Malaysia is a haven for foodies as various cuisines from all over the globe can be found in the heart of the country, Kuala Lumpur. Aside from the cheap eats found at street stalls and vendors, many restaurants serve some of the best speciality cuisines. One of the popular food stops is steamboat restaurants, also known as hot pot.
This Chinese cooking method involves cooking various ingredients including raw meat, seafood and vegetables in a simmering broth at the centre of the dining table. Hot pot restaurants may serve in a buffet-style or by providing meat sets and combos to choose from. Generally, diners may choose from the various broth options, and some places may even allow for two separate broths in a pot.
Without further ado, let me introduce you to 10 of the best steamboat restaurants that you should try in Kuala Lumpur (KL)!
1. Suki-Ya [Pork-free]
This Japanese restaurant offers a mix of shabu-shabu and sukiyaki. With its “all-you-can-eat” concept, you’ll be spoilt for choice! Diners can choose from four soup bases, the classic shabu-shabu broth, miso, sukiyaki (sweetened soy sauce broth) and kimuchi (kimchi-based).
The restaurant has two dining time slots; namely, lunch at 11.30 am – 5pm and dinner at 5 pm – 10 pm. The price varies depending on the time slots and children are given a 50% discount off buffet prices. Diners are granted a limited time of 120 minutes to eat to their heart’s content. If you require extra time, you may have an additional 15 minutes for RM 5.00.
Patrons may enjoy unlimited high-quality beef and lamb slices that are served in paper-thin slices. Besides, their farmed chicken slices are delicious and are a perfect sweetener to your broth. At Suki-Ya’s Healthy Bar, they offer an array of fresh vegetables that are free-flow as well.
Other a-la-carte menu options are available for diners such as garlic fried rice, tofu, gyoza and various tempuras. Rest assured, as Suki-Ya is a pork-free restaurant and their meat suppliers are halal-certified.
With 9 outlets in Malaysia, be sure to visit and enjoy their spread! Make your reservations by calling the respective outlets, and you may check out their locations here.
2. Haidilao Hot Pot
Famed worldwide for Haidilao’s exceptional service, it’s no wonder that customers are willing to wait two to three hours to experience the food and service at Haidilao Hot Pot. You are advised to line up several hours beforehand to obtain the waiting number due to the massive crowd of people.
Good news, you don’t actually have to wait around for your number to be called, as there is a QR code on the queue chit that you can use to check your queue status at any time.Those waiting are given exceptional customer service as snacks, drinks and a free manicure are available for everyone. Once you are seated, diners are given hot towels, aprons and hot towels.
Besides, a plastic bag to protect your mobile phones are also distributed. Contrary to other hot pot outlets that allow a choice of two soup bases, you can opt for four soup flavours at a time! Flavours available include spicy Sichuan, mushroom, tomato, Sichuan pickles, seafood and more.
The restaurant provides a tablet for orders and photos are provided for each order. Be sure not to miss this famous hot pot restaurant and its unique dining experience. Haidilao Hot Pot is available at Sunway Pyramid, Pavilion KL, Gurney Paragon, Penang and 1Utama Shopping Centre.
Note: this restaurant is non-halal and serves pork.
3. Fei Fan Hotpot
Fei Fan offers a Hong Kong-style of hot pot and is charged like a buffet. With unlimited choices of beef slices, pork balls, wine-infused chicken and dumpling, you’ll be wanting for more. Due not that there will be extra charges for any unfinished food, so don’t be too greedy!
Patrons are given a choice of two broths at a time, and options include pork bone, spicy mala, pepper pig’s stomach and tomato soup. There’s also a counter for vegetables and sauces that are, of course, free flow. Customers are encouraged to book ahead as there will be a waiting line. Last but not least, have a sweet ending to your meal with some ice cream! Note: the restaurant is non-halal and serves pork.
- Address 1: 1F-09, 163 Retail Park,
Jalan Kiara, 50480
Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-6419 4928
Business hours: 11am till 11pm - Address 2: Lot G-10 Ground Floor,SS15 Courtyard,Jalan SS15/4G,47500 Subang Jaya,
Selangor. - Tel: 03-7496 6438
- Business hours: 11am till 11pm
4. Hong Kong Hot Pot
Immerse yourself in a blast to the past as the steamboat restaurant is decorated in a classic Hong Kong setting. Enjoy your food with traditional Cantopop music setting the mood. Try their signature Sichuan spicy broth and pork bone soup. We recommend that you order their famous Hong Kong bean curd rolls and prawn paste that is freshly made.
Moreover, their Sakura premium pork slices are great for dipping into the tasty broth, and they taste delicious and tender. The charge is by a plate of meat or vegetables, so be sure only to order what you can finish! Note: this restaurant is non-halal and serves pork.
- Address: No.39, Lot 109,Level 2, Telawi Square,Jalan Telawi 3,Bangsar Baru,59100 Kuala Lumpur.
- Tel: 03-2280 0242
- Business hours: 4pm till midnight
5. Xiao Long Kan Hotpot
This authentic Xiao Long Kan is from Chengdu s located at Fahrenheit 88. Just downhill from Sephora and Uniqlo, you will see a restaurant that is decorated in classic China architecture. In fact, you might also be clued in because of their long queue. The décor is brightly lit by traditional Chinese lantern lamps, and the walls are decorated with historic Chinese drawings.
Diners have a choice of 3 soup bases at a time. We recommend that you try their spicy Mala soup, tomato soup and pork bone soup. For the Mala soup, level 1 and 2 are recommended for those that can’t take too much heat. Level 3 onwards is for those that can really hold their own against the spicy broth. However, the broth from level 3 onwards tends to be more oily and is not suitable for drinking. This is because Hong Kong locals do not drink their hot pot soup and the spicy oil serves as a fragrant dipping sauce to cook the meats.
Their bamboo shoot slices and rose meatballs are not to be missed. The sliced bamboo shoots can be eaten in any way you prefer. For instance, raw, dipping it quickly to retain its crunchiness or dipping it slightly longer until it’s tender.
Note: this restaurant is non-halal and serves pork.
- Address: Lot 03, Block D,179 Fahrenheit, 88,Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur
6. Shu Guo Yin Xiang Hot Pot
This restaurant is located at Sunway Velocity and is always crowded during dinner time. Lucky diners sitting inside will get to watch the fascinating face-change and tea pouring performance.
There are a variety of sauces available, and you can mix some bases together to create your own unique sauce. The hot pot is available with 2 choices of soup base. Besides the food, you may also try their selection of China rice wine. With alcohol content ranging from 35% – 60%, choose your drinks wisely.
- Address: (Shu Guo Yin Xiang Restaurant 蜀国印象蜀國印象·火锅) 1st Floor, V03-01-03A, Level 1, Boulevard,Sunway Velocity 55100, Kuala Lumpur
- Tel: 03-9770 0078/ 03-9770 0079/ 012-9939 369
- Operating hours: 11am-2am
7. Red Inn Hot Pot
Ever wanted to sing karaoke while enjoying your food? Well, this is your chance to do so at the Red Inn! The meat provided include Iberico pork slices, scallops and meatballs.
The pot at Red Inn allows for your choice of 4 broths. This includes signature sake, pork bone, tomato, superior clam and mala (additional RM20). Moreover, the dining room comes with a tv and microphones for you to sing your heart out!
- Price: RM78++ per person, 120 minutes to eat.
- Address: Lot P1-12 & P1-13, Tropicana Avenue, 12, Jalan Persiaran Tropicana, Tropicana Golf and Country Resort, PJU 3, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
- Operating Hours: 6.30pm to 1.00am daily.
8. PoPo Hot Pot
This restaurant is relatively new and located at SS2. They aim to provide you with a relaxed dining environment for you to savour their broth and dishes. Situated in The Hub, the outlet serves fresh and high-quality ingredients.
Patrons get to choose from six soup bases. Surprisingly, PoPo Hot Pot offers the option of ABC soup base, which is unheard of in other hot pot restaurants. Not only that, there are other popular soup bases such as Superior Pork Bone, Spicy Sour, Szechuan Peppery Pot, Mala (Wednesday and Thursday only) and Pig’s Stomach Soup (preorder needed).
- Address: Lot A-G-06,The Hub SS2 Retail,19 Sentral, Jalan Harapan, Seksyen 19,46300 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
- Telephone: 019-8282780
- Operating Hours: 5.30 pm to 12.00 am from Monday to Sunday. Closed on Wednesday.
9. Kuro Japanese Steamboat
Customers can have their pick of meat with a set price, namely, Kurobuta Pork, Australian Lamb, Australian Beef, seafood and unlimited refills at the buffet bar.
Additionally, there are six broths to choose from, such as Kuro broth, Spicy Kuro Broth, Shabu-shabu, Sukiyaki, Japanese curry and Mala soup. However, that’s not the only highlight as dessert is the best part of any meal. Leave some space in your belly for Häagen-Dazs ice cream!
- Price: Lunch – RM54.90 and Dinner – RM64. 120 minutes of eating time. Wagyu buffet sets are also available at RM128 (Australian Wagyu) and RM338 (Japanese Wagyu).
- Address: Block F-G-3, Plaza Arkadia, No. 3, Jalan Intisari Perdana, Desa ParkCity, 52200 Kuala Lumpur.
- Operating Hours: 11:30am to 3.30pm, 6.00pm to 11.00pm daily.
- Contact 03-2778 4370 to make reservations.
10. Xiao Fei Yang
What’s so special about this hot pot place? Xiao Fei Yang serves an expansive menu of the freshest ingredients and a wide range of meat. This includes beef, pork, mutton, seafood and even venison!
The choice of soup base is pork bone herbal soup and mala spicy broth. Generously portioned, this Mongolian steamboat restaurant is comfortable and a favourite among locals.
- Locations:
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- No. 18, Lorong Thambi 2, Off Jalan Pudu, 55100 Kuala Lumpur.
- 25, Jalan Merbah 3, Puchong Jaya, 47170 Puchong, Selangor.
- No. 40G & 42G, Jalan SS21/ 62, 47400 Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya
- Operating Hours: 11.00am to 10.30pm daily.
Give the hot pot restaurants above a try for an enjoyable time with friends or family! If you don’t want to queue or rush to finish your food, order delivery using foodpanda. Try ordering from Hotpot Kitchen (various locations) or Yi Pin Mala Hotpot!