5 alternative hotpot places in Singapore other than HaiDiLao

Who says you can only eat hotpot during Chinese New Year? It’s no secret that many of us can’t get enough of steamboats, which explains the frequent trips to popular hotpot chains like Haidilao and Beauty In The  Pot.

What is a hotpot?

Hotpot, or what is also known as steamboat, is a beloved Asian cuisine that is enjoyed by people all over the world. The traditional steamboat typically consists of a variety of  meats, seafood, and vegetables cooked in a seasoned broth.It  is often considered a communal dish as family and friends sit around the hotpot to cook and eat together. Diners can customise their hotpot by choosing their preferred ingredients and broth. 

There’s just something comforting in cooking your own food and sharing a steaming pot of soup together with loved ones, along with ingredients like raw meat, fresh seafood, vegetables and noodles. If you’re looking to venture beyond your usual go-tos for hotpot restaurants in Singapore, consider this list for the best ideas!

1. Coucou Hotpot·Brew Tea

If there’s one hotpot restaurant that will likely be on everyone’s lips in the coming months, it’s Coucou Hotpot (凑凑火锅）. Hailing from Taiwan, the brand surged in popularity abroad in recent years, thanks to its  frequent celebrity endorsements. 

The name translates to “gather’, which is exactly what you can do with your friends and family at this  new restaurant  at Jewel Changi Airport. Featuring both round tables and seating booths depending on your group size, it’s an ideal place in the East of Singapore to bond over communal cooking and good food. 

There are six soup bases to choose from, namely Taiwan Style Spicy, Fish with Sichuan Pickles, Sichuan Style Spicy, Bovine Bone with Tomato, Fresh Mushrooms and Coconut Chicken. Can’t decide? Choose up to three flavours for their 3-in-1 hotpot, so you get ultimate variety. 

And true to their Taiwanese origins, Coucou Hotpot also has bubble tea on the menu that come in mugs instead of the usual plastic cups, with options like Classic Milk Tea (S$3.60) and Wax Gourd Tea with Da Hong Pao (S$5.20).

 

Address: #02-208/209, Jewel Changi Airport, 78 Airport Blvd, Singapore 819666

Opening Hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 3:00pm, 5:00pm to 10:00pm

2. Empire Hotpot

If the typical mala, tomato and chicken soup base just don’t excite your taste buds anymore, consider a trip to Empire Hotpot, where they offer a total of eight unique soup options, such as Empire Supreme Lobster Broth, American Ginseng & Angelica Root Fish Head Soup, Japanese Rice Wine Clam Soup and even a Homemade Satay Hotpot.

Their signature is the Empire Supreme Lobster Broth (S$38 for a full pot), which includes garnishes like bamboo shoots, pumpkins, onions, and get this – a half-portion of Boston lobster. Perfect for seafood lovers, it will be a refreshing alternative from the usual spicy soups. 

Other menu items are also top-tier. Flex your chopstick skills and dip their Kagoshima A4 Wagyu Beef (from S$33) that is melt-in-your-mouth good, Shirobuta Pork Belly (from S$10) and Premium Japanese Kurobuta Pork Belly (from S$14). Smaller bites to share include their Four Treasure Ball – an 8-piece set that has pork, beef, cuttlefish, and prawn balls. 

 

Address: #05-13/14 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238872

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday – 11:30am to 2:45pm, 6:00pm to 9:45pm, Saturday and Sunday – 11:00am to 9:45pm

3. Taikoo Lane Hotpot

For authentic Szechuan and Cantonese hotpot, Taikoo Lane is where you should get it. Nestled within the heart of the ever-crowded Chinatown, the restaurant will fully immerse you into the bustle of hotpot dining. 

Try something special and order the signature Chengdu Green Pepper Broth. Filled with a fragrant mix of peppercorn oil and carefully cooked green peppercorns, the strong broth will hit your palette from the first slurp – just make sure not to accidentally bite into the peppercorns! While the soup is tasty on its own, you can fill it up with equally delicious dishes like lobster noodles (S$39.80), spicy marinated beef (S$18.80) and sliced chicken with green peppers (S$17.80). 

While they mostly cater for large gatherings, Taikoo Lane also offers individual pots for solo diners, so you can satisfy your cravings if you happen to be in the area alone. With their great selections, some may even argue that this is probably the best hotpot restaurant in Singapore. 

 

Address: #B1-16 Chinatown Point, 33 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 059413

Opening Hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 9:30pm

4. Xiao Long Kan

Looking for good food with great ambience in the East? While there are multiple Xiao Long Kan outlets in Singapore, their Bedok brand stands out for its extravagant decor of red lanterns, velvet drapes and grandiose statues that instantly make you feel like you’re dining overseas. 

Order any of their three signature soup bases of Traditional Spicy, Mushroom and Tomato, or have them all-in-one to satiate those with varying spice tolerance. For an added explosion of flavours in every bite, make your own dipping sauce at the sauce bar. We recommend including Xiao Long Kan’s secret recipe chilli oil in whatever concoction you come up with – it's a mix of corn extract and fragrant sesame oil.

As for the sides, experiment beyond the usual beef and pork slices and order their Fresh Mutton Rolls (S$16 per serving), Pork Meatball With Rose (S$14 per serving) and Beef Tongue (S$20 per serving). The latter is even served shaped like a rose, a quirky detail that would be fitting to post on your Instagram. 

Xiao Long Kan is also open all the way until 6:00am in the morning, so you can note this down for future supper plans. 

 

Address: #01-02/03, 208D New Upper Changi Rd, Singapore 464208

Opening Hours: Opens daily from 11:00am to 6:00am

5. Little Sheep Hot Pot

Beef, pork and chicken are the resident meats when it comes to hotpot, but Little Sheep specialises in lamb hotpot instead, with fresh and lean cuts of Signature Lamb Rolls (from S$9), that is also included in their 3-Tier Lamb Platter (S$36) and Signature Lamb Platter (S$26).

Aside from lamb, their other specialty is their 36-spice soup base that is chock-full of ingredients, from goji berries and ginseng to cardamom pods and herbs. This white soup is also not spicy, so even younger customers can sip to their heart’s content. 

Of course, if you prefer traditional ingredients and bases, they also have Mala broth that you can accentuate with sides like Australian Sirloin Beef Cubes and Fish Balls With Roe.

 

Address: #B1-13, Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238858

Opening Hours: Daily – 11:00am to 11:00pm

Head to your favourite hotpot restaurant in Singapore now

We’ve all been there, especially on rainy days – craving a delicious mix of meat and veggies floating in a bubbling hotpot. Whether it’s for a family lunch gathering or a late-night supper, the possibilities of hotpot options in Singapore are endless.

So the next time you and your hotpot kakis are planning a catch-up session, you know where else to head to besides Haidilao. 

 

 

For more updates on Changi Airport, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Telegram and YouTube. You can also sign up for a Changi Account and have the latest news and articles delivered right into your inbox.