Hidden at the back of the fourth floor of Tanglin Shopping Centre, the Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot started operation in 1994 and it has been around for more than 20 years. It is one of the first Sichuan hot pot restaurants to open in Southeast-east.
The interior of the restaurant is furnished with faux stucco walls, oriental ornaments and red lanterns coupled with wooden tables and chairs to recreate the feel of a country house in Sichuan.
The restaurant has a good collection of Chinese wines such as Shao Xing Lao Ju, Nu Er Hong (I have only read about this liquor in Chinese wuxia novels!)
There are 64 ingredients available for the dinner hotpot buffet, with sweet and savoury titbits and desserts thrown in to make it look more appealing.
There are 3 booths available for the dinner house hotpot: Ma-la Tang, Faithful Chicken Broth and Preserved Sour Vegetable in Chicken Broth.
The other broths (which are not included in the dinner hotpot buffet and you have to top-up) available are Vegetarian Broth, Nutritious Herbal Chicken Broth, Shark Collagen Broth and Beautifying & Healthy Tomato Broth.
There are three special broths which require at least one-day advanced order: Black Chicken Broth, Nutritious Herbal with Black Chicken Broth and Nutritious Herbal with Turtle Broth.
We got the Faithful Chicken Broth and Shark Collagen Broth (with top-up) because there was a promotion for the Shark Collagen Broth, but the broths are pretty disappointing. The broths are bland and tasteless and there is a funny taste to the Shark Collagen Broth, probably thanks to the block of frozen collagen that was added to the soup. I will go back to Tsukada Nojo Bijin Nabe for a good collagen steamboat anytime.
There are only four miserable dipping sauces to accompany the hotpot: sesame paste, chilli sauce, sesame oil and garlic in soy sauce. The dipping sauces are supposedly specially concocted to compliment the Ma-la hotpot, but I would have liked to have more choices so that I can create my own special blend of dipping sauce.
One serving of Meat & Chives Dumplings and “Xiao Long Tang Bao” is served at the start of the meal so that you can have something to nibble on as your hot pot boils.
The ingredients are fresh and served in small portions upon order to ensure minimal wastage.
Egg Coated Glutinous Square, Fried Rolled Bun served with condensed milk and Water Chestnut Jelly are served in the middle of the meal to help cleanse the palate of the ma-la broth which does little for us since we did not order the Ma-la Broth. The Water Chestnut Jelly is my favourite of the three with the coolness of the jelly and crunchy chestnut bits.
There are three choices for dessert: Eight Treasure “Ba Bao Porridge”, Mixed Fruits in Syrup which is really just fruit punch, and Ice-Cream of The Day. Nothing special about the desserts.
I will say that The Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot is alright, but it is rather pricey.
I will go back to Guo Fu anytime for a good hot pot with more choices for the broth and condiments.
The Magic of Chongqing Hot Pot
Address: 19 Tanglin Road, Tanglin Shopping Centre #04-06/07
Telephone: 67348135
Opening Hours: Daily 12pm – 3pm; 6pm – 10.30pm
Prices:
Hot Pot Buffet
Monday – Thursday Buffet Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $22.90++ Child $17.90++
Friday – Sunday Buffet Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $24.90++ Child $18.90++
Monday – Thursday Buffet Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $35.90++ Child $26.90++
Friday – Sunday Buffet Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $38.90++ Child $28.90++
Beijing Spring Lamb Hot Pot
Monday – Thursday Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $29.90++ Child $24.90++
Friday – Sunday Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $31.90++ Child $25.90++
Monday – Thursday Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $42.90++ Child $33.90++
Friday – Sunday Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $45.90++ Child $35.90++
Vegetarian Buffet
Monday – Thursday Buffet Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $22.90++ Child $17.90++
Friday – Sunday Buffet Lunch (12pm – 3pm): Adult $38.90++ Child $28.90++
Monday – Thursday Buffet Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $35.90++ Child $26.90++
Friday – Sunday Buffet Dinner (6pm – 10.30pm): Adult $24.10++ Child $18.90++