A Hot Hideout (热的地方) is a popular Singaporean-style mala restaurant chain known for its unique take on the Chinese-Sichuan mala (麻辣). The brand features a rich, drinkable collagen soup base simmered for over 12 hours and signature deep-fried toppings and scrambled egg — especially when added to mala dishes.
Started as a student-run venture by three hall-mates with a campus stall in Nanyang Technological University (NTU), A Hot Hideout has since expanded to more than 10 locations across Singapore including Junction 10 (Bukit Panjang). The Bukit Panjang, Serangon and Kent Ridge outlets operate till late night (2pm).
A Hot Hideout features over 70+ ingredients for self-picking and self-ordering. There are five types of flavour-bases to choose: Mala Collagen Soup, Tomato Collagen Soup, Collagen Soup, Mala Stir-Fry or Oriental Stir-Fry with more customisations for each option. Ingredients such as sliced potatoes, fish fillet, sliced lotus root, cheese-stuffed otah and luncheon meat will be deep-fried for extra crunch. And their creamy scrambled egg is a popular add-on topping for balancing and softening the spicy kicks of mala dishes.
The popular, signature Mala Collagen Soup (麻辣胶原汤) — opted for “medium” spiciness level and did not select “Extra Numb” — is creamy and not so oily as it is designed to be drinkable rather than for dipping. “Medium” spiciness do pack some nasty spicy punches, so don’t go for “high” spiciness on first try. Without picking “Extra Numb”, the numbness flavour seems subdued by the strong spiciness. Overall, the ingredients are well-cooked, retaining crunchiness in radishes, potatoes, etc, tenderness in chicken and pork slices, and adding deep-fried fish fillet to mala soup is superb. The savoury-spicy, creamy collagen soup is richly-flavoured and tasty — and we would have finished it if we had chosen “low” spiciness with “extra” numb.
A Hot Hideout offers a different kind of mala for a unique taste experience that is not the familiar Chinese-Sichuan mala flavour — they are “same same but different”. Next on my food list will be their Mala Stir-Fry, with scrambled egg, and I am curious about the flavours of the non-spicy Oriental Stir-Fry too.
Social Media:
Facebook | Website
Bukit Panjang Outlet:
Junction 10, #01-34
1 Woodlands Road, Singapore 677899
Opening Hours:
11am to 2am | Daily
Nearby:
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