Amanda FooDon’t you just hate it when you’re having steamboat and someone dips in something you have no stomach for, say cockles or liver, and the flavour spreads to the entire soup base, making you lose your appetite?
Well, Kichi Kichi has solved that by offering you individual hotpots. For those who swear by the joys of communal dining, there’s a big ‘yin-yang’ pot that holds 2 different soups for parties of 4 and 6.
The philosophy in this establishment seems to be “more is more”. There are 6 types of soups, 8 sauces and over 50 ingredients, all for a set price of under $25 on any given day. The different prices are detailed at the bottom of the article.
Finally, we settled on trying Kichi Kichi’s signature mushroom soup and an herbal soup with an extra charge of $1.50.
The mushroom soup is almost bland at first, but as the meal goes on, and the soup is reduced, the taste intensifies. The herbal soup doesn’t fare as well, becoming overly bitter and salty as the meal progresses.
What sets Kichi Kichi apart is the sheer number of choices available, with over 50 ingredients, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Another unique point about Kichi Kichi is their offering of premium items such as sliced wagyu beef (extra $5), scallops (extra $5) or oysters (extra $3.50).
If you are overwhelmed the way we were, there are ‘secret recipes’ wandering around, like fish porridge, where you combine the rice and several ingredients to make a dish. It’s a refreshing idea that gives a twist to the traditional hotpot.
However, the high note of Kichi Kichi’s offering is their signature chilli sauce. It’s spicy and addictive, going with each of the 50 ingredients.
Kichi Kichi aims to provide a complete meal here and with that in mind, they give us muah chee and chocolate hotpot (with an extra charge of $5).
The latter is, in essence, chocolate fondue. Some customers are adventurous enough to dip the muah chee into the chocolate and that results in a surprisingly good creation. However, be careful not to overheat the chocolate as it’ll burn and leave lumpy bits.
Pricing:
Weekday Lunch (Mon to Fri) – 11am to 5pm
Adults $19.90++ | Students $14.90++ | Kids 3 – 9 years $7.90 | Kids below 3 years: Free
Weekday Dinner (Mon to Fri) – 5pm to 10pm
Adults $21.90++ | Students $19.90++ | Kids 3 – 9 years $7.90 | Kids below 3 years: Free
Weekend Lunch & Dinner (Sat/Sun, PH & dinner on Eve of PH) – 11am to 10pm (all day)
Adults $23.90++ | Kids 3 – 9 years $7.90 | Kids below 3 years: Free
Address: City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, #02-23/24
Telephone No.: 9170 1146
Opening Hours: 11am to 10pm daily
Rating: ★★★☆☆
All photos taken by Jasmine Chong from Kilx Photography.