Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant 朝天门火锅王 is one of the many PRC restaurant located at the heart of Chinatown. As many might have known that the Chinatown today is a congregation of Mainland China restaurants. I have tried a few of them. In fact, they were delish and certainly authentic. This one that I tried this round is a Steamboat Buffet restaurant.
The interior of Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant has the typical PRC Chinese restaurant look. At a glance you, you would easily judge it as one of them. Probably due to the ornaments, layout and the type of furniture used.
It has mainly seats for 2 or 4 per tables. Only 2 larger tables that could sit up to 10. Since it is a steamboat restaurant, on each table is a heating element.
The buffet served at Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant is an Ala Carte Buffet. In short, it means you get an order chit, indicate the quantity you want and hand it to the service crew. Once done, your desired food will be served to your table.
At Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant, they offered almost 2 dozen of condiments and sauces.
Soup Base 得色锅底
Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant offer 7 types of soup base. 2 spicy being Mala 麻辣汤底 ($5) and Chongqing Mala 重庆麻辣汤底 ($8). The rest non-spicy are Chicken 养生土鸡汤底, Mushroom 天然野菌汤底, Pig Bone 滋補大骨汤底, Preserved Fish Soup 酸菜鱼汤底 and Tom Yum Soup 东炎汤底.
We chose one spicy and the other non; Mala and Chicken Soup. For the Mala, diners could choose the spice level too.
And we tried 2 other soup base; Mushroom, Pork and Preserved Fish Soup. We were surprised to find that all were equally good. So it really depends on one’s preference and liking.
Appetiser
There are 4 Appetizer offered; Cold Fungus 凉拌木耳, Hot & Spicy Chicken 口水鸡, Chicken Paw with Pickled Pepper 泡椒凤爪 and Fried Peanut 油酥花生米. We tried all 4 and my fave is the Hot & Spicy Chicken. Many chose Fried Peanut as their fave too.
The Cold Fungus and Chicken Paw with Pickled Pepper did not find fave by most.
Meat & Seafood
For the meat & Seafood category, there are 24 selections. I am glad there isn’t only consist of fishball and its like. I never fancy such processed food. Moreover, it will be too boring to have mainly these.
Nonetheless, no worry, you can find the Fish Ball 鱼丸, Crab Stick 蟹肉棒, Luncheon Meat 午餐肉 and Sausage 脆皮肠.
Other meat includes, the US Beef 美国肥牛, Sliced Pork Belly 三层肉片 and Sliced Chicken 鸡肉片 which we ordered. Other include the Marinated Beef 秘制牛肉 and Sliced Mutton 羊肉片. Please note that US Beef is only available at the dinner buffet.
If the innards are a must, there are various selection too. Such as Pig’s Kidney 风尾腰花, Pig’s Throat 黄喉, Beef Stomach (known as Omason on the menu) 草原毛肚, Sliced Beef Omason 草原千层肚, Duck Gizzard 菊花鸭胗 and Duck Tongue 鸭舌. I enjoyed both the Beef Omason and the Sliced Beef Omason.
Over at the seafood, diners will find Cuttlefish 鱿鱼花, Prawn 鲜虾, Scallop 扇贝, Sliced Fish 鲜鱼片, Mussel 青口贝壳 and Flower Crab 花蟹. Scallop and Flower Crab are only available during dinner.
Two of my top pick must have at Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant are the Handmade Dumplings 手工水饺 and Homemade Meatballs 鲜肉香菜丸.
In addition, egg 鸡蛋 is on the menu too.
Vegetables
There are 25 kinds of vegetables to go along with the steamboat. From leafy greens to roots, mushrooms and beancurd series. My fave is the Rean Curd Skin (Beancurd Skin) 千张 to cook in the Mala pot. The 2 ingredients that I like a lot with the Mala pot which we didn’t order this round are Bamboo Shoots 竹笋 and Sliced Lotus 藕片.
There are 3 carbo since at most Chinese meal, one tend to need it; Vermicelli (thick) 宽苕粉, Vermicelli (thin) 细粉丝 and Instant noodle 熟食面.
Special 特色菜
If diners prefer something special of maybe exotic to some, there are 4 to choose from. But diners would have to pay additional price since these are not part of the buffet selection. There are Lettuce 爽口莴笋, Pig Brain 猪脑, Frog 牛蛙 and Eel 膳鱼.
Snack 小吃、甜品
Before ending the meal, diners can turn to some snack or rather in Singapore context, dessert.
Two Mainland China snacks, Sticky Rice 风味滋粑 and Fried Bun with condensed milk 金银馒头. The Sticky Rice won many thumbs up from the group of diners. Surprising, both isn’t too sweet. One of the way, to eat the Fried Bun, recommended by a diner in the group was to add crystal sugar and it is similar to the donut. What a great idead!
Something Singaporean are familar with; the Gui Ling Gao (or Herbal Jelly) 秘制龟苓膏, Mango Pudding 芒果布丁 and Lemon Grass Jelly 酸柑香茅冻.
If none of the above are your choices, one last available option is the Ice Cream 冰淇淋.
Beverages & Beer 饮料及啤酒
Beverages and Beer aren’t part of the buffet, you need to add on to the buffet. There are 18 beverages and 5 beer to choose from.
Prices
Now the big question!! How much does the buffet cost? No worry, it is wallet friendly. Daily lunch is at $17.80+. Monday to Thursday dinner is at $22.80 while dinner on Friday to Sunday is at $25.80.
Finally, please note that there is a $5 charge on every 100g of unconsumed food that were ordered.
NAHMJ Verdict
Diners at the table that night felt that it was a value for money and certainly delish steamboat buffet meal at Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant. I like the mix of varieties offered by them.
Chao Tian Men Steamboat Buffet Restaurant 朝天门火锅王
275 New Bridge Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6220 8812
FB: https://www.facebook.com/Chao-Tian-Men-Steamboat-Restaurant-470502246487638/?fref=ts
Opening Hours
Daily 1130 to 1600, 1730 to 0500
Getting There
By MRT:
- North-East line or Downtown line – Chinatown station
- East West or North-East line – Outram Park station
By Bus:
- alight at New Bridge Road bus stop 2, 12, 33, 54, 63, 80, 124, 143, 147, 190, 851, 961, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28
- alight at South Bridge Road bus stop 61, 80, 145, 166, 197
- alight at Eu Tong Seng bus stop, outside People’s Park Complex 2, 12, 33, 61, 63, 143, 197, 961, 970, CT8, CT18, CT28
- alight at Eu Tong Seng, outside People’s Park Center 54, 124, 145, 147, 166, 190, 851
Rating: 8/10