Hotpot is everywhere these days, but not every restaurant brings real history and the authentic Chongqing experience to the table.
The famous Lead General Hotpot 帅将军火锅, now open at Tiong Bahru Plaza, is a spot you need to check out.
Especially with 50% OFF ALL food items (till end May 2025).
This brand brings serious heritage, rooted in Chongqing’s historic Ciqikou district, a place famous for traditional crafts and street food dating back over a thousand years.
First impression: clean and spacious.
Booths are comfortable, tables come with built-in hotpot stoves, and there’s a side trolley at each table for extra space.
Lead General offers six different broths, each with its own distinct character.
They include the Classic Pork Tripe & Chicken Broth, General’s Inferno Spicy Beef Tallow Pot, General’s Fish Maw & Chicken Pot, General’s Wild Mushroom Pot, General’s Clear Oil Pot, and General’s Red Robe Tomato Pot.
When in doubt, you can order the “General’s Four Palace Grid Pot Bottom” to try four soups. Here’s more:
Fish Maw and Chicken Pot
If you like a collagen-rich broth, order this. It hits straight away with depth – creamy, silky, and is flavourful from the 25 ingredients blended in. Yes, 25.
This is the one to pick if you want something hearty but still feel like you’re doing your body a favour.
Inferno Spicy Beef Tallow Pot
Order this for the full Chongqing experience. This recipe is 40 years old, and it shows.
The beef tallow gives the broth serious body, which is thick, oily, and deep red.
The heat builds fast, numbing your tongue and lips the way proper mala hotpot should. And it’s addictive.
Classic Pork Tripe and Chicken Broth
Another one of my favourites. It’s made with pork trotters, chicken feet, old hen, and duck, all simmered for over six hours.
What you get is a milky broth that’s deeply savoury. I find this goes well with both meats and vegetables, and it’s a safe pick.
General’s Red Robe Tomato Pot
Bright and tangy, it’s lighter and brings a nice reset between heavy or spicy bites.
The tomato base is sweet but balanced, and it works especially well with seafood and greens. A good call if you want some contrast on the table.
Let’s talk about the signature ingredients… They include General’s Tripe, General’s Basa Fish Fillet, General’s Cheese Fortune Bag, Sichuan-Style Spicy Beef, Tender Chicken Gizzards, Sichuan-Style Spicy Ribs, and Honeycomb Beef Tripe.
Golden Defender Pomfret ($33)
You will find some of the dishes have dramatic presentations. This pomfret arrives upright, sliced into even pieces and stacked neatly on a rack.
Each slice is plump and fresh, ready to soak up broth.
General’s Shrimp Paste ($24)
A must order. The paste is topped with ebiko, filled in a bamboo tube.
Once it hits the broth, the paste firms into bouncy, juicy chunks, full of seafood sweetness.
Double Pepper Beef ($18)
Thin slices of tender beef are layered with a mix of red and green chopped chilli, bringing both heat and fragrance.
The slices cook in seconds, coming out soft but with a spicy edge that lingers.
The meat selection covers everything from Signature Snowflake Wagyu, Iberico Pork, Iberico Pork Belly Slices, Exquisite American Fatty Beef, Tender Lamb, and A4 Sirloin Miyazaki, to Pork Liver, Double Pepper Chicken, and Boneless Duck Feet.
Plenty of variety, from premium cuts to bold, offal picks.
Seasonal Mixed Veggie Basket ($14)
Fresh, crisp napa cabbage, leafy greens, sweet corn, and thick tomato slices come out vibrant, adding balance to the meal.
The sauce station ($3.80) deserves its own spotlight. It’s a full DIY setup with everything you need to build your perfect dipping sauce.
You get spicy apricot sauce, Thai sauce, beef sauce, shacha sauce, chilli powder, sesame paste, coriander, garlic, spring onions, soy sauce, vinegar, and golden soybeans.
There are rotating desserts and fresh fruits too.
Lead General Hotpot 帅将军火锅
Tiong Bahru Plaza #02-117, 302 Tiong Bahru Rd, Singapore 168732 (Next to Sushiro)
Tel: +65 8916 0808
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Lead General Hotpot.
