Tag: steamboat

These Steamboat Spots In S’pore Confirm Will Make You Steaaammm

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
Image Credit: DiscoverSG[/caption]

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
Image Credit: Burpple User Kevin Marling[/caption]

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:

8 Fun NYE Plans That Are Better Than Counting Down With Strangers At Marina Bay

New Year’s Eve is right around the corner, and from the beach to the clubs, there are plenty of countdown parties happening here on our little red dot.

If dancing into the new year and kissing strangers at the stroke of midnight isn’t quite what you had in mind for NYE, there are many other ways you can close off the year that don’t involve insane crowds and bad cell service – yep, we’ve all been there.

If you’re looking for a more low-key affair that’s still loads of fun, here are 9 ideas you can consider.

1. Mahjong The Night Away

Gather your mahjong kakis, load up on sustenance (i.e. coffee, chips, cup noodles) and mahjong into the final moments of 2017!

[caption id="attachment_32508" align="aligncenter" width="877"] Image Credit: Our Pastimes[/caption]

Whether you play with no money or choose to raise the stakes, you’re bound to have a good time. Who knows, maybe you’ll even make yourself your first bit of cash for 2018.

2. Have A Games Night

If mahjong isn’t your cup of tea, why not have a Games Night?

[caption id="attachment_32521" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Image Credit: What Do You Meme[/caption]

Get everyone to bring their favourite card and board games (Monopoly Deal, Limpeh Says, What Do You Meme), and for even more variety, there are tons of apps that are just a (free) download away. Here are some of our favourites: Guess The Word SG, Charades!, Psych!, and Undercover.

The rules are simple, and there is plenty of fun to go around. Just don’t get too competitive, because you don’t want to start the new year with a few less friends!

3. Steamboat Party

Steamboat is never a bad idea.

[caption id="attachment_32509" align="alignnone" width="3719"] Image Credit: Hai Di Lao’s soup bases, which you’ll be able to find at these places.

If you have the time, go shopping for the ingredients together. Load up your trolleys, over-buy, and go all out! And make sure to grab a ton of alcohol on your way out. The idea is that no one makes it to midnight without feeling nicely buzzed.

4. Go Night Cycling

If lazing around and stuffing your face with chips and soda isn’t your idea of a good time, here’s a more active NYE proposition – night cycling.

[caption id="attachment_32510" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Image Credit: Night Cycling Safety[/caption]

Plan a route, maybe even to Marina Bay Sands, if you and your party want to catch the fireworks. The best part is, now that there are so many bike-sharing providers in Singapore, you can just pick up a bike, and leave it wherever you end your journey!

A word of caution though: You may begin 2018 with a sore bum. But it’ll be worth it, we promise.

5. Sing K Until You Lose Your Voice

Instead of losing your voice scream-singing at a party, why not do it in the comfort of a KTV, among your most (and least) talented friends?

[caption id="attachment_32511" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Image Credit: Image Credit: Facebook

7. Go For A Super-Singaporean Countdown

2018 Lai Liao!

[caption id="attachment_32513" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Image Credit: Facebook

To reserve a table, call 6337 9416 or email [email protected].

8. Prawn To Your Heart’s Content

This is a bit of a random one, but hear us out.

[caption id="attachment_32514" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image Credit: pick a venue that’s near the fireworks, all the better!

9. End The Year On A Literal High

To end the year on a literal high, head down to Universal Studios Singapore.

Whether you’re someone who likes to go out to party, or someone who prefers to chill at home with your favourite people, here are some fun ideas that will definitely make for an amazing New Year’s Eve!

Incredibly easy to put together and organize, we wish you the very best time, and a very Happy New Year in advance!

Also read Banksy And 49 Other Street Artists Will Be Showing Their Best Works In S’pore This January

(Header Image Source: What Do You Meme)

Live It Up Like You’re In Hao Lai Wu – Enjoy Steamboat And BBQ In Lit Crystal Pots Till 3AM

There’s something to be said about Singaporeans’ devotion to a good, hearty steamboat or BBQ.

Clearly, this is something Hao Lai Wu recognises because they offer both steamboat and BBQ simultaneously, along with one of the widest arrays of ingredients we’ve seen in a single space.

Located at 8 Sago St, this shopfront 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!

We loved the charming, lived-in atmosphere permeating the entire shop.

From the moment the DiscoverSG team stepped in, we were taken with the lively, boisterous crowd, the communal cooking over steamboat bowls and BBQ grills, and the cheerful eating of family and friends.

Here, you can choose from 6 different soup bases: Mala, Tom Yum, Tomato, Chicken, Salted Veggie and Pork Bone.

We went with the house special, Mala soup, as well as Chicken soup. The main reason why we ordered the chicken soup was so we had a simple soup base that would allow us to properly appreciate the freshness of the ingredients served here.

Hao Lai Wu provides its customers with a wide range of fresh ingredients, sides, and sauces. It prides itself in its authentic Chinese cuisine, from the spices they put into their Mala soups to the drinks they import directly from China.

We settled down on the re-purposed oil drums and found that they came with detachable seat covers you could lift, to reveal a storage space for your bags or any knick-knacks you were carrying! With your belongings safely stowed away, the only thing you need to focus on is the mouthwatering food before you!

We were given an incredibly warm welcome with a crazy influx of dishes.

We had cute fishcakes…

marinated meats…

an understated but heavenly dish of fried mantous…

and a TON of seafood.

And I mean a TON, because when all the food was brought out, this was what our table looked like:

Someone even cooked an omelette for us on the spot as the food was on its way out! Filled with delicious, juicy sprigs of green onion, red chillis, and tiny morsels of mock crab meat, we loved every last bite of it.

Being able to eat with a whole group of people, cooking and serving one another for 2-3 hours straight, and being given 3 different ways to cook your food (Mala steamboat, Chicken steamboat and BBQ), this is definitely a great place to gather with family, loved ones and friends.

As we said our goodbyes with expanded tummies and hearts, we left with 3 takeaways:

1. Come to Hao Lai Wu HUNGRY. You won’t survive if you’re simply peckish.

2. The Mala is truly delicious, and will leave you sweating as you reach for more.

3. The Mala soup should only be attempted by spicy food lovers. If you’re afraid of McDonald’s chilli sauce, you may want to pass on the Mala.

If you’re looking for a new supper, dinner or lunch spot to have your next family or friend gathering, why not try Hao Lai Wu? We guarantee it’ll be worth your while, leaving you happy and satisfied both in the tummy and the heart.

Hao Lai Wu
Address: 8 Sago St, Singapore 059012
Operating Hours: 11am – 3am daily
Contact no.: 6221 0065
Hai Di Lao Tips: Essential Hacks That Will Save You Time, Money, And More!

Lok² And Load – Prepare Yourselves For This All-You-Can-Eat Buffet For Only $24.60 Per Pax

Steamboat buffets are a Singaporean favourite, and for good reason.

There’s nothing quite like having everyone gathered around a steaming pot of food, taking turns to cook, and having the delicious smell of cooking food wafting through the air.

Steamboats are the perfect opportunity for family and friends to spend some quality time together. After all, they say a family that eats together stays together.

While there is an abundance of steamboat and grill joints around Singapore, Lok Lok is a rarity here. For the unacquainted, Lok Lok is a popular street food found across the border, in Malaysia.

To indulge in this popular street food, all you have to do is take your pick from a variety of food items on satay sticks. These are then cooked and then tossed into a cup of sauce, so you get piping hot food items coated in a thick, dense layer of sauce.

This ‘steamboat on a stick’ is not only cheap, it’s filling and delicious as well!

Malaysia Local Delights 

From Malaccan favourite Cincalok (fermented shrimp sauce) to crowd-pleaser garlic chilli, there’s a sauce here for every mood and every taste bud.

At Malaysia Local Delights, hungry foodies can choose 2 soup bases from a selection of 8. If you’re looking for the original peanut sauce, you’ll need to top up $6.

Can’t wait for you food to cook through? Fret not! Malaysia Local Delights provides a slew of cooked foods so you won’t have to starve while waiting!

No dinner is complete without dessert. At Malaysia Local Delights, there’s an all-you-can-eat ice-cream bar, so you can live your childhood fantasy of drowning in ice-cream!

Priced at $24.80 per pax on weekdays and $26.80 on weekends, it’s a steal compared to other overpriced all-you-can-eat buffets. If you’re looking for a spot that serves up affordable quality eats with a delicious twist, Malaysia Local Delights is definitely worth checking out!

Malaysia Local Delights
Address: 224 Tanjong Katong Road, S437014
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 5pm – 1.30am, Sun & PH 11.30am – 12am
Contact no.: 6440 8378

Also read, This Korean BBQ Joint Serves Up Premium Meats So You Can Treat Mum Right This Mother’s Day

Hai Di Lao Tips: Essential Hacks That Will Save You Time, Money, And More!

Hai Di Lao? Yes, you heard it. When it comes to this legendary hotpot establishment, tales abound. By now, you must have amassed your own encyclopaedia of “black market” Hai Di Lao tips to take your Hai Di Lao experience to greater heights.

To add to your plethora of knowledge, we have gone undercover and infiltrated the depths of the Hai Di Lao world, right down to unearthing their new outlet in VivoCity!

Today, we are proud to present our findings – Hai Di Lao tips that are 100% legit and guaranteed to work.

Queue-killing hack

To beat the queue, arrive very early… anytime before 5pm is fine. Preferably, call before you head down. Otherwise, you’ll be faced with a horrendous queue that’ll shock the living daylights out of you.

Anytime from 10 pm is good, as the dinner crowd would be gone by then and Hai Di Lao is open till 6 am.

To ensure that your table is ready by 10pm, call in early to take a queue number and let them know that you’ll arrive at 9pm.

If you come with wine or alcohol, Hai Di Lao will even open your bottle and serve it to you and your companions, free of charge!

Now, who’s up for a glass of spirits?

Mini pot hack

If you think germs and bacteria are creepy… or if your idea of fashion is a Hazmat suit, Hai Di Lao’s individual hot pots are perfect for you.

Credits: Credit: be the next Freddy Krueger try Hai Di Lao’s paper crane challenge.

[caption id="attachment_15563" align="aligncenter" width="1532"] Credits: wfenzz[/caption]

For every 30 paper cranes you fold, Hai Di Lao will reward you with a free $6 dish of your choice.

Fret not if you do not know how to fold these cranes, the staff will teach you how!

Health hack

Fats? *shudders* Coagulated fats? *fear intensifies* 

Congratulations, you have just discovered the hidden horror… and we’ll let you know how to overcome it. Not with a crucifix, but with your trusty ol’ ladle!

The longer you boil your soup, the more concentrated it becomes. This causes the soup to become loaded with nitrates, fats and excess protein.

[caption id="attachment_16186" align="aligncenter" width="1824"] Credit: butter believer[/caption]

That white film floating on the surface of your soup isn’t the trail left by the Loch Ness monster.

It’s actually coagulated fats, nitrates and protein, which is no good for you. So, ladles up, and scoop away the white stuff!

Redeemable manicure hack

Who would pass up the opportunity of a free manicure? Not me!

The good news is, Hai Di Lao’s renowned manicure services are redeemable. Should the long queue prevent you from getting your manicure before dining, all is not lost.

[caption id="attachment_16496" align="alignnone" width="640"]

credit: cdn-geo dayre[/caption]

Should you wish to celebrate your grandma’s birthday there, the restaurant also offers a free platter of longevity buns to senior citizens on their special day.

This is in addition to the small gift that Hai Di Lao will present to the birthday guest, and the birthday songs that they will croon in 3 different languages.

[caption id="attachment_16185" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] credit: c3.staticflickr[/caption]

Protect-your-phone hack

A cracked phone screen is the ultimate nightmare for every phone user. This is why Hai Di Lao offers free phone screen protectors to keep your phone screens shiny and spanking new.

[caption id="attachment_16198" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Credit: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #03-09, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Telephone numbers: +65 6250 7557 (for reservations) +65 6250 7667 (for enquiries)
Opening hours: 10.30am – 6am

Header image credit: where to get Hai Di Lao soup base!

Steam-potting – Better, Healthier & Just As Delicious As Steamboat!

Touted as a healthier way to enjoy steamboat, Hong Kong’s steam-potting trend has hit our shores. Steam-potting is known to be more nutritious as the process (which we will get into in a bit) seals in the ingredients’ nutritional value better than the usual steamboat. If you enjoy a hearty meal with a warm homely fare, you’ll have to check this out.

Instead of the conventional hot pot, steam-potting, as its name suggests, involves steaming the ingredients rather than boiling them.

Menu

The menu includes fresh greens, tiger prawns, crabs, wagyu beef, and even dimsum. If you can’t wait for the food to be steamed, order up some century egg congee or the crowd-favourite egg custard buns while the food is cooking.

Another feature of steam-potting is that the soup is enjoyed last. While the ingredients are being steamed, the natural juices of the food flow to the bottom of the pot, seeping into the rice grains and soup base. This creates a delicious soupy congee that is packed with flavour to end off your meal.

Details

Now, where do I enjoy this pot of goodness, you ask? Head to Steam Box at Serangoon Gardens to have a taste of the steam-potting trend!

We’re sure you won’t regret your steam-potting experience. Steamboat is delicious enough as it is, but with an upgraded method boasting more flavour and nutrition? We’re in.

Steam Box
Address: 68 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555962
Phone: 6281 6939
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm & 6-11pm, Sat & Sun 11.30am-11pm

(Header image credit: Wisma Atria Brings Japan To S’pore – Tsukiji Sushi To Wagyu Beef!