In Singapore, we usually have hotpot (aka steamboat or shabu shabu) at social gatherings like Chinese New Year.
If you didn’t prepare the food at home, you’ve probably ordered hotpot delivery sets.
Hai Di Lao and Beauty In The Pot are two restaurants that are known for their soup bases and exceptional services.
But, they can be expensive. Based on personal experiences, my trips to those restaurants cost me about $45 each time.
If you don’t feel like paying that much, we’ve compiled a list of hotpots below $30 per person so that you can get quality and quantity!
And if you feel like eating alone, we have places that serve single hotpots too.
TL;DR: Hotpot Buffets and Single Hotpots Under $30 Per Person
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Lunch (Price Per Pax) | Dinner (Price Per Pax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dookki Singapore | Korean Tteokbokki (rice cake) with Kimchi Fried Rice | Weekdays: Adult: $15.80++ Student: $14.80++ Weekends: Adult: $18.80++ Child: $10.80++ | Adult: $18.80++ Child: $10.80++ |
| GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet | Korean & International | Weekdays: Adult: $16.90++ Students & Seniors: $14.90++ Child: $9.90++ Weekends/PH: Adult: $26.90++ Students & Seniors: $23.90++ Child: $16.90++ | Weekdays: Adult: $26.90++ Students & Seniors: $23.90++ Child: $16.90++ Weekends/PH: Adult: $28.90 Students & Seniors: $25.90 Child: $16.90 |
| King’s Laksa Steamboat | Local - Laksa | Weekdays Adult: $24.80++ Child: $16.80++ Weekends, Eve of PH, PH Adult: 27.80++ Child: $16.80++ *Soup price not included: $3.90++ to $6.50++ | Adult: 27.80++ Child: $16.80++ *Soup price not included: $3.90++ to $6.50++ |
| Hao Lai Wu Steamboat & BBQ | Chinese, Local | Mon to Fri Adult: $24.80++ Child: $12.80++ Sat to Sun, PH: Adult: $28.80++ Child: $12.80++ | Mon to Thu Adult: $26.80++ Child: $12.80++ Fri to Sun, PH: Adult: $28.80++ Child: $12.80++ |
| Hippot | Chinese | Buffet Set A: Mon - Thu: $26.80++ Fri - Sun: $29.80++ Child: $16.80++ *Soup price not included: $5 to $10 |
|
| Pot Addiction Korean BBQ & Hotpot | Korean BBQ & Ying Yang hotpot | Weekday: Adult: $16.90++ Students & Seniors): $14.90++ Child: $8.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $26.90+ Students & Seniors: $24.90++ Child: $11.90++ | Weekdays: Adult: $24.90++ Students & Seniors: $22.90++ Child: $11.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $27.90++ Students & Seniors: $27.90++ Child: $11.90++ |
| Shabu Sai | Japanese | Weekdays: From $16.99++ Weekends: From $20.99++ | Weekdays: From $23.99++ Weekends: From $25.99++ |
| Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye Steamboat Buffet | Chinese, with free-flow Xiao Long Bao (Chinese dumplings) and dessert | $19.80++ | $26.80++ |
| Single Hot Pots | |||
| La Jiang Shan | Chinese | Weekday: $16.80++ | Dinner/Weekend/PH: $26.80++ |
| Pot Yummy Yummy | International, Local | Adult: $18.80 + $3/4 for soup Child: $10.80 + $3/4 for soup | Adult: $21.80 + $3/4 for soup Child: $10.80 + $3/4 for soup |
Click here to jump:
- Dookki Korean Tteokbokki Buffet
- GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet
- King’s Laksa Steamboat
- Hao Lai Wu
- Hippot
- Pot Addiction
- Shabu Sai
- Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye Steamboat Buffet
- Single Hot Pots During Me-Time
Note that all prices are subject to Goods and Services Tax (GST) charges and can change without prior notice. Information is accurate as of 10 May 2022.
Dookki Korean Tteokbokki Buffet
Dookki means “two meals” in Korean.
Dookki Singapore is a Tteokbokki (Korean rice cake) hotpot buffet where you can choose a variety of Korean rice cakes.
There are different types of tteok (rice cakes) available, from traditional tteok that are made from pounded white rice to rice cakes that are stuffed with sweet potato or cheese.
There are also Korean ramyeon (instant noodles) and dangmyeon (glass noodles) that you can add to your tteokbokki hotpot.
Towards the finale of your dining session at Dookki, you can also turn the leftover sauce from your hotpot into a plate of Kimchi Fried Rice.
There are vegetables, onions, and fish cakes that you can also choose to add to your hotpot.
For those who are craving a Korean spread but not BBQ, consider giving Dookki a try!
Location:
Prices:
Weekdays:
- Adult: $15.80++
- Student: $14.80++
Weekends/Dinner:
- Adult: $18.80++
- Child: $10.80++
GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet
Goro Goro is a restaurant that caters to both local and Korean food lovers.
Their soup range includes pepper Bak Ku Teh, Beauty Collagen, Mala, Tomyam, Ginseng Chicken, Tomato and Korean Seaweed.
They also have a wide selection of up to 70 ingredients to choose from, ranging from Korean to local delicacies, that can be added to the hotpot.
Location:
The Centrepoint
176 Orchard Rd
#03-43
Singapore 238843
Prices:
| Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|
| Weekdays | Adult: $16.90 Students & Seniors: $14.90 Child: $9.90 Recent Promotion: 2 for $30 nett | Adult: $26.90 Students & Seniors: $23.90 Child: $16.90 Recent Promotion: 2 for $50 nett |
| Weekends, Public Holiday | Adult: $26.90 Students & Seniors: $23.90 Child: $16.90 Recent Promotion: 2 for $50 nett | Adult: $28.90 Students & Seniors: $25.90 Child: $16.90 |
King’s Laksa Steamboat
King’s Laksa steamboat is suitable for those who enjoy having laksa.
The restaurant also offers other soup bases such as tomato soup, Chongqing Mala, as well as herbal and chicken bone soup.
A quick search on Google reviews showed that customers felt that their laksa broth was thick and worth trying.
Given that it has over 80 ingredients on its menu, you will not get bored eating the same thing over and over!
Location:
17 Teck Chye Terrace
Singapore 545724
Prices:
Weekday Lunch
- Adult: $24.80++
- Child: $16.80++
Weekday Dinner, Weekends, Eve of PH, PH:
- Adult: $27.80++
- Child: $16.80++
Hao Lai Wu
Hao Lai Wu is a restaurant that allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds – Barbeque (BBQ) and steamboat.
Unlike usual hotpots, their hotpots come in the form of a crystal pot to prevent you from getting burned, and their smokeless grill allows you to leave the restaurant without smelling like the BBQ.
This means that you won’t have a film of oil on your skin!
The restaurant also provides a special egg roll upon request and could be a good appetiser before you dive into BBQ or steamboat.
Location:
Chinatown Point
8 Sago St
Singapore 059012
Burlington Square
175 Bencoolen Street
#01-57
Singapore 189649
Prices:
| Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|
| Mon to Fri Adult: $24.80++ Child: $12.80++ Sat to Sun, PH: Adult: $28.80++ Child: $12.80++ | Mon to Thu Adult: $26.80++ Child: $12.80++ Fri to Sun, PH: Adult: $28.80++ Child: $12.80++ |
Hippot
As its name says, Hippot is a hipster hotpot restaurant.
You can find Instagram-worthy neon signs with funky slogans and catchy puns on some of their walls.
The restaurant doesn’t just sell hotpots, they sell merchandise such as tops and caps printed and embroidered with its mascot and restaurant’s name.
While you’re busy taking photos, don’t forget to order your buffet set! Hippot has two buffet sets available – Basic Set A and Luxurious Set B.
If you’re looking for something below $30, consider ordering its Buffet Set A, which is currently priced at $26.80++ on weekdays, and $29.80++ on weekends.
Hippot Buffet Set B starts from $43.80 and exceeds our $30 budget.
Location:
33 Liang Seah Street
#01-01/02
Singapore 189054
Prices:
- Mon – Thu: $26.80++
- Fri – Sun: $29.80++
- Child: $16.80++
Pot Addiction
Pot Addiction is the place to go to if you can’t decide whether you want Korean BBQ or a steamboat buffet.
If you want both BBQ and Hotpot, all you will need to do is to add an extra $12++ to your total bill, which can be split among a few people.
By the way, children below 1 metre get to eat FREE!
Location:
West Mall Shopping Mall
1 Bukit Batok Central Link
#01-38
Singapore 658713
Sunplaza
30 Sembawang Drive
#02-14
Singapore 757713
Prices:
| Members | |
|---|---|
| Weekday: Adult: $16.90++ Students & Seniors): $14.90++ Child: $8.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $26.90++ Students & Seniors: $24.90++ Child: $11.90++ | Weekdays: Adult: $24.90++ Students & Seniors: $22.90++ Child: $11.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $27.90++ Students & Seniors: $27.90++ Child: $11.90++ |
| Non-Members | |
| Weekday: Adult: $18.90++ Students & Seniors): $24.90++ Child: $14.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $28.90+ Students & Seniors: $26.90++ Child: $14.90++ | Weekdays: Adult: $26.90++ Students & Seniors: $24.90++ Child: $14.90++ Weekends/PHs/eves of PH: Adult: $29.90++ Students & Seniors: $29.90++ Child: $14.90++ |
Shabu Sai
Tired of eating Chinese hotpot? You can switch your tastebud and try a Japanese shabu shabu buffet instead.
Shabu Sai has several outlets islandwide and has a wide range of fresh vegetables and noodles as per a buffet setting for guests to enjoy.
You can also top-up a $2 for free-flow beef too.
Psst, children below three years old can eat for free.
Location:
| Outlets | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Causeway Point 1 Woodlands Square #05-14/15 Singapore 738099 | Changi City Point 5 Changi Business Park Central 1 #B1-28/29 Singapore 486038 | Orchard Central 181 Orchard Road #08-09/10/11 Singapore 238896 | NEX 23 Serangoon Central #03-07 Singapore 556083 |
| Northpoint City (South Wing) 930 Yishun Avenue 2 #B1-198/199 Singapore 769098 | Suntec City Mall 3 Temasek Boulevard #B1-133 Singapore 038983 (Around the Fountain of Wealth) | Tampines One 10 Tampines Central #02-04 Singapore 529536 | Westgate 3 Gateway Drive #B1-12 Singapore 608532 |
Prices:
| Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|
| Mon to Fri Price per pax: $16.99++ Sat to Sun, PH: Price per pax: $20.99++ | Mon to Thu $23.99++ Fri to Sun, PH: $25.99++ |
Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye Steamboat Buffet
Yi Qian Ling Yi Ye Steamboat Buffet is decked in a conveyor belt setting, much like conveyor belt sushi.
The restaurant has a variety of 10 soup bases to choose from and the most popular ones are Mala soup and herbal chicken soup.
On top of that, they have colourful dumplings that are made for a nice Instagram photo.
Location:
Northpoint City (South Wing)
930 Yishun Ave 2
#B1-184
Singapore 769098
Prices:
- Lunch: $19.80++
- Dinner: $26.80++
When You Are Alone But Craving For Hotpot
Well, COVID-19 has spurred the rise of the single hotpots due to social distancing.
I’m all for eating alone for a good self-care/me-time. If you’re like me, you can go out and enjoy hotpot by yourself.
1. La Jiang Shan
La Jiang Shan is a Chinese hotpot restaurant that offers group hotpots and single hotpots priced at $16.80++.
Based on reviews, the food is fresh and the seafood soup base is thick.
If this is something for you, check it out today!
Location:
Parklane Shopping Mall
35 Selegie Road, #01-06, Singapore 188307
Prices:
- Lunch: $16.80++
- Dinner: $26.80++
2. Pot Yummy Yummy
Pot Yummy Yummy has both steamboat and BBQ choices available and its food items list is pretty extensive.
They also have seafood that you don’t usually see in buffet restaurants, such as mud crab,
The restaurant is running a free shrimp paste or scallop per table promotion until 16 May 2022 at its Telok Ayer store. Make sure you reserve before heading out!
Location:
80 Telok Ayer Street
#01-01
Singapore 048466
Prices:
Lunch:
- Adult: $18.80 + $3/4 for soup
- Child: $10.80 + $3/4 for soup
Dinner:
- Adult: $21.80 + $3/4 for soup
- Child: $10.80 + $3/4 for soup
Paying Your Bill With A Credit Card
If you’ve not been using a credit card to foot your bill, you’re missing out on cashback, rewards or miles.
Personally, I’d choose a cashback card simply because I have low monthly spending and I liked the idea that I can save while I’m spending.
There are credit cards suitable for dining out and if you’re unsure which one to use, hop over to our friendly Seedly Community to ask questions!
If not, you can also visit our product review page to see what others have said regarding the card that you’re interested in.
Lastly, make sure you know how to eat your money’s worth at a buffet, before going for one!
