To write the piece on “10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore ”, I went on a hotpot over-drive and tried some of the most recommended restaurants.
JPot offers its own unique version of this tradition with individual hotpots, but somehow the restaurant has never really crossed my radar throughout the years.
One word to describe JPot’s selling point – “personalization”, whetting the appetites of diners with Singapore-style soup bases in their own individual hotpots.
There is an increasing number offering personal pots to its diners. It is after all more hygienic after all, right? And you are not forced to share your taste preferences.
JPot is one of the multi-brands under Singapore-based Jumbo Group. The F&B company evolved from a single seafood restaurant in 1987 into 6 brands in 24 outlets in Singapore, China and Japan.
There are only 2 stores of JPot, one at VivoCity and another at Tampines 1.
I went to the branch located at the 1st floor of VivoCity on the furthest end (near Crystal Jade Jiangnan, Akimitsu, below the Cinema side).
It was crazy crowded, think because this is good for group dinners after spending a day at Sentosa or Vivocity. But even if you are a solo diner (who watches Korean drama while having hotpot – this is what I saw), it can be a suitable option for comforting soup.
Natural daylight fills the space through its floor-to-ceiling glass window, overlooking the Sentosa boardwalk.
Do reserve your table early. Online booking is available via JPot’s website. However, reservations are for individual pots only. For parties of 5 and up (or sharing of pot), contact the restaurant directly.
As I was leaving late evening on a weekend, I noted that there were 60 groups of customers in the queue, with a wait-time of at least 60 – 90 minutes. At least you can register your number and go shop around.
I read online that there were options of Bak Kuh Teh Soup and Fish Head Soup. However, the set menu that I ordered only included Superior Broth, Herbal, Laksa, Tom Yum and Vegetable.
Slightly disappointing.
For the soup base, what was recommended was the signature JPOT Superior Broth Soup ($6.80 solo/$14.80 large). However, my dining partner thought that it was not so “superior” after all, and flavours could have been richer.
The best bet could be the Laksa broth, which was like the gravy of our popular local dish, without that much oiliness and ‘coconuty’-richness.
For the popular the Chili Crab Set ($64.80 for 2), it includes live crabs & prawns, scallops, sliced squid & toman fish, dried fish maw, hand-made fish & prawn balls, fish paste bean curd & tofu, crab sticks, fried mini bun and a raw egg. That raw egg, when added to the soup with cornstarch, turns your soup into a sauce.
Comes with free-flowing drinks, and a choice between fried bean curd skin or fried fish skin.
If you order ala carte, the choices include Local Lobster ($12.80/100g), Boston lobster ($10.80/100g), Crab ($21.80/300g), Geoduck Clam ($15.80/100g or $48.00/plate), Star Garoupa ($8.80/100g), Garoupa ($42.80), Prawns ($11.80). But if you can’t choose, go for the Seafood Platter ($58.80).
Recommended meats are Sliced Wagyu Ribeye ($24.80), Sliced Premium Beef Short Rib ($14.80), Hand-made Chicken Balls ($5.80), Sliced Kurobota Pork ($11.80), Hand-made Jumbo Pork Ball ($5.80), Hand-made Cheese Pork Balls ($5.80), and Marinated Pork ($4.80).
Some slices of meats come with a raw quail egg. Break and add it to the meat to make it smoother when you cook them.
For some local delights, order the Sotong You Tiao, Fried Bean Curd Skin ($6.80) and Fried Fish Skin ($6.80).
The bill turned out to be $40 plus, close to $50 per person in the end, not as ‘cheap’ as I thought.
I think it was because I ordered the set menu, I was limited by the type of items I could order, and thus not many were impressive enough. Overall, still a decent choice due to prompt service, reasonable number of sauces and free-flow drinks, and laksa soup.
JPot Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-53 VivoCity (Lobby F) Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6273 3536
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm Lunch (Last order 2:15pm); 5:30pm – 11:00pm Dinner (Last order 10:15pm) Monday – Friday; 11:30am – 11:00pm (Last order 10:15pm) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
Google Maps – JPot Vivocity
Other Related Entries
10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore
Hai Di Lao (Plaza Singapura)
Captain K (Middle Road)
Beauty In The Pot (The Centrepoint)
Paradise Hotpot (Compass Point)
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