Haidilao activities & services we wish were in SG
If there’s one thing Singaporeans don’t mind spending hours queueing up for, it’s a hearty feast at Haidilao. From club-goers looking for post-rave sustenance to families planning a wholesome meal, their outlets are constantly brimming with customers. However, its popularity stems from not only their flavourful soup bases but also their myriad of extraneous things to do before your broths even start to bubble.
You might have heard of their free manicure services and build-a-bear station, but we can’t help but wonder what else they can conjure up with their brilliant minds. Should they need some inspo though, we’ve come up with a list of Haidilao activities and services we wish were in Singapore.
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1. Post-concert shuttle bus
To bring hungry concert-goers straight to Haidilao outlets
Image for illustration purposes only.
Picture this: it’s 11pm and the post-concert crash is hitting you hard. Your voice is still hoarse from shrieking out lyrics during the encore, your stompers are sore after going wild in the mosh pit but worse of all, the late-night munchies are creeping in. If only there was a one-way ticket to an eatery that opens till late and is also perfect for group settings…
The bus ride is a whole experience in and of itself, with the staff and passengers alike bumping tunes to have a mini concert on board.
Well, Haidilao Indonesia is way ahead of the curve and has been offering frequent free shuttle bus services that transport potential customers from concert venues to their restaurants. Those who boarded the bus were also not obligated to patronise the hotpot joint, but it’d require some major willpower not to dine in after catching a whiff of what everyone else was cooking up.
Although the outlets in sunny Singapore had offered this shuttle bus service when Jay Chou made his rounds here last October, it was tied to a set meal and was a one-off affair. We’d like to see it make a comeback during the various live performances in 2025; after all, there are no better customers than famished concert-goers who’ll be more than thankful for the ride.
2. Hair washing services
To get rid of the hotpot stench in your hair after meals
A thoughtful add-on our Haidilao restaurants here on the Little Red Dot are deprived of is a nifty hair washing service. Foodies flaunting long, flowing locks know the struggle that is the burning desire to quell hot pot cravings but not wanting their hair to retain that smokey stench.
They can go the extra mile and offer facials and massages as well.
Image for illustration purposes only.
Hot pot lovers over in China can count themselves blessed, as several Haidilao outlets there provide a hair wash and blow dry service after meals. Diners are able to redeem a free hairwash by cashing in about S$40 worth of in-app currency, which is pretty pricey if you ask us. Nevertheless, having the option to do so is nice, especially when you’d like to stay fresh on dates.
Who knows, these hair washes might even be a step to solve the nationwide dilemma of people stinking up buses and MRT cabins because they can’t be bothered to take a morning rinse.
3. Petting zoo
To play with adorable animals before your meals
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You might have caught wind of Haidilao’s Wisma Atria outlet’s viral prawning “pool” which proved to be quite a hit with the little ones, and that got us thinking: what if they dipped their toes into petting zoos too? Logistics and legalities of bringing animals into malls aside, we’re confident that adults and kids alike will have a whale of a time playing with the cute critters.
An adorable face you could devour, literally.
Image credit: mipig cafe
However, you run the risk of having a hard time deciding what to dunk into your broths when it’s time to eat. Imagine getting flashbacks of your cuddle sesh with a pint-sized teacup pig moments before placing an order for decadent pork belly strips; this one’s a double-edged sword, that’s for sure.
4. Mother tongue language classes
To serve as tuition for those who can’t speak their mother tongue
Whether it’s resorting to gesturing when ordering cai fan or failing horribly at getting directions in Malay when visiting JB, we all know that one friend who can’t speak a lick of their mother tongue. That’s why we should take a page out of Haidilao Indonesia’s book once again, to be able to sit in for mother tongue language classes before digging into our hot pots.
We’re not pulling your leg; Haidilao customers in Indonesia can choose to attend Mandarin classes, complete with worksheets and even a certificate of completion. The caveat here is that these classes are meant for children, but we’re pretty sure some of us need the watered-down lecture.
Image credit: LingoAce
Throw in the option to take these lessons in our other official languages, and we smell a potential collaboration with the Ministry of Education in the works.
5. Therapy sessions
To pour your heart out while waiting to be let into the restaurant
Let’s be honest, the queue times to be let into Haidilao restaurants can be ridiculous at times; it’s exactly why they’ve come up with all these fringe activities to keep you occupied in the first place. As such, we’re proposing another one, and this one’s bound to be a good use of your hours waiting in line: therapy sessions.
Image for illustration purposes only.
We’re not suggesting a round of full-fledged counselling – we’ll leave that to the licensed professionals – but instead, a listening ear for customers with something to get off their chests. The staff at Haidilao are known to be extra attentive too, so you can be sure that you are wholeheartedly heard.
Heck, they’d have a box of tissues at the ready for tearful rants, ready to dab away at those mascara-ruining streams. The only way we see this backfiring is having to awkwardly interrupt diners mid-tirade to inform them it’s time to head in to eat; we’ll leave it to their makeshift therapists to figure that out.
6. Matchmaking services
To find yourself a partner to bring on future hot pot dates
Image credit: @haidilao_us via Instagram
Currently, if you’re dining solo at Haidilao, you’ve got the option of enjoying your hot pot alongside a huge plushie, but we’ll do you one better. Should the restaurant implement matchmaking services that you could engage to find a potential partner, your visits to Haidilao are going to get a whole lot spicier.
Yes, we first laid eyes on each other at Haidilao; why do you ask?
They say one of the best ways of getting to know someone is to sit down for a meal, and if your tablemate is cooking beef slices, scooping soup, and most importantly, peeling prawns just for you, you know you’ve got a keeper. Besides, pairing up lonesome diners is an absolute win for the restaurant; just imagine the sheer number of wedding day shoutouts they’re going to get.
7. Dance lessons
To pick up new moves from seasoned dancers AKA Haidilao staff
For those born with 2 left feet, we’re crossing our fingers and hoping that Haidilao eventually conducts dance lessons, seeing how good their staff are at busting a move. You’ve likely seen clips of their waiters and waitresses pulling out their famous Ke Mu San dance upon request last year, as well as their trademark noodle performance that we’ve all come to love.
Image credit: Haidilao
As such, we can’t think of better dance instructors than Haidilao staff. Under their tutelage, you’ll be able to pick up any dance worthy of blowing up on TikTok, but just remember to get your groove on before your meals. We’re sure the staff already has it up to here with cleaning up after queasy ravers who’ve had one too many to drink.
8. Karaoke hot pot rooms
To sing your hearts out while gorging on hot pot
Image for illustration purposes only.
We’re seriously hoping Haidilao won’t pull through with this one because it’ll only result in longer queues at their restaurant, but for the greater good, we’re listing it here. Simply take 2 of Singaporeans’ favourite pastimes and combine them into 1, and you’ve got Haidilao-powered karaoke hotpot rooms that will most definitely take the country by storm.
Image credit: 海底捞 Haidilao Hot Pot – Sun Plaza via Quandoo
We foresee groups spending hours here belting out mandopop hits from JJ Lin while stuffing their faces full with hot pot fodder. We also feel that this one’s mighty feasible for Haidilao to pull off, as they already have private VIP rooms that you can book in some of their outlets.
Just kit them out with a solid KTV system, do some soundproofing, and they’ll have a monopoly over the hot pot business in Singapore. Check your mailbox, Haidilao. We’ll be billing you for the million-dollar business idea, no doubt.
Potential Haidilao activities & services for the future
Of course, we jest when it comes to actually implementing some of these activities and services, but seriously, there’s no telling what Haidilao has up their sleeves. They ain’t China’s largest hot pot chain for nothing, but if they do get some ideas from this article, we lowkey expect first dibs on those sweet karaoke hotpot rooms, thank you very much.
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