We pay tribute to the Land of the Rising Sun with these hotpot haunts.
En Japanese Dining Bar @ Alocassia
This family favourite offers an a la carte premium buffet($68++; Mon-Fri 6-10pm, Sat-Sun & PH 12-2.20pm,6-10.30pm) with shabu shabu included. Choose from bonito or spicy miso for your fresh queen crab, prawns, scallops, oysters, pork, chicken and wagyu beefs porting a delicate latticework of fats. Don’t forget the sashimi, sushi and other Japanese gems. #01-01 Alocassia Apartment, 383 Bukit Timah Road.Tel: 6235 0080
Hana Restaurant 
Eat your fill at this shabu shabu buffet dinner ($98++ for2 pax, Fri-Sun 6-9.30pm) with a 120 min time limit. Enjoy servings of beef, pork belly, fresh seafood, vegetables, dumplings and ramen in a split pot of clear and soy milk broth. Each diner also receives a serving of the Hana signature maki. #01-17 Forum The Shopping Mall, 583 Orchard Road.Tel: 6737 5525
Himawari Japanese Restaurant
Led by master chef Yoichi Nakaoka, this long-standing restaurant started in 2004. Its buffet (daily 11.30am-2.15pm, 6-9.15pm; Mon-Thu $41.80++ lunch, $45.80++dinner; Fri-Sun, eve of & PH $44.80++ lunch, $48.80++dinner) offers a myriad of Japanese fare like teppanyaki, sashimi and tempura in addition to sukiyaki and shabu shabu. The latter includes sirloin, pork, chicken, shiitake and tofu. Get saucy with ponzu and goma dips. #01-08/09, 991B Alexandra Road. Tel: 6272 1110
Kushi Japanese Dining Bar
This hidden find in Newton specialises in kushiyaki, but don’t let that deter you from its shabu shabu offering.The a la carte buffet (from $41.90++ for classic lunch option; daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm) comes with free flow ocha and a plethora of faves like sashimi. Hotpot items include wagyu beef and mixed seafood in clear soup, kimchi or even zosui (porridge). #03-01 Hotel Royal, 36 Newton Road. Tel: 6285 6525(moving to 526 MacPherson Road end Oct)
Momiji Shabu Shabu
Visit this bustling Japanese marketplace for their collagen hot pot and items which include whelk, sliced beef/pork, sushi, hot dishes, assorted greens, desserts and drinks. Come by for brunch ($24.90++, Sun & PH 11.30am-4pm) or dinner ($24.90++, Mon-Thu 5-9.30pm; $28.90++, Fri-Sun eve of & PH 5-10pm) to enjoy specials like deep sea red prawns, asari clams and mussels. Three new collagen soup bases available: nourishing herbal, tom yum and spicy mala. #04-01 Shaw Plaza, 360 Balestier Road. Tel:6258 3398
On-Yasai
Go for the Secret Sukiyaki soup base and pick onemore from other delectable broths which include Hokkaido miso, golden truffle and soy milk. The middle buffet tier ($39.90++, daily 12-2.30pm, 5.30-10.15pm; 90min for orders, 120min for table) includes cuts likekarubi plate, beef chuck eye roll and seafood, sushi andtempura. Try also the octopus cheese meatball, yubashabu, chicken tsumire and a side of brown sugared broad beans. Includes a scoop of ice cream. #01-03/04 CHIJMES, 30 Victoria Street. Tel: 6336 4002
Shabu Sai
You’ll get a beautiful presentation of vegetables, meats,sushi, seafood and more at this shabu-shabu and sukiyaki hotpot buffet (11.30am-2.30pm: $16.99++, Mon-Fri; $19.99++ Sat-Sun, eve of & PH; 6-9.45pm: $24.99++, Mon-Thu; $29.99++, Fri-Sun, eve of & PH). Look out for the soup of the month (past special: Kyotoduck) in addition to their regular seven broths which include yuzu collagen (chicken base) and spicy fish bone stock with chilli padi. Add on drinks and icecream at an additional $1.99++. #08-09/10/11 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road.Tel: 6884 6760
Shabuya
Sate your hotpot appetite at this restaurant’s weekend brunch buffet ($45.90++, Sat-Sun & PH 11.30am-4pm) which includes free-flow soft drinks. Find a quality selection of premium wagyu beef, U.S. black Angus, kurobuta pork, assorted seafood/vegetables and sashimi to go with your choice of four soup bases(tonkotsu, chilli, shoyu, dashi). Book early to score window views of Sentosa. #01-102/103 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk.Tel: 6377 0070
Suki-ya
In addition to the kombu stock and simmered kelp broth, more exotic soups such as tounyu miso and even a Singapore inspired laksa base add to the variety of the daily buffet (from $18.90++ for Mon-Fri 11.30am-3.59pm; dinner hours 4-9.30pm). Choose from beef, chicken or pork. Various outlets including #01-35 Kallang Wave Mall, 1 Stadium Place. Tel: 6702 1752
WA Shabu Shabu
Their Satisfaction buffet option (11am-3pm; $19.80++,Mon-Wed; $22.60 Thu-Sun, eve of & PH) is best for a quick meal, with regular cuts of beef, pork and chicken. Fans of prime porcine or bovine can opt for Premium ($58.80++ with kurobuta and Kagoshima pork) or the gourmet wagyu buffet ($88.80++ with Grade 8-9 Australian black wagyu). All options come with a self-service vegetable bar. #01-44 The Star Vista, 1 Vista Exchange Green.Tel: 6268 9093
