Round up your hotpot buddies and head to these steamboat restaurants in Singapore that offer superb soups with premium ingredients.
Hotpot, mookata and steamboat in Singapore – whatever you call it, we just can’t get enough of this piping hot delight that’s perfect for a cold, rainy day. For the uninitiated, steamboat is a popular (and fun) cooking method in East Asian households where the cooking is done at the dinner table.
A boiling pot of soup stock is placed in the centre with a variety of raw meat, seafood, vegetables, noodles and dumplings. It may be a Chinese New Year staple, but most of us in Singapore like to have hotpot all year ’round. Can’t decide where to go? Let us help you narrow down your choices with our list of the best steamboat buffets and beyond in Singapore.
Best steamboat restaurants in Singapore: Wallet-friendly finds with sets under $30
1. Uncle Fong Hotpot Restaurant
Famous Chongqing spicy fermented soup base
Anyone who loves a good spicy hotpot soup base must visit Uncle Fong Hotpot Restaurant for its signature spicy soup bases, meticulously crafted with Chongqing Shizhuhong Chilli, Sichuan Hanyuan pepper, refined beef tallow, Sichuan Pixian bean paste, and Yunnan yellow ginger. Hit up this resto for its deluxe individual hotpot lunch set (from $18.80) and tuck into your own personal dual pot complete with proteins like lamb ($18.80), beef ($20.80), or pork ($22.80), veggies, and condiments. Oh, and did we mention no GST or service charge? What a steal!
Uncle Fong Hotpot Restaurant, multiple locations including Great World (daily, 11.30am to 10pm) and Suntec City (daily, 11.30am to 10pm)
2. Shi Li Fang Hot Pot
Super affordable set menus under $10
Looking for an affordable hotpot option in Singapore? Shi Li Fang is the place to be. Get the set menu, and pick a soup base, protein, and noodle type to get started. It comes with a basket of veggies, and it’ll only set you back less than $10. If that’s not enough, you can always pile up on a la carte dishes. Order marbled pork slices and beef tenderloin to dip into flavourful broths. At some outlets, you can even get some toys and trinkets after your meal!
Shi Li Fang Hot Pot, multiple locations including Eastpoint Mall (daily, 10am to 10pm) and Orchard Central (daily, 11am to 10pm)
3. Gorogoro Steamboat
Hot pot with a Korean buffet
All-you-can-eat steamboat ingredients and a Korean buffet? You’ll be stuffed by the time you walk out of Gorogoro steamboat. Not only is it affordable, but it also has a variety of high quality ingredients and local delicacies. Pile up your plates with fish balls and pork belly. While you wait for your soup to boil, grab some Korean fried chicken wings and fries to snack on. Oh, and a heads up – lunch ($18.90) and dinner ($28.90) sessions have exclusive ingredients and dishes, so check out the menu before you make your reservation.
Gorogoro Steamboat, #03-43, The Centrepoint, 176 Orchard Road, Singapore 238843; Monday to Thursday, 11.30am to 3.30pm & 5.30pm to 10pm; Friday to Sunday, 11.30am to 3.30pm & 5pm to 10.30pm
4. Parkway Mini Steamboat
Fuss-free and straightforward hot pot options
Located in bustling Tanjong Pagar, this steamboat buffet restaurant has all-you-can-eat plates served right to your table. Select handmade noodles, pork balls and fish paste, meats, seafood and the like. There are usually three soup bases including mala, tom yum and mushroom. The variety of cooked food is great, too – look forward to bee hoon, chicken wings and even chilli crab.
Parkway Mini Steamboat, 311 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 437094; Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm & 6pm to 11pm; Saturday, 12pm to 10.30pm; Sunday, 11.30am to 10.30pm
5. City Hot Pot
Luxe and affordable individual pots
For those who are fussy with what goes into your hotpot, this eatery is right up your alley. Even though everyone has their own pot for cooking, you’re still seated as a group. And with the variety of choices, we reckon you’ll be staying for hours. There are just too many soup bases to choose from, including the flavour-packed fish maw soup ($8.99). Pick from set meals like the signature wagyu beef set ($25.99), pork belly set ($25.99), or deluxe seafood combo ($82.99) that come complete with protein, veggies, and noodles.
City Hot Pot, multiple locations including One Raffles Place (daily, 11.30am to 3pm & 5pm to 10pm) and Guoco Tower (daily, 11.30am to 3pm & 5pm to 10pm)
6. New Udon Mookata
Fulfil your hot pot cravings any time
What makes mookata so awesome (and different) is that you get the best of both worlds – a barbeque steamboat where you can grill meat on a metal skillet in the middle. The metal skillet has grooves on it that lead into the “soup moat”. The juices you get from grilling the meat flow into the soup, giving it that extra flavour. Oh, and did we mention it’s open 24/7? Perfect for a cheeky late-night supper!
New Udon Mookata, 119 Lavender Street, Singapore 338731; open 24 hours daily
7. Xian De Lai
Hot pot, Korean barbecue, and grilled fish all in one spot
This one’s a regular spot for ardent hotpot lovers in Singapore; don’t be surprised to see queues during peak hours. Xian De Lai also offers Korean BBQ and Chongqing grilled fish in delish flavours. Spice lovers, you have to try the spicy chicken – it definitely packs a punch! Steamboat essentials include daily brewed soup bases as well as an array of handmade food and impressive side dishes.
Xian De Lai, 18 Liang Seah Street, Singapore 189039; daily, 10.30am to 4am
8. Guo Fu Steamboat
Hot pot with free flow xiao long bao
Ready to explore beyond the usual soups? Guo Fu Hotpot has many soup bases for you to try – interesting flavours like elderly tonic soup and curry beef soup definitely pique interest. Each person on the table gets a pot so don’t hold back on your choices. You can get beef ($25.90), mutton ($27.90), pork ($25.90), and even vegetarian ($27.90) sets – talk about spoilt for choice! And did we mention there’s free-flow of xiao long bao? Now, that’s what we call a bang for your buck.
Guo Fu Steamboat, #02-01, Guoco Tower, 7 Wallich Street, Singapore 078884; daily, 11.30am to 10pm
9. San Laksa Steamboat
Unique laksa steamboat
Love laksa and all its creamy, spicy goodness? This restaurant is one of the few places in the country that offers laksa as a steamboat base ($15). The gravy isn’t thick so you won’t feel like it’s too rich – even after piling on the ingredients. If you still want the good ol’ chicken broth ($10), the pot can hold two different kinds of soup, so order away.
San Laksa Steamboat, 147 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208524; daily, 11am to 12am
Best steamboat restaurants in Singapore: For indulgent dinners
10. Xiao Yan Zi Tomato Hotpot
One of the best tomato soup bases in town
Previously known as Upin Hot Pot, it’s the same steamboat restaurant that you know and love with a brand new face. It’s best known for the signature fresh brewed tomato pot ($12) and handmade shrimp paste ($13) which wins diners over in an instant. Ingredients are incredibly fresh and will satisfy all your hotpot cravings. Plus, you’ll be dining with a gorgeous view of the Singapore River – who can say no to that?
Xiao Yan Zi Tomato Hotpot, #03-87, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817; daily, 11am to 6am
11. Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
Private rooms perfect for groups
In the heart of Boat Quay is a little taste of China. Expect a truly authentic traditional hotpot experience done with masterful preparation. Looking to stray away from the usual chicken ($24) or tomato ($18) soup? We recommend trying the fish with pickled cabbage ($52) or the spicy rabbit pot ($68). You can also enjoy sides like BBQ frog ($10) or fried mint leaves ($10), and end on a refreshing note with a bowl of traditional ice jelly ($6). If you’re planning to dine as a big group, we recommend booking a private room in advance. That way, you won’t have to bump elbows with other crowded tables.
Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot, 6 Lorong Telok, Singapore 049019; Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm & 5pm to 10.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 12pm to 10.30pm
12. Beauty in the Pot
Famed collagen soup
This steamboat restaurant in Singapore by Paradise Group offers a perfect mix of beauty and the beast of some sort. Indulge in a pot of beauty collagen soup (from $10.80) packed with nutrients and a nourishing spicy soup (from $9.50) with a choice of three levels of Szechuan spices to put your mala tolerance to the test. Robust soup bases aside, premium and homemade ingredients like melt-in-your-mouth fish tofu ($3 per piece) and fried beancurd skin ($12.60 per portion) are some highlights.
Beauty in the Pot, multiple locations including Jewel (daily, 11.30am to 3am) and The Centrepoint (daily, 11.30am to 6am)
13. Haidilao
Free manicures, snacks, and dinner with a show
Be warned: it’s usually a long wait to dine at this Sichuan-based steamboat restaurant (mostly over an hour). Don’t worry about waiting in line though. Believe it or not, you can get a manicure and help yourself to free fruits and popcorn while waiting. Oh, and you can always make a reservation at one of the many outlets. Another highlight? Chefs showing off their skills as they knead hand-pulled homemade noodles right at your table. If you can handle the heat, choose the fiery Sichuan soup base ($33.25).
Haidilao, multiple locations including Clarke Quay (Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 6am; Saturday to Sunday, 10.30am to 6am), Plaza Singapura (daily, 10.30am to 4am), and VivoCity (daily, 10.30am to 4am)
14. Tsukada Nojo
Super silky chicken collagen pudding
At Tsukada Nojo, you can get your wonder protein fix in a hotpot with the super famous bijin nabe (from $19): a collagen-rich creation featuring organic chicken broth and fresh ingredients like prawns ($5), mushrooms ($4) and chicken meatballs ($7). It’s literally beauty in a pot. Hailing from Japan, this steamboat restaurant exclusively serves organic and free-range Jitokko chicken from the Miyazaki prefecture. Enjoy great savings with the set menus, and don’t leave without trying Japanese side dishes like nikumaki onigiri (rice balls wrapped in pork – from $4) and chicken nanban ($9).
Tsukada Nojo, multiple locations including Plaza Singapura (daily, 11.30am to 3pm & 5pm to 9pm) and Thomson Plaza (daily, 11.30am to 3pm & 5pm to 10pm)
15. Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat Corner
Singapore’s oldest fish head steamboat restaurant
There’s nothing like sipping on flavourful broth from a fishhead steamboat. Book a table for snapper ($29), pomfret ($39), grouper ($39) fish boats boiled with ember charcoal for a depth of flavour. There are also plenty of cooked sides available for you to order too.
Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat Corner, 812 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198779; daily, 11am to 12am
16. Coca Restaurant
Uber premium all-you-can-eat hot pot buffet
This well-known stalwart has been around since 1957 so it must be doing something right. We particularly like the good ol’ clear chicken broth (double boiled treasure) as a soup base but you can choose up to four with the quadruple pot. If you’re feeling particularly voracious, come for the lunch (from $39) or dinner (from $52) buffets for 100-minutes of all-you-can-eat pleasure. For maximum enjoyment, dip your favourite cooked ingredients in Coca’s fiery homemade chilli sauce. The outlets are usually crowded, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.
Coca Restaurant, multiple locations including Ngee Ann City (Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm & 6pm to 10.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11.30am to 10.30pm) and Kallang Leisure Park (Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm & 6pm to 10.30pm; Saturday to Sunday, 11.30am to 10.30pm)
17. Whampoa Keng Fishhead Steamboat
Award-winning fish head steamboat
From hawker stall to full-fledged restaurant, this dining spot (and household name to many locals) has come a long way since setting up shop in 1990. The main star of the steamboat is fresh sliced fish with bits of cabbage and seaweed, but don’t forget to order side dishes like prawn paste chicken wings, pig trotters and prawn rolls.
Whampoa Keng Fishhead Steamboat, 556 Balestier Road, Singapore 329872; daily, 11am to 11.30pm
18. Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant
Hot pot but make it fine dining
Imperial Treasure is the kind of swanky place you’d choose if you need to impress the in-laws. Signature dishes include the four treasure ball platter: a combination of prawn, cuttlefish, pork and fish specially prepared by the chef. Plus, the Imperial drunken chicken soup ($45) that’s prepared with Shaoxing rice wine, ginseng, wild yam, wolfberries and red dates. The satay ($28), seaweed and kelp ($28), and century egg and parsley ($28) soup bases are a cut above the usual Szechuan ($35), pork bone ($28) and chicken ($28) soup flavours.
Imperial Treasure Steamboat Restaurant, #02-14, TripleOne Somerset, 111 Somerset Road, Singapore 238164; daily, 11am to 3pm & 6pm to 11pm
Brace yourself, ‘cos you’re in for a massive hotpot feast at the best steamboat restaurants in Singapore.
