Guoma Steamboat Buffet 鍋媽台式火鍋 — Restaurant in Johor

29May25 - Been here many times over the last few years post-Covid pandemic as well as a few times before Covid. Finally writing the review that I never quite got around to doing until now.

Pros: it's convenient (opposite City Square) affordably-priced for a hotpot buffet in JB Sentral (used to be around RM39 before Covid, around 2019). It's RM55+6% now. variety of food nice braised minced pork rice with salted vegetables has a nice ambience good service

Only thing I don't like is that all their drinks are sweet / too sweet, the only non-sweetened ones are plain water and tea bag. The meat quality has improved, although for this price point don't expect that it would be very good... it is decent.

Surprisingly, I think Signature Beef tastes better than Prime Beef (which appears fattier); and pork shoulder appears fattier than pork belly (unless the labels got mixed up).

My own recommended sauce concoction that I mix at every hotpot place (subject to availability of ingredients, first 4 are compulsory): cut red chilli garlic sesame oil black vinegar spring onions and coriander fried onions fried garlic peanut shaving

The sauce has a nice "clean" taste that goes well with hotpot and bbq food, and helps cut through the greasiness / jelakness.

Spent: RM116.60 (Guoma hotpot buffet RM55+6% SST x2). Selected pumpkin milk and Taiwanese Spicy medium spicy (less oily their normal mala) soup. Changed to honey lemon as welcome drink.

(P.S. Genesis Stemboat (Pelangi)'s drinks, refill soup bases and ice cream win Guoma's, while the latter wins Genesis in its braised minced pork rice, salted vegetables and...

Disappointment with GUO MA Buffet Hot Pot Experience

Dear Management Team,

I hope this message finds you well. I am writing to express my disappointment regarding my recent experience at your buffet hot pot restaurant.

During my visit, when I requested to have some tomato soup added to my hot pot, I was surprised to learn that there would be an additional charge of $5 for a mere top-up of soup. This came as a shock to me as I believe that when customers are paying for a buffet dinner, basic soup options should be included without any extra charges.

I understand that the cost of tomato paste may be higher, but I find it unreasonable to pass on this cost directly to the customers. It seems unfair to compromise on a customer's dining experience by charging for additional soup, especially when other items such as an extra plate of prawns may end up costing more when included in the overall bill.

As a paying customer, I expected a more accommodating and customer-centric approach from your establishment. This additional charge for a basic soup top-up has left me feeling dissatisfied and questioning the value of the buffet experience at your restaurant.

I believe that customer feedback is crucial for any business to improve and provide a better service. I hope this email serves as constructive feedback and that you will consider reevaluating your policy regarding additional charges for basic items in the buffet.

I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to hearing your response.

Thank you for your time and...

Stayed nearby and decided to dine here instead of the more popular restaurant that has long Q and cost can be higher.

Walked in without having to Q and was ushered to our table that was meant for 4. Had the yuan yuang pot (choices of 2 soup - pork bone/herbal chicken). Shortly after we sat down, we had a cup each of welcome drink - some honey lemon that can be served warm or iced.

Soup base: Pork: wasn't very thick but has that collagen feel. I felt was little salty but not my hubby. Herbal chicken: as it boils longer, it has that after taste bitterness due to the herbs like ginseng.

Both are tasty and feels nourishing that go well most ingredients.

For the price of RM$116 for 2 pax - inclusive of drinks, desserts and free flow of meat and other ingredients. Sauce is inclusive too unlike some places are chargeable.

Somehow there seemed to be no time limit for dining and we could take our time to eat. What i am appreciative of was each table had a tong, 2 ladles(one for soup, the other had holes)that can be used to cook meat and etc. Area where food were displayed were clean and well-maintain.

I would...