Name me a better pairing than hotpot on a rainy day. A bubbling pot of comforting soup, a tantalising spread of ingredients, rain pattering against the window… I bet you can’t.
That said, hotpot’s a great meal to have any day — and JB is home to a slew of stellar spots for your next fix. So don’t just stick to Haidilao; here are 10 best hotpot restaurants in JB to add to your list.
1. Genesis Steamboat Restaurant
Did someone say all-you-can-eat hotpot? We know just the place. Stuff yourself silly at Genesis Steamboat Restaurant, which serves up quality steamboat buffets that are as wallet-friendly as they are scrumptious. You’ll find them at Mutiara Mas and Taman Pelangi — just a short drive from the crowd-favourite KSL.
The buffet is priced at RM48+ for Adults, RM38+ for Senior Citizens (65 & above), RM25+ for Children (130cm – 145cm) and RM18+ for those 110cm – 130cm, while tots under 110cm dine for free.
Even better, Genesis is celebrating their 10th anniversary with a promo: every 6th Adult/Senior Citizen gets 50% off, and every 11th dines free. All the more reason to round up the gang for a feast!
The hallmark of any great hotpot lies in its soup bases, and Genesis absolutely nails theirs. Start with a Single or Double Hotpot, and choose from 5 in-house broths: Veggie, Mala, Tomyam, Tomato and Pepper.
My picks were the latter two: the Tomato broth was rich, tangy and umami-packed, while its Pepper counterpart was savoury and aromatic, with just the right kick of heat for spice-lovers like me.
Of course, Genesis offers a plentiful variety of freshly prepped- and sliced-to-order meats and seafood. Highlights include classics like Pork Belly Slice, Pork Loin Slice and Lamb Slice, and more premium picks like the delicate Snow Pork Slice, fresh Prawns and ultra-chubby Oysters.
The Pork Shoulder Slice was one of the cleanest, most tender versions I’ve had — with none of that unpleasant porkiness. Equally stellar was the Beef Slice, which had a toothsome bite sure to please any meat lover.
Mosey on over to the ingredients zone, where you’ll find a fridge stocked with Genesis’s handmade speciality Meat Paste, Fish Paste and Dumplings.
While I had a blast shaping my own springy fishballs and tasty meatballs, the hand-wrapped Dumplings stole the show. Juicy, well-seasoned meat encased within silky skin — these are flavour bombs I’d happily let explode in my mouth any day.
Fellow Taiwanese food fans will enjoy the DIY lu rou fan station like I did. Fragrant, indulgent and perfectly sweet-savoury, their saucy braised pork over fluffy rice hit all the right notes even with its leaner cut.
Don’t forget to spruce up your hotpot with ingredients from their sprawling array. Think carbs like instant noodles, yee mee and even knife-cut noodles; veggies like Chinese cabbage, lotus root and mushrooms; plus fish paste goodies like roe-filled fishballs and cheese tofu. You name it, they’ve got it.
We hope you’re full, but don’t forget to save some space for dessert. Their range of nearly 15 local ice cream flavours — including Mango, Durian and Chendol — will leave you spoilt for choice.
Alternatively, craft your own bowl of bingfen or honey lemon jelly with their refreshing aiyu and tasty mix-ins. You bet my sweet tooth went ham here.
Plaza Mentari (Sun City), G-05 & G-06, Jalan Kuning, Taman Pelangi, 80400 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 18-781 8778
Mon to Fri: 1.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 12.30pm – 10.30pm
No. 5 & 7, Jalan Mutiara Rini 1/5, Taman Mutiara Mas, 81300 Skudai, Johor, Malaysia
+60 12-796 2576 | +60 16-703 3621 | +60 7-562 5152
Mon to Fri: 1.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 12.30pm – 10.30pm
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2. Hoobaa Hotpot
Hoobaa Hotpot is a fan-favourite in JB for its rich, flavour-packed broths — with a whopping 13 varieties made from fresh ingredients. You’ll find them at 2 convenient outlets in Mount Austin and Bukit Indah, both popular with hotpot lovers.
With so many soup bases to choose from, settling on just one can be a challenge. Hoobaa gets it, offering Twin Soup and 4 Soup pots, with prices varying by portion size and soup selection.
The signature Old Hen Soup (from RM14) is an easy crowd-pleaser, thanks to its depth of flavour yielded from pumpkin and chicken simmered for hours. Other hot picks include the collagen-rich Fish Maw Chicken Soup (from RM22) and the fiery, indulgent Butter Mala Soup (from RM14).
Ingredients here are offered on an à la carte basis, with standout options like Handmade Shrimp Slippery Meat Tofu (RM29), Bone Meat Ball (RM16), Special Iberico Pork (RM36) and many other mouthwatering items that go exceptionally with the broths.
67, Jalan Austin Heights 8/1, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 12-577 7424
Daily: 5pm – 6am
37 & 39, Jalan Indah 15/1, Taman Bukit Indah, 81200 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 7-232 0527
Daily: 12pm – 3am
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3. HAVOC Hotpot
Here’s another hotpot buffet — because if hotpot is happiness, then a hotpot buffet is infinite happiness. HAVOC Hotpot is a popular spot that delivers just that, with 2 outlets at Sutera Utama and Mount Austin.
Their 2-hour Pot of Joy buffet runs on weekdays from 12pm to 5pm, priced at RM45+ for Adults and RM20+ for Children (100cm – 130cm). Come evening (5pm – 11pm), weekends and public holidays, the Abundant Feast buffet takes over, with Adults dining at RM55+ and Children at RM25+.
You’re entitled to a twin pot with a choice from 6 soup bases: Spicy Mala, Spicy Beef Mala, Tomato, Herbal, Mushroom and Tomyum, plus unlimited helpings from their buffet spread of meat, seafood and veggies.
And don’t skip dessert; there are more than 10 types to round off your meal, from Tau Huay and Thai Grass Jelly to Lime Ice Jelly and more.
110, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 7-520 4019
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
11, Jalan Austin Height 8/5,Taman Mount Austin Johor Bahru, 81100 Johor, Malaysia
+60 7-359 6151
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
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4. Chi-Gui Mala Hotpot
You’ll smell Chi-Gui Mala Hotpot before you see it. Located in Mid Valley Southkey, this classy restaurant promises a luxurious hotpot experience with an exquisite range of broths and ingredients.
Treat yourself to high-quality cuts like Pork Shoulder Slices (RM26/RM52), Australia Angus Beef Striploin (RM29.90/RM59.80), Kurobuta Cheek Slices (RM46/RM92) — or go all out with their premium Wagyu available in various cuts.
Among their standout broths is the Green Mala Spicy Soup (from RM17.90), donning a tantalising green hue from fresh green pepper. Prefer the classic? The Red Mala Spicy Clear Soup (from RM17.90) offers a fiery kick for spice lovers.
Don’t forget to top it all off with their 15+ condiments and sauces, the perfect finishing touch for a next-level hotpot meal.
Persiaran Southkey 1, Mid Valley Southkey, Level G, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 17-665 3899
Mon to Thu: 10am – 10pm
Fri to Sun: 11am – 12am
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5. Ba Jiu Men Hotpot
Hailing from China, Ba Jiu Men Hotpot has earned numerous accolades since landing in Malaysia, with 2 outlets in JB: Mount Austin and Tun Aminah. Its biggest draw? The showstopping Ice and Fire 9-Grid Mala Hotpot, among other nourishing soup bases.
The Ice and Fire Jiugong Grid Patent Mala Spicy Hotpot (RM42) is no ordinary broth. Served in a swanky 9-grid pot with dry ice centrepiece, this patented dish is famed across China. Pro tip: the centre grid holds the spiciest, shiok-est soup at the ideal temperature for peak flavour.
The must-try items are Beef Stomach Platter (RM42), Sante Beef with Cayenne Pepper (RM36) and Pork Platter (RM48). Offal lovers, rejoice — they offer up to 7 types of beef tripe, a rare sight even among JB’s best.
2, Jalan Perwira 1, Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 11-7017 6627
Daily: 1pm – 12am
Block B, G10, Jalan Putra Jaya 1/1, Bandar Jaya Putra, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 18-913 8466
Daily: 1pm – 12am
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6. Good Family Steamboat
Good Family Steamboat is a long-standing favourite in JB, having served up comforting hotpot for over 2 decades. With 6 soup base flavours and nearly 50 exclusive handmade ingredients, they’re well-equipped to deliver a satisfying steamboat experience.
One of the highlights here is their range of set meals, available in various portions starting from solo servings. At a wallet-friendly RM29.50, the 1 Pax Set Meal offers bang for your buck — complete with prawn, fish, meatballs, vegetables, noodles and more. Got company? Opt for the 5 Pax Set Meal (RM142.50).
Don’t miss out on their speciality ingredients, like the freshly handmade Scallop Meat Paste (RM13) and Fish Roe Shrimp Paste (RM22), or premium picks such as Iberico Pork (RM40), Premium Snowflake Beef (RM76) and a selection of innards for the more adventurous.
For a list of locations, contact numbers and opening hours, click here.
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7. Dragon’s Journey Hotpot (Xiao Long Xing Jiang Hu)
With a mystical name like Dragon’s Journey Hotpot, you can expect a feast fit for royalty. This Taman Pelangi restaurant serves authentic Sichuan hotpot in a stylish, imperial-inspired setting — you’ll feel like you stepped right into a Chinese period drama.
You’ll find both buffet and à la carte options here. The Classic buffet starts from RM79.90++ while the Luxury buffet, priced from RM119.90++ unlocks a more indulgent spread. Think oysters, scallops, baby octopus, Premium Snowflake Beef and Iberico Pork Belly.
For soups, the Three Flavour Pot is a must. Pick from standout bases like Spicy Mala Butter Soup and Golden Chicken Soup, or stick to classics like Fresh Pork Soup and Sour Cabbage Soup — perfect for mixing and matching to your taste.
25D, Jalan Dato Abdullah Tahir, Taman Abad, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 10-888 8755
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 3am
Fri to Sun: 12pm – 4am
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8. Tian Tian Hotpot
Tian Tian Hotpot is a family-friendly steamboat buffet restaurant that has earned the stamp of approval from many JB residents. While easy on the wallet, their offerings are anything but subpar — you’ll find a generous spread of fresh ingredients, flavourful soup bases and delightful desserts.
The weekday lunch buffet (Monday to Friday, 12pm to 5pm) is priced at RM45 for adults and RM29 for children. Prices go up slightly for dinner, weekends and public holidays, at RM68 and RM35 for adults and children respectively.
Seafood lovers, take note: their premium buffet (RM103) is totally worth the splurge. It includes free-flow scallop, salmon, abalone fillet, oysters and other high-quality seafood for your indulgence.
To round off your meal, treat your sweet tooth to their impressive array of desserts and assorted snacks, including Taiwan-style Grass Jelly Taro Ball bowls, Soybean Pudding with Fruit, Fried Rice Cake and Crispy Fried Milk Rolls.
53, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/3, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Skudai, Johor Malaysia
+60 19-393 8338
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
56, Jalan Austin Heights 8/2, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 11-1272 3820
Daily: 12pm – 11pm
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9. Kuan Cheng Zi Chengdu Hotpot
Situated at Mount Austin, Kuan Cheng Zi Chengdu Hotpot promises a nostalgic dining experience that harks back to the flavours of 1970s Chengdu — perfect for those craving a taste of tradition.
To stretch your dollar, go for their value-for-money Set Meal (RM69.90), which includes 15 items like pork, fish, meatballs, vegetables, noodles and other hotpot ingredients. Dunk them in their signature Chengdu Butter Mala Yuan Yang Pot (RM29.90), featuring a rich butter mala soup alongside your choice of Pork Bone, Tomato or Mushroom broth.
Be sure to try out some of their recommended add-ons, including Iberico Collar (RM18.90), Meltique Marbled Beef (RM20.90), Golden Coin Beef Tripe (RM13.90) and Duck Blood (RM9.90). With such an extensive menu, there’s plenty for you to make a second (and third) trip.
119-01, Jalan Mutiara Emas 2A, Taman Mount Austin, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
+60 7-288 0668
Daily: 12pm – 1am
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10. Shu Da Xia Hotpot
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