Honestly, call me kiasi or paranoid, but I’ve completely stopped going to any hotpot or grilled meat shop that uses those small portable gas stove canisters.
Every time I see one on the table, my anxiety goes straight through the roof. Those things are literally miniature landmines sitting 20cm away from your face while you’re casually dipping your beef slices. All it takes is one defective valve, a slightly misplaced oversized hotpot ring reflecting heat back onto the canister, or staff jamming paper into a faulty switch, and BOOM.
Remember that horrific incident right here at Beach Road a few years back? A 29-year-old Thai woman, Najai Benchawan, was having a late-night supper at Chong Qing Steamboat when a gas cartridge on an adjacent table exploded. The blast launched a torrent of boiling soup, hot oil, and flying debris straight at her face and body.
She suffered severe first and second-degree burns, eye injuries, and permanent keloid scarring that completely ruined her career as a performing artist. She spent years going through surgeries and therapy, and ultimately sued the restaurant, insurer, and gas supplier. The Singapore court eventually awarded her over S$110,000 in damages—and she wasn’t even the only victim injured that night.
Imagine just going out for a chill supper with friends in Singapore and ending up with life-altering facial burns because a cheap gas canister decided to give up.
We have so many options now. Induction cooktops are standard in proper places like HDL or Beauty in the Pot for a reason. They are clean, controlled, and most importantly, won’t turn your family dinner into an SGH A&E emergency room visit.
Yet, you still see some smaller eateries, outdoor mookata places, or pop-up stalls using those cheap butane stoves because it saves them electrical wiring costs. Every time I see them, I just turn around and walk away. Not worth risking my face for a $20 buffet.
SGFoodies, am I overthinking this, or do you guys also skip places using gas canisters? How are these places even allowed to operate like this?