The Food Adventure Guide: Where To Eat In Singapore
117&117A East Coast Road
Singapore
Telephone: (65) 6348-0125
Category: Steamboat
Seeing as to how it’s charging only $15.90 per adult for lunch ($17.90 for dinner, children @ $12.90 & $14.90 respectively), thought we might as well give the place a try.
First impression is that it’s a pretty cosy, with most of the seats being booths, thus ensuring a measure of privacy.
Everyone gets an individual sunken pot, which is great if you don’t enjoy having bits of vermicelli or tofu contaminating your soup (plus the hygiene factor for those mysophobes out there). The ***** are placed below table level just in front of you, which gives a great & easy degree of control over the heat.
For the soup base, we selected Beef Bone Soup & Seafood Soup (Sichuan Ma La & Chicken being the two other options for buffet)… not that there was much of a difference between the two. On a positive note, they don’t use any MSG at all; anything that tastes that bland can’t possibly contain food additives.
Their offerings are very fresh though, as evidenced by the photos, but sadly the insipid soup bases practically drain all cooked food of their taste, leaving much to be desired.
Their Sliced Pork is beautifully cut, the meat nicely marbled. There’re some cartilage attached though, which may be a blessing or a curse, depending on your personal preference (I personally like it, but the missus doesn’t).
The Squid Ball’s a treat, seeing as to how it actually does taste like squid. Not as awesome as the ones served @ Mini Steamboat Delight in Parkway Parade’s Food Court though.
Under no circumstance should one order their Mutton or Homemade Mutton (the later being marinated), this piece of advice coming from a guy who loves eating mutton. The 腥味 of the meat is simply overpowering, & is apt to contaminate the soup as well. I was only able to stomach the former with the help of their sauce, which took the edge
Frankly, the only thing I was fairly impressed with was their Man Tou, which was served with condensed milk. I only managed a bite, ‘cos my elder daughter practically snatched the last one from right under my nose. Can’t be compared to the ones at The Magic of ChongQing Hot Pot, but price-wise, it’s pretty decent stuff.
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vallous
September 29th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I personally like it as it is cheap and good value for money. For just less than $20. you can eat all you want and as much as you want. The booths are cosy, wider variety to choose from than Chong Qing, which is freaking expensive and i dont find the food really nice to eat either. If you are not fussy about bigger size prawns and just prawns, this is the place to go!
Highly recommended!
darkie
October 28th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
there is one newly open steamboat restaurant along east coast rd (just besides katong laksa, near the church) worth a try as it is eat all you can buffet with excellent soup based. Aircond and waiter serving so meat are fresh.
Worth a try since the price is quite reasonable for the services @ only 16.80nett
The Food Digest
November 11th, 2009 at 12:53 am
I am staying nearby there and been to these two restaurant, disagree on wat darkie mention (Hong Yan STeambot). Although it is one dollar cheaper than OK shabu Shabu, but at OK you get wider range of choice in food and much cosy ambience. Furthermore it served individual pot so it is more hygiene compare to those 1 pot share steamboat. Imagine your friend saliva is boiling in the soup you eat, Yucks
. by the way you can judge which is better by the crowd that both restaurant have, Hong Yan is much lesser crowd than OK. So I think pricing is not the main issue in food.
darkie
November 18th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
well, i am staying at Tembeling Rd and also been to both restaurants. Both have it’s own merit.
Hong Yan Steamboat is just a month old restaurant as compared to OK Shabu Shabu. We cant discredit them based on crowds. Also, both offering diff themes & concept. Hence, we cant make apple to apple comparison.
It’s still the choice for everyone to have a try