Last Updated on 25/04/2023 by iEat&Eat Team
Gather your friends who love hotpot and check out these steamboat restaurants in Singapore that serve excellent soups made with high-quality ingredients.
In Singapore, hotpot, steamboat, or mookata, no matter what you call it, is a favourite food that’s perfect for a cold and rainy day. If you’re unfamiliar, steamboat is a popular and enjoyable cooking method in many East Asian households where the cooking is done at the dinner table. A pot of boiling soup stock is placed in the centre, surrounded by an array of fresh meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, and dumplings. While it’s a traditional dish during the Chinese New Year, most Singaporeans enjoy hotpot all year round. If you’re having trouble deciding where to go, let us help you narrow down your choices with our top picks for the best steamboat buffets in Singapore.
1. Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
Website | 6 Lor Telok, Singapore 049019 | +65 6536 8058
Located in the heart of Boat Quay, there’s a charming Chinese restaurant that offers an authentic and traditional hotpot experience with expert preparation. If you’re seeking something different from the typical chicken or tomato soup, we highly recommend the fish with pickled cabbage or the spicy rabbit pot. Additionally, you can savour delectable sides such as BBQ frog or fried mint leaves, and finish your meal with a refreshing coconut and osmanthus jelly. For larger groups, we suggest booking a private room in advance to avoid cramped seating and ensure a more comfortable dining experience.
2. Shi Li Fang Hot Pot
Website | 133 New Bridge Road B2, #17 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413 | +65 6636 3833
If you’re on a budget but still craving hotpot, Shi Li Fang is a fantastic option in Singapore. The set menu allows you to choose a soup base, protein, and noodle type to start, which is accompanied by a basket of vegetables and only costs $9.90. If you’re still hungry, you can order additional a la carte dishes such as marbled pork slices and beef tenderloin to dip into flavorful broths. Some outlets even offer toys and trinkets after your meal for an added bonus.
3. City Hot Pot
Website | 1 Raffles Pl, #04 – 26/27/28, Singapore 048616 | +65 6536 2679
If you’re particular about the ingredients that go into your hotpot, this restaurant is perfect for you. Although each person has their own pot for cooking, you’ll still be seated together as a group. With an extensive selection of options, you’ll likely spend hours trying everything. There’s an abundance of soup bases to choose from, such as the delicious fish maw soup. Additionally, you can indulge in freshly sliced signature wagyu beef, pork belly, and a vast array of seafood.
4. Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant
Website | Orchard Turn, #04-12A ION Orchard, 2, Singapore 238801 | +65 6636 9339
If you’re aiming to impress your in-laws with a fancy dining experience, Imperial Treasure is the place to be. The chef’s speciality, the four treasure ball platter, is a must-try dish that combines prawn, cuttlefish, pork, and fish in a delicious preparation. The Imperial drunken chicken soup is another signature dish that’s made with Shaoxing rice wine, ginseng, wild yam, wolfberries, and red dates. Unlike the typical Szechuan, pork bone, and chicken soup flavours, the satay, seaweed and kelp, and century egg and parsley soup bases are unique and flavorful.
5. Coca Restaurant
Website | 3 Temasek Boulevard #02-440 Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983 | +65 6259 7176
Having been in business since 1957, this established restaurant is a tried-and-true favourite. The clear chicken broth (double-boiled treasure) is our personal favourite soup base, but you can select up to four options with the quadruple pot. To enhance your dining experience, we recommend dipping your cooked ingredients in Coca’s homemade fiery chilli sauce. Due to the restaurant’s popularity, it’s advisable to book ahead of time to avoid disappointment as the outlets tend to be crowded.
6. Parkway Mini Steamboat
Website | 311 Tanjong Katong Rd, Singapore 437094 | +65 6348 2070
Situated in the lively Tanjong Pagar area, this steamboat buffet restaurant offers an all-you-can-eat experience with plates brought directly to your table. You can choose from handmade noodles, pork balls, fish paste, meats, seafood, and more. The restaurant usually offers three soup bases, including mala, tom yum, and mushroom. The cooked food selection is also fantastic, featuring bee hoon, chicken wings, and even chilli crab.
7. Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat Corner
Website | 812 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198779 | +65 6297 9319
Indulge in the rich and savoury broth of a fishhead steamboat, it’s an experience like no other. You can book a table for snapper, pomfret, or grouper fish boats that are boiled with ember charcoal to enhance the depth of flavour. We recommend trying the Hojiak or Baojiak sets, which come with a delectable platter of signature tofu, fried shrimp roll, prawn-paste chicken wings, pork belly, and drinks.
8. Little Sheep Hot Pot
Website | 277 Orchard Rd, #B1-13 Orchard, Gateway 238858 | +65 6881 9959
Despite its unusual name, this Mongolian hotpot chain offers more than just lamb. The restaurant gained popularity for being one of the first hotpot establishments to forgo the classic dipping sauce, emphasizing the flavorful broth instead. Meat enthusiasts can indulge in tender lamb and beef skewers dipped in various soup bases. The mala option has a perfect kick without being too spicy, making it a must-try for those who enjoy a bit of heat.
9. San Laksa Steamboat
Website | 147 Kitchener Rd, Singapore 208524 | +65 6275 7069
If you’re a fan of laksa and its delectable creamy and spicy flavours, this restaurant is a must-visit. Recently relocated to Kitchener Road, it’s one of the few places in the country that offers laksa as a steamboat base. Despite its richness, the gravy isn’t too thick, ensuring you won’t feel overwhelmed even after adding ingredients. If you prefer the classic chicken broth, the pot can hold two different types of soup, so you can enjoy both options.
10. Upin Hot Pot
Website | 6 Eu Tong Sen St, #03-87, Singapore 059817 | +65 6221 5550
At Upin Hot Pot, in addition to the scrumptious soup bases, there are regular irresistible promotions. If you prefer to stay at home, Upin offers the convenience of bringing the steamboat experience to your doorstep, complete with the hot pot and all its accoutrements. But if you’re dining at one of the outlets and looking for entertainment, you can enjoy live performances of hand-pulled noodles and Sichuan opera face-changing.