Johor Bahru JB, Malaysia 1-Day Trip (PART-FOUR)
- Rayki Goh, MSc
- Jun 5
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Final Stop: Haidilao Huo Guo @ Zenith Mall
Dear food people,
Zenith Mall, located in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, is often overlooked by visitors to City Square, even though it is literally just behind it.
JB HAIDILAO.
Located on the ground floor of Zenith Mall, dining at Haidilao is always a bit of a gamble, not because of the food, but thanks to the notorious wait times.
Some days, you could be waiting for hours; other times, you’re lucky and just five groups away from hotpot heaven.
If you haven’t heard of this mega Chinese hotpot franchise, it’s safe to say you might be living under a rock, it’s time to get out and discover what all the fuss is about! Ha!
On this trip, our final stop was Haidilao, but not to review their food quality (which is reliably excellent, no matter the country). Instead, our mission was to compare the prices especially with the rumour swirling that Malaysia branches are far more affordable than those in Singapore.
In Singapore, no matter how careful you are with your order, the average bill is usually somewhere between SGD 50 to SGD 80 per person.
So, how does the Malaysian experience stack up?
For the sake of research, we ordered generous portions of meats, veggies, sides, and all the condiments you’d expect.
We went for both the Mala Milk Broth (spicy) and Three Treasure Broth (non-spicy). The result? The food quality, service, and ambience were exactly as you’d expect from Haidilao: top-notch.
Even the well-stocked condiment station for custom sauce mixing was just like home.
The Verdict
Our total bill came to RM 339.80, which is about SGD 103; or just SGD 34.33 per person. That’s roughly 30-50% cheaper than what you’d pay in Singapore. No wonder the queues are always so long!
So here’s the real question: would you brave the crowds and cross the border for a more affordable Haidilao feast?
If you’re craving a great hotpot experience without the Singapore price tag, it might just be worth the trip.
