25 best ma la xiang guo and hotpot places in Singapore that are not Hai Di Lao

The addiction of ma la is real among Singaporeans. We know that most of us needing the weekly (or even more frequent!) fix for the Chinese fragrant spice that makes your tongue go numb, so here’s a list of 25 places for the best ma la xiang guo and huo guo (hot pot) in Singapore to satisfy your cravings!

Ma la xiang guo and ma la hotpots in Central of Singapore

1. Ri Ri Hong Ma La Xiang Guo

Ma la fans out there, this was probably where you caved in. Probably the most famous ma la place in Singapore, Ri Ri Hong Ma La Xiang Guo is one of the pioneers in the local ma la scene. This stall seems to have a never-ending queue and they even had to open a second stall in the same hawker centre just to cope with the crowd.

Prices here are pretty average and you’ll never go wrong here. People usually get the zhong la (medium spice level) here for more kick, but be careful before you go one level up the spiciness, as it can be quite intense.

Address: 32 New Market Rd, #01 42 52 People’s Park Centre Singapore 050032

Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm

2. Xiao Mu Deng Hotpot

Opened last October, this is the latest secret hangout for the Chinese community in Singapore where they get authentic Chong Qing dishes and one of the best ma la in Singapore. The hotpot restaurant stands out with its retro interior, letting guests sit on a little wooden bench or “xiao mu deng”; just like how you’ll dine in the countryside of Chong Qing.

Serving a fresh selection of fish and meat, the food here definitely is of quality. Try their signature ma la marinated beef and the sweet potato cake that’s an authentic Chinese snack that can hardly be found in Singapore.

With an interior that will stir up nostalgia and an authentic local taste, this place even made our friend from China reminisce about her hometown.
Fans of this place also say that the sauce they developed themselves is different from the usual ma la taste, which is what makes them stand out.

Posted by 小木凳懷舊火鍋-新加坡 on Saturday, December 22, 2018

Address: 279 New Bridge Rd, Singapore 088752

Opening Hours: 11am- 12am

3. Jiu Gong Ge Hotpot at Bugis

One of the most popular ma la hotpot in Singapore, we see many of our Chinese friends flock over for their hot pot sessions. The prices here are super affordable, with lunch buffet at SS$18.80++ and dinner buffet S$22.90++.

This is a great place if you’re looking for a place to dine-in comfortably with a bunch of friends. Oh, and the Barbie doll meat platter that you’ve been seeing on social media? They have it here as well.

Posted by 九宫格火锅 on Tuesday, January 22, 2019

Address: 470 North Bridge Rd, #01-02 Bugis Cube, Singapore 189768

Opening Hours: 11am- 12am

4. Ma La Xiang Guo at People’s Park Complex Food Centre

The ma la fandom is divided into two: the Ri Ri Hong fans and those who prefer this. Known as ‘the other famous ma la in Singapore’ and located in the same hawker as Ri Ri Hong, this is seen as a worthy contender to the famous Ri Ri Hong.

If the queue Ri Ri Hong is too long, this stall will certainly make the cut as well. But note that they do not weigh your ingredients by a scale, so pricing can be rather inconsistent.

Address: 32 New Market Road, People’s Park Complex Food Centre, #01-1060A, Singapore 050032

Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm

5. Longqing Hotpot

Feel guilty for your weekly ma la but can’t give up on that? The hotpot here offers ma la soup base that doesn’t use any MSG! Here, you get fresh ingredients and ma la soup base that isn’t as oily. Although ma la is never a healthy or clean choice, this place might make you feel just a little less guilty for sipping on that ma la soup.

Address: 18 Hongkong St, Singapore 059661

Opening Hours: 11:30am–2:30pm and 5:30–11pm

6. Shan Ji Fragrant Hot Pot

Need a ma la fix while in Orchard? Here you go. Located at the Koufu food court in Orchard Cineleisure, this place is a hidden gem.

Served in a fancy bowl, the ma la dish here isn’t as oily or salty, so it’s a great option if you’d like to try out a less intense option. They also offer set meals. Simply top up S$1.50 to get an additional bowl of slow-cooked pork bone soup that’s ma la flavoured.

They’re also available on Deliveroo.

Address: 8 Grange Road #B1-01 Stall R1 Cathay Cineleisure Orchard Koufu, Singapore, 239693

Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm

7. Jin Jin Eating House

Bugis is kind of like the second heaven for ma la in Singapore after Chinatown. You might find yourself spoilt for choices in that area. One of the most popular places? Jin Jin Eating House, which offers an affordable option with a variety of ingredients to choose from.

The spiciness level here seems to be higher, so if you’ve always thought zhong la is spicy, you might want to step down to a xiao la on your first try. Opens from 6am to 3am, it makes for a great supper spot after a Friday night drink or a satisfying meal after your crazy party till dawn.

Address: 496 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 188739

Opening Hours: 6am – 3am

8. Da Miao Hot Pot

A fancy hot pot restaurant that is well loved by celebrities all over the world, this hot pot chain from Sichuan offers various ma la dishes, enough to satisfy your spicy craving. The Damiao Special Spicy Soup Pot is a ma la soup base that is made from pure grapeseed oil, so its flavour is natural and less oily.

Covered in a thick layer of dried chilli flakes, the Spicy Beef is another must-try for all spice lovers. If you’re up for the challenge, dip it in your ma la soup to double the effect.

Photo: Da Miao Hot Pot

Address: 3 River Valley Road, Clarke Quay Block C #01-11, Singapore 179022

Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11:30am to 10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am to 5am, Sun 11:30am to 10:30pm

9. Da Long Yi Hot Pot

It’s been said that this ma la hotpot in Singapore is so good that it has even converted the most hardcore of Hai Di Lao fans, so you know that you’ll be getting the real deal here. Hidden at a corner of Orchard Central, Da Long Yi Hot Pot is a popular hotpot franchise from Chengdu that is well-known for its fiery soup base, which comes with oil or butter to cut through the richness of the broth.

Appetising soup bases available include Butter Spicy, Tomato & Butter, and Pork Bone & Butter at a very reasonable price. The food portions here are quite generous, where you can pick from the usual platters of US beef or wagyu, Kurobuta pork belly or loin, as well as slices of lamb.

For vegetables, go with the golden straw mushrooms or leafy greens such as spinach or Chinese cabbage. Don’t forget to get a serving of the six-second beancurd skin roll, where you can dip the golden beancurd roll into the soup to soak up all the rich flavours of the broth.

Address: 181 Orchard Rd, Orchard Central, #08-08, Singapore 238896

Opening hours: 11am – 6am

10. Spice World Hotpot

You’ll get nothing less than a good selection of meats and tasty soup bases here, but what most people are really here for are the Insta-worthy creations.
The spicy ma la soups come with a choice of Hello Kitty Mala Butter — a slab of spicy butter moulded into an edible Hello Kitty shape — or Teddy Bear Mala Butter, so remember to snap a few photos before the butter melts away.

For more visual entertainment, order the One-Metre Long Mutton Slices, where slices of the red, gamey meat are arranged on a metre-long wooden slate, or the Premium Barbie Australian Wagyu Beef Slices – generously-marbled wagyu are artfully draped to form the ‘skirt’ of a pretty doll!

Address: 3B River Valley Road, #01-06/07, Clarke Quay, Singapore 179021

Opening hours: Sun-Thur 10:30am to 4am, Fri-Sat 10:30am to 6am

11. Yotang柚糖 (Permanently Closed)

This is the first COLD (!) hot pot skewer restaurant in Singapore, serving a wide variety of skewers and types of soup bases, including the numbing ma la!

 

 

The good thing about a cold meal is that it doesn’t require you to cook the ingredients yourself, so you won’t leave smelling like chilli oil and charcoal. All you have to do is pick the skewers of your choice and the staff will prepare them before dunking them in a piping hot bowl of soup.

Address: 55 South Bridge Road, #01-01, Singapore 058686

Opening hours: 11.30am – 10pm

Ma la xiang guo and ma la hotpots in East of Singapore

12. Ma La Xiang Guo at Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre

Expect to face long queues because this cheap and tasty place in Bedok Interchange is loved by many. Reviewed as the best value for money ma la in Singapore, this stall charges ingredients by their weight, and goes by a portion system instead of fixed prices for each order, making it cheaper than others. Apart from the usual rice or noodles, try out their man tou (plain bun) that many would specially go there for.

Address: #01-48, 208B New Upper Changi Road, Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre, Singapore 462208

Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm

13. Spicy Non Spicy Mala Hotpot

Located inside Temasek Polytechnic, its other name is the ‘TP ma la“. You’ll see a bunch of students during lunch and dinner as this place is pretty value for money. Best part? They open till midnight! Apart from your usual fragrant pot, they also serve authentic Szechuan and Dongbei dishes like mapo tofu and steamboat options.

Address: 21 Tampines Avenue 1 Temasek Polytechnic West Wing Level 2, Tampines, Simei, 529757 Singapore

Opening Hours: 10:30am – 12:00am

Ma la xiang guo and Ma la hotpots in West of Singapore

14. Zhong Hua Guo Wang

This Chinese eatery offers a wide variety of Chinese dishes, but the most popular one among customers is undoubtedly the ma la, which is considered as one of the best ma la in Singapore.
Prices here are said to be quite reasonable, no matter which ingredients you opt for. However, take note that the spice level here can get really high, so you may want to drop down one spice level just to be safe!

Address: Stall 5, #01-75, 43 Holland Drive, Block 43, Singapore 270043

Opening hours: 10:00am – 10:30pm

15. Big Mouth Mala Pot

This is a savoury gem in Clementi that is sure to satisfy all your ma la cravings. They also offer customers the option to customise their ma la according to their taste preferences and needs, so feel free to let them know if you need your ma la spicier – or the other way round!

Address: Blk 325 Clementi Ave 5 (Stall 4), #01-129, Singapore, 120325

Opening hours: Not stated online

16. Mala Hotpot at Big Box

Just right across JEM, the food court at Big Box also has a ma la stall that has its own loyal following. While this is not as popular as the one at JEM, this stall gets very generous with their serving and offers a less oily option. If you want to avoid the crowd at JEM, you should give this one at Big Box a try.

Photo: @jennylqh

Address: 1 Venture Avenue, Level 3, Big Box, Singapore 608521

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

17. Green On Earth

Good news for all vegetarians! Green On Earth serves pure vegetarian ma la, so you don’t have to worry about having your dish being in contact with meat. Expect fresh greens of good quality and an extraordinary experience of spicy fragrant pot.

Non-vegetarians may also want to give this a try despite it having no meat, because it doesn’t compromise on its flavours and spiciness. You can also check out the mapo tofu and tze char dishes here.

Come on down to give it a try to our first 素麻辣香锅 in Singapore( No Eggs). See ya !

Posted by Greenonearth on Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Address: 2 Phoenix Rd, Singapore 668156

Opening Hours: 11am to 9.30pm

Ma la xiang guo and ma la hotpot in North of Singapore

18. Ding Feng Mala Hotpot

Located inside a humble food court in the neighbourhood of Marsiling, this place offers affordable dishes for your ma la fix. The friendly boss and low-priced food make this the favourite place of residents around the area. Offering cheap, decent and generous portions, they even open from 7:30am. People in Woodlands, maybe it’s time for a ma la breakfast?

Photo: Feifei Lee

Address: Blk 306 Woodlands Street 31, Singapore 730306

Opening Hours: 7:30am – 10pm

19. Ah Gu Kaka Wa

Located in Djitsun Mall in Ang Mo Kio, Ah Gu Kaka Wa serves an array of Szechuan dishes, fish, hotpot, and skewers. The spices here are extra fragrant and well-blended. With a cozy ambience and a huge variety of dishes, this place would be great for gatherings or long meals. Like your curry fish head? Upgrade it to the ma la fish head, which is super popular here.

Posted by Ah Gu Kaka Wa 國昌川味馆 on Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Address: Ang Mo Kio Central 2, #01-01, Djitsun Mall

Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm

20. You Ma You La Ma La Xiang Guo

You Ma You La Ma La is a chain that operates across different outlets in the island, offering one of the best ma la hotpot in Singapore. The flavour here isn’t as strong, so it’s great for those who just started trying ma la and don’t want to start with something too intense. You Ma You La Ma La Xiang Guo is also available on foodpanda across various outlets, so it’s pretty accessible!

Address: Blk 51 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, S-11 Food House, Singapore 569922; Blk 183 Toa Payoh Central #01-316 Singapore 310183; Blk 304 Woodlands Street 11, S-11 Food Court, Singapore 730304; Blk 660A Edgedale Plains #02-01, Singapore 821660

Opening hours: 11am – 11pm

21.  Mei’s Happy Pot Mala Hotpot

Located right in Ang Mo Kio town centre, Mei’s Happy Pot Mala Hotpot is the go to if you’re looking at a convenient and air-conditioned space around this area. Although prices are not cheap (since it’s in a mall), the flavours are irresistible and would please any ma la fan.

Address: 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #03-12, AMK Hub, Singapore 569933

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

22. Mala Xiang Guo at JEM

If you visit the Koufu food court in JEM, you may notice a long queue snaking from this particular stall. The strong fragrant spices this place offers seem to have attracted a loyal group of fans. Prices here are a little higher than usual; vegetables start at S$1.50 for every 100g, meat at S$3.20 for every 100g and seafood at S$3.80 for every 100g. Note that the ma la flavour here is loved more for its fragrance than the spiciness level.

Address: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, #05-01, JEM, Singapore 608549

Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm

Ma la xiang guo and ma la hotpot in North-East of Singapore

23. Chong Qing Grilled Fish

This might already be a familiar name among ma la fans out there (or it may already be your favourite!). With several outlets in Singapore, Chong Qing Grilled Fish is the new fad in town. Upgrade from that pot of numbing spiciness to quality charcoal-grilled fish, it’s sure to satisfy those ma la cravings.

Do you know what’s the favourite thing Shanghainese like to do? Snacking on plates of xiao long xia (baby lobsters) while gulping down cooling bottles of beer. If you’ve never tried this addictive snack before, give it a try at Chong Qing Grilled Fish – we swear once you dip your hands in you’ll never stop.

The restaurant opens till as late as 2am, so it’s a great spot for a long supper with friends.

Address: Chinatown, 18 Mosque Street #01-0; Bugis, 1 Liang Seah Street #01-05/06; Serangoon, 2 Maju Avenue

Opening Hours: 12:30pm – 1:30am and 12:30 – 2:00am at Serangoon

24. Ma La Xiang Guo at Hougang Mall

This is probably already the go-to ma la spot for people who stay in Hougang. Some swear that this is better than Ri Ri Hong at Chinatown, with the ingredients very well soaked in the sauce, making it super flavourful and fragrant. Also, the food here is priced lower compared to other ones in the food court. You can even get a 10% discount with your Kopitiam card.

Address: Hougang Mall, Hougang Ave 6, Singapore 538766

Opening Hours: 7am – 10pm

25. Wan Xin Ma Lang Xiang Guo

This place has mixed reviews; some hate it and some love it. While taste can be subjective, you may want to check out this ma la place if you want to dine in an air-conditioned and relatively clean setting. This ma la stall also sells other popular Szechuan dishes such as white beehoon with seafood, ma la fish hotplate and Teochew porridge.

Open till 2am, it’ll be a good place for a supper. Order side dishes to go along with your usual ma la for that full experience of Szechuan cuisine.

Address: 1008 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534746

Opening Hours: 12pm – 2am