Juju Hokkaido Hotpot

We had originally wanted to go for Japanese dinner and being the perpetual kiamseap fella, I had decided to bring the family to this Japanese 'foodstreet' at PoMo. However, when we got there, we discovered the Japanese foodstreet was no more and there was instead a Japanese restaurant serving only buffet at $31.00 per head. Deciding that since there was no occasion to splurge, we decided to look for cheaper alternatives.

Unfortunately or fortunately (as it turns out) there wasn't much choices in the building and as we were all rather hungry by then, in the end we decided to settle for another Japanese food outlet at the basement. What enticed us was the name - JuJu Hokkaido Hotpot restaurant. Now we haven't been to Hokkaido so this was as good an opportunity to savor something from that region. It wasn't too cheap though $29.00 per head but what the heck! And it was a decision that we did not regret. There was only 2 pages to the menu. A standard starter for everybody and then a choice of various type of main for the hotpot. For the hotpot itself, there was a choice of 3 different type of soup. Then there was a choice of desert and also a small glass of vinegar plum juice (to wash down the food) or so the waitress said. So there being four of us, we order a main of beef; chicken and pork combo; fish and lastly seafood platter. We had all the 3 type of soup; clear, creamy and mala. And these was the food that was served. I present the JuJu Hokkaido hotpot feast:

First the starter. Just like the Japanese restaurant in Japan, this came presented very beautifully in a black lacquer tray. A soft boiled egg which the waiter showed us how to cut open and pour the sauce onto, a small little piece of Yellowfish, which the waiter reminded us must eat - very expensive and a piece of tofu.

Next was the main course. And we were shocked and awed by the size of them. Just take a look at the cutleries and bowls next to it and you can imagine the gigantic portion

This is the beef. Like all the other main courses, it comes with a glass container of vegetables and assorted mushrooms, some carrots, yam, brinjal and tofu

This is the chicken and pork combo.

This is the fish set. There are 3 different type of fish meat including this big seabass.

And this is the seafood platter which consist of prawns, fish, cuttlefish and scallops. Unfortunately, there was also supposed to be crab but they were out so we had to settle for more fish and 1 more prawn

Put them all together and this was what the 4 of us had:

And then there was dessert. Very pretty looking but very small portion but by then we were really truly filled so it was okay.

All in all, it was a very satisfying meal. Atmosphere wasn't that great but for the price, it was worth every cent. The only blemish was that I noticed the glass container which was used to hold the vegetables and mushroom were badly cracked. And I wondered what happened to the glass pieces.

But overall, for those who want a great hotpot or steamboat as we local call it, this is truly a great fine. And I can't wait to go back and try its sister restaurant serving Hongkong hotpot!