Chamoon Hot Pot Review: China’s Largest Clear Soup Hotpot Chain Opens In SG

Chamoon Hot Pot has famous clear soup hotpot in Orchard

Chamoon, a popular hotpot chain with over 30 outlets in China, distinguishes itself from the competition in two key ways. Firstly, its hotpots are served in individual portions, offering a more personalised dining experience. Secondly, Chamoon specialises in clear soups, such as their signature matsutake mushroom broth. This focus on clear soups has earned Chamoon its reputation as “China’s biggest clear soup hotpot chain”.

Image credit: @chamoonhotpot_sg

With all this in mind, hotpot fans in Singapore have plenty to be excited about with Chamoon’s recent opening at Scotts Square. We certainly were, which is why we dropped by to try the fare for ourselves.

Food at Chamoon Hot Pot

Because we were sat at a table of four, we were served the Tiger Prawns, Abalone, and Premium Beef Set For 4 ($139.50++). We’ll get into all the meats, seafood, and side dishes that were included in this package, but first, let’s take a look at some of the soup bases you can choose for your individual hotpot. Do note that most of the items mentioned below have a la carte prices, which will be listed in brackets next to their names. There’s also a Truffle Fried Rice (from $22++) included in this set, too.

The must-try soup base is arguably the Truffle Based Matsutake Mushroom ($9.90++) broth. We thought it had a pleasant earthy aroma, with a mild savoury kick to each sip. Those looking for nourishing soup bases will find much to like here. However, those who prefer more intense flavours might find that this broth doesn’t significantly enhance the taste of the hotpot ingredients, as my colleague noted.

The other clear soup bases available here include True Morel Mushroom and Bamboo Fungus. There’s also the fiery Mala and sweet Beauty-Enhancing Papaya Tomato broths if you’re looking for something a little more rich.

Now, on to the seafood. We were served the Fresh 5-Head Abalone ($29++), Tiger Prawns ($14.80++), and Norwegian Salmon (from $38++). The last item, which can be eaten on its own, was the most disappointing of the lot. It neither had the requisite freshness, nor the smooth, melt-in-your-mouth quality that sashimi-grade salmon should have.

The best was easily the tiger prawns, which were sweet and wonderfully crunchy after simmering in the broth for a short while.

The abalone, meanwhile, was just okay. Chewy and sizeable, yes, but without much in the way of delicate texture or depth of flavour.

While the seafood dishes had some noticeable shortcomings, the meat fared a lot better.

The A4 Japanese Wagyu (from $86++) was a clear standout, thanks to its succulent texture and rich, buttery flavour. And while the Beef Flank was less luxurious than the Wagyu, it still had an addictive meatiness and was satisfying to enjoy with any hotpot broth.

The Hokkaido Pork was also good, thanks to its sizeable cuts of meat and juicy goodness. Overall, the meat impressed, and there were certainly enough meat for a four-person table.

As for appetisers and sides, there was the Braised Delicacies Platter ($44++), featuring two cuts of beef along with crunchy lotus, the Matsutake Dumplings ($12.80++), and an assortment of vegetables and mushrooms. Unfortunately, none of these stood out much, with the braised meat lacking in flavour, and the dumplings tasting overly doughy.

Ambience at Chamoon Hot Pot

Chamoon’s interiors are beautiful. They are sleek and spacious, with nods to traditional Chinese design elements that fit the hotpot feast you can have here. Aside from the main dining space, there are also private dining rooms and a balcony area, which isn’t what you’d expect to see at a hotpot place. These would be a good choice to celebrate special occasions.

The restaurant is an eight-minute walk from Orchard MRT Station.

The verdict

While Chamoon is far from a perfect hotpot experience, its focus on individual hotpots, interesting clear soup bases, and gorgeous interiors means it could be worth checking out for some. Give it a shot if you’re curious, but if not, there may be other hotpot places that deliver more delectable experiences.

For great hotpot restaurants, read out best hotpot restaurants in Singapore guide. For Singapore’s first “crab hotpot” stall in Ubi, read our Charcoal Claypot Crab review.

Address: 6 Scotts Road, #03-01/02, Scotts Square, Singapore 228209
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Tel: 6258 5232
Website
Chamoon Hot Pot is not a halal-certified eatery.

Photos taken by Paula Formantes.
This was a media tasting at Chamoon Hot Pot.