Food · Chinese New Year
8 Best Steamboat & Hotpot Restaurants in Singapore for CNY Reunion Dinners
The pot that brings everyone back to the table. Here are the spots worth booking early — from theatrical service to heritage charcoal broth — with prices, must-order ingredients and the reservation tricks locals swear by.
Posted by bestcompanysg
· 11 Min Read
· Updated 2026
There’s a reason the steamboat sits in the middle of the table on Chinese New Year’s Eve and not the side. It’s the one dish that forces everyone to slow down — passing the ladle, fishing out the last prawn ball, arguing over whether the beef has been in for three seconds or thirteen. In Singapore, the reunion dinner (年夜饭) is the most important meal of the year, and for a lot of families, a bubbling pot of broth is the heart of it.
The catch? Everyone has the same idea. Reunion-dinner seats — especially on the eve and the first weekend of the festive period — get snapped up weeks in advance, and the best restaurants release limited CNY set menus that sell out fast. So we’ve done the legwork: eight steamboat and hotpot restaurants that genuinely deliver for a big family gathering, sorted across budget, mid-tier and full-on premium, with halal options included.
Quick heads-up before you scroll: prices below are indicative per person and almost always carry a ++ (service charge + GST) at sit-down restaurants. Festive set menus and surcharges change every year, so confirm the latest when you call to book. The next reunion season lands on Friday 5 Feb 2027 (eve), ushering in the Year of the Goat — set a reminder now, future you will be grateful.
| Restaurant | Best for | Approx / pax | Halal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haidilao | Service & big, lively groups | S$50–70++ | No |
| Beauty in The Pot | Nourishing collagen broth | S$50–70++ | No |
| Imperial Treasure | Premium multi-gen feast | S$80–120++ | No |
| Coca | Classic family set menus + yusheng | S$45–65++ | No |
| Nan Hwa Chong | Old-school charcoal nostalgia | S$30–45 | No |
| GoroGoro | Value buffet for hungry crews | S$25–35 | No |
| Captain Kim | Halal BBQ + hotpot buffet | S$30–40 | Yes (MUIS) |
| Suki-Suki | Halal sets + reunion at home | S$30–45 | Yes |
1Haidilao Hot Pot — The Crowd-Pleaser That Spoils You Rotten
When you want the night to feel like an event, not just a meal.
Vibe: Lively & theatrical
From: ~S$50–70++/pax
Signature: Mala Milk · dancing noodle show
Halal: No
If your family is the loud, photo-taking, “let’s-make-a-night-of-it” kind, Haidilao is hard to beat. The food is solid Sichuan-style hotpot, but the real draw is the famously over-the-top service — free snacks and drinks while you queue, a hand-pulled noodle performance flung dramatically across the table, and staff who’ll happily fuss over the kids. For a reunion dinner where three generations need to be entertained at once, that energy is gold.
Order this: The Mala Milk broth in a divided pot (so the spice-shy aunties get a clear half), Haidilao’s signature mashed shrimp paste piped fresh at the table, and the U.S. beef slices. Keep an eye out for their recurring “dine for 2, pay for 1” weekday and festive promos that bring the per-pax cost right down.
Reunion-dinner tip: Big outlets at VivoCity, Marina Bay Sands and Plaza Singapura handle large tables well. The two-hour dining cap is real during peak periods — pre-decide your orders so you’re not rushing the dessert.
Book ahead: Reserve via the Haidilao app 2–3 weeks before reunion week; weekend and eve slots vanish first.
2Beauty in The Pot — Collagen Broth the Aunties Will Approve Of
“Drink soup, good for skin” — finally, a hotpot that agrees with grandma.
Vibe: Polished, mall-friendly
From: ~S$50–70++/pax
Signature: Beauty Collagen Broth
Halal: No
Paradise Group’s Beauty in The Pot built its entire reputation on one thing: a milky, slow-simmered Beauty Collagen Broth that’s rich enough to sip on its own. Pair it in a twin pot with the Spicy Nourishing (mala) broth and you’ve covered both the wellness crowd and the heat-seekers in one go — exactly the diplomacy a family table needs. Ingredients are consistently fresh, from sweet live prawns to well-marbled short ribs and their famous handmade fish tofu.
Order this: A twin pot of Beauty Collagen + Spicy Nourishing, the Assorted Balls Platter, U.S. Angus short ribs and the fried beancurd skin (dunk it for just a few seconds). Half portions exist for many items, handy for ordering variety without over-ordering.
Reunion-dinner tip: Outlets at Jewel Changi, ION Orchard area, VivoCity and The Centrepoint (which carries extra broth choices) are roomy for groups. Their CNY set menus often add wagyu, abalone and yusheng — ask when booking.
Book ahead: Notorious for hour-plus queues without a reservation. Book online 1–2 weeks out, minimum.
3Imperial Treasure Steamboat — When You Actually Want to Eat Well
Hotel-grade Cantonese steamboat for the family that goes big once a year.
Vibe: Refined, special-occasion
From: ~S$80–120++/pax
Signature: Superior broth · live seafood
Halal: No
Some families treat the reunion dinner as the splurge of the year, and this is where Imperial Treasure shines. Think a clean, superior Cantonese-style broth, premium wagyu, plump live prawns, fresh abalone and a side-dish lineup that rivals a proper sit-down restaurant. It’s calmer and more grown-up than the mall chains — ideal when you’ve got elders at the table who’d rather chat than shout over a noodle show.
Order this: The superior chicken or seafood broth, sliced wagyu, live prawns, handmade dumplings and seasonal greens. If they’re running a festive set, it usually bundles the premium seafood at better value than à la carte.
Reunion-dinner tip: This is the pick for a multi-generational table that wants a quieter, more elegant evening — and where someone’s prepared to foot a bigger bill.
Book ahead: Premium festive seatings book out earliest of all. Reserve 3–4 weeks ahead and confirm the CNY set and any deposit.
4Coca Restaurant — The Family Set-Menu Veteran
A Thai-Chinese steamboat institution that’s been doing reunions since 1987.
Vibe: Familiar, dependable
From: ~S$45–65++/pax
Signature: Sichuan spicy & ginseng chicken broths
Halal: No
Coca has been a Singapore family favourite for decades, which is exactly why it lands on so many reunion-dinner shortlists — your parents probably ate here, and now you do too. The appeal is the structured CNY set menu: start by tossing a Fatt Choy salmon yusheng for prosperity, then move into a twin soup base (the Sichuan spicy and ginseng chicken are reliably good) loaded with sliced abalone, scallops, beef short rib and handmade balls.
Order this: The festive reunion set for your group size — it takes the guesswork out and almost always includes yusheng. Add the Imperial Drunken Chicken Soup if it’s on the menu.
Reunion-dinner tip: Set menus are priced by table size (often 2 to 8+ pax), so it scales neatly whether it’s a small family or the whole extended clan. Great middle ground between buffet chaos and premium prices.
Book ahead: Reserve 2–3 weeks out and request the festive set so the kitchen preps your yusheng.
5Nan Hwa Chong Fish Head Steamboat — Heritage in a Charcoal Pot
The old-school, coffeeshop-style reunion your grandparents grew up with.
Vibe: Nostalgic, no-frills
From: ~S$30–45/pax
Signature: Charcoal fish-head steamboat
Halal: No
Serving since 1927, Nan Hwa Chong on North Bridge Road is the antidote to glossy mall hotpot. This Teochew institution still fires its steamboat over ember charcoal using its original recipe, and that smoky, comforting fish-head broth tastes like Singapore of decades past. Don’t let the humble coffeeshop setting fool you — for families who want the reunion dinner to feel traditional and unpretentious, this is the soul pick.
Order this: The signature charcoal fish head steamboat, of course, plus the assorted local sides they’re known for. Let the broth reduce and deepen as the night goes on — that’s the whole point.
Reunion-dinner tip: The charcoal-and-coffeeshop atmosphere is a hit with elders who find chain hotpots too clinical. Bring cash and an appetite.
Book ahead: Call ahead during the festive period; the open-air seating fills up and they get genuinely busy around CNY.
6GoroGoro Steamboat & Korean Buffet — Value for the Hungry Crew
Feed a big, growing-teenager family without breaking the ang bao budget.
Vibe: Casual buffet
From: ~S$25–35/pax
Signature: 7 soup bases · 70+ ingredients
Halal: No
Sometimes the reunion table is just big — cousins, teenagers, in-laws — and what everyone really wants is unlimited food at a fair price. GoroGoro at The Centrepoint delivers a Korean-meets-local steamboat buffet with around seven soup bases (Korean Ginseng, Beauty Collagen and the inevitable Mala among them) and 70-plus ingredients, plus cooked extras like Korean fried chicken so the picky eaters are covered too.
Order this: It’s a buffet, so go wide — split your pot between Mala and a milder Ginseng base, then work through the fresh seafood, marinated meats and the cooked Korean sides.
Reunion-dinner tip: Best for younger, casual family groups who’d rather have free-flow food than a formal set menu. Easy on the wallet when you’re feeding ten.
Book ahead: Buffet seats during CNY week still need a booking — reserve 1–2 weeks out for the big table.
7Captain Kim Korean BBQ & Hotpot — The Halal Crowd-Feeder
So no one in the family — or the friends who feel like family — gets left out.
Vibe: Buffet, BBQ + hotpot
From: ~S$30–40/pax
Signature: Grill + army-stew hotpot
Halal: Yes (MUIS-certified)
If your gathering includes Muslim relatives or friends, Captain Kim is one of the easiest answers in Singapore: a MUIS halal-certified Korean BBQ and hotpot buffet with 60-plus ingredients, where you can grill and steamboat at the same table. With outlets in Tampines, Clementi and the north, it’s a genuine community-gathering staple — and the grill-plus-pot combo keeps kids and teens busy.
Order this: Load the grill with the marinated bulgogi-style beef while the army-stew hotpot bubbles alongside. Free-flow drinks are included in the buffet.
Reunion-dinner tip: Watch for their group promos (e.g. one diner free with every few full-paying pax) and SAFRA member discounts — they stack up nicely for a large family booking.
Book ahead: Submit the online reservation form or call the outlet; note the dining-duration caps for bigger tables.
8Suki-Suki Hotpot — Halal Sets & a Reunion You Can Host at Home
For the family that wants the pot bubbling in their own living room.
Vibe: Thai-style, dine-in or delivery
From: ~S$30–45/pax
Signature: Mala & Singapore Laksa Lemak broths
Halal: Yes (certified)
Not every reunion happens in a restaurant — for a lot of families, the most meaningful version is at home, in pyjamas, with the TV on. Suki-Suki Hotpot makes that fuss-free with halal-certified Thai-style takeaway and delivery sets: pre-sliced meats, fresh seafood and a choice of seven broths (from spicy Mala to a creamy Singapore Laksa Lemak), all prepped and portioned so you just plug in the pot and toss. They do dine-in too, but the home sets are the standout for a relaxed, private reunion.
Order this: A signature set scaled to your group, with Wagyu beef and tiger prawns if you’re celebrating. Mix two broths so there’s something for the spice lovers and the kids.
Reunion-dinner tip: The home sets typically don’t include the pot or stove — make sure you’ve got an induction cooker and a divided pot ready before the food arrives.
Book ahead: Festive delivery slots fill up fast around reunion eve; order several days in advance to lock in your date and time.
How to Pick the Right Steamboat for Your Reunion
Eight options is a lot, so here’s the cheat sheet by what your family actually cares about:
- Want maximum fuss-free fun for a big, lively group? Haidilao or a buffet like GoroGoro.
- Got elders who want “nourishing” soup? Beauty in The Pot’s collagen broth was made for that conversation.
- Treating the family to the splurge of the year? Imperial Treasure, no contest.
- Craving tradition and nostalgia? Nan Hwa Chong’s charcoal fish-head steamboat.
- Need a halal venue? Captain Kim for dine-in buffet, Suki-Suki for halal sets.
- Hosting at home? Suki-Suki’s delivery sets do the slicing for you.
- Want a structured set menu with yusheng built in? Coca.
Three rules for a stress-free reunion booking
- Book early — really early. Two to four weeks out for reunion-dinner week; premium and eve slots go first.
- Confirm the festive set and surcharges. CNY menus, deposits and eve surcharges change yearly. Ask when you call.
- Mind the time cap. Most chains enforce a 90-minute to 2-hour limit during peak — pre-plan orders so the night doesn’t feel rushed.
Steamboat Reunion Dinner FAQs
How early should I book for the CNY reunion dinner?
Aim for 2–4 weeks ahead for reunion-dinner week. The popular chains — Haidilao, Beauty in The Pot and Imperial Treasure — sell out weekend and reunion-eve slots first, and many release limited festive set menus that require a deposit.
Which hotpot restaurants here are halal-certified?
Captain Kim is MUIS halal-certified, and Suki-Suki Hotpot offers halal-certified Thai-style hotpot for both dine-in and home delivery. Haidilao, Beauty in The Pot, Imperial Treasure, Coca, Nan Hwa Chong and GoroGoro are not halal-certified — always verify directly before booking, as certification status can change.
How much does a hotpot reunion dinner cost per person?
Buffet-style spots run roughly S$25–40 per person. Mid-tier à la carte chains like Haidilao and Beauty in The Pot are around S$50–70 per person. Premium hotel-grade steamboat with wagyu and live seafood can reach S$80–120 per person. Sit-down venues usually add a ++ (service charge and GST).
Can I have a steamboat reunion dinner at home?
Yes — several restaurants, including Suki-Suki Hotpot, offer takeaway and delivery reunion sets with pre-sliced meats, seafood and broth. You’ll typically need to supply your own pot and induction cooker, so check what’s included before you order.
What should I order for good luck during CNY?
Fish (鱼) symbolises surplus and abundance, prawns represent laughter and liveliness, and dumplings are shaped like gold ingots for prosperity. Many restaurants also offer a yusheng (鱼生) for the prosperity toss before the steamboat begins.
One pot, the whole family back at the table.
Pick your spot, lock in the booking weeks ahead, and let the broth do the rest. 新年快乐 — may your reunion be warm, your prawns plentiful, and your ang baos generous.
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Prices, broths, outlets and halal-certification status are indicative and based on information available at the time of writing — they change frequently, especially around the festive period. Please confirm the latest details, festive set menus and any surcharges directly with each restaurant before booking.
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