I’ve been on a bit of a hot pot hunt as of late (or as well call it in Malaysia, steamboat), especially Sichuan style mala hot pot. So when the opportunity to be one of the earliest group to sample Xiao Long Kan Sichuan Hot Pot (å°é¾™åŽç«é”…) came calling, I was quite excited, to say the least.
Xiao Long Kan at Fahrenheit 88
Xiao Long Kan is one of the most popular spicy steamboat chain originated from Chengdu, which is the capital of Sichuan province in China. So when it comes to authenticity, you can’t do any better than that, this is the ground zero of Spicy mala hot pot.
pork bone broth, tomato, or mala soup?
Xiao Long Kan’s first branch in Malaysia is located at Fahrenheit 88, more specifically, at the side that is facing Starhill shopping mall (don’t try to look for it INSIDE Fahrenheit 88 like I did..)
While there’s plenty of seats spanning across 4 levels, it already gets pretty packed, but a little patience from your end and I’m sure you’ll agree that it is definitely worth it.
original condiment, without all the other fuss
There’s four different soup base to choose from – traditional spicy soup (mala, a must have), tomato soup, mushroom, and pork bone broth. You can always go for up to three like we did (all except mushroom). Additionally, the level of spiciness can also be customized. Do refer to the menu below.
Condiment situation is different here at Xiao Long Kan compared to just about every other hot pot outlets. Instead of a dozen or even more choices, here they stick to the traditional way of cilantro, green onion, and garlic. A special oil (xiang yu) is then added to the condiment which has the property of lowering heat. You can also choose to add soya sauce or black vinegar, though the good chef does not recommend doing so.
This blend is to ensure the taste of ingredients and soup is tasted to its fullest instead of being overpowered by fancy condiments. Can’t say I disagree.
Australian wagyu A5, we had to order another portion, so good
And then there’s ingredients. Xiao Long Kan does not lack in “special dishes” not easily found at other restaurants. Some of which even requires some sense of adventure.
We were served with Astralian wagyu A5 (so good we went for seconds), pork ball, pork neck, fish paste, prawns, pork belly, chili beef, rose meat ball, sliced lamb, and these are just the “normal dishes”.
meat slices, duck intestine, pork blood, balls, pig’s brain, and tripe
In addition, we also had duck intestine, tripe, pork blood (my love!), pig’s brain, and even aorta!
I like that they also include a guide on the menu on how long you should cook each ingredients – ranging from 30 seconds (sliced green bamboo shoots), to 8 minutes (pig’s brain). Following the guide ensures that you don’t overcook certain items to the point where flavor is lost, or worse, under cook dishes and end up having an washing machine within…
sliced green bamboo shoots were definitely on point
Their rice cake & fried crispy meat are two of the ready-to-eat items we tried, and both are pretty delicious too. The rice cake should be consumed soonest possible to enjoy that crispy on the outside and soft inside texture.
As a rule of thumb, meat is best cooked in the clear or spicy soup, while vege goes better with tomato/clear soup, as advised by the head chef from Chengdu. These sort of pairing ensures that taste doesn’t clash, sorta like how you pair red with meat, and white with seafood kinda idea.
Jess, Mei Mei, KY, Eunice, Mag at Xiao Long Kan
Overall I got to say that this was one of the best hotpot I had recently, the super thick tomato soup, to the aroma from the red spicy soup, and all those fancy, fresh, and mostly imported ingredients. I’m pretty sure we’ll be back again for more mala goodness.
Address:
Xiao Long Kan
Lot 03, Block D, 179,
Fahrenheit88, Jalan Bukit Bintang,
55100 Kuala Lumpur
GPS: 3.147331, 101.713282
FB: Â www.facebook.com/XiaoLongKanMY
aircon full blast please sir!
Hodor: memang full blast! stim
mall name officiall changed to Fahrenheit 212 a few days later #realnews
kekeke: esp wh en in toilet?
LOL ah uncle KY speaking from personal experience after epic dinner #ahemmmm #fireintheholeeeeeeeee
Hodor: burppsss
other hole is scorched from epic sichuan hotpot dinner, so gas has to come out from other hole #realfacts
hopefully the proctologist visit went well over the weekend
kekeke: ouch.
the doctor prodded your a**** with flexible camera for that long ah issit? #LOL
kekeke: would I enjoy it?
Oh dear, my tongue is on fire already hearing the words “spicy mala hotpot”! O_o So, I believe you’ll be trying haidilao soon? 😉
eatwhateatwhere: already tried that one too. 😀
be careful of the robots over there…. #skynet #AI
Eh where’s the aorta?! We missed that!
Pureglutton: time for you to visit again! haha.
i love pork brains, so i’d want that! i’m not sure i’ve ever tried duck intestines before, so i want that too 😉 but looking at the food, i hope they serve ice cream for dessert 😀
Sean: well you can also opt for pork soup 😛
woahh.. maciam happy gathering …
taufulou: memang was a nice session!
Eat mala hot until whole face numb LOL willem hung will agree #observe
Hodor: I haven’t heard that name for a long time!
who? botox queen?
Hodor: siapa?!
ehehehehehehe she looks scarier than baba yega. Yes even the baba yega!! #scaryshiteman
NJHL so fast try ady… eh the pig brain look different geh. Different breed ka? HAHAHA
Munkey: hahaha smarter pig? i don’t know.
We have a few hotpot places, have one in particular in mind…but yet to find time to go and try. I doubt it will be anywhere half as nice as this one you had.
suituapui: these china hotpot’s real game changers.
Eek pig brain! What is the texture of cooked pig brain? I havent eaten pig’s brain before and I’m not sure if I am adventurous enough for this but if you don’t tell me it is pig’s brain, 99% I would have popped it into my mouth 😀
maybe you have already tried it, but unaware of it still #LOL #exclusiverealnews
Merryn: hahah it only takes a little bit of courage! To be honest it’s not something I really enjoy that much.
You captured some great shots. The setting looks very cosy.
Monica: thanks 😀
Marbling always look pretty wan #realfacts
I enjoyed the duck intestine and of course the Wagyu, but the pork brain….. one time enough, haha!
Choi Yen: haha ya the brain also isn’t my cup of tea.
hi can I check if this hot pot place uses MSG?
L: Ahh, that I wouldn’t know. I have a feeling that they may not, but can’t be 100% sure.
Hey KY, have you tried the one in Sunway Velocity? Previously named Xiao Long Kan but now renamed to Xiao Long Xing Jiang Hu. Not sure which one nicer.
Zac: haven’t tried that one, this is the real XLK, the other wasn’t from the original place of origin.