I've been hearing quite a bit of buzz about Lalapot in Johor Bahru, with many claiming it's the better hotpot option. Intrigued by the hype, my friends and I decided to plan a day trip to Sutera Utama, with dinner at Lalapot set for 5 PM. I'm excited to see if it lives up to its reputation!
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| 5PM Lalapot 五点啦啦煲 |
As we arrived at Lalapot, we noticed that the restaurant was quite empty. It suddenly dawned on me that their business name actually refers to their opening hours—they start operations at 5 PM. Stepping inside, I found the place to be spacious and well-suited for large groups, making it an ideal spot for gatherings. However, one pet peeve we encountered was an intermittent sour smell that occasionally lingered,
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| Restaurant Interior |
In one corner of the restaurant, patrons can enjoy a free flow of condiments, including Hua Diao Wine, Sesame Oil, Dark Soy Sauce, Light Soy Sauce, Spring Onions, and more.
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| Condiments Area |
Lalapot offers quite a variety of soup bases, leaving patrons spoilt for choice. If you're unsure which to pick, you can always opt for their Best Sellers, which include the Signature Soup, Flaming Mala Soup, Herbal Wine Prawn Soup, and Coconut Chicken Pot.
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| Our Spread |
It’s become quite a trend for Lala Hotpot places to prepare their Lala in a special way, where the chef cooks them right in front of the patrons with a huge flame at the table. This not only attracts attention but also creates a memorable experience, with many patrons eager to capture the moment on video.
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| Fire from Hotpot |
I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement when I spotted "炸蛋" (fried egg) on the table. Fried egg is always my favorite when it comes to enjoying hotpot, as it adds an extra layer of flavor to the soup.
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| Fresh Egg | 炸蛋 - RM 6 |
While most of the items we ordered required some time to be cooked and served, we decided to get the Fried Taiwanese Sausage to munch on while waiting for our hotpot. However, the taste of the sausage was quite different from what I had expected. Its flavor reminded me of "Lup Cheong"—the cured sausage typically used in Hong Kong-style Claypot Rice.
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| Fried Taiwanese Sausage | 炸台湾香肠 - RM 8 |
Looking at the marbled Pork Slice, I was amazed by the uniformity of the marbling. It looked so enticing, almost as if it was calling out, “Come! Eat me.”
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| Marbled Pork Slice | 松阪猪 - RM 15 |
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| First Love Tomato Soup | 酸酸甜甜番茄汤 - RM 38 |
Before adding the rest of the food into the hotpot, we took out the cooked Lala to make space for the other ingredients. Just imagine the tangy sweetness of the tomato soup infused with the natural seafood sweetness from the Lala—an irresistible combination.
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| Lala |
Next, let’s give their handmade shrimp paste a try! It’s always exciting to taste something made in-house—it adds a unique flavor to the hotpot.
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| Shrimp Paste | 招牌手打虾滑 - RM 15 |
Even after we were done with the hotpot, the charcoal heat didn’t go to waste. T
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| Biscuits and Marshmallow |
hey took the claypot away but left the charcoal behind, giving us the chance to barbecue marshmallows—such a fun and delicious way to end the meal!
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| BBQ Marshmallow |
It was a great idea to sandwich the barbecued marshmallow between two biscuits and enjoy it. The warm, gooey marshmallow paired perfectly with the crunchy biscuits, making for a delightful treat to round off the meal.
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| Marshmallow & Biscuits |
Overall, I found the soup base to be to my liking. When comparing it to other similar hotpot restaurants a few doors away, I was quite surprised that 5pm Lalapot is the crowd's preferred choice. It definitely left a strong impression, and I can see why it’s so popular.
5PM Lalapot 五点啦啦煲 (Sutera Utama)
Location: 82, Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama 81300 Skudai, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia
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