10 tips while having steamboat so you’ll get your money’s worth

Last Updated on 2016-05-19 , 1:35 pm

Wanna eat steamboat? Steamboat is important to Chinese culture, but if you’re TOTALLY kiasu like us and want to get your money’s worth, here are some pro-tip to walk away with your tummy full without being cost-disadvantaged.

No rice
Got rice? Yes we Asians do love rice, but note that this staple food is very, very filling. Eating steamboat with rice may mean that 50% of what you it, and feeling food may be due to the amount of rice. To get your money’s worth? Skip it.

No water
Some steamboat restaurants offer free flow drinks –as kiasu Singaporeans, our instinct is “FREE ONE JUST TAKE”. Just like rice, drinking water, or beverages can make us temporarily full.

Starve yourself
If you’re a hard core kiasu Singaporean, starve yourself, empty your stomach and eat as much as you can during steamboat! However, though this works, note the side effects of going too hungry for a long period of time.

Meat > Vegetables
In steamboat, it is always wise to eat meat instead of vegetables. Meat is naturally more expensive, so to get your money’s worth, go anti-vegetarian for a meal.

Eat slow
Eating slow allows you to have more time to talk to your friends, but also allows your body to digests. Provided there is no time limit, take your time – you can always eat more later

Top up soup
What I steamboat without soup? Overtime, the soup will evaporate off – ask for more soup, you can drink it too!

Avoid dinner time
During peak hours like weekend dinner times, there’ll be more people, and price per pax at restaurants becomes more expensive. To avoid this, go for the cheaper option – weekday afternoons! There’s less people and you get the undivided attention from the waitress.

Avoid high end stores
Some steamboat restaurants are more expensive than others, but note that steamboat restaurants generally serve the same type of food. Perhaps the quality is different, but if you’re going for a budget, pick the cheaper one!

Scoop the scum
When eating hot pot, avoid drinking the top layer of the soup. It contains scum, the froth that appears when it boils it is made up of fat and protein, which might be bad for your health.

Low temperature
To avoid your food from being overcooked, let the soup boil slowly. High temperatures can make you eat quickly, since you’ll be wanting to fish out the cooked food. Also, your soup boils faster.

Top Image: wong sze yuen / Shutterstock.com