Mala Hot Pot is a current favourite dish of Fafa and me. It originated from the Sichuan region of China, and it’s dried and, therefore, spicier than the usual hot pot. We have the Mala Hot Pot at the Food Republic in 313@Somerset, but until today, we referred to it as the “dry Hot Pot”, being completely ignorant that it’s actually called Mala Hot Pot.
As with the regular hot pot, we get to choose what ingredients we want to eat. My go-to’s are enoki mushroom, meatballs, tofu, beancurd skin, and quail eggs—I am not big on green vegetables or meat. Then, choose the spicy level (we usually go for the spiciest level or even request a spicier from the cashier) and pay for it based on the weight and type of the food. In exchange, the cashier will give us a buzzer.
Once it buzzes, we collect the pot and our bowls of white rice and start eating and profoundly sweating at the same time. Mala Hot Pot is an experience—delicious and communal experience.
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[…] 🎂 ━ We went to Singapore for Fafa’s birthday, and the hotel staff at Mondrian Duxton made it extra special for him with a birthday cake and giant written wishes. On the actual day, we had breakfast at a café and walked around Orchard Road. Then we went to Boat Quay for a Mallu lunch, MBS to see the Mars Exhibition, and then 313@Somerset to share a bowl of spicy AF Mala Hotpot. […]