Whenever I find myself thinking of where to bring friends or family to eat, we end up having hotpot all the time. Hotpot eateries are massively popular with collagen hotpot a popular version of the soul warming dining style here in Singapore. Ladies gravitate towards it — which doesn’t come as a surprise, given how collagen is supposedly good for one’s complexion.
Looking good shouldn’t have to cost a bomb and thankfully DANRO by MOF has introduced a collagen hotpot buffet at affordable prices, with an express lunch (1-hour buffet) going at only $14.90++ that includes unlimited servings of chicken, pork and beef slices.
With existing outlets at NEX and Waterway Point, DANRO Collagen Hotpot Buffet by MOF has added a third outlet at JEM shopping centre in December 2016, catering to the shoppers and residents living in the West.
With a casual spacious interior, tables are adequately spaced apart. No longer do you have to worry about your conversations being overheard by the table beside yours.
The use of warm lights and wooden furniture add to the whole Japanese dining vibe. Paying extra attention to detail, we even spotted Japanese characters for the names of the hotpot ingredients.
Choose from an unlimited supply and wide variety of vegetables, fishballs, vegetable balls, crabstick and starchy staples like rice and noodles. All of which complement and add more layers of flavour to your collagen hotpot experience.
The collagen recipe used here is developed by Head Chef Sonada who boils the skin and bones of both the pork and chicken for hours in order to extract the collagen. Just look at the white collagen cubes prior to cooking that have a smooth tofu-like texture! Just by staring at it, my face felt firmer.
You’ll get to choose up to two types of broth. In our case, we opted for the chicken collagen broth and garlic pork collagen broth. Then enjoy as the collagen dissolves once you start boiling it, before turning into a milky white thick broth.
If you prefer a spicy broth instead, choose from the other two broth flavours available – garlic pork spicy or chicken collagen spicy.
Besides the choice of vegetables, staples and other ingredients to amp up the level of sweetness and flavour of the broth. I just love how they have so many types of mushrooms available here. The self confessed mushroom fanatic in me is pleased indeed.
Onto the main stars of the hotpot buffet – the meats. Since we were here for lunch, we could choose from either sliced chicken, pork or beef. Prawns are available for dinner also. Just look at the marbling on the sliced beef imported from the U.S.
You know the meats are fresh when they don’t fall apart when picked up. The meats are sliced on-site at the restaurant and served immediately after the customer orders the meats of their choice (chicken, beef or pork).
Once the collagen jelly has fully dissolved, it’s time to throw ingredients in and begin relishing your hotpot experience. Between the two broths that we got to try I would recommend you to go for the chicken collagen broth if you prefer something that is lighter and more cleaner tasting.
The garlic pork collagen broth has a heavier flavour that is a tad richer than the chicken broth. The flavour of garlic however, is mild. The potency of which I suspect might have been overwhelmed by the sweetness of the vegetables. That didn’t make the less delectable as we slurped bowl after bowl of collagen broth.
Given that the collagen broth here is free-flow, you might as well get your fill of this warm elixir of youth?
Go ahead and dip your meats shabu-style, given how thinly sliced they are I wouldn’t recommend throwing them directly in the broth. Just a few dips into the boiling broth and the meat should be cooked just right for you to enjoy the texture of the meat.
The free-flow premium meats that are served are all non-marinated on purpose. Create your own sauce to dip your meats into, with over ten types of sauces available, including momoji oroshi, ponzu sauce and peanut sauce amongst others.
According to the Chef Sonada’s recommendation, try combining the ponzu, momoji oroshi and spring onions for a traditional shabu-shabu dip. Go ahead and experiment with it, the combinations are endless.
How thoughtful to also have some cooked food items available as part of the collagen hotpot buffet. Perfect for children or just hungry adults that can’t wait to dig in.
Enjoy free-flow of soft-drinks, lemon tea and green tea as part of the buffet as well; this is something most buffets lack. The collagen broth does get a bit cloy after a while, so a refreshing drink to cut through the savoury flavours.
For the complete Japanese dining experience, DANRO offers a selection of Sake (starting from $8++ for 334ml) to choose from.
And, if you’ve exercised — self control, or just have an insatiable appetite, the collagen hotpot buffet includes dessert as well. Choose from four refreshing ice-cream flavours that are the perfect ending to the meal.
Despite having a time-limit on lunch, the value-for-money at DANRO is too good to pass up with free flow meats, vegetables, drinks and dessert. We left bellies filled and perhaps skin smoother with all that collagen goodness from the broth.
So what are you waiting for? Tuck into DANRO’s hotpot experience the next time you have a meal with your family or friends, and not nip tuck!
Buffet prices differ slightly depending on lunch or dinner dining. So here’s a complete breakdown of the prices and allocated time-limits.
Expected damage:
Weekday
Lunch (1 hour 20mins) – $17.90++ (Adult), $9.90++ (Child 4-10 years)
Dinner (1 hour 40mins) – $24.90++(Adult), $9.90++ (Child 4-10 years), $21.90++ (Senior Citizen 55 years & above)
Weekend, Public Holiday and Eve of Public Holiday
All day: $24.90++ (Adult), $9.90++ (Child 4-10 years), $21.90++ (Senior Citizen 55 years & above)
Time extension (15 minute block): $5++ (Applies to every diner)
DANRO Collagen Hotpot Buffet by MOF: 50 Jurong Gateway Road, JEM, #01-16, Singapore 608549 | Tel: 63387368 | Facebook
Opening hours: Mon – Thu: 11.30am – 5.30pm (Lunch), 5.30pm – 10pm (Dinner), Fri: 11.30am – 5.30pm (Lunch), 5.30pm – 10.30pm (Dinner), Sat & Eve of Public Holiday (All Day): 11.30am – 10.30pm, Sun & Public Holiday (All Day): 11.30am – 10pm
*This post was brought to you in partnership with Danro Collagen Hotpot Buffet by MOF