[CLOSED] Shi Jian Hot Pot (Chinese Garden)

It seems to be a common tradition to have Reunion Hot Pot during Lunar New Year. Hence, opened throughout this festive period, 食间火锅-Shi Jian Hot Pot is a great option for us westies and anyone hoping to satisfy their ma la pot cravings or just to save the hassle of preparing an elaborate feast! Located in the heartlands of Chinese Garden, the humble Si Chuan hot pot restaurant aims to bring the authentic Chinese flavour to the masses and with the boss coming from Chong Qing, rest assured that the food packs a flavourful punch.

First off, our soup base was a half-and-half 鸳鸯锅 ($15) with the staff-recommended Pig Bone Soup 上汤大骨锅 as well as Red Oil Spicy 红油麻辣锅 at the spiciness level of 1 (playing it safe). As for the ingredients, go straight for their unique marinated meats such as the Coriander Beef ($8) and Mala Spicy Beef ($8) but my favourite was definitely their Handmade Mashed Shrimp ($10) - fresh, bouncy, smooth and went superbly well with the pork bone soup. Next up with drinks, I would highly recommend their Freshly made Cranberry Juice ($6) which was tangy, sweet and pleasantly refreshing. And not forgetting their sauce station, which offered options like Cumin sauce, Leek sauce and Mushroom Sauce. Thus with the more gamey tasting meats such as the thin Mutton Slices ($10), pair them with the stronger sauces for maximum enjoyment. So good!

Thank you Emily and @kelvinnnn for the invite as well as Shi Jian for the hospitality~ Oh and lookout for their new outlet in JCube at the end of the month and in the next few months, Bedok Point!

Special mention DEFINITELY has to go to the Pig Brain 猪脑 ($8), which I wouldn't have tried if not for K. It takes 20 minutes to cook, but for the 2nd brain we tucked in at 12 minutes (thanks Casey for being the timekeeper) & it was creamy AF, pleasant to eat & didn't have a gamey taste.

There was a plate of peanuts & chilli flakes that we were supposed to roll the brain around in before eating, but in all honesty the brain was SO GOOD you could eat it on its own (sorry Gardenia, I stole your tagline).

Thanks K for the invite & the Shi Jian Hot Pot team for the hospitality!

💕💷 Cash only
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📶 WiFi available

While waiting for our food to be served, we hovered around the DIY sauce counter - once again, a good variety of sauces & also a poster that teaches you how to mix up popular combinations (unfortunately this is all in Mandarin, no English translation). To our delight, the staff helped us whip up a couple of variants; the one I found most interesting is the herby sesame oil dip that goes super well with anything you cook in the spicy soup - it really brings out the flavours!

💷 Cash only
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📶 WiFi available

Whether you choose a single soup base (全锅) or do the half-and-half thing (鸳鸯锅), they cost the same ($15).. & of course, the soups are refillable. We went with the latter because variety is the spice of life: Pig Bone Soup 上汤大骨 & Red Oil Spicy 锅红油麻辣锅. On the menu, there are 3 levels of spicy (we went with level 1 because I am humji), but off the menu, there's a level 4 & 5.... Try it if you dare. 😲 🔥

💷 Cash only
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📶 WiFi available

Tucked away in a corner of (technically) Jurong East (but actually quite near the border of Jurong East & West), the humble & unassuming store front of Shi Jian Hot Pot 食间火锅 is quite easy to miss if you aren't on the lookout for it.

I sat down & glanced eagerly at the menu - the illustrations are super cute! I was a little intimidated by all the Mandarin words, but thankfully there are English translations below each line item. They have a good selection of meat, veggies, & soup bases - we were spoiled for choice & also quite in a dilemma about what to order. Thankfully, the staff were quick to recommend their hot favourites for us & served them up fairly quickly.

Thanks K for the invite & the Shi Jian Hot Pot team for the hospitality! 💕

💷 Cash only
🌬 Air-conditioned seats only
📶 WiFi available

However, unlike the former two where people fondly talk about the restaurant holistically, this was all about the food.
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Set in the heartlands of Chinese Gardens, Shi Jian is opening in JCube and Bedok Point in the next few months, a deserved expansion for a brand brimming with potential.
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I like the pork bone broth, hearty and flavorful but the Ma la is popular as well. Like most hot pots, it's difficult to know where to start. Maybe go with the unique mala beef, with its deep, earthy spicy beef flavor; swish thin slices of lamb and pair it with the strong cumin sauce, or go straight for the cheese tofu, the cheese slowly oozing as you pierce it with your chopstick. Wherever you start, you win.
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Shoutouts to @yinkae and @kelvinnnn for the invite and Shi Jian for the hospitality