Best Steamboat in Singapore 2016

There are few hot pot experiences as unique as this — you can bring your own ingredients to add on, and it comes from a prawn noodle stall! Originally from Geylang Bahru Hawker Centre that is currently undergoing renovation, Wen Wen sells prawn noodles with pork ribs, and doesn't list hot pot on its signboard. First thing you need to do is call ahead and ask for the friendly owner Richard to let him know how many people are coming for hot pot. We highly recommend asking for the Prawn and Seafood Hot Pot ($50 for two pax, $60 for four and $80 for six), where fresh prawns, clams, pig intestines, pig tails, pork ribs and fresh crabs bubble away in a sweet prawn broth enhanced by Pu-er tea. Secondly, be sure to bring along your favourite veggies and meats to cook — our must-haves include mushrooms, cabbage, radish, cheese tofu and shabu-shabu meats. If you'd like to indulge, ask for fancier pots that include abalone (up to $100 per pot). Grab a seat and enjoy this truly memorable meal complete with refillable soup and a choice of rice, bee hoon, or yellow noodles to go with it!
Avg Price: $15 per person
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu

Devoid of loud, tacky signs, it's easy to miss this gem of a hotpot restaurant along Hong Kong Street. Within, LongQing oozes pretty hip vibes with sturdy wooden furniture and walls tattooed with paintings — this definitely isn't your typical Chinese mala hotpot joint! Bring your partner for an intimate dinner date and share one of the three hotpot set menus (from $55, serves two). Each set comes with a variety of meat and vegetables, along with a divided pot for two MSG-free broths. We recommend going for the concentrated wild mushroom broth and the classic spicy ma la. For a feast, also order the much raved about Luncheon Meat ($6.80), Potato Noodles ($3.80) and freshly fried Beancurd Skin Roll ($6.80), and save space for the super addictive Crispy Taro Ball ($7.80) for dessert! These crispy fritters surprise with a chewy, mochi-like yam paste (orh ni) centre!
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Jean Kao

Gather the ladies in your life for good-for-the-skin hotpot ($25 per person, minimum two diners) in town. Tsukada Nojo takes pride in their collagen-rich stock, made by stewing organic Jidori chicken bones for over eight hours until they dissolve to form a silky collagen pudding — this is what servers will bring to the table to heat in the pot. The pudding will melt into a nourishing soup, in which you can then cook your tray of of organic vegetables, seafood and tender chicken meat. On top of that, you get a choice of noodles and porridge — we highly recommend going with their signature thick and chewy mochi mochi noodles! Pro-tip: There are also outlets in Liang Court, Westgate and Chinatown Point. To skip the queue, you can make reservations only for the Chinatown Point outlet.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burppler Triffany Lim

Taking over Curry Garden, this Halal steamboat joint in Punggol Ranch is a great spot for family gatherings, especially for those of you living in the northeast! Go straight for the Steamboat Buffet ($22 on weekdays, $25 on weekends), which allows you free-flow access to fresh ingredients — we were particularly charmed by the selection of seafood like crayfish, plump prawns and dory fish, which were snapped up but also refilled very quickly. The steamboat pot comes with an attached grill, on which you can also cook a selection of marinated meats like black pepper beef and curry tandoori chicken. The buffet selection also includes a rojak station, along with fruit and brownies for dessert, but drinks are excluded. Expect to pay an average of $2 to $2.50 for a sweetened drink like bandung or iced lemon tea. It gets pretty warm too especially when it's crowded, so dress breezy. Pro tip: This place is packed on the weekends and they aren't always efficient with taking phone reservations. Save yourself the headache and come really early, or plan this for a weekday instead.
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Raine Liu

A short walk from NEX in Serangoon, King's Laksa is a good option for a no-frills date night or a simple gathering with a group of friends. Of course, you must opt for the laksa soup base, and choose another from options like seafood or mala. The laksa broth is full of flavour yet light enough for you to sip on right to the very end. The Laksa Steamboat Buffet ($18.80 for weekday lunch, $23.80 for weekday dinner, weekend lunch and dinner) also includes cooked food and desserts aside from the standard meat, seafood and vegetable options — don't miss their chicken wings that are fried to order! While the sliced meats are your average fare, come for their super fresh prawns that they get from Jurong Fishery Port every other day. We also enjoyed the friendly and attentive service very much. Pro tip: Don't discard the prawn heads after eating the prawn — throw them back in the broth to sweeten it!
Avg Price: $25 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayson Yeo

Serving freshly made xiao long baos that can rival dim sum restaurants alongside a wide array of steamboat offerings, Guo Fu is an ideal place for after work dinner in a comfortable environment. Nice enough to bring a date or to have a business meal, it is also conveniently located in China Square Central. Although the steamboat buffet sounds like a steal at $25.90 on weekdays and $27.90 on weekends, bear in mind the additional cost of the soup base that ranges from $9 to $23. For example, a split pot of Beauty Soup and Mild Spicy Soup soup costs $16. Slightly complicated pricing aside, the quality of meats and seafood is commendable, and the XLB is free flow! Beers and liquors (red and white wines, Umeshu, sake and more) are also reasonably priced. Pro tip: Order the XLB immediately, as they are freshly made and will take a while. They will make a good starter while you wait for your food to cook!
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Shaowei Ho

Newly opened 55 Steamboat is located at 55 South Bridge Road — easy to remember. This cosy place is outfitted with brick walls and cement floors, and will surprise you with its reasonable prices, attentive service and high quality meats. At $29.80 per person (no GST and excluding soup base), expect interesting options such as pig intestines, prawn paste, beef omasum (have this in your mala soup!) and lamb slices on top of the standard choices. Expect to order multiple plates of the sliced beef and marinated beef — they're excellent. Choose from three levels of spiciness for their mala Hot Spicy soup base, and also try the sweet Tomato for a non-spicy option. Bear in mind that two soups will cost $18, so be sure to dine here in a group of four or more like Burppler Hwans Lim did to get the best value (psst, she came twice in a weekend)! Pro tip: Come with beer-loving friends — four big bottles of Qingdao go for just $20 (that's cheaper than at most coffeeshops)!
Avg Price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Dex Neo

This brand new Hai Di Lao outlet at VivoCity is the one to head to next time you want a HDL fix without the insane queues (for now at least). With beautiful interiors and the same fantastic service, enjoy your manicure and popcorn should you have to wait. Choose to have four soup bases for variety, and don't miss the super spicy mala and tomato options. Highlights of the meal include their impressive array of sauces (add $4), the handmade mashed shrimp paste, sliced black pork and the entertaining spectacle of springy handmade noodles tossed tableside. For those of you who have yet to experience HDL, this is a good chance to get in before the queues go crazy! Open till 6am, you now have another spot to hit for those super late nights out.
Avg Price: $50 per person
Photo by Burppler Thechoyalicious :)

Located across the road from the famous Rochor Original Beancurd, this lavishly-furnished restaurant in Wilkie Edge opens till 5am daily, making it a great spot for supper in town. If it's a cool night, sit alfresco to enjoy the breeze while you huddle over your hotpot. First pick your soup base — the tomato broth ($13.80) and collagen broth ($16.80) are really comforting and tasty, and not at all watered-down. The vegetables selection is on the pricey side, so you might want to focus on jazzing up your hotpot with their selection of premium meats and seafood — we love the Kurobuta Pork Belly ($13.80) and super thinly sliced US Wagyu Beef Striploin ($24.80). To avoid overcooking the beef, use your chopsticks to swish the meat in the hot broth for just a few seconds. P.S. We love the ever attentive service here too! Pro tip: To feast without worrying about the bill, come for their buffet lunch (noon-5pm, $21.80) or dinner (6-10pm, $32.80), but take note that beef is not part of the buffet selection and will have to be ordered separately.
Avg Price: $35 per person
Photo by Burppler Hwans Lim

The iconic restaurant on North Bridge Road has been serving up authentic Teochew-style fish steamboat since 1927, so you can be assured that these guys know what they're doing. For starters, they insist on using only charcoal-fired steamboats, and every batch of their signature fish soup is cooked for over five hours for maximum flavour as well as nourishment. There is a selection of fresh fish including pomfret and snapper, and the menu helpfully describes the texture and flavour of every option. If in doubt, go for the Red Grouper Fishboat (from $38 for small), which comes with generous chunks of firm, smooth and succulent grouper, along with plenty of greens and cubed yam. The charcoal fire adds a lovely depth to the flavour. If steamboat alone doesn't suffice, order zi char dishes like their popular Prawns in Golden Pumpkin Sauce (from $18.80 for small) and Butter Crayfish ($38 for medium). Pro tip: This original outlet is often packed. Head over to their second outlet on Owen Road if you're stuck in the queue.
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Ice Blossom