Hai Di Lao is arguably the most popular steamboat spot in Singapore. They’ve been drawing crowds with their insanely good tomato broths and noodle-bending staff.
However, while Hai Di Lao is great, I refuse to wait over an hour just for a table. Especially when I’m hungry. Here’s a list of great alternatives to satisfy that steamboat craving.
1. JPOT
JPOT only offers individual hotpots, which is great because I’m picky when it comes to the ingredients that goes into my hotpot.
They offer a wide variety of ingredients and 9 different soup bases. My personal favourites are the Tom Yum Soup and the JPOT Superior Broth.
The other unique soup bases include the Laksa, Chilli Crab Soup, Bak Kut Teh Soup, Fish Head Soup and Porridge. Yes, that’s right. You can choose to cook your ingredients in a pot of porridge.
You have to order their Wagyu Ribeye, Handmade Jumbo Pork Ball, and their Handmade Fish Balls. The marbling on the Wagyu Ribeye is perfect and is so tender it barely holds its form on my chopsticks.
The Handmade Fish Balls come in a platter of 6 and are different from the conventional fishballs. The fishballs are made fresh and you can actually taste the fish instead of just a generic fish paste. One platter is never enough.
You can view their complete menu here.
That’s not all, with 16 sauces and condiments available, you can create your own dips for your hotpot experience.
JPOT is the place to go if you’re looking for a genuinely good and fuss-free steamboat meal.
JPOT
Address: 10 Tampines Central 1 #03-16, Tampines 1 Singapore, 529536
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 11pm
Contact no.: 6532 3536
Website
2. Shi Li Fang
Shi Li Fang is one of the few affordable steamboat places in Singapore.
They have a good variety of broths available. Choose from their Tonic Chicken Soup, Specialty Mala Soup, Beauty Chicken Collagen Soup, Nourishing Fish Soup, Ravishing Tomato Soup, and Tasty Mushroom Soup.
Their Specialty Mala Soup is actually milder and drinkable, unlike Hai Di Lao’s intense Mala broth.
Be sure to order their Japanese Kurobuta Pork, Japanese Wagyu Beef, and their Fish Roe ‘Glue’. The quality of the meat is surprisingly decent and the Fish Roe ‘Glue’ is a paste that has been incorporated generously with Fish Roe.
Shi Li Fang is one of the best and most wallet-friendly steamboat places to chill and catch up with your friends.
Shi Li Fang
Address: City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, #02-53/54, Singapore 208539
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6636 7899
Website
Address: Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road #07-10/11, Singapore 238896
Contact no.: 6238 0800
Address: Thomson Plaza, 301 Thomson Road #01-106, Singapore 574408
Contact no.: 6456 0800
Address: Chinatown Point, 133 New Bridge Road #B1-30, Singapore 059413
Contact no.: 6636 3833
Address: Hougang 1, 1 Hougang Street 91 #01-23, Singapore 538692
Contact no.: 6282 6678
Address: J-Cube, 2 Jurong East Central 1 #02-08A, Singapore 609731
Contact no.: 6694 2122
Address: West Coast Plaza, 154 West Coast Road #02-24, Singapore 127371
Contact no.: 6266 2858
Address: Icon Village, 12 Gopeng Street #01-41, Singapore 078877
Contact no.: 6222 8518
Address: Bedok Point, 799 New Upper Changi Road #03-38/39, Singapore 467351
Contact no.: 6581 8885
3. Beauty In The Pot
Beauty In The Pot is a hotpot concept that offers 2 signature broths – the Beauty Collagen Broth and Spicy Nourishing Soup.
The Beauty Collagen Broth is essentially Shark’s Cartilage Soup while the Spicy Nourishing Soup is a Pork Bone Soup with 3 levels of spiciness available.
If you’re at the newer OneKM outlet, they offer 4 more broths besides the signature 2.
There’s the Herbal Drunk Chicken Broth, Cooling Coconut Broth, Longevity Wild Pine Mushroom Broth, and the Vitamin C Tomato Sweet Corn Broth.
Some of the must-order ingredients include their homemade Fish Tofu that is freshly prepared daily and is exclusive to Beauty In A Pot, as well as their Ebiko Prawn Paste that uses 100% fresh prawns.
While Beauty In The Pot might be a little pricier, the freshness and quality of the ingredients makes the meal more than worth the money.
Beauty In The Pot
Address: OneKM, 11 Tanjong Katong Road #02-21, Singapore 437157
Opening Hours: Daily: 6pm – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 6284 8820
Website
Address: OneKM, 11 Tanjong Katong Road #03-38, Singapore 437157
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 3am
Contact no.: 6284 8820
Address: The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road #05-15/16, Singapore 238843
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 6am
Contact no.: 6284 8820
4. Hao Lai Wu
Located at 8 Sago St, Hao Lai Wu is conveniently located next to the famous landmark, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. A spot that’s hard to miss, you and your friends won’t have any trouble finding each other at this place.
To cater to all of us Singaporeans whenever hunger strikes, the owners of Hao Lai Wu insist on keeping their store open from 11am – 3am daily! Up and hungry at ungodly hours? Hao Lai Wu’s got you covered!
Choose from 6 different soup bases – Mala, Tom Yum, Tomato, Chicken, Salted Veggie and Pork Bone.
Hao Lai Wu provides its customers with a wide range of fresh ingredients, sides, and sauces.
From fishcakes, marinated meats, a wide variety of seafood, and even fried mantous, Hao Lai Wu doesn’t skimp on their ingredients.
If you’re looking for a new supper, dinner or lunch spot to have your next family or friend gathering, head over to Hao Lai Wu.
Hao Lai Wu
Address: 8 Sago St, Singapore 059012
Operating Hours: 11am – 3am daily
Contact no.: 6221 0065
Website
5. Guo Fu Hotpot Steamboat
Guo Fu Hotpot Steamboat is a steamboat restaurant that’s known for their free flow Xiao Long Bao.
They have 10 soup bases available for you to choose from – the Elderly Tonic Soup, Beauty Soup, Male Vitality Soup, Cordy Soup, Curry Beef Soup, Vegetarian Soup, Kimchi Soup, Mild Spicy Soup, Spicy Soup, and Herbal Soup.
The quality of the ingredients here is fresh. Don’t forget to order the Sliced Special Beef and try not to go crazy on the free flow Xiao Long Bao and Shallot Pancakes.
After all, it is a steamboat restaurant.
Guo Fu Hotpot Steamboat
Address: China Square Central, 20 Cross Street #01-31/32/33, China Court, Singapore 048422
Opening Hours: Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 6557 0906
Website
6. Flame Cafe
Located at Tai Seng, a stone’s throw from Tai Seng MRT station, Flame Cafe made waves because of its FOUR tier Pagoda steamboat set up.
The top layer of the 4-Tier Cheesy Hotpot & BBQ Pagoda Steamboat is a steamer.
The second tier is a dipping tier (choose from Cheese, Salted Egg or Mongolian dip), and the next is a BBQ hot plate for grilling. Finally, right at the bottom is a hot pot tier that is divided down the middle so you can enjoy two different soup bases (choose from Chicken, Tom Yum, Mala, Herbal Tonic, Tomato). Talk about having options!
Choose from the Supreme ($38.90/pax), Premium ($29.90/pax) and Deluxe ($19.90/pax) Buffet, which entitles you to different kinds of ingredients to cook with your Pagoda steamboat.
Take note that the Pagoda steamboat set is only available after 3pm.
Flame Cafe
Address: Level 1 Centro Bianco Building, 73 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534818
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 10am – 1am; Fri – Sat: 10am – 3am; Sun: 10am – 1am
Contact no.: 6288 6346
Website
7. Marina Bay Steamboat @ Satay By The Bay
If you’re ever in the Marina Bay Sands area, you need to try out Marina Bay BBQ Steamboat (MBBS), an alfresco concept buffet at Satay By The Bay.
Within walking distance of Gardens By The Bay and Marina Barrage, Marina Bay Steamboat offers up a wide spread of fresh seafood including crayfish, crab, scallops, prawns, and bamboo clams.
You can also expect a free flow of meats, vegetables, desserts and soft drinks, so you can stuff yourself silly after a whole day of activity!
All ingredients are prepared fresh daily, so you can be sure you’re eating only the good stuff.
Price: Children 5 – 11 years old: $15 nett | Adults, Mon – Thu: $27 nett | Adults, Fri/Sat: $29 nett | Adults, Eve of PH/PH: $30 nett
Marina Bay Steamboat @ Satay By the Bay
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Drive, Satay By The Bay, #12/13/14 Marina Bay, Singapore
Opening Hours: Daily, 5pm – 11.45pm
Contact no.: 8180 8112
Website
Also read End Off Your Festival Of Feasts On A Sugar Rush This Dessert Week
(Header Image Source: Mashed)
