A Hot Hideout @ Serangoon (Nex)

Had a meal at A Hot Hideout in NEX and honestly, it was SUPER worth the wait. The queue was quite long, which was the only downside, but once the food came it completely justified it. The flavours were really on point, rich, comforting, and satisfying with every bite. Everything felt well-seasoned and properly done, not just hype. What I liked most was how consistent the quality was. Even with the crowd, the food didn’t feel rushed or compromised. It had that proper “worth queuing for” kind of taste. Overall, I would 100% come back again. The queue might test your patience, but the food easily makes up for it.

Best enjoyed in a group of at least 4 people, especially if you are planning to try their fried items like lotus root and potato. The pieces for these items are large and charged by weight, so it can get pricey and excessive for smaller groups. It would be great if smaller portions were available for 1-3 pax. Spice-wise, 小辣 (low spice) here is noticeably spicier than most mala stalls but not too 麻(numbing). They fry selected ingredients like luncheon meat and fish, but you can also request for items not to be fried. The special peanut sauce is fragrant and pairs well with the mala. Also, scrambled egg is a must-order as it’s creamy and helps balance out the spice. A downside I experienced was with the enoki mushrooms. They were served in one large clump without being cut or separated, so the sauce didn’t coat evenly. It was quite inconvenient to share, especially when eating with friends. Price-wise, it came up to around $16 per person (for ~2.3 kg shared among 5 pax), which is reasonable but sounds crazy to say that we are paying $80 for mala. However, smaller groups may end up paying more due to the heavier fried items. Since these fried ingredients are a unique selling point, having an option for smaller pieces would allow solo diners or smaller groups to try without over-ordering.

Finally tried this new mala hotpot place in the hood; it's easily one of the cleanest, freshest and most economical we've had so far. Manager/staffs were also quick to help when we misplaced our buzzer. The mala stir fry, potato chips and mala collagen broth are highly recommended. Will definitely return to try other broths or when we crave mala hotpot again!

Deliciously served. Price was reasonable, great ambiance. The best part, it's so rare to find a mala place that's so well kept and tidy. Thanks manager (Mr Then?) for helping with ordering and recommending the favorite snacks to try!

A lot of self service required. First timer during peak hour maybe abit overwhelmed. That said process was rather straightforward but one will need to know the process flow from pick up food to weigh to paying to taking food and returning trays. The flavor was alright not too strong. The fried lotus root was pretty good but not as good as one of stalls in the nearby foodcourt.