This Sichuan hotpot restaurant along Hong Kong Street is devoid of large, loud signs that scream "I am from China!". Instead, the borderline hipster restaurant is decked out in sturdy wooden furniture and comes complete with concrete walls tattooed with paintings. For an intimate dinner date, come with your partner and go straight for one of the three hotpot set menus (from $55, serves two). It comes with a divided bowl for two MSG-free broths, of which you should get wild mushrooms on one side — a trio of Chinese mushrooms boiled down to an incredible tasty concentrate — and spicy ma la on the other. The sets come with a variety of meats, vegetables and access to concocting your favourite dips at the sauce counter. Don't forget to order a round of the unbelievably delicious Luncheon Meat ($6.80), Potato Noodle ($3.80) and the freshly fried Beancurd Skin Roll ($6.80). Save space for the super addictive Crispy Taro Ball ($7.80) for dessert — chewy mochi-like dough fritters with a molten yam paste (orh ni) surprise centre!
Avg price: $40 per person
Photo by Burppler Jayson Yeo