Hotpot is also known for their wide variety of Korean dishes such as bibimbaps, beef hot plate and an array of affordable banchan dishes, though their hotpot series is still the main limelight.
Their hotpots are not only affordable but a sure way to fill up your stomach with generous portion in each pot. They have a variety of selections of soup bases from non-spicy (Duyu Hotpot) to spicy (Spicy Soon Dubu), Kimchi, Army Stew and their Signature Ginseng Chicken!
The MUST-TRY dishes are Abalone Ginseng Chicken Hotpot, Wagyu Beef Spicy Soon Dubu Hotpot, Omega Collagen Booster Duyu Hotpot, Supreme Seafood Kimchi Hotpot and Beef Army Stew. Our personal favourite is definitely their Ginseng Chicken Hotpot as it has a scrumptious serving of a fresh chicken thigh double-boiled using fresh ginseng roots!
Another soup base that they have recently launched is Duyu Hotpot, also known as Korean Soymilk Soup Base. This series is great for health, beauty and diet - the Duyu Hotpot is a low-calorie soup packed with protein and is rich in antioxidants!
At Seoul Garden Hotpot, not only are you able to satisfy your taste buds but you are also able to feast on an enjoyable yet healthy and wholesome meal. Be sure to keep a look out for their Healthier Choice selection in their menu too!
Suki-Ya
Suki-Ya is known for its All-You-Can-Eat Sukiyaki and Shabu Shabu buffet. So if you’re in the mood for a hearty feast at an affordable price, this Japanese Buffet Hotpot restaurant is a must visit!
There are 5 free-flow soup bases to choose from – Shabu Shabu (classic broth), Sukiyaki, Butaniku (pork-based soup) and Kimuchi (kimchi with spicy miso) and lastly, their Tonyu Miso (Japanese miso and soy milk) which is Suki-Ya’s most popular soup base.
For those who would like some extra punch in flavour, you may want to try the Kimuchi base. The rich spicy broth coats the sliced pork and beef perfectly, and infuses the meat with its essence when simmered, making every mouthful as addictive as the last.
Look forward to an unlimited serving of thinly-sliced beef, chicken and pork from the all-you-can-eat buffet, while keeping in mind their extensive Premium Menu. There are a variety of meatballs – from lobster and shiitake to cuttlefish and chicken cheese, as well! Cheese tofus and salmon roe balls are amongst the all-time favourite hotpot additions as well, so you can be sure that there’s something for everyone’s palate, whether young or old!
While the meats are usually the main lure, what makes hotpot so great is that you get to enjoy a little bit of everything, so be sure to hit up their salad bar, which features an extensive variety of vegetables and mushrooms. Mix it up with some dipping sauces such as ponzu, spicy peanut sauce, miso tare, mala chilli to top it off!
Ichiban Sushi
Contrary to common misconception, Ichiban Sushi is not only a sushi restaurant, but it also offers a delectable array of hotpot options!
While most people think hotpots require big groups to get that full experience, Ichiban Sushi offers a selection of personal-sized hotpot options that are great for sharing on your next date night.
If you’re a seafood lover, a must-try is their Hotate Nabe Wazen which comes with half-shell scallops with vegetables in miso broth!
If you order a set meal, it comes with a chicken teriyaki mini rice bowl, salmon sashimi, chawanmushi and fruits for dessert too!
For their best seller, check out Ichiban Sushi’s classic. The ala-carte Beef Sukiyaki is served with beef with vegetables and Japanese vermicelli in a sweet and savoury Sukiyaki Broth.
Haidilao
We’re sure Haidilao needs no introduction!
Founded in China in 1994, the popular Sichuan-style hotpot restaurant has multiple outlets in Singapore, and all over the world.
Haidilao is a treat in every way, and there are many reasons why this place has become a go-to amongst Singaporeans when it comes to hotpot cravings!
Firstly, they’re known for their excellent service, with energetic and friendly staff that are focused on providing diners personalised attention. The restaurants also come with a kid’s playroom, free manicures and even handphone screen protector replacement services while you wait for your table!
And for all you seafood lovers out there, Haidilao even has free prawn peeling services – simply wave to any staff and state your request. Now you can enjoy your meal fuss-free!
When it comes to the food, Haidilao prides itself on providing delicious and high-quality ingredients. Unlike most hotpot buffets, everything in Haidilao is served ala-carte – giving you the feel of a more premium and fresh dining experience. The must-tries on the menu include Black Pork, Wagyu Beef, Scallops, Tender Chicken and of course, their Haidilao-style noodles. Get your cameras ready as the noodles are pulled by a noodle master in front of your eyes—acrobatic style!
With everyone having different preferences, choosing a soup base can be hard. It’s great that Haidilao offers a Quadruple Pot where you can choose 4 soup bases from a wide variety of choices -- Tomato, Spicy Sichuan, Mushroom, Chicken, Seafood, and even Laksa! Why settle for one when you can have four?
There are even more choices of sauces available, adding more flavour to your meal. Even if the sauces cost an additional $4 per person, you can choose from more than 20 sauces such as Chilli Oil, Crushed Peanut, Crispy Soy Beans, Sesame Sauce, Oyster Sauce and uncommon sauces like Beef Sauce.
To finish off the meal, desserts such as Dou Hua (soya beancurd) and freshly-cut fruits are also provided.
If you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion, you can also bring in your own drinks as well, as Haidilao has zero corkage fees.
For the hungry night owls out there, Haidilao is open all the way till 6 am!
TanYU
TanYU specialises in serving grilled fish in over 70 major cities in China with over 200 outlets! TANYU opened its first overseas flagship store in Singapore in 2017, but with all the love they’ve received since, it’s no surprise that they’ve opened multiple outlets in Singapore. To cater to the diverse tastes of Singaporeans, TANYU makes use of a variety of cooking methods and offers 12 kinds of flavors for its grilled fish, from sweet and savory to spicy and roasted.
TanYU offers something a little different from most hotpots. Instead, they are known for their grilled fish dishes served with gravy – known as a fish hotpot. They have 12 different gravy such Green Pepper, Soy Sauce and Spicy Sauce, and 4 types of fish to choose from. If you’re spoilt for choice, try the popular Limbo Fish. The restaurant claims it to be the “juiciest, most tender and flavourful”.
Some popular combinations are the Limbo fish with either Green Pepper Sauce or Chongqing Bean Curd Grilled fish. With the perfect balance of savoury and spicy flavours, these combos are great for people who like a little heat but can’t take too much. And if your gravy starts to dry up, you can always request for the staff to top it up with pork broth.
1 order of fish is enough for 3 people to share--and that’s even before we’ve added the sides! With the option to add in side dishes, we recommend ordering the Golden Combination which includes enoki mushrooms, crab sticks, potatoes as well as lotus roots. You can also choose from a variety of BBQ and cold dishes.
Beauty In The Pot
In Singapore, you know you’ve made it when your name is abbreviated and everyone still knows what it is. BITP or Beauty In The Pot known for it’s rich and nourishing collagen-based soups has become one of the most popular hotpot joints in Singapore. Good food + beauty is a combination that is in high demand.
Located at Westgate, Beauty In The Pot offers an extensive menu. Our personal favourites include fried beancurd skin (amazingly crispy!), the prawn paste (creamy and yummy with delicious ebiko bits!) and the slices of kurobuta pork (mixture of fat from the pork and spice from the soup. Heaven!)
If you’re running low on soup, top it up yourself with four mini ‘milk’ bottles of soup and continue eating. You snooze you lose. The food is so good you won’t want to stop anyway.
Don’t miss out on the complimentary yuzu-flavoured shaved-iced dessert at the end of the meal. A refreshing dessert, it’s the perfect foil to the spicy and rich flavours in the meal. So delightful, you almost feel like you can go for another round. YASSS.
Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot
If you’re on the search for a hearty hotpot meal in Bugis, why not just head into Bugis Juction? #AirconIsAmazing. Hailing from Chengdu, China, Xiao Long Kan Hot Pot isn’t without pedigree. The hotpot chain has some 700 outlets in China and even as far as New Zealand.
Stepping into Xiao Long Kan is like stepping back in time to China in the old days. Resembling a traditional inn, you’ll see ornate wood panels and carvings, with bright warm paper-like lanterns hanging from the ceiling. You can live out your Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon fantasies, with one major exception - the soup is not too salty.
The soup is spicy, warming, numbing, flavourful and buttery? Confused, don’t be. At Xiao Long Kan, its Butter Spicy Hot Pot offers a rich and creamy texture, adding a unique flavor dimension to your ma la soup. The soup is set in a brass-coloured wok-like vessel and looks intimidating yet impressive at the same time.
Xiao Long Kan is known for its variety of innards so be sure add some to your order. We reckon is this the best place to start sampling innards because you’re in control its done-ness, dip and swish or let it boil? Your choice. Reminder – leave room for dessert. Their fried stick rice with brown sugar is well worth the extra calories.
Shi Jian Hot Pot
Looking for a hot pot that won’t break the bank? Check out Shi Jian Hot Pot. Located at JCube, the restaurant offers affordable lunch and dinner buffets featuring a wide range of fresh ingredients - leafy greens, hearty mushrooms and even quality cuts of premium meats. Eat to your heart’s (or stomach’s) content.
Like at most hot pot restaurants, you can also mix and concoct your own sauce, stirring in whatever condiments that suit your fancy. Here, soup bases start from just $7.50 and you can take your pick from a herbal wild mushroom soup to a numbingly satisfying red oil spicy soup.
The best part? If you can’t make the trip, just get it delivered. Shi Jian Hot Pot is just a few clicks away on Capita3eats!
A meal for two starts from just $35.90, but we’ve got our eye on their Wagyu Beef Set. Go ahead. Treat yourself.