16 Singapore steamboat restaurants to try

The hotpot scene in Singapore is getting more steamy, with new restaurants popping up like the constant wave of new ramen shops.

Indeed, despite the sweltering heat and humid weather, Singaporeans' love for steamboat is fuelling the one-pot-wonder of ingredients cooked in broth inspired by various cuisines such as Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.

In the past six months, at least six new brands have set up shop here. Existing steamboat outlets are also continuing to expand.

From new-to-Singapore franchises to sweet Japanese shabu shabu, see 16 top hotpot restaurants to visit in Singapore.

SINGAPORE-STYLE STEAMBOAT
Restaurants put their spin on steamboat with local flavours such as laksa and bak kut teh, or with Chinese herbs. Instead of the usual pork-based soups, some have broths made with fish, such as garoupa.

Salmon Fish Village
What: This fishing village-themed eatery has custom-made hotpots shaped like boats. They are set over charcoal and diners can dunk ingredients into soup or grill them.

The key ingredient is freshly sliced Norwegian salmon. The other star is the hearty soup made from salmon heads, bones and chicken, simmered for at least four hours over a charcoal fire. This is the first steamboat venture by Mr Sham Hei, owner of the Shen Xi Lao Huo Tang herbal soup chain here.

Price: The Salmon steamboat set ($40) has sliced Norwegian salmon, vegetables and mushroom. Other salmon dishes include salmon fish head with herb stew ($18 or $32) and salmon yusheng ($10 or $20).

Where: Liang Seah Place, 1 Liang Seah Street, 01-12/13/14, open: 11.30am to 2pm, 5 to 10pm (call before going as it closes occasionally on Mondays)

Info: Call 6837-0111 or go to www.facebook.com/ShenXiSalmon

Mara Shabu
What: To open in July, this eatery will have organic vegetables, seafood from local fisheries and ingredients such as wagyu. Prices to be confirmed.

Where: PasarBella@The Grandstand, 200 Turf Club Road, 02-K16 to K19


Wa Shabu Shabu
What: Another shabu shabu restaurant that features a small vegetable counter with mushrooms and tofu. Soup bases include miso, soy milk and sukiyaki. It also has a Wagyu beef buffet at $18.80 daily.

Price: $17.80 (weekday lunch, additional $2.50 for weekend lunch), $19.80 (weekday dinner, additional $2.50 for weekend dinner)

Where: The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green, 01-44, open: 11.30am to 10pm (Sundays to Thursdays), 11.30am to 11pm (Fridays and Saturdays)

Info: Call 6268-9093

Xian De Lai
What: While its ingredients are similar to those from other outlets, this hotpot chain serves noodles made of chicken, pork, beef or prawn paste piped into the soup.

Soup bases include the signature Sichuan soup, tom yam and bak kut teh, which are served in special handcrafted Chinese hotpots. It also serves Chong Qing grilled fish ($34.90++), which is blanketed with chillies and other spices and cooked on a shallow platter.

Price: $14.90++ (steamboat set meal), $28.90++ (steamboat buffet)

Where: Three outlets at 18 Liang Seah Street; 20 Cheong Chin Nam Road; and nex, 23 Serangoon Central, B1-05/06, opening hours vary

Info: Call 6336-7505 (Liang Seah), 6468-3774 (Cheong Chin Nam) or 6634-4630 (nex)

THAI
The aromatic pork or tom yam broths for Thai steamboats are given extra zing with Thai sweet basil, galangal and chillies. Do not miss the spicy herb-based dips too. The other Thai-style steamboat diners are hooked onto is mookata - a dome-shaped grill with a soup trough that is placed over charcoal.

This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on May 26, 2013. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.