From an NTU eatery to 7 outlets, A Hot Hideout spices up Singapore’s mala scene

RESTAURANT chain A Hot Hideout is bringing its local take on Sichuan spiced mala cuisine from the heartlands into the heart of the city, with its sixth branch at Orchard Cineleisure opening last December.

This February, a seventh branch opened at Simei, with the chain aiming for a total of 10 by end-2025.

“Mala is on a huge upward trend,” said Lee Ray Sheng, founder of A Hot Hideout and parent company Snum Group. “More people are incorporating mala-style dishes into their diet; nowadays, they can eat mala as often as two to three times a week.”