Chinese hotpot chain Xiabu Xiabu has recently opened its first overseas outpost in Singapore in Lazada One. With over one thousand outlets across China, Xiabu Xiabu is known for its personal hotpots serving delicious soups at affordable prices. You can also enjoy your favourite bubble tea from Tea Mi Tea and hotpot within the same premises.
Each customer is to choose one personal hotpot set; sharing a hot pot comes with a surcharge. Each set comes with a dual hotpot (Mushroom Soup Base + the choice of another soup base), vegetable platter, unlimited condiments at the buffet-style condiments bar, ice slushie bar, and tea (choice of either Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Er Tea). The dual hotpot is created for Xiabu Xiabu's first overseas outlet to cater to our preference. Unlike some mushroom soups with a very weak consistency and taste rather one dimensional, Xiabu Xiabu's carries depths of flavours from a combination of King Trumpet mushrooms, white button mushrooms, and Blaze mushrooms.
USDA Shortplate
Australian Oyster Blade
The choices for the hotpot set are Popular Beef Set ($28/$32), Classic Pork Collar Set ($28), Signature Chicken Set ($28), Beef and Seafood Set ($38) and Vegetarian Set ($25). The Beef set is a hot favourite, with three types of cuts (140g each) to choose from - USDA Shortplate, Australian Oyster Blade or Australian Thin Beef Flank. We went for USDA Shortplate and Australian Oyster Blade for their fattier cuts.
Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base
We chose the much-raved Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base (+ $2) and Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base. Enriched with Oatly milk and barley, this peppery pork tripe soup has a milky consistency that is deeply satisfying. It is slightly on the saltier side, but its creaminess goes very well with the thinly shaved meats, vegetables, and especially the noodles that soak up the milky broth.
Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base
The Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base was highly appetising with its tangy profile, created from a combination of sour vegetables, marinated mustard greens, golden apple, and rosemary. It's perfect if your dining companion has a rich soup base such as the stew pork tripe or other options such as Nanyang Curry Soup Base (+$2) and Hot and Spicy in Sichuan Style Soup Base (+$2).
Vegetable platter
The design of the hotpot set is thoughtful. It has a good assortment of ingredients to jazz up the hotpot for one person. The Vegetable Platter includes black fungus, greens, tofu, mushroom, meatball, mussels and a big lovely chunk of yam which is a bonus to me.
Prawn Paste 2.8/5
Lu Rou Fan 3/5
The rest of the meats, such as the Belgian Pork Collar, Chicken and Seafood, are also available on the ala carte menu, alongside other ingredients such as Prawn Paste ($10), Fuzhou Fishballs, Assorted Mushrooms etc. You can even have Lu Rou Fan ($2.50), but there was no braised egg which was disappointing. The Prawn Paste came frozen in the shape of a leaf and tasted average.
At the condiments counter, one of the highlights is the free flow of noodles - Udon, Spinach Noodles, Carrot Noodles, Prince Instant Noodle, and Bean Vermicelli. The various condiments include Xiabu Xiabu Sesame Dipping Sauce, their signature dipping sauce made from finely ground groundnuts blended with white sesame for an extra creamy texture.
Each set comes with Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Erh Tea, provided by Tea Me Tea. You can also top up for a choice of your favourite bubble teas.
Dessert
The most fun part of the entire Xiabu Xiabu experience is the Dessert station, where you can make your own Shaved Ice. I miss those I had in Taiwan. Here I had all my favourite toppings laid out in front of me - plump red beans, chunky yam paste, silky beancurd, brown sugar syrup, and less commonly seen topping such as watermelon jelly, cucumber jelly and chewy oatmeal. Nothing was overly sweetened.
Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.
Xiabu Xiabu
Lazada One
51 Bras Basah Road
#01-03/04
Singapore 189554
Tel: +65 85965752
Website
Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Bencoolen (DT Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]
2) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]