Mosque Street in Chinatown has become quite a hotspot for a variety of Chinese cuisines, and the latest addition to this bustling street is La Hong Dian Hotpot (辣红殿重庆干锅), a Chongqing restaurant specialising in dry pots. Their signature dish allows diners to enjoy it as what you see when it is first served and then transform it into a bubbling hotpot by adding soup, offering a dual dining experience.
The cosy restaurant spans two levels, with four tables on the ground floor and a VIP room upstairs to accommodate larger groups.
Century Egg with Green Peppers 3.5/5
We started our meal with the Century Egg with Green Peppers ($15), which featured slices of rich century egg topped with fragrant chilli crunch.
Stir-fried Shredded Cabbage 3/5
Following this, the Stir-fried Shredded Cabbage ($28) provided a comforting, homely touch amidst the spicier dishes. For the steep price tag, we were expecting a lot more of it, including a stronger wok hei finish.
Dry Pot Pork Ribs 4/5
The restaurant’s signature dry pot is available in an impressive 12 different varieties, featuring ingredients such as seafood, squid, pork intestines, and more. We opted for the Dry Pot Pork Ribs ($49.90 for Small, $76.80 for Large), which is kept sizzling throughout the meal on an induction cooker. The dish was boldly spiced with a generous mix of dried chillies and peppercorns, though we felt that the spice lacked fragrance. A wider ariety of default ingredients, like sweet potato noodles and mushrooms, would have enhanced the dish. When you are almost done with the Dry Pot, you can request the service staff add extra broth and transform it into a hotpot. Additional hotpot ingredients are available to be ordered.
Spicy Chicken Cubes 3/5
We wrapped up the meal with the classic Spicy Chicken Cubes ($28), a dish generously loaded with dried chillies. While the chicken cubes had a decent crunch, the flavours were less robust than we had hoped.
Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.
La Hong Dian Hotpot (辣红殿重庆干锅)
41 Mosque Street
Singapore 059519
Tel: +65 8428 8213
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT, NE Line)
Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am – 11pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to New Bridge Road. Turn right at New Bridge Road and walk to Mosque Street. Turn right onto Mosque Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]