This Chinatown newcomer first fired up the conveyor belts for the public on New Year’s Day. Read on to find out what we thought two weeks in…
Chinese-style hotpots have been fast-tracked (via conveyor belt) to hipness, overtaking ramen as the new cool kid on the block thanks to Shuang Shuang, a refreshingly modern addition to Chinatown. Occupying a former all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet, the restaurant has swapped quantity for quality: the menu boasts no MSG and hotpots are picked from plates priced by colour, bubbling past on winding belts. Spread over the ground and first floor, the decor is sparing: predominantly muted tones conjure a clean and spacious feel, allowing the steaming pots and industrious spectacle to take full attention.
The hotpot-for-dummies-style menu is ideal for the uninitiated, breaking down the process of picking a broth, dipping sauce and ingredients, while helpfully explaining the myriad of dining accoutrements at every seat. Mala broth is typically spicy and a great match for a plate of plump prawns, Sichuan peppercorns fizzing with spikes of heat (with plenty more chilli on the side if you wish). Of the ingredients we chose, chewy fish balls stuffed with pork were unmissable; dense and hearty in taste, a novelty for hotpot newcomers. Vegetarians also have plenty to choose from, small parcels of stuffed tofu being another must-grab conveyor belt plate. After a well-earned break from cooking, diners can order from a small range of snacks, including crispy, fatty pig’s ears fried in strips or delicately spiced scallop and prawn fritters.
As you might expect, quality and ordering by the plate doesn’t come cheap if you lose track of your plates (we’ve all had that experience in a well-known sushi chain), and the short, bargain-free Old World wine list doesn’t help either. Some may find the frenetic ground floor a steam cloud short of a sauna too, but the tranquil first floor offers a spacious solution and these gripes are assuaged by the level of thought and attention that has clearly gone into the operation, particularly the well-trained staff. If you’re a hotpot virgin, Shuang Shuang is a superb introduction.
Shuang Shuang joins the ranks of the Chinatown elite, but with so many Chinese restaurants packed in to such a small area, how can you tell which ones are worth a visit? Look no further than our pick of the best Chinese restaurants in Chinatown.
This article was published 13 January 2016