Fat Bird Chicken Hotpot has table-side mapo tofu in Bugis
My hot take is that mapo tofu is an underrated dish, be it at a cai fan stall or in Chinese restaurants. It’s my go-to order, so I was super excited to hear that Fat Bird Chicken Hotpot has added not just mapo tofu but also ginseng chicken soup to its menu, and we had to head down and try it ourselves.
Going beyond the usual Chinese fare and its $3 chicken rice lunch deal, Fat Bird’s Freshly Made Soft Mapo Tofu ($36++) has gone viral because it’s made right in front of you. Once it’s served, the staff pours soy milk into the pot, closes the lid, and after just five minutes, you’ll be greeted with soft tofu that’s ready to eat.
Get $3 Kampung Chicken Rice In Bugis During Weekday Lunch
My colleague and I were amazed at how fast the milk turned into tofu. FYI: heat and a coagulant make the proteins in soy milk clump together, which is how it sets into tofu.
The tofu was silky smooth and jiggly, and super shiok to devour. I also enjoyed the garlicky sauce it was doused in, which paired well with white rice. Spiciness-wise, we found that it had just the right amount of heat, though you should take this with a pinch of salt if you can’t handle spice.
The Mapo Tofu was yummy, but the star of the show ended up being the Flaming Korean Ginseng Chicken Pot ($32++). Before we dug in, the staff placed the massive pot on a gas stove and poured wine over it, engulfing it in flames to live up to its name.
As soon as the fire started, the fragrance of herbs and ginseng wafted through the air, and we knew we were in for a treat.
Sure enough, the soup was packed with flavour, with aromatic herbs and a strong chicken aroma. As someone who isn’t a fan of ginseng, I’m happy to report that the taste added depth to the broth instead of overpowering it. The soup comes with an entire chicken, so we recommend you jio some pals along to split it with.
The chicken was juicy and succulent, making the dish even more enjoyable. We were also surprised to find rice in the centre, which we left in the pot to cook for longer, giving it a texture like pao fan. Pro-tip: leave the soup to simmer over low heat to keep the oil from floating to the top.
All in all, we had a great meal here and were pleasantly surprised by the generous portions. I originally came for the mapo tofu, but I’d go back just for the Chicken Pot. The eatery gets packed during lunch and peak hours, so we recommend making a booking ahead or going earlier to avoid the crowds.
Located along Liang Seah Street, Fat Bird Chicken Hotpot is a one-minute walk away from Bugis MRT Station, and a nine-minute walk from Esplanade MRT Station.
For new openings in town, read our Calendar Coffee feature for more deets on their opening at Chinatown. Check out our Kuro Kare review for our verdict on the viral curry rice.
Address: 1 Liang Seah Street, #01-15/16, Liang Seah Place, Singapore 189022
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am to 11:30pm, Fri-Sat 11am to 2am
Tel: 6337 0612
Website
Fat Bird Chicken Hotpot is not halal-certified.
Viral SMU Curry Rice Eatery Kuro Kare Moves To Chinatown: Is It Still Good?
Top In Asia
