I have visited Xian De Lai (鲜得来) at JEM for a few times, using normal dinner rate before I decided to buy two e-coupons (once only). Why did I buy once only .... because I visited Xian De Lai on impromptu basis. I often go weekday window shopping, browse B1 in JEM and felt 'today I feel like having Xian De Lai' so I just walk-in without any reservation. I have tried both Set menu (for a woman like me, I was not feeling full even after ending with tanghoon) and buffet - after all the ++, per person cost around $30 (not cheap, compared to other steamboat buffet that I patronized). Can't remember the exact weekday and Friday (classified as weekend rate) night cost because I have not been eating Xian De Lai steamboat buffet for quite some time (hubby on diet, buffet has been strike-off from his list). I created this post just to show there are some good e-deals. Note that good e-deals may be good at the initial stage. Noticed some vendors decided to cut their food (mysteriously missing when you visit the next time) or are not prompt in replenishing those 'expensive seafood food' ... read my post about Holiday Inn buffet - Window on the Park.
The buffet food served is the same as any normal dinner times. The only difference in using an e-coupon is that on top of having the usual at a discounted price, I get a free drink. As for feeling smelly after a 'steamboat bath', I'd like to tell you the good news is that you won't feel drenched or smelly because of good ventilation in JEM and also the high ceiling.
Overall experience was not too bad. If you like chilli, they are plenty of chilli for you to mix and match. If you don't like steamboat due to sharing saliva, you'll be delighted because you'll get one pot for yourself.
I like the soup choices. Something unusual, not because they are done to perfect stage or brewed without MSG. Choices are: Duck soup, Tonkotsu soup, Spicy Ma La soup, Chicken soup and Tom Yum Soup. Hubby and I liked Laksa but it is not on the list. Didn't like Tom Yum (tasted like mild tom yum paste water with no substance), Ma La too spicy so didn't try ... the rest tried and felt ok.
Hubby liked their uncooked seasoned wings and ribs. Cooked food, he likes Drunken Chicken and Braised Pork Belly in Tea Sauce. We have tried ordering fried wings each visit and must say the food are fried the time you ordered so there are still hot and not soggy or too oily (some people fried wings but you can still see an oily surface or oil oozing when you bite ... eerie).
Xian De Lai has those squeeze in paste (noodle), its brownish. When it oozes out and drops into the pot.... you got the feeling of what you see in the toilet. Taste so-so but is a new kind of experience.
My habit is to order buffet as round 1 with all that I liked best, don't want to miss if my stomach 'suddenly becomes full'. The pot is very small so you can't really dump all the ingredients in. The table isn't that huge so don't order too many. It's buffet, take your time. I believe they will serve you 'unlimited serving' as long as you can finish whatever you've ordered. It is not a pick and choose buffet, your choices will be served to you. By the way, some fire can be kind of weak and you need to take a while to see 'boiling point'. If you noticed the water took ages to boil even after you've covered, lift up and look at your fire, it could be nearing to an end and need a new butt.
Tried flower crabs, not that appalling (not fresh, flesh is 粉粉 not solid or smells really not fresh). Prawns - sometimes not fresh 虾身软棉棉 or head a bit coming off. Round 2 is a repeat of either cooked or uncooked food that I wanted a second serving or those that I didn't tick in round 1. Usually, I'm 80% full after round 2. Can't push myself for 100% ... eat till I feel like vomiting .... no thanks, my metabolism rate has slowed down so better not take the risk of getting bloated and uncomfortable.
End your buffet with a dessert. Been there quite a few times and only get to eat either chilled red bean or green bean, no other choices. Also, no option for hot ones.
I like steamboat buffet with cooked and uncooked food. Having cooked food would mean I don't just eat food dipped and cooked in soup. There are also fried or food with other cooking style. If Xian De Lai has some reward card system, eg after 5 visits (with 5 stamps on a card), customer gets 50% off the next visit, I believe it is a good method to attract regulars.
I used to visit a steamboat buffet shop near Tiong Bahru area which has lots of MediaCorp artistes pictures hanged on the wall. The price has been going up and up but the total cost is still lesser than Xian De Lai. The reason why I'm not going over nowadays is because it is not near mrt station and the tables/chairs are placed so close to each other. Not comfy and convenient. There was another that I went near Dunearn food centre. Ingredients are quite fresh. The defrost prawn shell was hard and looks very bright. It has its unique cooked spicy mild chilli padi la-la and prawns. It has closed down early 2014. Another in the West (Clementi) that I liked was because it served deep fried oyster (very unusual on the cooked food buffet list), frozen scallop in skell and fresh mussels (only served once). It has closed down last year. Both are about $22 per person and believe location was not right or not much advertisement done.
Some people thought going for buffet, you must eat till you drop or stuffing yourself to 101%. When I was young, I can afford to hit 100% but now, 80-90% full is just right. If you break down the cost of cooked food and be served at zichar price, then add in the fresh steamboat ingredients, you may feel some buffet price are still ok, reasonable ... not forgetting you need not buy ingredients, prepare, make a good soup and then finally, do the all washing, as well as clearing!
I purchased above e-coupon in Feb 2014.
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