Chicken Hotpot Compass One Review: Our Affordable Sengkang Lunch Favourite

Chicken Hotpot at Compass One has recently become one of our “default” weekday lunch spots in Sengkang. On days where we feel like something hearty, comforting, and satisfying but don’t want to spend too much money, Chicken Hotpot is often where we end up.

Usually we don’t deviate much from our order. We typically order the Large Chicken Hotpot (spicy), grab a few additional items from the self-service fridge, get some rice, and let the pot simmer at our table.

Chicken Hotpot doesn’t have an extravagant set-up with massive sauce stations and an extensive list of soup bases. Instead, Chicken Hotpot at Compass One is delightfully no-frills: a simmering pot of chicken served in a savoury, spicy sauce, a fridge full of add-ons should you desire them, and enough food to fill two people.

During our most recent weekday lunch visit, we spent $51.30 for two (inclusive of service charge and GST). It still feels relatively reasonable to me for a comfort lunch that fills you up in Singapore.

Chicken Hotpot Compass One: Our Quick Verdict

Chicken Hotpot Compass One deserves a visit if you’re looking for a cheap yet hearty and comforting steamboat-style meal in Sengkang. We love the Large Chicken Hotpot (order it spicy, for obvious reasons) and the self-service add-on allows you to tailor your meal according to how hungry you are.

Do note though that this outlet tends to get fairly crowded during the weekday lunch hour. If you’re heading there around lunch peak time, expect most of the tables to be filled.

That hasn’t stopped Chicken Hotpot from being one of our go-to lunches at Compass One for us, though.

What We Always Order: Large Spicy Chicken Hotpot

It’s rare to find restaurants where I take several minutes going over the menu trying to make up my mind what to order.

Chicken Hotpot is not one of these restaurants.

Whenever we visit, we pretty much order the Chicken Hotpot Large with a spicy soup base.

The hotpot is served at your table already assembled in a large black pot which sits atop its own burner. You’ll notice that there are already generous portions of chicken slices and vegetables within the pot. Large chunks of onion are piled on top along with other greens, chilli and coriander.

Unlike what you may expect from the clear soup that you would get at your regular steamboat restaurant, Chicken Hotpot has its own unique sauce that is much darker and thicker.

Comforting is how I would describe my dining experience with Chicken Hotpot. Forget delicate. There’s just something wonderful about a mix of chicken slices, spicy sauce and vegetables while slurping up everything in that pot, which stays hot the entire time.

Oh yea. Don’t forget since the pot is sitting on a burner, your dining experience evolves ever so slightly as you continue to eat. Simply add more ingredients into the pot, soak everything in the sauce then carry on eating at your leisure.

Adding Extra Ingredients Is Part of the Fun

One feature that makes Chicken Hotpot Compass One different from ordering a normal claypot or braised chicken dish is its self-service refrigerator of hotpot ingredients.

After ordering your chicken pot, you can simply walk over to the refrigerator and choose whatever else you want to add.

There are vegetables, mushrooms, noodles, tofu products, meat and processed hotpot ingredients arranged on different coloured plates.

Prices can of course change, so I would still check the labels above the refrigerator when you visit.

The refrigerator provided was quite extensive when we visited. I saw instant noodles, yee mee, nai bai, mixed vegetables, mixed mushrooms, tau pok, fried beancurd sheet, fish balls, pork balls, lobster balls, enoki mushrooms, cabbage, spinach, broccoli, tang o, cheese tofu, fried yam, abalone mushrooms, mushroom mushrooms, etc.

They also have meats like sliced beef, sliced pork etc.

Need not order much. The chicken pot itself is quite a lot, especially if you go for the big size.

Our Favourite Addition: Beancurd Skin

One of those things that pairs nicely with a pot like this as it gives you something other than chicken and vegetables to eat while soaking up all the sauce in the hotpot.

The good thing about the plate system is that you know approximately how much you are costing yourself as you go along. However, it is also very easy to be liberal with it as well.

S$2.50 plate here and a S$4.50 plate there does not seem like much at the individual item level, but picking up a few plates here and there can turn what initially seems like a super cheap meal into a lot pricier meal.

I think for two people, picking and choosing your items carefully works better.

How Much Does Chicken Hotpot Compass One Cost?

One reason I wanted to include our actual receipt in this Chicken Hotpot Compass One review is that restaurant menu prices alone do not always tell you what a realistic meal will cost.

Here was our bill for two pax

That works out to around S$25.65 per person for the two of us.

It’s reasonable for sit down meal with big bubbling pot of chicken and few extras by Singapore restaurant standards these days.

You could also minimise your bill by opting out of some side dishes or share rice if not feeling very hungry.

On the other hand you can easily spiral into premium prices if you start ordering deluxe plates, chicken and many add ons.

Is the Large Chicken Hotpot Enough for Two?

Yes, for us.

Large Chicken Hotpot fits comfortably between two people when you consider rice and extras.

Also, that is one reason we find it so convenient as a lunch meal. Instead of ordering multiple mains and sides, we begin with a single large pot in the center of the table. We each add a couple ingredients we feel like eating that day and divvy up the portions.

What Is the Spicy Chicken Hotpot Like?

We always order spicy, which is the version I’d get again personally.

The meal comes with chicken sitting in dark, thick-looking gravy with onions, chilli and vegetables, which you can continue to simmer in front of you.

It’s especially nice with rice.

Because as you add items they cook in the sauce instead of just boiling in flavourless broth. That’s really great for flavour-absorbing foods like tofu products and mushrooms.

If you’re coming here specifically because you want a giant Sichuan-style mala hotpot with lots of soup bases and a make-your-own dipping sauce bar, you’ll probably be disappointed. Chicken Hotpot is meant to be simpler.

Chicken remains the focus, and you grab whatever’s in your refrigerator to supplement it into a full meal.

It Can Get Crowded During Weekday Lunch

Chicken Hotpot Compass One fills up even on weekdays during lunch.

There were already several people in here when we arrived on our last visit and we’ve caught it packed before during the lunch hour rush as well.

I’m not surprised it’s one of our go-to spots for weekday lunches myself. It’s affordable, filling and something we don’t see often anymore: a sit down lunch that doesn’t feel rushed or like you just ate a bowl of noodles or some cheap fast food.

If you can time it, go a bit early to avoid the craziness of lunchtime.

Is Chicken Hotpot Compass One Affordable?

Sure, especially if you’re sharing the big pot and don’t load up on add-ons.

We paid a total of S$51.30 for two which included the big chicken pot, rice and 3 sides.

About S$25 per person seems reasonable to me for that much food at a sit-down restaurant in Singapore in 2026.

You also have a lot of control over your final bill.

If you want an inexpensive lunch, keep it to mostly the chicken pot and rice. Load up on veggie, tofu, noodles or mushroom if you’re hungry. If you’re craving that hotpot experience with meat, go ahead and start ordering the meat and premium plates.

I much prefer this over paying a large fixed buffet price when we just want a regular weekday lunch.

Who I Think Will Like Chicken Hotpot Compass One

Chicken Hotpot really only makes sense if you’re looking for something hot, hearty, and on the cheaper side.

Dining partners will enjoy it most, since one whole pot can be shared between two people for lunch while each individual selects what ingredients they want to add to the broth.

Families can dive right in too since there are so many ingredients you’ll recognize from your own fridge at home. Though if you or your kids can’t handle spice, make sure to ask for your spice preference.

This isn’t the restaurant for you if you’re looking to get premium hotpot, want a massive spread of buffet items, or want to spend hours dining with fancy service.

A Few Tips Before You Visit

If it is your first time there, go for the chicken pot FIRST before filling up on too many sides. It’s hard to tell how hungry you’ll still be until the main pot shows up. Keep in mind that each plate you order is charged individually. Adding on 3 or 4 extras can easily amount to S$10–S$20 at the end of your meal.

As such, our go-to strategy for two people is much more simple: order the Large Chicken Hotpot, get some rice, pick a few favourite ingredients, then load up if/as needed.

Lastly, if you’re heading there during the week, try to arrive just before the lunch rush because Compass One gets packed.

Getting to Chicken Hotpot Compass One

Address: 1 Sengkang Square #B1-34 Compass One Singapore 545078

FAQ

Is Chicken Hotpot available in Compass One?

Yes. It was located at #B1-34 Compass One, 1 Sengkang Square, Singapore 545078.

How much does Chicken Hotpot at Compass One cost?

Chicken Hotpot did not list individual prices for their toppings on the menu. Additional items are self served from a refrigerator. Pricing during our visit on 5 August 20 was S$28.80 before service charge and GST for the Large Chicken Hotpot. The total bill for two including rice and three additional plates was S$51.30.

How does Chicken Hotpot sides work?

Chicken Hotpot’s side dishes are their additional hotpot ingredients that can be served from a self serve refrigerator. There are plates with different colors/categories of food, you help yourself to the plates you want and each plate costs a set price based on the plate color. The prices as of our visit ranged from S$2.50 (yellow plate) to S$7 (assorted basket and premium plate).

Can I order Chicken Hotpot for two at Compass One?

Yes! The large hotpot pot serves us comfortably for the two of us. We usually order rice to go with the pot as well and get a few items from the refrigerator. It’s a nice, filling lunch for us both.

Does Chicken Hotpot at Compass One get busy?

Possibly. Chicken Hotpot tends to pack in quite a crowd during the weekday lunch rush. Try arriving a bit before typical lunch hours if you can.

Is Chicken Hotpot at Compass One pricey?

We don’t think so! It made for a decent priced sit down meal. Our latest visit came to about S$25.65 per person including service charge and GST. Of course this depends if you get additional plates as well.

Final Thoughts

Chicken Hotpot @ Compass One is easily one of those places we keep returning to for weekday lunches.

We’re not here for the hype. We don’t come here because the restaurant boasts conceptually exciting dishes and an engaging dining experience.

We come here because we know what to expect. A huge boiling pot of spicy chicken goodness, a variety of add-ons, hearty comfort grub that’ll fill you right up and a bill that isn’t too pricey.

Ordering becomes easy after a while, which is why we still stick to our tried-and-tested order of Large Spicy Chicken Hotpot. Ain’t no changing that anytime soon.

One thing that helps change up the monotony slightly is the DIY refrigerator full of items you can add to your pot. Feeling like mushrooms and beancurd one day? Go for it. Toss in the noodles and veggies the next!