Where exactly do we get the best mala in Singapore?
I bet you can’t answer that question. Aside from our tastes being subjective, there are also way too many mala spots for us to pinpoint just one.
However, a mala restaurant has consistently been named as the best (or at least, one of the best) and that’s none other than A Hot Hideout.
Who would have guessed that in less than three years, their humble beginnings at NTU would take them from campus favourite into the mainstream?
It’s obvious expansion is their next goal as they’ve opened their fourth and largest outlet at Bukit Panjang, which means that even Westies no longer have to go all the way to the college campus.
Their Mala Collagen Soup (S$2.50) is a signature of theirs, so of course, I had to get it. But first, I had to choose my ingredients.
Compared to other restaurants, A Hot Hideout boasts a wider selection of ingredients (S$2.88 per 100g). You’ll find the usual suspects like broccoli, enoki mushrooms and pork slices, along with unique options like sweet potato rice cakes and potatoes.
For the last point, I’m not talking about potato slices. Instead, their potatoes come whole. And, that’s because you can get an entire bowl of deep-fried potato ‘chips’ to accompany your mala.
In fact, their lotus root, dory fish slices and luncheon meat all come with the option of being deep-fried as toppings or cooked together in your mala dish.
Back then, a common complaint about their deep-fried potatoes was that the taste was too one-dimensional.
They’ve corrected this by releasing a Special Powder, which ingredients are kept unknown to us (it’s a secret, after all!) but I picked up a BBQ flavour in the mix. Pour it on the side as a ‘dipping sauce’ or sprinkle it on the top of your deep-fried foods.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you about how dangerously addictive this dish is! My chopsticks couldn’t resist reaching for more throughout the meal.
I also garnished my Mala Collagen Soup with another signature of theirs — scrambled egg.
As the broth has been simmered for more than 12 hours, it imparts a luxuriously creamy mouthfeel like what you’ll get with ramen. I recommend opting for less oil to ensure a richer mala flavour.
Their Mala Collagen Soup, alongside the Mala Stir Fry (S$1.50), comes in three spice levels: Small, Medium, and Large.
For those who can’t handle the heat, don’t worry; their Tomato Collagen Soup (S$2.50), Collagen Soup ($1.50), and Oriental Stir Fry (S$0.50) have a low to mild spice level.
If you were to ask me to choose between the Mala Collagen Soup and Mala Stir Fry, I’d actually go for the latter. The reason is that it gave a strong kick of mala flavour without being overly numbing.
Not many mala restaurants can get the mala sauce just right — spicy and slightly sweet with a touch of garlic. While I wouldn’t say A Hot Hideout perfected it, they’re close, making their dry mala a solid contender for your next spicy craving.
Cool down with their Original Thai Milk Tea (S$3.50) and Green Thai Milk Tea (S$3.50). They’re both not too sweet, so you won’t get that jelak feeling.
All in all, A Hot Hideout serves up a delicious bowl of mala that’s reliable and comforting. It’s a little more elevated compared to the rest out there but it’s not at all pretentious or complicated.
Will you bring your mala kakis here?
Do note that A Hot Hideout @ Bukit Panjang officially opens on 1st September 2024.
A Hot Hideout @ Bukit Panjang
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📍1 Woodlands Road, #01-34/35 Junction 10, Singapore 677899
🕐 11am–9.30pm (Daily)
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Photos by Sheree Chua
