TungLok Seafood — a concept by the reputable TungLok Group — has made quite a name for itself amongst Singaporeans with its exceptionally fresh Singapore-style seafood delicacies.

Known for their commendable service and quality seafood, expect nothing short of a stellar dining experience at this award-winning establishment; choose to dine at either the restaurant at Orchard Central or the outlet at Arena Country Club in Jurong.

Everyone who has been to TungLok Seafood only has good things to say about the place, and rightfully so. Their extensive menu only means that you will be spoilt for choice. Look forward to hot favourites such as Laksa Crab Bee Hoon, Salted Egg Yolk Prawns, Mee Goreng and Crisp-fried Baby Squid.

Readers of ladyironchef can flash this article to get 15% off (no minimum spending) a la carte food orders at TungLok Seafood.

Here are 12 Singapore-style Seafood Dishes from TungLok Seafood that we thoroughly enjoyed.

#1 CRISP-FRIED BABY SQUIDS (S$12++/SMALL)

The Crispy-fried Baby Squids (S$12++/small) definitely whets your appetite for more, and it was an appetiser that left all of us in awe.

These baby squids have been deep-fried till crisp, but sink your teeth into them and you would realise that every piece has retained its chewiness within. Covered in sweet sauce and a handful of sesame seeds, these crispy baby squids are pretty damn addictive.

#2 TUNGLOK CHILLI CRAB (S$65++/KG)

Chilli crab is not just a hit among the locals, it has also become one of Singapore’s most iconic dishes. TungLok Seafood’s Chilli Crab (S$65++/kg) is one of the restaurant’s bestsellers and why are we not surprised.

The crabs are cooked to perfection and its plump flesh does not stick to the shell; the outer shell breaks easily hence allowing one to dig into the fresh crabmeat almost effortlessly. The secret ingredient that lies in the chilli-based tomato sauce is one that gives the viscous gravy an extra oomph, and you would never have guessed that it is freshly squeezed orange juice.

Try it and witness the difference. You will be convinced why TungLok Seafood has one of the best chilli crabs in Singapore.

#3 SPICY CURRY LAKSA CRAB WITH THICK RICE VERMICELLI (S$65++/KG)

This new dish is reason enough for you to visit TungLok Seafood.

We all love our XO Crab Bee Hoon, but what if we told you there is a Laksa version? Tunglok Seafood’s Spicy Curry Laksa Crab with Thick Rice Vermicelli (S$65++/kg) serves just the same purpose of bringing comfort to the soul.

This massive pot features premium Sri Lankan crab immersed in an aromatic spicy curry broth. The dish is complemented with a generous portion of chewy thick rice vermicelli. A pot is typically good for 2-3 diners.

#4 DEEP-FRIED PRAWNS WITH CRISPY OATS (S$24++/300GM)

The aroma of TungLok Seafood’s Deep-fried Prawns with Crispy Oats permeated the restaurant when it was presented to us. Huge prawns are deep-fried with oats to crispy, crunchy excellence; this dish perfectly marries sweet with savoury.

It comes in a single serving size starting from S$24++ per 300 grams, but that is enough to feed two. Once again, you will be treated to plenty of prawns stacked on top of a bed of fragrant golden oats.

#5 DEEP-FRIED PRAWNS WITH SALTED EGG YOLK (S$24++/300GM)

What is a seafood meal without some salted egg yolk prawns, right? We have all grown too accustomed to ordering salted egg yolk-something, and when in a seafood restaurant — TungLok Seafood in particular — the Deep-fried Prawns with Salted Egg Yolk (S$24++/300gm) is the ultimate crowd pleaser.

The prawns are deep-fried, leaving it with crispy shells that give way to juicy and succulent prawn meat. See those strips on top of the prawns? Those are salted egg yolk strips that were so irresistibly yummy, like we were munching on chips.

#6 SAUTÉED CLAMS WITH SAMBAL SAUCE (S$18++/SMALL)

Singapore seafood dishes go hand-in-hand with sambal sauce. These Sautéed Clams with Sambal Sauce (S$18++/small) are no different.

A hefty portion of clams is stacked high on the plate, all drenched in sambal sauce that has an irresistible spicy tanginess. The molluscan is fried over high heat quickly to achieve a tenderness and served atop a bed of green lettuce; briny, fresh and spicy.

#7 STEAMED RAZOR CLAM WITH GARLIC AND VERMICELLI (S$10++/PC)

Steamed Razor Clam with Garlic and Vermicelli is a well-loved Hong Kong-style dish that is commonly seen in Chinese restaurants, and TungLok Seafood has hit all the right spots with their rendition.

Priced at S$10++ per piece, the steaming process brought out the sweetness of the succulent meat, and the chopped garlic enhanced the fragrance further. This is such a classic dish and it has become one of our must-orders when at TungLok Seafood.

#8 BAKED NORWEGIAN SALMON WRAPPED IN BANANA LEAF (S$12.80++/PC)

No, that’s not a grilled fish otah. We were initially deceived by the misleading banana leaf wrapper, but soon realised that within the fragrant parcel is actually a high-quality baked salmon (S$12.80++/pc).

The fresh Norwegian salmon is baked with a hint of fragrance borrowed from the banana leaf. This east-meets-west seafood dish far exceeds expectations, and its uniqueness is one that will leave your jaw dropping upon the first bite.

#9 STEAMED SEABASS WITH ASSAM SAUCE, TOMATOES AND EGGPLANT (S$45++/KG)

The rich Assam sauce in this one beckons like no other. If you like tangy flavours, this one is definitely a must. Together with the sweetness of fresh fish, the Steamed Seabass with Assam Sauce, Tomatoes and Eggplant (S$45++/kg) is a clear winner.

#10 THAI-STYLE BRAISED BEANCURD (S$12++/SMALL)

These Thai-style Braised Beancurd features firm tofu cuboids topped with julienned cucumber and chicken/pork floss. The soft white blocks – encased by its fried golden skin – are accompanied by sweet Thai chilli sauce.

#11 BRAISED RICE NOODLE WITH PRAWNS AND CLAMS (S$24++/SMALL)

The Braised Rice Noodle with Prawns and Clams (S$24++/small) is another carbs dish that is great for sharing. It comprises fresh clams, juicy prawns, mushrooms and mixed vegetables, and is especially comforting on a cold rainy day!

#12 MEE GORENG (S$18++/SMALL)

TungLok Seafood’s interpretation of the Chinese-style Mee Goreng (S$18++/small) is hands down one of the best we’ve ever tried in Singapore and we cannot stop raving about it!

These noodles – stir-fried with shrimps and calamari rings – boast a distinctive complex taste profile of sweetness, spiciness and tanginess. Let’s just say we will return to TungLok Seafood just for this dish. No joke about that.

Readers of ladyironchef can flash this article to enjoy 15% off a la carte food orders at TungLok Seafood (no minimum spending). This promotion is valid from now until 30 November 2016 and not valid on eves of and on Public Holidays and special occasions.

TungLok Seafood
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road , #11-05
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834 4888
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun and PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Somerset

The Arena Country Club
511 Upper Jurong Road
Singapore 638366
Tel: +65 6262 6996
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun and PH: 10am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest MRT Station: Joo Koon

This post is brought to you by TungLok Seafood.

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant – an award-winning favourite at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel – reopens its door after a major refurbishment with a refreshing new look and a repertoire of well-executed, nutritious Cantonese delicacies.

Inspired by elements from the four arts – “Qin” (zither), “Qi” (strategy board games), “Shu” (calligraphy) and “Hua” (painting), be greeted by dramatic black and gold colours, curated calligraphy works and art pieces, booth seats akin to giant jewel boxes; resplendent and luxurious.

If you are looking for exclusive dining experiences, there are four private rooms for hosting prestigious guests and family gatherings. Leading the culinary team is Executive Chinese Chef Brian Wong Shiuh Yean, who is elevating culinary excellence to new heights with a new menu of remarkable Cantonese cuisine.

There are many reasons to visit the refreshed Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, and here is what you can expect.

What we really love about the exquisite Cantonese delights in Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is the usage of fresh, premium ingredients. Chef Brian believes in using minimal seasoning, and to bring out the essence of these ingredients because it is precisely their natural flavours that we should savour and appreciate.

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is one of the most reliable Cantonese restaurants in Orchard Road when you have a dim sum craving.

Not be to missed for lunch are Steamed Shrimp Dumpling with Black Truffle & Cordyceps Flower (S$6++ for two pieces); Steamed Sweet Corn Bun with Water Chestnut & Purple Potato Skin (S$4.50++ for two pieces); and Steamed Red Bean Sponge Cake (S$4.50++ for two pieces).

Fried dim sum items to look out for are Crispy Mango Prawn in Rice Roll (S$6.50++ per portion), Deep-fried Taro Dumpling with Mini Abalone & Scallop (S$10.50++ for two pieces) and Vegetarian Pan-Fried 5-Grain Pumpkin Cake (S$4.50++ for two pieces).

Look forward to new, delectable appetisers such as Chilled Duck Wing with Spicy Passion Fruit Sauce (S$12++ per portion); Chilled Duck Tongue with Spicy Sauce (S$12++ per portion); and Spicy Hong Kong Style Bi Feng Tang Deep-fried Iberico Pork with Fried Garlic (S$12++ per portion), and more. These are more full-bodied options with flavours that will explode in your mouth.

But of course, there are the lighter and more nutritious options such as the Stewed Bird’s Nest with Egg White, Crab Meat & Superior Soup (S$68++ per person).

Bird’s Nest is widely known for its health benefits and Wan Hao’s rendition comes with egg white, fresh crab meat and a savoury superior soup that is braised with Chinese ham, old chicken and pork loin for more than six hours.

Meticulously prepared for a week, another luxury item that is worth indulging in is the premium South Africa Dried Abalone with Japanese Shiitake Mushroom in Chef’s Secret Sauce (S$128++ per person for 15-Head, S$98++ per person for 22-Head) – which is derived from ingredients such as Chinese ham, pork ribs and old chicken.

Also not to be missed are the Deep-fried Prawn with Black Truffle Mayonnaise & Broccoli (S$35++ per portion) and the Wok-fried Iberico Pork with Home-style Spiced Sauce (S$30++ per portion).

The former is coated in a super addictive black truffle mayonnaise sauce, while the latter blends the wok hei of Chinese cooking with the marvellous Spanish Iberico pork.

Another crowd pleaser is the Wok-fried Local Lobster with Deep-fried Garlic in Spicy Hong Kong Style ‘Bi Feng Tang’, a marriage of succulent lobster meat and aromatic minced garlic offering an addictive crunch.

If you can only have one dessert, it has to be the Deep-fried Crispy Durian (S$16++ for four pieces); because it is only Singaporean that we embrace the bittersweet flavours and creaminess of the tropical fruit encased in light, crispy batter, right? You get the taste, you get the texture.

Other desserts on the new menu include Double-boiled Peach Resin with Red Dates (S$16++ per person); Chilled Coconut Pudding with Purple Glutinous Rice Puree (S$10++ per person) and Glutinous Rice Ball with Shredded Coconut & Black Sesame Seed (S$10++ per person).

Now, it is time to pick up your phone and fix a date your family for a hearty meal at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant. It will be an elegant affair with good food with your loved ones.

For dining reservations, please call +65 6831 4605 or visit singaporemarriott.com/dining.

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant
320 Orchard Road
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
Singapore 238865
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post is brought to you by Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel.

Doubled boiled soups are an important part of the Cantonese dining culture. A good bowl of traditional double-boiled Cantonese soup is gratifying and flavoursome, using simple yet nutritious ingredients that are often very beneficial for one’s health. It’s said that the mark of a good Cantonese restaurant also comes down to the taste of its double-boiled soups.

From now to 31 October 2016, Yàn at National Gallery Singapore will be introducing a ‘Prosperity Soup Feast’ which consists of 25 double boiled soups! Each soup order (S$13.80++) comes with a bowl of fragrant crispy rice, lightly poached in superior stock,to complete your meal.

With over two decades of Cantonese culinary experience under his belt, you can be assured that Yàn’s Master Chef Chan Kung Lai serves up authentic and delicious Cantonese-style double boiled soups with health benefits that can help cure common ailments.

Only natural ingredients are carefully selected and used in the preparation; think black garlic, a fermented garlic considered a health ‘superfood’ known to be a potent antioxidant, as well as a variety of Chinese herbs such as Huang Qi and Cordyceps.

The double-boiling method of cooking ensures that the nutrients in these ingredients are gently released and seeped into the soup, resulting in a clear broth that is intensely rich and flavourful.

Looking to strengthen the immunity system? Go for the Double Boiled Sea Whelk and Black Garlic. If you are down with a cold, try Double Boiled Duck with Parsely and Dried Orange Peel. A bowl of Double Boiled Pig Stomach with Pepper and Gingko dispels heat from the body.

Ladies, the Double Boiled Chinese Cabbage with Yunnan Ham is prepared specially for you and it nourishes ‘yin’ and lung functions. Then, there is the Double Boiled Baby Clam with Pepper that will help calm and warm your stomach.

The 25 soup options will be on rotational basis, and there will be a minimum of five different soups available daily. Guests are able to pre-order with the restaurant one day in advance if there is a particular one that interests you!

Give your body a dose of TLC with a warm and nutritious bowl of Yàn’s double-boiled soup today!

Yàn
1 St. Andrew’s Road, #05-02
National Gallery Singapore
Singapore 178957
Reservations: +65 63845585 / reserve@yan.com.sg
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
www.yan.com.sg | www.facebook.com/yancantonesecuisine
Nearest Station: City Hall

This post was brought to you by Yàn.

Dim Sum – or what we know as little parcels of happiness – is essentially steamed Chinese-style tapas that are usually served in bamboo baskets. The consumption of dim sum started from the Cantonese community and is now a favourite afternoon past-time amongst Singaporeans too.

As dim sum is usually eaten during the day, most Chinese restaurants only serve these dainty dishes until late afternoon (only a few restaurants serve dim sum until ate night). The variety of dim sum is exhaustive – baked barbecue egg tarts, steamed shrimp dumplings, salted egg yolk buns, fried radish cake… and the list goes on.

Here is our guide to The Best Dim Sum Restaurants in Singapore.

#1 ASIA GRAND

Long-standing Chinese restaurant Asia Grand is located on the ground floor of Odeon Towers, and is famous for not just their dim sum but also their Peking Duck and Suckling Pig.

Start your day with some delectable dim sum such as Steamed Shrimp Dumplings (S$5.20++) and Steamed Cheong-Fun with Dough Fritter (S$8++).

331 N Bridge Road
#01-02 Odeon Towers, Odeon Towers
Singapore 188720
Tel: +65 6887 0010
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Cityhall

#2 CHERRY GARDEN

Housed in Mandarin Oriental Singapore Hotel, Fengshui-designed Cherry Garden is one of the upscale dim sum restaurants in Singapore. The seasonal menu changes regularly but be rest assured that the quality of the dishes remains consistent throughout.

Some crowd-pleasers include Steamed Juicy Pork Xiao Long Bao (S$7++) and Steamed Kurobuta Char Siew in Fluffy Bao (S$7++).

5 Raffles Ave
Singapore 039801
Tel: +65 6885 3538
Daily: 12pm – 3.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Esplanade / Promenade / Raffles Place

#3 CRYSTAL JADE PALACE RESTAURANT

Award-winning restaurant group Crystal Jade has 110 outlets across the region.

Their flagship restaurant – Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant at Ngee Ann City – still dazzles like a shining star and remains the go-to place for loyal fans. Reservations are strongly recommended to avoid disappointment.

391 Orchard Road
Takashimaya S.C. #04-19
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6735 2388
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#4 EAST OCEAN

Established in 1992, East Ocean Teochew Restaurant is known for serving traditional Teochew favourites such as steamed pomfret and its Hong Kong-style Teochew cuisine. It is one of the few Chinese restaurants in Singapore that still serve dim sum the traditional way using dim sum trays.

You can get the usual range of dim sum such as Baked BBQ Pork Bun, Pan Fried Carrot Cake and Steamed Siew Mai, but the standout item is definitely the Steamed Custard Bun.

391 Orchard Road, #05-08/09 Ngee Ann City
Singapore 238872
Tel: +65 6235 9088
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#5 GOLDEN PEONY

Golden Peony is an upscale Chinese restaurant located on the third level of the Conrad Centennial Hotel. The fancy establishment is fronted by celebrated Hong Kong native Chef Ku Keung, who possesses a wealth of culinary experience and customers can expect an impressive selection of delectable Cantonese delicacies executed with adroitness.

There is a Weekend Dim Sum Experience where diners get to select four choices of dim sums and four specialty dishes per table and a choice of soup from the extensive menu, and you end your meal on a sweet note with your favourite dessert choice.

2 Temasek Blvd, Level 3
Conrad Centennial Hotel
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6432 7482
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Promenade

#6 HAI TIEN LO

Siting within Pan Pacific Hotel is Hai Tien Lo, a Cantonese restaurant that has successfully created an extensive menu of age-old recipe classics and contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine.

Dim sum set meals start from S$48++ per pax and best selling a la carte items include Roasted Barbecued Suckling Pig and Braised Classic Whole Abalone with Pan-fried Foie Gras in Abalone Sauce.

L3 Pan Pacific Hotel Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard
Tel: +65 6826 8240
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: City Hall/Promenade

#7 HUA TING

One of the most reliable tables in town, Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel has been serving Cantonese delicacies for years and you can always be assured of a good dim sum meal here. The interior is not fancy, nor is the food particularly sophisticated. What it is, however, is simple and well-executed Chinese food.

On its dim sum menu, you can find dishes such as Double-Boiled Soup with Shark’s Fin Dumpling (S$12.80 for one), Crispy Pastry Rolls with Scallop and Garlic (S$6.30), as well as Hua Ting’s well-loved Baked Chicken Tartlets with Mango (S$5.70).

Level 2, Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6739 6666
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#8 IMPERIAL TREASURE FINE CHINESE CUISINE

Restaurant group Imperial Treasure started its first establishment in 2004. Today, with over 23 restaurants under its brand name, Imperial Treasure is a household name amongst Singaporeans.

They have a team of talented culinary chefs over at Imperial Treasure Fine Chinese Cuisine who skilfully handcrafts an exquisite selection of dim sum daily.

#L2-04, Marina Bay Sands
10 Bayfront Avenue
Tel: +65 6688 7788
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bayfront

#9 MAN FU YUAN

Contemporary Chinese restaurant Man Fu Yuan can be found on the 2nd storey of Intercontinental Hotel. Indulge in their steamed baskets of artisanal dim sum such as Man Fu Yuan’s delicate prawn dumplings (S$6.80++), deep fried taro cake (S$6.80++) and siew mais (S$6.80++).

80 Middle Road
2F Intercontinental Hotel
Tel: +65 6825 1062
Daily: 11am – 2.15pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bugis

#10 MIN JIANG

Located in the elegant Goodwood Park Hotel, Min Jiang is a fine dim sum restaurant perfect for small weddings, business meeting and other social events. The menu comprises a myriad of Cantonese and Si Chuan cuisine, and they are especially popular for weekend dim sum too.

22 Scotts Road
Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore 228221
Tel: 6730 1704
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#11 MITZO

Do not let its sleek modern interiors fool you. Mitzo is the sexiest Chinese restaurant in town, and sitting along Orchard Road means it is absolutely accessible. Their dim sum is amazing to say the least.

Everything is exquisitely handcrafted with premium ingredients, and there is a very value-for-money weekend dim sum brunch buffet. While you are at it, don’t forget to order the house signatures Mitzo Special Barbeque Pork (S$18++) and Black Truffle Crispy Roast Duck (S$38++). You will only regret not knowing about these delicious dishes earlier.

Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 12am last order
Fri to Sun, Public Holiday and Eve of Public Holidays: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am last order
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

#12 PEACH GARDEN

Peach Garden focuses on bringing to diners impeccable Chinese cuisine with the freshest premium ingredients.

The view from its outlet at level 33 of OCBC Building is as impressive as their dim sum menu. Dig into tasty Baked Egg Tarts (S$4.80++) and Steamed Shanghai Xiao Long Baos (S$5.20++).

65 Chulia Street
#33-01 OCBC Centre
Singapore
Tel: +65 6535 7833
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

#13 ROYAL CHINA

Royal China’s elegant interiors are characterised by their mesmerising tiffany blue walls and pillars. The culinary gem in the 3rd storey of Raffles Hotel is a popular dim sum destination. The Chinese food is simple but delicious and diners should not miss out on their Royal China Special Chee Cheung Fun ($5.60++) and the all time favourite Liu Shao Bao (S$4.80++).

1 Beach Road
#03-09 Raffles Hotel
Singapore 189673
Tel: +65 6338 3363
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Cityhall

#14 SHIN YEH

Authentic, well-cooked and delicious Taiwanese food is hard to come by in our tiny nation. But thankfully, we have restaurants such as Shin Yeh to fill the void and to satisfy our cravings.

Other than the classic dim sum such as classic Steamed Chive Dumpling (S$4.20++ for 3) and Steamed Shrimp Dumpling ($4.80++ for 4), Shin Yeh also has an “Eight Immortals” Dim Sum platter (S$12++) which is extremely value-for-money and good for sharing.

It comes with Steamed Chives Dumpling with Pork, Crystal Mixed Vegetables Dumpling, Steamed Shrimp Dumpling, and Steamed Chicken Dumpling with Egg Plant, Turnip and Dried Shrimps.

177 River Valley Road
Liang Court Shopping Centre, #02-19
Tel: +65 6338 7337
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sun & Public Holidays: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

#15 SWATOW SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

That sense of familiarity when stepping into the huge space at Toa Payoh where Swatow Seafood Restaurant is one that we can always resonate with.

Swatow has a dim sum high tea buffet that is very popular among locals (S$19.80 on weekdays and S$22.80 on weekends). It features a huge variety of dim sum, including perennial favourites such as Rice Rolls, Prawn Dumpling, and Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce.

181 Toa Payoh Lorong 4
#02-602
Singapore 310181
Tel: +65 6363 1717
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Toa Payoh

#16 TASTE PARADISE

Hailed as one of Singapore’s best Chinese restaurants, Taste Paradise is a favourite establishment amongst discerning diners. Long queues are often formed outside the opulent restaurant and prices remain reasonable despite the soaring demands.

Treat yourselves to Taste Paradise’s sumptuous dim sum and do make it a point to allocate stomach capacity for their best-selling Classic Shark’s Fin in Supreme Broth accompanied with a Crispy Spring Roll served in Japanese Stone Pot.

2 Orchard Turn
#04-07 Ion Orchard
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9660
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat to Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#17 PARADISE TEOCHEW

196-seater Paradise Teochew Restaurant serves authentic Teochew-style delicacies that many Singaporeans are more than familiar with. The establishment’s impressive culinary team is helmed by Hong Kong-born Executive Chef Cheng Fa Kwan.

Raised in a family of Teochew chefs, Chef Cheng’s love for food is unmistakable; he has been exposed to and cooking Teochew cuisine for the past 34 years!

21 Amber Road, #03-01
Chinese Swimming Club (Arrival Pavilion)
Singapore 439870
Tel: +65 6348 7298
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Dakota

#18 TIM HO WAN

One-Michelin-star eatery Tim Ho Wan needs no further introduction. The famous Hong Kong restaurant has been making endless waves in the food scene with their signature Baked Bun with BBQ Pork ($4.50).

The brand has expanded quickly, but good news is, the queues are also much shorter these days.

68 Orchard Rd, #01-29A, Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6251 2000
Mon to Fri: 10am – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 9am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

#19 TUNGLOK TEA HOUSE

TungLok Teahouse serves gourmet dim sum at extremely affordable prices throughout the day. We always return for their Black Truffle Baos (S$4.80++) and Traditional Sponge Cake (S$3.80++) aka Ma Lai Gao.

Each dish at Tunglok Teahouse is made freshly in-house and steamed to order. And there is a menu of a la carte dishes. You bet it is going to be an exhilarating feast at TungLok Teahouse.

#01-73/79 Square 2
10 Sinaran Drive
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Nearest Station: Novena

#01-01 Far East Square
7-13 Amoy Street
Singapore 049949
Tel: +65 6877 1123
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun & PH: 10am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place/Telok Ayer

#20 WAH LOK

Located on the second level of Carlton Hotel, Wah Lok Cantonese Restaurant might come across as pretentious with its glitzy entrance and shimmering chandelier. But do not let its grandeur put you off!

The delicious Chinese dim sum, especially their Baked Barbecue Pork Buns (S$4.40++) and Steamed Crab Meat & Egg White Dumplings (S$6++), are actually worth making a special trip for.

76 Bras Basah road
2F Carlton Hotel
Tel: +65 6311 8188
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Bras Basah

#21 WAN HAO CHINESE RESTAURANT

The dim sum at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant – within Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel – deserves not just a visit but also an encore.

Each dish is a representation of the chefs’ masterly finesse and satisfaction-guaranteed items include the Steamed Diced Prawn and Squid Wrap with Squid Ink Skin (S$4.50/pc) and Deep-fried Crispy Bun with Chilli Crab Fillings (S$5.00/pc).

320 Orchard Road
3F Marriott Hotel
Tel: +65 6831 4615
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

#22 XIN CUISINE

Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium Hotel’s Chinese restaurant Xin Cuisine remains relatively under the radar and is a great place to have dim sum in peace without breaking the bank.

Most steamed baskets of dim sum start at a budget-friendly price of S$4.50, i.e. Pork Paste in Abalone Sauce (S$4.50 for 3 pcs) and Steamed Cuttlefish with Spicy Sauce (S$4.50).

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
#04-00 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Tel: +65 6731 7173
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

#23 XIN YUE – MODERN CHINESE RESTAURANT

Xin Yue is a contemporary, no-frills Chinese restaurant with a menu of primarily Cantonese dishes. Do you find Xin Yue Modern’s Shark’s Fin Superior Broth awfully familiar (from $38.80++ per portion)?

That is because their Head Chef Fung Chi Keung was previously the Executive Chef at Taste Paradise! Do drop by for their dim sum lunch and do not forget their creamy liu sha bao; they are definitely one of the best in Singapore!

207 River Valley Road #01-51/54
Singapore 238275
Tel: +65 62358854
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

#24 YÀN

 Yàn is a sophisticated Cantonese restaurant that sits on the fifth floor of the stunning National Gallery Singapore, and we are completely in love with the restaurant’s chinoiserie-chic vibes and menu of elegant Cantonese cuisine.

Yàn does an excellent job in injecting new elements of surprises in its presentation of dishes, but without compromising on the key essences of authentic Cantonese recipes. The Dim Sum Combination Platter (S$18++) features six delicate bite-size treats, and is a great sampler if you cannot decide on which dim sum dish to order!

1 St. Andrew’s Road, #05-02
National Gallery Singapore
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 63845585
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall

#25 YAN TING

This Chinese restaurant at The St. Regis Singapore is classy and exudes a note of understated elegance. Prices are slightly steeper, but for its fine food, it has won fans from all over the region. If you are planning to have a dim sum brunch at Yan Ting on the weekends, reservations are highly recommended.

29 Tanglin Road
The St. Regis Singapore
Tel: +65 6506 6887
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

We have never experienced dim sum the way we have at Mitzo Restaurant & Bar. The swanky, sleek and modern interior is a stark contrast to the traditional Chinese cuisine that is served here. To match the trendy interior, most of Mitzo’s classic dim sum dishes are elevated with stunning presentations and intricate plating, while still retaining the original flavour palette.

While we love their tantalising and luxurious dishes in their Weekend Brunch, we are stoked that we now have a new reason to pop by on weekday afternoon - Mitzo is launching the all-new value-for-money lunch sets on 12 October 2016. A 3-course meal goes for S$28++ per person, and a 4-course meal is S$38++ per person.

For both lunch sets, you get a Double-Boiled Soup of The Day and a pick from 3 different types of dim sum (2 pieces each). Some options to expect are Royal Shrimp Dumpling with Black Caviar, Escargot Cheese Puff and our favourite Custard Moon Bun.

The custard bun is one of our favourites because of the rich and creamy lava custard that flows out perfectly. The beautiful black bun with a gold moon top has a very soft, pillowy texture which complements the rich and tasty custard on the inside. We highly recommend having this as one of your three choices.

Some other choices include Pork & Chives Puff, Prawn Dumpling, Crispy Duck Roll, Wild Mushroom Truffle Bun and Tea Mushroom Crystal Dumpling. The mushroom bun is not to be missed too, with flavours so intense, coupled with the aroma of the truffle.

For the 4-course set, you get a portion of the premium Braised Vermicelli with Lobster Claw and Prawn Ball; this is like comfort food reinvented, with the sweetness of the various seafood all soaked in a bowl of warm, comforting vermicelli. The lunch sets end with a course of refreshing Chilled Osmanthus Jelly with Aloe Vera.

You know this is one dim sum lunch you need to try.

Mitzo Restaurant & Bar
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855 Email: rsvn@mitzo.sg
Sun to Wed, PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm last order
Thu to Sat,and Eve of PH: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am last order
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

This post is brought to you by Mitzo Restaurant & Bar.

A dining experience at Orchid Live Seafood is akin to teleporting yourselves back into time. While the old-school seafood restaurant is tucked away in a remote corner of Sembawang, its inaccessibility has not deterred its loyal customers from patronising it.

Award-winning Orchid Live Seafood has received many public figures over the years and that list includes Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Orchid Live Seafood’s superbly fresh dishes are seriously worth travelling for, and can we say just how much we love the kampong-style experience?! The restaurant is also home to a huge collection of South African craft beers.

From now until 31 December 2016, quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy 40% off craft beers with any purchase of items on the menu (valid only on weekdays). Meanwhile, here’s what you can expect from Orchird Live Seafood—also the creator of the famous Lobster Porridge.

#1 ITS KAMPONG-STYLE LOCATION

Orchid Live Seafood’s far-flung location offers you a dining experience unlike any other. Forget fancy restaurants and hipster cafes; nostalgia is the new black! There is a huge car park located right outside Orchid Live Seafood and parking is free of charge.

Millennials who have never experienced countryside life can now seize this rare opportunity, whilst the elderly can look back fondly and reminisce those good old kampong days.

Such old school places are dying out in Singapore—just another reason to love Orchid Live Seafood. We love the tanks of seafood that are placed outside the unassuming-looking restaurant, and yes, ‘Live Seafood’ is real.

#2 LOBSTER PORRIDGE

Nobody leaves Orchid Live Seafood without ordering the signature Lobster Porridge (S$10 per 100g). While lobster porridge can be found in many other Chinese restaurants, Orchid Live Seafood is actually the original creator. In fact, the Lobster Porridge has been served to customers since 1999. This iconic main course is indeed the epitome of indulgence.

A 600g, 800g, 1kg, 1.5kg and 2kg portion will feed two, three, four six and eight pax respectively. The freshness of these lobsters is guaranteed as they catch your lobsters right after you place your order. These crustaceans are cut into halves, and the plump and juicy lobster meat attributes to the Teochew porridge’s sweetness and aromatic broth.

#3 BOSTON LOBSTER

The massive Boston Lobster (S$70) took us by surprise and we devoured every single bit of it. The succulent flesh is best eaten with the accompanying sauce—a complex blend of butter, cheese, milk and spices. We were almost licking the plate clean!

You can save S$10 and order this chunky lobster for just S$60 as an add-on to any set menus.

#4 TEOCHEW COLD CRAB

The Teochew-style Cold Crab is a crab dish that is almost forgotten, but one that our parents and Teochew descendants will definitely relish.

The Teochew Cold Crab is prized for its roe, and just look at the generous amount of roe on Orchid Live Seafood’s Teochew Cold Crab (S$52)! These briny crabs taste naturally sweet on its own.

#5 STEAMED MINCED PORK WITH SALTED EGG

Orchid Live Seafood is introducing pork in its menu for the very first time and we are totally digging their rendition of the fragrant Steamed Minced Pork (S$18). The meat patty is served with a bright orangey salted egg yolk and drenched in superior sauce.

It’s one of those ‘comfort food’ options, and the kids will love it!

#6 STEVEN CHICKEN

The Steven Chicken (8 pieces – S$12, 12 pieces – S$18, 16 pieces – S$24) blew our minds; it is no surprise this signature has been keeping regulars back for more for many decades.

Marinated in a sweet sauce (inhouse secret!) and deep-fried to perfection; this bestselling dish ain’t no ordinary chicken wings. We dare say it’s even better than Korean fried chicken! Take a closer look and you will notice that the flesh has been scraped from one wing end to the other for easy consumption.

#7 TOP-SHELL WITH FRIED TOFU

Orchid Live Seafood’s chef-recommended Top-shell With Crispy Tofu (S$12) instantly reminded us of a Thai salad. This semi-spicy dish features tofu with sliced cucumber, onions and sesame seeds; the mixture is then drizzled with a hot sauce.

#8 SPINACH WITH THREE EGGS

This plate of Spinach With Three Types Of Eggs (small – S$12, medium – S$15) is a Chinese classic that nailed all the right spots.

The sweet hearty clear chicken broth and fresh greens are served in a pot set atop a fire so your dish stays warm throughout your meal.

#9 SWEET POTATO BALLS WITH YAM PASTE

These Sweet Potato Balls with Yam Paste (S$20 per set) might look unassuming, but it sure left an everlasting impression. Who would have thought these bite-size balls could be so addictive?!

These warm mini balls are delightfully soft inside—with the first layer being sweet potato mash, and the inner layer yam paste. Each golden-brown orb is dusted with icing sugar.

#10 A HUGE SELECTION OF SOUTH AFRICAN CRAFT BEERS 

Interestingly, Orchid Live Seafood is home to a huge collection of South African craft beers. You can purchase these imported bottles from S$8 for a Eversons Cloudy Apple Cider to S$14 for a Citizen Beer Pacifist Winter Porter.

Quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy 40% off craft beers with any purchase of items on the menu (valid only on weekdays and until 31 Dec 2016).

Orchid Live Seafood has also opened its reservations for Chinese New Year dinners. Set menus are available; premium seafood and honest cooking are befitting of that annual reunion dinner. Prices start from S$268 nett for 4 pax, to S$468 nett for 6 pax and S$488 nett for 8 pax.

Orchid Live Seafood
1 Bah Soon Pah Road
Singapore 769959
Tel: +65 6756 0311
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Khatib

This post is brought to you by Orchid Live Seafood.

If a yuletide celebration does not mean turkeys and log cakes, then Mitzo’s Holiday Champagne Brunch should tempt you.

If you are searching for an elegant venue to spend Christmas Day in or to usher into 2017, we highly recommend our all-time favourite Chinese restaurant and it is none other than Mitzo Restaurant & Bar at Grand Park Orchard.

Most of you are already familiar with Mitzo’s spectacular Weekend Dim Sum Brunch—where you can indulge in seafood supreme dishes and unlimited portions of gourmet dim sum and an option of free-flow champagne, selected cocktails, wines and beer. It is truly the Holy Grail of Chinese fine dining!

Say hello to Mitzo’s Holiday Champagne Brunch—which is essentially an amplified version of the current Weekend Dim Sum Brunch this festive. This Champagne Brunch features over 40 types of dishes and it is one luxurious treat you deserve.

If you have never dined at Mitzo before, it is about time you give this stellar establishment a shot. Trust us, you will only regret not visiting Mitzo earlier.

The fancy Chinese restaurant is helmed by Executive Head Chef Nicky Ng, whose previous stints include the honourable role of Executive Chef de Cuisine at Michelin-starred restaurant Hakkasan in New York City.

The Holiday Champagne Brunch is available from 11.30am to 2.30pm on the following dates: 24, 25, 31 Dec 2016 and 01 Jan 2017.

This 3-hour feast boasts an impressive selection of sweet and savoury items. There are over 40 varieties, so be prepared to be beyond spoilt for choice.

A few dishes are making an appearance exclusively for this holiday brunch only, namely Crispy Soft Shell Crab with Curry Floss, Deep-fried Lobster Claw wrapped with Salted Egg Puff, Steamed Scallop in Hollandaise Sauce and more.

“Mitzo’s Holiday Champagne Brunch offers 40 varieties of sweet and savoury dishes. Indulge in seafood supreme dishes, gourmet dim sum and unlimited portions of Mitzo’s Special Barbecue Pork.” 

Most epicureans may argue that seafood should always be served as is, but Mitzo’s deep-fried crustaceans might just change your mind about that.

Kudos to the A-team for achieving the impossible; the soft shell crab and lobster claw remains oh-so-tender despite being deep-fried. The curry floss and salted egg puff are incredibly light and make it easy to chomp through.

Mitzo is renowned for their Special Barbecue Pork and guess what? This signature dish is still part of the Holiday Champagne Brunch. FREE-FLOW, GUYS.

We still vividly recall our very first time savouring this divine char siew; fork-tender roasted pork coated with a crisp caramel which melts in your mouth. We had it way too many times, and if any, we are only loving it more and more.

The spread also includes Mitzo’s specialty roasts, wok dishes, a plethora of supreme seafood delights and the usual handcrafted dim sum such as charcoal liu sha baos and royal shrimp dumplings.

This all-you-can-eat fiesta costs S$88++ per adult and the price includes a choice of one glass of beer, champagne or wine.

While the cocktail and dim sum pairing might sound strange to first-timers, we have learnt to relish this intriguing concept. This unorthodox combination sure does grow on us like what a cheese and wine pairing does!

Which brings to our next point—top up S$60++ to enjoy free flow beers, champagne, wines and artisanal cocktails.

Should buffets not entice you, perhaps you may want to consider the two other 5-course Festive Set Menus instead. The Festive Merriment I and Festive Merriment II are priced at S$88++ and S$118++ per pax respectively.

There is a nominal top-up of S$30++ for two cocktails.

The Festive Merriment I Set showcases the Festive Steamed Dim Sum Platter (which comprises Steamed Lobster Har Gow, Scallop Dumpling and Chicken Dumpling topped with Shaved Truffles), Double-boiled Maka with Clam and Chicken, Braised Abalone and Asparagus King Prawn Skewers, Steamed Rice served with Truffle Wagyu Beef and Champagne Jelly.

On the other hand, Festive Merriment II includes a Festive Platter (which consists of Mitzo Special Barbecued Pork and Crispy Soft Shell Crab wrapped with Salted Egg Charcoal Puff), Double-boiled Abalone Soup with Winter Melon, Pork Ribs and Lotus Leaf, Steamed Live Boston Lobster, Poached Noodles topped with Pork Ribs and Champagne Jelly.

The oriental Champagne Jelly dessert is served in a gorgeous spherical glass, and contains refreshing rose tea crush and lychee caviar that explodes instantaneously in your mouth and topped off with edible flowers; no less!

For those who prefer to order from the a la carte menus, you will be pleased to know that the Festive Steamed Dim Sum Platter (S$38++), Steamed Live Boston Lobster (S$68++) and Champagne Jelly (S$18++) are also available as a la carte options.

Mitzo is also launching two festive tipples Yuletide Cheers and The Magic Julep during this festive period (between 10 Dec 2016 to 01 Jan 2017).

The Yuletide Cheers is a mixture of prosecco, whisky infused with chamomile tea, lemon juice, apple-rose syrup and topped with redcurrant foam. Whereas the Magic Julep is a concoction of egg white, passion fruit juice, lemon juice and rum infused with cinnamon and garnished with campari sugar and mint leaves.

The festive cocktails are available on the ala carte menu or part of pairing options of the set menu.

Mitzo Restaurant & Bar
Level 4 Grand Park Orchard
270 Orchard Road
Singapore 238857
Tel: +65 6603 8855
Sun to Wed: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 1am
Thu to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 2am
Nearest Station: Orchard/Somerset

Holiday Champagne Brunch
24, 25, 31 Dec 2016 and 01 Jan 2017: 11.30am – 2.30pm
S$88++ per person (incl. choice of 1 glass of champagne, beer or wine)
S$148++ per person (incl. free flow champagne, cocktails, beers and wines)

Festive Merriment I (for parties of 2 or more)
10 to 31 Dec 2016: Lunch and dinner
S$88++ per person (food only); $118++ per person (food with 2 cocktails pairing)

Festive Merriment II (for parties of 2 or more)
S$108+ per person (food only); $138++ per person (food with 2 cocktails pairing)

This post is brought to you by Mitzo Restaurant & Bar.

We are such big fans of TungLok Group’s arsenal of restaurants and one of the places we frequent is TungLok Teahouse for their delectable, handcrafted dim sum. This casual dining restaurant has extremely competitive prices—which means you can always pop by to satisfy your dim sum cravings even if you are on a budget!

TungLok Teahouse at Square Two recently underwent a transformation: From a retro old-school Chinese Teahouse, to a place which revolutionizes the way dim sum is served. Hint: there is automation and interaction involved here.

After all these years, it remains as one of our all-time favourite places for reliable dim sum.

At first look, the new TungLok Teahouse at Square 2 resembles a classic American Diner with its green and red booths. It is indeed refreshing for a dim sum restaurant.

The restaurant has implemented a new dining concept with its tray delivery system. Choose to sit where the action is at, the booths, which cater to group of four or six; or the round tables at the side of the restaurant which seat bigger groups.

The chefs will prepare the orders upon receiving the electronic orders made via an iPad at every table—this is to ensure that every basket and plate of dim sum is steamed to order and served fresh and piping hot.

Then comes the interesting part—look out for your food which will be delivered to your table straight from the kitchen via the “tray”.

We felt like we were kids again, having so much fun exploring a new game that has just been launched. This new system also means that your waiting time is greatly reduced!

SIGNATURE DIM SUM

Cartoon dim sum will always capture our hearts, which is what the Mini Piglet BBQ Buns (S$5.30++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse did. On top of being adorable, we gave this dish additional points for its taste too.

We tore apart the soft bun and were delighted to be greeted with a generous portion of barbequed pork and sweet sauce.

TungLok Teahouse’s signature Steamed Siew Mai with Quail Egg and Truffle (S$5.80++ – 4 pieces) completely blew our minds. Who would have thought the classic dim sum could be reinvented this way?!

We loved how we were surprised by the runny quail egg yolk when we bit into the pork and shrimp siew mai. And as if the sweetness from the egg wasn’t enough, black truffle is added for an overall elevation of the taste!

We are never looking at siew mai the same way again.

Steamed Cheong Fun (rice rolls) is a staple in most dim sum restaurants and you bet it is a must-order at TungLok Teahouse.

We liked the textural variety in the Steamed Prawn Rice Rolls ‘Cheong Fun’ (S$6.80++). Imagine fresh plump prawns, vegetables and crispy vermicelli wrap, combined together in delicate rice noodle rolls before it is drenched with light soya sauce.

Many of you will agree with us that good baked pork buns should come with flaky tops and are soft to bite. Besides that, it is also crucial that the sweet and savoury bits from the bun and juicy pork have to go well together.

That is what you would get with the Baked BBQ Pork Buns (S$4.80++ – 3 pieces) at TungLok Teahouse. Since our first trip, we had concluded that this is a must-try at TungLok Teahouse and our stand remains today.

Other dim sum choices you get are Steamed Shrimp Dumplings ‘Har Gao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces), Baked Mini Egg Tarts (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces), Deep-fried Yam Puffs with Truffle (S$4.30++ – 3 pieces) and Steamed Juicy Meat Buns ‘Xiao Long Bao’ (S$5.30++ – 4 pieces).

SIDES

Boxer Chicken (S$8++) is so sinfully good that it is worth every damn calorie. Although the limelight at TungLok Teahouse is the dim sum, it would be a shame to miss out on this crispy delight.

Deep fried to perfection, you can enjoy the chicken with the chilli dip for a spicy kick.

BECAUSE ROAST MEATS

The Duo BBQ Meat Combination Platter (S$20++) is a plate of roasted goodness that comes with ‘Char Siew’ and Roast Irish Duck. Roasted to a glorious shade of deep red, the best part of the roast duck has got to be its crispy skin.

Well, we don’t think you need another reason to be convinced, right? Good roast meats are worth the while.

THIS UNFORGETTABLE POT OF NOODLES

This pot of Braised Prawns with Vermicelli in X.O. Sauce (S$18++) comes with prawns and tanghoon. It was flavourful with a distinct wok hei, and as simple as it may look, it was an unforgettable item from our lunch that afternoon.

TungLok Teahouse
10 Sinaran Drive
#01-73 Square 2
Singapore 307506
Tel: +65 6893 1123
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 3pm, 3pm – 5pm (high tea), 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Novena

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Tucked away in the corner of the 3rd floor of PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant is a family’s favourite and is renown for its outstanding Sichuan and Cantonese dishes.

This year, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road celebrates its 6th anniversary.

As part of the celebrations, Executive Cantonese Chef Leung Wing Chung has specially put together a six-course set menu which features many of the restaurant’s classics—from dim sum and Cantonese soups to Sichuan mains and signature beancurd dessert. And it is reasonably priced at S$78++ for 2 persons (regular price S$68++ per person). This promotion is valid daily, with a minimum 4 to dine.

Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road’s 6th anniversary set menu is available daily for both lunch and dinner from 13 February 2017 to 30 April 2017.

THE ART OF DIM SUM

Our loyalty goes to Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road’s menu of very exquisite handcrafted dim sum.

Featuring a spread of signature dim sum, the ‘Art of Dim Sum’ includes the Chef’s popular items and customers’ favourites.

It includes Siew Mai with Abalone, Yam and Beancurd Skin with Dried Chilli, Truffle “Xiao Long Bao” and our absolute favourite—the Nostalgic Pork Belly Baked Bun.

The Nostalgic Pork Belly Baked Bun is a crispy and buttery pastry crust that reveals piping hot diced pork belly with char siew sauce.

APPETIZERS

The “Combination Of Four Delicacies” puts together the Sliced Suckling Pig, Chilled Chicken in Spicy Bean Paste, Wasabi Mushroom and Marinated Jelly Fish.

The Sliced Suckling Pig boasts juicy pork enshrouded with crispy skin that had just the right amount of salt.

However, the one that surprised us all was the Wasabi Mushroom, which features shimeji mushrooms tossed in a gentle wasabi sauce. It was surprisingly not overpowering, and in fact extremely addictive with the perfect balance of smokey spiciness from the creamy wasabi and sweetness from the fresh mushrooms.

THE MAINS

As part of transforming their patrons’ experience at the Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant into a luxurious one, Chef Leung has selected the Korean Turbot Fish to be part of the menu.

The Hong Kong Steamed Sliced Turbot Fish in Soy Sauce is a dish of white and firm fish topped off with parsley, before being drizzled with a light dipping soya sauce.

The Signature Bean Curd Medley was an absolute winner for us. Fried beancurd slices are placed atop a bed of steamed beancurd, vegetables, and minced meat; then doused in rich oyster sauce. It was stunning; this dish was a majestic one both in taste as well as appearance.

You definitely need a bowl of white rice to complement this dish. Happiness can be so simple sometimes—just beancurd and steamed white rice.

For those who want a healthier choice, Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant offers all diners the option of brown rice, as a healthier alternative, absolutely free of charge.

THE SOUPS

As with every Chinese meal, a soup is necessary to complete your dining experience.

We were treated to Chef Leung’s Double Boiled Cartilage Soup with Fish Maw. The extremely flavourful and thick soup is boiled for at least 7-8 hours together with various herbs such as gingko nuts and wolfberries for that extra nutritional boost.

Just for Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurant’s 6th anniversary, Chef Leung also created the Fish Paste Mee Sua Soup in “Shun De” Style, which is served to diners through Gueridon Service. Shunde, hometown of Chef Leung, is a district in the Guangdong province and it’s said to be the place where many famous Cantonese chefs hail from. Shude as a style of cuisine, sees simple ingredients transform into exquisite delicacies.

THE DESSERTS

To end off this exquisite dining experience at the Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant, we could not help but marvel at the beautiful Dessert Fantasy, which features a series of sweet desserts such as flavoured jellies and walnut cookies.

Well, no one leaves Si Chuan Dou Hua without a serving of this. One of the signatures that we relished, in particular, was the Homemade Bean Curd with Wolfberry. The warm and soothing soft beancurd served with a generous helping of wolfberries added the perfect finishing touches to this fine culinary experience and left us with a sense of nostalgia and the hunger for more.

If it is going to be your first time dining at Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road, let it be over this new set menu. At S$78++ for 2 pax (with a minimum 4 to dine), it is really a steal for you get to savour all the representative dishes. It is like having the best of the bests in one seating, and at a price tag that is more than reasonable.

When visiting, do make sure to also take the opportunity to ask their Tea Masters to serve you a cup of tea through long-nosed bronze kettles to complete your authentic Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine experience, which we assure you that you will not regret. Tea and pickles are a compulsory charge at SGD5 per person.

Also, do note that if you are going in a group of an odd number, the additional person has to pay the regular price of S$68++ per person. If you are in a group of an even number, then you will just pay accordingly to the number of pairs.

Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant
Level 3 PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road, Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3170
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm and 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest station: Farrer Park

This post is brought to you by PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road. 

Cantonese cuisine is a fine art.

Preparation of Cantonese dishes requires a great deal of skill and expertise as the flavours of Cantonese cuisine must be well-balanced, not greasy whilst ensuring that its primary ingredients are the stars of the dish.

Situated on the 5th floor of Singapore’s iconic National Gallery and led by Master Chef Chan Kung Lai, Yàn specialises in authentic Cantonese cuisine that’s artfully prepared and presented. It is the perfect place for birthday celebrations, business luncheons and family gatherings!

From now until 31 March 2017, our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your reservation to enjoy 15% discount on a la carte bills. More details below.

Yàn’s dim sum platter (S$18) deserves your attention.

The platter features an assortment of 6 different types of dim sum, and one to look out for is the Steamed Black Truffle Prawn Dumpling filled with shrimp and celery, which provides a refreshing take on the traditional expectations of dim sum. 

One of Yàn’s other signature dishes is its crispy roast suckling pig (S$124 for half a pig, S$248 for a whole pig) served 3 ways—crispy skin, carved shoulder and oven-baked fillet with lemongrass.

This dish must be ordered one day in advance.

You can never go wrong with Peking duck. Enjoy Yàn’s Peking duck (S$40 for half a duck and S$80 for a whole duck)—succulent crispy duck skin wrapped in the thinly sliced homemade crêpe together with cucumber stalks, leeks and drizzled sweet sauce; classic and always good.

Make your way down to this elegant Cantonese restaurant to enjoy a convivial feast in the company of your family and friends!

From now until 31 March 2017, quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy a 15% off all a la carte bills. This discount is valid for both lunch and dinner, with a minimum booking of 4 persons. A reservation must be made in advance, and it is subjected to availability.

Yàn
#05-02 National Gallery Singapore, 1 St. Andrew’s Road
Tel: +65 6384 5585
Opening hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm and 6pm – 10.30pm daily
Nearest station: City Hall

This post is brought to you by Yàn.

Sitting on the City Hall Rooftop of our beloved National Gallery is Yàn, a stunning restaurant that offers elevated and luxurious authentic Cantonese cuisine served in modern day presentations. The elegant restaurant boasts a modern setting and intimate seating. Yàn also has private rooms which are ideal for hosting private sessions and to celebrate occasions.

Having loved what Yàn had to offer before, we set our bar high on our most recent visit. We were lucky enough to try several different seasonal seafood, each cooked in its own special way. Something to appreciate about the fresh seafood at Yàn is that you get to choose your preferred cooking method(s).

Have it steamed with Chinese wine a la the traditional way or go for something a little more unique like deep-fried with white wine sauce; your pick, your way. And now, we need to share with you more about our memorable lunch when we luxuriated with premium seafood in this gem of a restaurant.

Enjoy 15% off Live Seafood selections when you quote ‘Ladyironchef’ upon reservation, applicable till 31 May 2017.

STEAMED ALASKAN KING CRAB WITH CHINESE WINE AND EGG WHITE

We thanked our lucky stars when we saw the massive Alaskan King Crab (S$20++/100g, min. 2kg) in front of our eyes. Weighing about 4kg, our crab was massive. It is ideal for large groups because of its colossal size.

Alaskan King Crab is in season and we got the freshest catch, still alive minutes before it was cooked and served to us.

Yàn’s Master Chef Chan highly recommends to cook it with a combination of egg and Chinese wine. The crab is surrounded by the steamed egg that has been flavoured with the Chinese wine. With this style of cooking, the flesh turned out to be extremely sweet, juicy and oh-so-soft! Nothing can beat seafood that is simply steamed because you get to taste the undisturbed genuine flavours.

The fragrance of the Chinese wine was also very prominent and complementary to the sweet flesh of the crab.

STEAMED BAMBOO CLAMS WITH CHEF’S SPECIAL SOY SAUCE

These Bamboo Clams (S$14/piece) from Scotland were so meaty and substantial that we slurped them up in seconds. We had ours steamed with Chef’s special soy sauce and a dollop of delicious homemade chilli sauce on top.

The subtle soy sauce and a hint of fiery heat from the chilli were great complements to the actual fleshy clam. Each bite was just so pleasurable.

STEAMED TURBOT FISH WITH OLIVE LEAF

All the way from Busan in Korea, the Turbot Fish (S$18++/100g) is a luxurious fish. It is priced at a higher range than your regular grouper or pomfret and has a firmer flesh, almost like a combination of monkfish and stingray.

This flat fish might not seem like much, but have it steamed in this classic fashion and you have gold. There is something about Turbot Fish that is a little acquired but not difficult to love. Because of its firmer texture, eating it feels more gratifying in return!

DEEP-FRIED LOCAL LOBSTER WITH CHARDONNAY WHITE WINE SAUCE

Lobsters have long been regarded as an expensive treat. The Local Lobsters (S$18/100g) here at Yàn are amazing when deep fried with a side of Yàn’s house-made Chardonnay White Wine Sauce.

This cooking method is more of an upmarket Western style as opposed to the cooking style of the previous few dishes.

It is easy to overcook lobsters like this where it becomes rubbery, but fret not, the chefs have aced the deep frying and when you have the lobster served immediately, the flesh inside is still nice, warm and juicy.

DEEP-FRIED LIVE PRAWNS WITH FRAGRANT GARLIC, BLACK BEAN & CHILLI

As a great communal dish, go for some Deep-Fried Live Prawns (S$8/100g). We had ours deep fried then stir fried with some fragrant garlic and black bean for a burst of flavours.

Because these prawns have been deep-fried, you can even chow down the flesh with the shell! Nice and crunchy with every bite, we were just blown away by the simple yet intense flavours of this dish.

The next time you crave a really stellar seafood meal, head down to Yàn at National Gallery Singapore for the freshest seafood from the market and have it cooked to your desire. Your next family dinner will be great.

READERS OF LADYIRONCHEF GET 15% OFF LIVE SEAFOOD SELECTIONS

Enjoy 15% off Live Seafood selections when you quote ‘LadyIronChef’ upon reservation, applicable till 31 May 2017.

Terms & Conditions
Advance reservation is required and subject to availabilityValid for Live Seafood on a la carte menu.

Not applicable in conjunction with other promotions, offers, vouchers and privileges

Not valid on eve and day of public holiday, and special occasions.

Instagram perk: Receive a complimentary house dessert when you upload a photo of your Yàn feast and tag @yancantonesecuisine on Instagram.

Yàn
#05-02 National Gallery Singapore
1 St. Andrew’s Road
Singapore 178957
Tel: +65 6384 5585
Opening hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm and 6pm – 10.30pm daily
Nearest station: City Hall

This post is brought to you by Yàn.

Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar has an unbelievable a la carte buffet which features a massive lineup of 38 Chinese delights. It is time for you to unleash your inner beast and feast on endless servings of your favourite Chinese dishes!

As we all know, authentic and high-quality Chinese cuisine does not come cheap. But if you are badly craving some Chinese food and want to avoid spending beyond your budget, Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar’s A La Carte Buffet will be your saving grace.

From 15 May 2017 to 31 July 2017, enjoy 50% off their A La Carte Buffet when you dine in a group of four. You won’t believe it, but it is only S$24++ per adult and S$16++ per child*!

This is one unbelievably incredible promotion, especially with the impressive selection of Chinese delights that include shark’s fin, seafood and meat. Now, you really need to make your reservation at Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar.

SHARK’S FIN/SOUP

Chinese soups have long been recognised for being extremely nourishing. The warm broth never fails to soothe and rejuvenate the tired soul.

Begin your A La Carte buffet with the Double-boiled Baby Superior Shark’s Fin with Cordyceps Flower and Chicken Soup and the Braised Baby Superior Shark’s Fin with Fresh Crab Meat and Egg White. The method of double-boiling achieves the maximum extraction of flavours without compromising the quality of ingredients, which was certainly evident in every spoonful.

Do note that diners will be limited to one order from this section only.

APPETISERS

Amongst all the appetisers, the Chilled Drunken Chicken is one signature that you must try. We thoroughly enjoyed the accents of Chinese wine that layered the finely cut chicken meat; simplicity at its best.

Other must-try appetisers are the Roasted Crispy Pork and Fried Salmon Fish Skin with Salted Egg Yolk. For a cold appetiser, the Chilled Fresh Scallop with Fruit and Fresh Mango would be a good choice.

But ultimately, the Fried Carrot Cake with X.O. Sauce was the winner for us. Huge chunky cubes of radish cake are tossed in the aromatic X.O. sauce and we could even taste a tinge of that distinct wok hei. 

THE SEAFOOD

The seafood selection at Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar’s A La Carte Buffet is a pretty extravagant one considering the amazing price of S$24++ per pax! There are no restrictions on how much you can order and an entire fish will be served upon every order of fish. Mind-blowingly crazy, right?

You must try the Deep-fried Soon Hock Fish with Garlic and Superior Soya Sauce—crunchy on the outside yet soft on the inside.

The Steamed Pa Ting Fish with Minced Garlic in Super Soya Sauce was another classic seafood dish that we enjoyed immensely. The meat was tender and there was no muddy taste that freshwater fish are typically associated with.

A shout-out to all prawn lovers! Three types of prawns are available as part of this a la carte buffet and they include the Deep-fried Fresh Prawn with Jackfruit Sauce, Steamed Live Prawn with Chinese Wine and Herbs and the Deep-fried Fresh Prawn with Wasabi Salad Cream.

Yes, Peach’s Garden famous Deep-fried Fresh Prawn with Wasabi Salad Cream is included in this buffet so it is FREE-FLOW WASABI PRAWNS, GUYS. Astounding in all aspects, our prawns were juicy, the batter was crispy and lastly, the wasabi dip was light and not overpowering. You cannot, and must not leave Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar without a taste of this goodness.

Just think about it, guys. The usual a la carte price of this dish is S$28++. The buffet is S$24++ per person. You know our drift.

THE MEAT

9 different varieties of meat form the lineup of the meat selection at Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar’s A La Carte Buffet. 

We were so pleased with the execution of the Sautéed Kurobuta Pork Cube with Leek and Teriyaki Sauce. Every piece of pork was succulent and tender and the teriyaki sauce added a lovely touch to the dish.

The Sautéed Chicken with Chef’s Special “Mongolia Sauce” is another dish exclusive to Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar that is worth trying.

More meat options in the menu include Braised Pork Belly with “Mui Choy”, Braised Beef Brisket with Radish and the Sautéed Sweet and Sour Pork with “Lychee”.

SEASONAL VEGETABLES / BEANCURD

The Poached Local Spinach with Three Kinds of Egg is a classic Chinese dish. The sauce was not too salty and complemented the young spinach well. Elsewise, you can try the Stir-fried French Bean with Scallop and X.O. Sauce.

NOODLE/RICE

Choose from either the Fried Jasmine Rice with Pork Floss and Dried Scallop or the Stewed Spinach Noodle with Mapo Tofu.

THE DESSERTS

Choose from Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar’s selection of four traditional Chinese desserts to end your feasting.

Go for the Chilled Jelly Royale with Julienne of Coconut, Chilled Fresh Sago with Pomelo or Chilled Coconut Milk Red Bean Pudding. But if you prefer warm desserts, the Warm Black Glutinous Rice will be oh-so-satisfying.

Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar’s A La Carte Buffet 50% Promotion
15 May 2017 to 31 July 2017
Mon to Thu: S$24++/ adult, S$16++/ child
Fri: S$26++/ adult, S$18++/ child
Sat, Sun & PH: S$29++/ adult, S$21++/ child
Minimum 4 to dine

For all dining enquiries and reservations, please call +65 6736 3833 or email miramar@peachgarden.com.sg.

Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar 
Level 3 Hotel Miramar, 401 Havelock Road,
Singapore 169631
Tel: +65 6736 3833
Daily: 11am – 3.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay/ Chinatown

This post is brought to you by Peach Garden @ Hotel Miramar.

The Dragon Chamber is the first speakeasy restaurant in Singapore. A new dining concept by TungLok Group, The Dragon Chamber is hidden within Lokkee at Plaza Singapura.

For the uninitiated, a speakeasy usually refers to a bar which is hidden from plain sight; with that, part of the fun is in digging out its whereabouts. Go through a secret entrance in Lokkee and enter a different world. The Dragon Chamber is effortlessly hip and cool without trying too hard.

Do be warned that this new concept is not a space for political correctness. Only individuals aged 16 and above are permitted to enter. Contrasting Lokkee’s familiar, lovable Chinese-American recipes, The Dragon Chamber pushes boundaries by adopting experimental techniques and working with unconventional animal parts—think grilled pig’s tail and crocodile foot—to create a myriad of exotic dishes.

Whoever said dining in Singapore is getting boring most definitely need to know about The Dragon Chamber. Now, we promise you an experience unlike any other.

A KINKY INTERIOR

If you have been wondering about the story behind The Dragon Chamber, it is actually inspired by secret hideouts and gambling dens where Chinese gangsters used to hang out at. Let your hair down and be free from any social limitations!

The short journey from Lokkee to The Dragon’s Chamber is intriguing in itself. Entering through a random red door located in the middle of Lokkee, you will find yourself stumbling through a tunnel filled with mirrors and red fluorescent lighting. After which, you will move past a set of curtains which will eventually reveal a totally different space.

Upon entering and soaking up the atmosphere of the place, we finally understood what being in an underground Chinese triad den felt like. It was rather daunting at first, we won’t deny. The lights were dimly lit (there is only a total of 14 filament bulbs lighting up the entire place), giving the speakeasy restaurant a dark and dingy feel.

‘BAKKWA’ BACON SALAD

Making a grand entrance with an amazing fog effect, we were blown away by the beauty of the ‘Bakkwa’ Bacon Salad (S$32++). It is indeed a feast for both your eyes and taste buds.

What you get is succulent bacon strips grilled “bakkwa style”, giving it a lovely caramel coloured sheen and has a sweet and smokey flavour. Accompanied by fresh, oriental green salad, do not miss out on the lotus root croutons.

‘GUO TIE’ POTSTICKERS WITH DANCING CRAB® SIGNATURE SAUCE AND BAKED CHEESE

A collaboration with Dancing Crab®, those who are a fan of the Louisana seafood restaurant will recognise its signature cajun sauce which has been incorporated into grilled potsticker dumplings (S$18++). It is then topped with cheese before baking in the oven.

It was subtly spicy, giving it a good kick and the tartness from the sauce helped to cut through the intense meatiness of the potstickers really well.

CRISPY CORN ROLLS

Any corn lovers out there? You get to create your very own Crispy Corn Roll (S$14++) at The Dragon Chamber with stir-fried sweet corn and mini Sakura shrimp stuffed in tortilla cones.

JOSPER GRILLED PIG’S TAIL

Do not be put off by its name because the Josper Grilled Pig’s Tail (S$28++) is nothing too gross. In fact, it is very flavourful and much effort has been taken to prepare it. Grilled in a Josper oven, this method of cooking results in juicy and tender meat encased in delicate, crispy skin.

The staff will pull the meat apart. You have the option of enjoying it on its own, or wrapped up in lettuce leaves along with fresh cilantro and basil leaves to offset the intense porky flavours. To give it an additional kick, drip in a few drops of chili padi-infused fish sauce and enjoy!

‘MALA’ IRISH DUCK

This is not your typical mala dish. What we love about their ‘Mala’ Irish Duck (S$60++ for whole; S$36++ for half) is the in-house special mala sauce drenched over beautifully roasted Irish duck—it has a rich mala flavour without being overly spicy that it stings your tongue. A must-try for all duck lovers!

DRAGON’S CLAW

We wouldn’t blame you if you are wondering what Dragon’s Claw (S$60++) is because of its ambiguous name. It is essentially a crocodile’s foot! Yes, not one for the faint-hearted but nobody goes to The Dragon Chamber without trying this.

A Singapore farmed crocodile foot is braised in a herbal sauce and served atop a bed of kale. The melt-in-the-mouth texture and herbal taste resembled that of braised pig’s trotter.

Trust that The Dragon Chamber is not one to skimp on theatrics. The dish comes served surrounded by a ring of fire and once the fire dies out, that’s when you tuck in.

X.O. ‘GRUB’ CHOP SUEY

Daunting as it may look and sound, fret not because no actual grubs were used in making this dish. The X.O. ‘Grub’ Choy Suey (S$24++) features grub-like abomination that is actually a special type of artichoke.

The dish is stir-fried with mushrooms, kale and zucchini.

LOBSTER CRISPY NOODLES

The Lobster Crispy Noodles (S$25++ for regular; S$48++ for large) at The Dragon Chamber is one of our favourites. The juicy grilled lobster is as stunning to look at as it is delicious.

When the special gravy is doused over and the crispy ‘sheng mian’ absorbs the decadent sauce, enjoy it together with the scrumptious lobster and your day is sure to be made.

WAGYU TRUFFLE HOR FUN

It would be a sin to skip the Wagyu Truffle Hor Fun (S$50++). This dish left all of us speechless; it was easily the best dish on The Dragon Chamber’s menu.

Imagine medium rare A4 grade Wagyu beef atop warm hor fun. It is made all the better with crispy deep-fried hor fun strips, poached egg with a runny yolk and truffle gravy. The sheer explosive flavours is mind-boggling. As luxurious as hor fun can get, we will never look at hor fun the same way ever again.

SWEET MULBERRY EGG TEA

End your meal with Sweet Mulberry Egg Tea (S$7++), the house’s signature dessert that is brewed with egg, mulberry tea, dates and cane sugar.

Also known as ‘Sang Ji Sheng’, this is a delectable ancient Chinese dessert with many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation.

The Dragon Chamber
68 Orchard Road
#03-02 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Ban Heng has a dim sum buffet with more than 30 dim sum items at just S$17.60++ per pax.

There is no doubt that Singaporeans take their dim sum seriously—we would source high and low for the best dim sum places in Singapore. What we love even more though, is a great deal that is easy on our pockets without compromising on the quality of the dim sum.

Originally at S$22.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels), Ban Heng has a current promotion of one dines free with every three paying adults. This works out to be only S$17.60++ per person! Yes, you can go for this awesome deal when you visit any of the five Ban Heng restaurants in Singapore during weekday lunch hours.

Here is why you should not miss out on this incredible dim sum deal at Ban Heng.

BAN HENG DIM SUM LUNCH BUFFET

At Ban Heng, there are more than 15 deep-fried dim sum items for you to chose from. We had a hard time deciding what we want from the myriad of choices but we sure aren’t complaining!

Our favourite of the lot goes to the Deep-Fried Shrimp Dumplings. The plump shrimp encased in a crispy shell was so addictive that one plate was not enough for us to share. If you are a fan of shrimps, be sure to get more of this because it is THE BOMB.

Another dim sum dish not to be missed at Ban Heng is the Barbecued Char Siew Pastry with Sesame. This is a timeless classic and we enjoyed the flaky pastry puff roll filled with juicy and tender barbecued pork.

Some other deep-fried dim sum you must try include the Deep-Fried Beancurd Skin, Paper Wrapped Chicken Wings and Baked Mini Egg Tarts. Do note that Egg Tarts are limited to one serving for weekdays only.

Those who prefer steamed dim sum can look forward to a wide selection which will not disappoint your taste buds. These freshly steamed dim sum are little parcels of happiness and were all served piping hot to us.

No dim sum buffet is complete without Steamed Shanghai Meat Dumplings, or more commonly referred to as ‘Xiao Long Bao’. Slurp up the warm broth that bursts out from thin dumpling skins before indulging in the delicious meat!

The Steamed Pork Ribs With Minced Meat may look unassuming, but trust us when we say that it was one of the best dim sum dishes. It was the fragrant black bean sauce which really hit all the right spots for us and gave the steamed pork ribs an extra oomph.

Yes, we know that you are waiting for us to talk about the Steamed Salted Egg Yolk “Liu Sha” Bun. And yes, it definitely lived up to our expectations when the custard lava exploded out upon giving the bun a slight tear. Remember to whip out your phones for that Boomerang video!

If you are looking for alternatives, try the Steamed Siew Mai With Crab Roes, Shrimp Chang Fun, Steamed Shrimp & Water Chestnut Wanton… and the list goes on.

BAN HENG SEAFOOD BUFFET (LUNCH AND DINNER)

Beyond the dim sum buffet, Ban Heng also offers an all-you-can-eat seafood buffet which features Singaporeans’ favourite Chilli Crab, Cold Crab, Steamed Soon Hock and more.

Similar to the dim sum buffet deal, one adult dines free with every three paying adults! With that promotion, Ban Heng’s Seafood Buffet is only S$25.10++ per person instead of the regular price of S$32.80++ per pax (inclusive of S$2 charge for Chinese tea, pickles & towels).

Under the Chef’s Recommendation category, diners will find the best recipes Ban Heng has to offer. These premium items are limited to one serving per dish.

Crabs come in three different flavours—Chilli, Cold and Black Pepper. Ban Heng’s rendition of Chilli Crab is one that will delight all spicy food lovers. While other chilli crab recipes outside tend to be sweeter, this one is considerably spicier and it should impress you.

Ban Heng has also introduced the popular Teochew-style Cold Crabs to its seafood buffet menu since 01 Aug 2017. Nothing fanciful about these crabs, but that is precisely the essence of Teochew Cold Crabs—chilled, fresh crabs that is so sweet with every bite. And oh, that roe. Look at those roe. Every piece comes with an insane amount of rich and creamy roe—the prized part of Teochew Cold Crabs. Who cares about cholesterol?

Ban Heng’s seafood buffet also includes the classic Steamed Soon Hock Fish with Soya Sauce. Served piping hot from the kitchen, the steamed fish was extremely moist and fresh and the flavours were elevated with premium soya sauce.

Of course, we must give special mention to the Barbecued Crispy Duck under the Roasted Meat category too. Kudos to the chefs for roasting the duck so well that the crispy skin was in a glorious dark brown shade. The duck meat had a good layer of fats which added extra flavours to the succulent duck meat.

Diners can also expect other dishes including Shark’s Fin Soup with Crabmeat, Wok Fried Prawns with Cereal, Braised Slice Goose Meat in Teochew Style, Barbecued Pork with Honey and Chilled Prawn with Special Thai Sauce.

Dim Sum Buffet Lunch (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$20.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$23.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$25.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Seafood Buffet Lunch & Dinner (A La Carte Prices)
Mon to Fri: Adult S$30.80++*, Child S$13.80++
Sat, Sun & Eve of PH: Adult S$33.80++, Child S$13.80++
PH: Adult S$35.80++, Child S$13.80++

*One dines free with every three paying adults.

Chinese tea, pickles and towels are chargeable at S$2 per pax.

Ban Heng @ HarbourFront Centre
1 Maritime Square
#04-01, HarbourFront Centre
Singapore 099253
Tel: +65 6278 0288 / +65 6278 1354
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront

Ban Heng @ The Cathay
2 Handy Road
#02-01 The Cathay
Singapore 229233
Tel: +65 6732 7888 / +65 6732 6623
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Dhoby Ghaut

Ban Heng @ Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
#11-01/02 Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6238 1516 /  +656238 7816
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

Ban Heng @ Pasir Ris
60 Pasir Ris Drive 3
Singapore 519497
Tel: +65 6585 1770 / +65 6585 1093
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Pasir Ris

Ban Heng @ Boon Keng
Blk 22 Boon Keng Road #01-21
Singapore 330022
Tel: +65 6291 0407 / +65 6298 5285
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 9.30pm
Nearest Station : Boon Keng

This post is brought to you by Ban Heng Group.

Xiao Ya Tou, or better known as XYT,  is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill that serves up a plethora of playful and somewhat cheeky food and drink offerings—all of which find their inspirations stemming from cuisines from all across Southeast Asia.

The eatery is hard to miss. Its distinctive red lanterns, plastic chairs, and loud decor just call out to you as you walk past. Xiao Ya Tou is one establishment that will undoubtedly guarantee you and your mates a solid meal, yummy locally-inspired cocktail but more importantly, a great time out.

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Standing out amongst the bustling nightlife of Duxton Hill, Xiao Ya Tou is a restaurant bar that exudes charm and quirkiness beyond anything we have ever seen. The fun begins right at the doorsteps as you walk through an array of lanterns and old-school magazine covers from old Chinatown.

XYT’s food is loud, bold and in-your-face and just looking at the restaurant’s menu—with all its quirky illustrations and cheeky puns—you can tell that this is a place worthy of bringing your friends for a good time out.

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This kitschy-cool dining concept offers an interesting mashup of modern Asian cuisine from their pimped up XYT Hokkien Mee that features top quality seafood as well as a wide range of locally inspired cocktails for your after-work tippling pleasure.

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Their signature XYT Hokkien Mee (S$16) took us by surprise. The dish takes your typical hawker stall-bought Hokkien mee and elevates it a notch higher by introducing ingredients such as smoked pancetta and premium seafood.

The noodles oozed an apparent ‘wok hei’ note and the pork broth, along with the various ingredients, did well to amp up the flavour of this dish.

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Although slightly on the pricier side, the Crispy Otak Otak Rolls (S$12) makes for a good snack to pair with an ice cold beer. Wrapped in wonton skin and deep-fried until golden and crispy, what you can expect from the initial bite is a nice crunch followed by the spicy, tangy and subtly sweet otak paste that spills out all over your mouth.

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Tender and brimming with chargrilled flavours, the XYT Ayam Percik (S$26) is something that will definitely appease even the most discerning of carnivores.

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This tasty chicken dish comes served with a spiced coconut cream that pairs very nicely with the deep roasted flavours of the chicken and the chargrilled lime served on the side cuts through the richness of the coconut ensuring a well-balanced dish that won’t leave you feeling too stuffed.

For something a little less heavy but still promises unbeatable flavour, consider the Drunken Flower Clams (S$23) that is cooked in a mixture of sake, wolfberry, Shaoxing wine and ginger.

Xiao Ya Tou
6 Duxton Hill,
Singapore 089592
Tel: +65 6226 1965
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

While Yishun is known for making strange news headlines regularly, some good does exist in this bizarre neighbourhood.

Nestled amongst HDB flats in Yishun, Heng Hua Restaurant is a hidden gem which serves authentic Heng Hwa delights and a wide variety of zi char dishes at pocket-friendly prices. You can expect to find mouth-watering Chinese food that is perfect for your family.

A stone’s throw away from Yishun MRT Station, this eatery is one great destination you must visit if you are ever in the vicinity.

The Stir-Fried Yam Slices (S$10) is a classic Heng Hwa dish that we hardly see in Singapore. These bite-sized delights are coated in a sweet-savoury sauce and then deep-fried to a slightly golden colour. The yam was extremely soft and it would simply melt away in your mouth in a matter of seconds.

The one dish that you must order is the Heng Hua-Style Fried Bee Hoon (S$4.50). This popular dish features vermicelli stir-fried with clams, topped with beancurd puffs, peanuts and dried seaweed. Not only did the vermicelli had hints of the seafood flavour from the clams, the crunchy peanuts and seaweed made the dish even more addictive.

If you prefer a dish with more ‘soup’ or gravy, try the Heng Hua-Style Lor Mee (S$4.50) instead. Served in a rich pork broth, this dish was packed full of umami flavour that had us slurping down everything. Pair this with some Stir-Fried Yam Slices to balance out the savoury flavour with some sweetness.

Another must-order item is the Deep-Fried Tenggui Fish (S$10). Deep fried to perfection, the fish is moist on the inside and golden brown on the outside.

Dip your fish with some of their special homemade soy-based sauce and chopped garlic to highlight that sweet fish flavour.

The eatery gets pretty packed during the weekends and we highly recommend calling in for reservations. Nevertheless, service here is very efficient so you will never have to wait that long for a table.

Heng Hua Restaurant
748 Yishun Street 72
#01-212 Singapore 760748
Tel: +65 6756 1762
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest station: Yishun MRT

Chinese New Year is one festival that all of us Chinese people look forward to the most every year. It is an occasion of feasting, non-stop celebration and sheer exuberance; Lunar New Year is a time for a reunion with family and loved ones.

This joyous occasion is ultimately a celebration of family, hence gatherings with family and relatives around the dining table are a common sight. While it is commonplace for families to slug it out days before through the preparation and actual cooking, it definitely draws out the joy out of the festivities. This year, save yourself the trouble and effort of preparing everything from scratch by indulging in TungLok’s takeaway offerings.

What you can expect from the colossal brand this year is nothing short of grandeur for your family to luxuriate in—minus the hassle of cooking and washing up, of course. Their competitive prices make them a distinguished option for all home parties but rest assure that the quality of their food goes above and beyond their price point.

PROSPERITY YU SHENG

Simply put, Chinese New Year just would not be the same without the iconic yu sheng for lo hei. This dish that traditionally consists of shredded vegetables, various sweet and savoury condiments and fresh raw salmon is an auspicious staple that can be seen at almost every reunion meal.

TungLok’s magnificent and picturesque yu sheng comprises fresh vegetables, mushroom, yam, sweet potato shreds and a drizzle of TungLok’s healthier yu sheng sauce and it stays true to tradition by using fresh salmon instead of anything fancy.

TungLok scored yet another first as Health Promotion Board (HPB) has endorsed TungLok’s Yu Sheng Sauce for its lower sugar content, making this popular festive dish a perfect choice for a healthier celebration.

The Prosperity Yu Sheng is priced at S$48++ for 6 persons and S$78++ for 10 persons. *For takeaways, only Smoked Norwegian Salmon is available.

TUNG LOK PEN CAI

Pronounced as ‘poon choi’ in Cantonese, this one-dish item has come a long way from being served in wooden washbasins during the Song Dynasty to sturdy clay pots in modern times. Now, it is commonly enjoyed at reunion dinners.

TungLok Treasure Bowl (Pen Cai) is a wonderful pot full of premium delicacies ranging from abalone, dried oyster, scallops, prawns, slices of smoked duck and a variety of stewed vegetable and beancurd delights—all beautifully coated with a rich and thick gravy. Be prepared to dig deep to get every morsel of delicious goodness in this luxurious treasure bowl.

TungLok’s Treasure Bowl comes in 2 different variations, but every one boasts only the finest ingredients and homemade abalone sauce. The Heavenly Treasure Bowl that contains 16 ingredients is the most luxurious treat, and comes in two different sizes—S$388++ for 6 persons and S$588++ for 10 persons. The Royal Treasure Bowl contains 13 ingredients and is priced at S$288++ for 6 persons and S$388++ for 10 persons.

FRIED GLUTINOUS RICE WITH ASSORTED PRESERVED MEAT

Forming the bulk of your reunion dinner is the Fried Glutinous Rice With Assorted Preserved Meat that features fragrant rice fried with bits of roasted pork and mushrooms. The mixture is wrapped in a leaf for that extra boost of aroma.

As simple as it looks, we love this wholesome dish for its addictive chewy glutinous rice that is packed with flavourful waxed meat with every bite. The distinct umami taste and texture easily won us over.

SUPERIOR HERBAL CHICKEN

Who doesn’t love chicken? Especially one that is slow cooked for an extended period of time until the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender. Nothing spells comfort quite as accurately as TungLok’s Superior Herbal Chicken. Tender, succulent and redolent with deep herbal flavours and aromas, this is easily a crowd favourite.

Good news for the health conscious: this is dish is chock-full of nutritious qualities that are great for the young and old alike! 

VEGETARIAN OPTIONS

As part of TungLok’s initiative to ensure every family has a memorable family reunion—regardless of dietary preferences—they have an array of vegetarian dishes that boasts vibrant colours and fresh flavours.

Gone are the days of unexciting, run-of-the-mill vegetarian dishes on Chinese New Year. What you can look forward to this year include favourites such as Longevity Treasure Bowl (Pen Cai), Thai-Style Deep-Fried Vegetarian Fish and more!

If you think that one type of Yu Sheng is enough, TungLok Group impresses with a second—a more vibrant Prosperity Vegetarian Yu Sheng that does not compromise on flavour.

This colourful vegetarian salad features a mixture of luscious ingredients from plump cherry tomatoes and pomegranate seeds that give each bite a nice pop of sweetness; toss to your heart’s content!

Featuring soy-based products in place of the various seafood and meat ingredients in their Longevity Treasure Bowl, reunion dinners will still be a grand and tasty affair for all our vegetarian friends.

Replacing the usual meats in a pen cai are 18 ingredients such as yellow fungus, fresh mushroom, an assortment of beancurd rolls and cuttlefish balls as well as vegetarian abalone.

The Longevity Treasure Bowl is exclusively available at LingZhi Vegetarian Restaurant at S$198++ for 6 persons and S$268++ for 10 persons.

Wrapped in a lotus leaf, their Fragrant Rice is a yummy treat to have as an alternative to its meat-filled counterpart.

Serving is pretty straightforward. Simply untie the piece of string that holds the parcel in place to reveal a treasure trove of aromatic and delicious brown rice, bits of corn, carrots, and mock meat—all beautifully accented by the fragrant leaf that the dish is cooked in.

Vegetarians will fawn over the Thai-Style Deep-Fried Vegetarian Fish like how we did. Not only did the dish look like genuine fish meat, we were impressed with the ‘fish’ texture right down to the overall taste.

Tender beancurd as the fish flesh and fried beancurd as its skin, the dish is covered in a layer of zesty saccharine Thai sauce. The fish roll is crispy on the outside yet soft and flaky on the inside.

CNY FESTIVE GIFTS AND GOODIES

And our friends are all going to receive TungLok Pork Bak Kwa and TungLok Nian Gao as festive gifts this year, we promise.

TungLok Nian Gao is the first in Singapore to be recognised by Health Promotion Board for its lower sugar content and as a source of dietary fibre, and it is available in unique flavours – traditional, pandan and black sesame at S$22+ per box.

Boost your immunity with the special Red Dates Nian Gao (S$28+ per box) that is filled with nutrients and vitamins. You will be spoilt for choices as you indulge in these sweet delights.

Believe us when we tell you that TungLok’s Pork Bak Kwa is among the best we have ever tried. Many may not know, but TungLok flame-grill their own Pork Bak Kwa in very limited quantities. The sweet and savoury succulent meat has enough bite that comes with pleasant hints of smokiness. The all-time popular Classic Bak Kwa comes with an option of honey-glazed and spicy flavours (S$35+ per 500 grams).

On top of that, TungLok’s X.O. sauce (S$9.80+)—made with a blend of dried canopy and silver bait using TungLok’s secret recipe—makes for a delicious gift for your family and relatives.

TAKE-HOME SETS

TungLok Group is offering sets in the form of Take-Home Feasts which comprises of Yu Sheng, Pen Cai, Superior Herbal Chicken, Fried Glutinous Rice with Assorted Preserved Meat and Nian Gao.

Prices start at S$268+, and there are several Take-Home Feasts that are great for 6 to 10 people. These Take-Home Feasts are perfect for your reunion dinners or if you need to bring an auspicious gift for all the house visits.

Early birds who make a purchase before 31 Jan 2018 will enjoy 15%* off for takeaway Yu Sheng, Pen Cai as well as the Take-Home Feasts. Additionally, you can receive 15%* off TungLok Festive Gifts from now until 02 Mar 2018. *Valid for MVG / tunglokfirst members and UOB card members.

For more enquiries, please visit www.tunglok.com.

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Cantonese cuisine, more specifically dim sum, often brings to mind the usual suspects such as comforting porridge, bao, and dumplings of sorts, but over at Song Garden, there is much more than meets the eye than the conventional mix of dim sum treats.

Located on the second level of Mercure Singapore Bugis, this contemporary Cantonese restaurant astounds with its array of elaborate and mouth-watering dishes. Your taste buds are in for a tantalising treat of innovative creations such as Pan-seared ‘Otak’ Seafood Dumpling on Skewer, Baked Abalone Pastry and Deep-Fried Charcoal Chili Crab Meat Ball.

Helmed by Executive Chef Wong Shea Nung and Executive Dim Sum Chef Leung Chi Man—both of whom have decades of experience in Cantonese cooking in Hong Kong—what diners can look forward to is an impressive array of over 30 classic dim sum staples as well as some modern interpretations that are all carefully curated by the chef duo themselves.

From now until May 31 2018 (except for Mother’s Day on 13 May), our readers can quote ‘ladyironchef’ upon making your reservation to enjoy 15% off all dim sum (with min spend of S$60++).

Here’s what you can expect from Song Garden’s stellar line-up of dim sum delights.

Decked out in shades of red and gold with traditional Chinese furnishings and gorgeous art pieces adorning its walls, this elaborate 120-seater Cantonese restaurant sets the mood for some proper dim sum dining, be it for family or friends.

There are also large private dining rooms that can sit more than twenty pax!

PAN-SEARED ‘OTAK’ SEAFOOD DUMPLING ON SKEWER

We are always game for modern dishes with a twist, especially those that creatively blend flavours and textures from our local cuisine. Chef Leung’s Pan-seared ‘Otak’ Seafood Dumpling on Skewer (S$6++ for 4 pieces) is without a doubt perfection on a skewer.

His version of the iconic Siew Mai (pork dumplings) replaces minced pork with spicy mackerel otah paste and prawns. The Siew Mai is first steamed before being wok-fried. Laced with aromatic spices, this siew mai rendition promises a nice crunch and a mildly spicy kick.

MINI EGG TARTS

As far as egg tarts go, it is more than just the yellowish custard that defines a really good one. The short-crust pastry that encases it is just as important—if not, more. Here at Song Garden, the Mini Egg Tarts (S$4.20++ for 3 pieces) are far better than your traditional flaky egg tarts. Buttery, crumbly and filled with a luscious egg filling, this is undeniably one of the best renditions in Singapore.

What we particularly loved about this was the fact that it was small enough to eat in one bite, which for one, does away with the nuisance of crumbs falling everywhere, and allows you to taste every single component at one go.

DEEP-FRIED CHARCOAL CRAB MEAT BALL

New to Song Garden’s menu is the Deep-Fried Charcoal Chili Crab Meat Ball (S$7.50++ for 3 pieces). Perfectly fried and generously filled with a lip-smacking good chilli crab filling, this is truly a treat to behold.

The initial bite excites with a pleasant crunch, followed by the sweet, savoury and spicy chilli crab filling that comes pouring out all over your tongue. The contrast between flavour and texture was struck beautifully and out of all the many chilli crab innovations we have tried over the years, we must say this is among our top few favourites.

PAN-FRIED FOIE GRAS DUMPLING

Although nothing much to shout about at first glance, their Pan-Fried Foie Gras Dumpling (S$S$4.50++ for 3 pieces) is something that left us yearning for more. If you fancy foie gras, then these morsels are the perfect thing to have.

Foie gras is mixed together with marinated pork mince which gives the dumpling a luxurious iron flavour in addition to the savoury pork. Have this with a few strands of the vinegar-soaked ginger and prepare for a flavour explosion in your mouth.

LOBSTER WITH PUMPKIN CONGEE

Boasting a bright yellow hue and robust seafood aroma, the Lobster with Pumpkin Congee (S$28++) is a showstopper in its own right. The porridge contained subtle nuances of pumpkin which made the overall flavour much sweeter than regular congee. The lobster tail was plump, tender and sweet.

BAKED ABALONE PASTRY WITH BLACK TRUFFLE

For those looking to splurge a little more than usual, consider their Baked Abalone Pastry with Black Truffle (S$8.80++ for 1 piece). These luxurious “tarts” feature a very buttery tart pastry which is filled with black truffle and topped with a braised abalone. The complex flavours will definitely get you addicted. We couldn’t stop at one!

STIR-FRIED CARROT CAKE WITH SIGNATURE CHILLI SAUCE

As fans of fried carrot cake, we must say that the Stir-fried Carrot Cake with Signature Chilli Sauce (S$8.80++) is a must-order when at Song Garden. Tossed in a mixture of egg, bean sprouts and their signature chilli sauce, the dish boasts a subtle spiciness and an apparent wok hei.

STEAMED CHEONG-FUN WITH FRESH PRAWN FILLING

If you thought that this Cantonese restaurant’s cheong fun was going to be your typical rice roll stuffed with bits of prawn, you thought wrong. In their Steamed Cheong-fun with Fresh Prawn Filling (S$6++), delicate paper-thin sheets (that are all made in-house daily) nicely wraps itself around a crispy roll filled with deliciously crunchy prawns.

Simple as it may seem, the textural variety from the sweet and succulent prawns as well as the crispy roll will have you rethink about regular chee cheong fun.

BAO GALORE

No dim sum meal would be complete without some form of stuffed bao. For a sweet treat, go for the Steamed Custard Bun (S$5.80++ for 3 pieces). Molten salted egg yolk oozing out from freshly steamed bun; oh, how we love our liu sha bao!

Both chefs also impress with their Oven Baked Snow Skin Bun (S$5.40++ for 3 pieces). The savoury and slightly sweet char siew filling still had bits of fat intact which made it such a joy to eat, and we liked that the crust was crunchy without being overly greasy.

Presenting one of their new and stellar creations is the Steamed Mushroom Bun with Black Truffle (S$5.80++ for 3 pieces). Made to look like a literal mushroom (stalk included), this adorable bun is packed full of diced up mushrooms with a sauce made with truffles. If you love mushrooms, this savoury treat will most definitely leave an impression.

For reservations and dining enquiries, call +65 6521 9299 or email song.garden@accor.com.

Song Garden
122 Middle Road
Mercure Singapore Bugis
Singapore 188973
Nearest Station: Bugis

Weekdays
Lunch: 11.30am to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm
Weekends/ Public Holiday
Lunch: 11am to 3pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm

This post was brought to you by Song Garden.

Established in 1992, Orchard Hotel Singapore’s signature restaurant Hua Ting has built a firm reputation as one of the top Cantonese fine dining restaurants in Singapore. Many spirits were shaken at the news of its closure some months ago but finally, after an extensive four-month facelift, Hua Ting Restaurant returns with a sophisticated new look and an improved menu to match.

At the helm of this grande dame is Masterchef Chung Lap Fai, and along with his team of veteran Chinese chefs, a brand new menu is introduced—one that aims to impart traditional flavours in a contemporary fashion. Look forward to a myriad of intriguing new dishes and creative tea-and-food pairing menus alongside the restaurant’s signatures and crowd-pleasers, all plated and presented in a sleek, artistic fashion.

New to Hua Ting Restaurant’s menu is their Smoked Peking Duck infused with Aged Pu-Erh served with Yuzu Sauce. Aromatic, succulent and everything you could ever want in a Peking duck dish (and more), it is one of those dishes that you’ll find yourself hankering over for days.

We are definitely loving Hua Ting Restaurant even more than we already did!

To match the restaurant’s modern furnishing and finer decorative outfits, the menu has been totally revamped but rest assured that the old favourites are still very much in place.

Having spent the restaurant’s downtime revising the menu, Masterchef Lap Fai might have elevated the look and presentation of his dishes, but at its heart, the menu still stays true to its traditional Cantonese roots.

DONG XING GAROUPA AND CRISPY RICE

Nothing defines ’comfort’ like rice in hot soup and Hua Ting Restaurant’s version will blow your mind with its wild-caught Dong Xing Garoupa and Crispy Rice in Superior Stock.

Inspired by Korean bibimbap, the dish is first presented in a piping-hot stone bowl displaying only rice with a layer of raw fish slices, to which the server pours over the hot stock that instantly cooks the fish.

At the side, you can help yourself to freshly diced scallions, fried fish bones as well as crispy puffed rice to give the indulgent rice porridge an extra punch of flavour.

Hands down, this was easily our favourite dish of all. The dish was comforting with a mixture of sweet, delicate flavours and the different textures present in the dish itself made it all the more delightful to eat.

CHILLED MARINATED 16-HEAD SOUTH AFRICAN ABALONE

True luxury knows no equal as far as the Chilled Marinated 16-head South African Abalone is concerned. A true delight to look at (let alone eat), this ocean gem is marinated with sake over a long period to give it a more intense flavour boost.

Served cold, we really enjoyed the harmony of textures and sensations that were present in our mouth upon each bite.

SMOKED PEKING DUCK INFUSED WITH AGED PU-ERH

New to Hua Ting Restaurant’s menu is the ambrosial Smoked Peking Duck infused with Aged Pu-Erh served with Yuzu Sauce. What else can we say? We are suckers when it comes to Peking duck—from its irresistibly crispy skin and succulent flesh right down to the decadent hoisin sauce that just ties in all the flavours.

This aromatic rendition is taken a notch higher than your average Peking duck with the strong infusion of fragrant pu-erh tea leaves that, aside from perfuming the meat as it cooks, add another layer of flavour that might intrigue the palate at first, but no doubt tastes brilliant.

HUA TING RESTAURANT SIGNATURE ROAST TRIO PLATTER

Boasting a similar profile to the Smoked Peking Duck, Hua Ting Restaurant’s Signature Roast Trio Platter—that features crispy roasted duck, crispy roasted pork and charcoal-grilled Spanish Iberico pork char siew—is true indulgence at its finest.

Neither gamy nor tough, every bite of the roasted duck promises an aromatic punch that is further accented by the decadent fat that oozes out from the meat. And as far as roasted pork dishes go, we dare admit that very few can beat their stellar char siew and roasted pork.

BAKED EMPRESS CHICKEN DRUMSTICK IN HAND-MOULDED BREAD

With a distinguished career that spanned more than three decades, Master Chef Lap Fai is more than just a chef; he is an artist in his own right. And the restaurant’s Baked Empress Chicken Drumstick, Abalone, Fungus and Chinese Herbs is a testament to that.

This dish is as much as a culinary masterpiece as it is a melting pot of unbelievable flavours. Encased in a hen-shaped bread bowl, of which Chef Lap Fai moulds himself daily, hides a fork-tender chicken drumstick as well as mushrooms and other edible goodies—all stewed down to tender perfection.

DIM SUM DELIGHTS

A signature on their dim sum menu and a true representative of the restaurant is Hua Ting Restaurant’s Signature Baked Mango Chicken Tartlet. Encased in a crispy, buttery bo lo bun hides bits of sweet, minced chicken and diced up ripe mangoes. While many might flinch at the thought of this unlikely pairing, we promise you that it is good.

Another item to look forward to is the Wok-fried Turnip Cake with House-made X.O. Sauce in Hot Stone Bowl. Brimming with delicious savoury, slightly spicy qualities and exuding a strong wok-hei flavour, this dish is a great accompaniment to have alongside the sweeter dim sum options.

STEAMED FRESH CRAB CLAW, EGG WHITE, SPRING ONION AND GINGER PURÉE

For something that looks presumably simple, we were rather impressed by the complexity of flavours present in the Steamed Fresh Crab Claw, Egg White, Spring Onion and Ginger Purée.

Sitting on a bed of firm and silky egg white, the crab claw was meaty and sweet. But what truly made this dish divine was the combination of the assertive, subtly spicy house-made ginger purée and salty ikura.

CRISPY SQUID TENTACLE, CHILLI PADI, ALMOND FLAKE

The Crispy Squid Tentacle, Chilli Padi, Almond Flake is something that comes highly recommended. A slight derivative of the iconic salted egg yolk crispy squid that we’re used to, this rendition features flakes of almond that add a nice crunch and nutty note to the dish.

Battered and fried till golden and crispy, the battered squid takes on the flavours of its accompaniments pretty well without being overly greasy.

Photo Credit: Hua Ting Restaurant

BRAND NEW TEA PAIRING

A new addition to Hua Ting Restaurant is their specially curated tea-pairing menu that is crafted by Masterchef Lap Fai himself. Like wine, he believes that tea has the ability to provide a new dimension to a meal, either by complementing certain dishes or enhancing them.

For S$98++ per pax, savour a whole array of fine dishes matched with premium brews, such as Fried Rice with Conpoy and Organic Black Garlic in Lotus Leaf, infused with Jasmine Pearls tea—a pairing which he believes is the most suitable in bringing out the subtleties—and more!

The entire experience will heighten your love for tea and it is the best way to truly appreciate fine tea and food.

Hua Ting Restaurant
442 Orchard Road
Orchard Hotel Singapore, Level 2
Singapore 238879
Tel: +65 6739 6666
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

This post was brought to you by Hua Ting Restaurant.

Since it first opened back in 1996, Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL on Kitchener has been a haven for Sichuan and Cantonese fare, with a slightly heavier emphasis on Cantonese cooking. What diners can expect is a smorgasbord of dishes that are delicate yet boldly flavoured.

New to their offerings are 18 sensational dishes crafted by Executive Cantonese Chef Leung Wing Chung. Stemming from a long culinary career, allow your palates to be elevated as Chef Leung takes you on an edible trip with his interpretations of traditional Jiangnan cuisine in this new promotional a la carte menu.

We particularly love their Claypot Rice with Assorted Waxed Meat as well as their immensely comforting Braised Fish Maw, Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Conpoy in Brown Broth.

Did we mention? From now until 30 June 2018, all of the 18 new dishes cost just S$18++, and that’s not all—our readers can also quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy an additional 20% off a la carte orders from the Flavours of Jiangnan Menu. Menu is available daily for dinner only.

For Sichuan and Cantonese classics executed with finesse, Si Chuan Dou Hua at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road is one place that warrants a visit.

DEEP-FRIED MINCED MEAT ROLL

Originating from Suzhou, Chef Leung’s rendition of the popular Deep-fried Minced Meat Roll features surprising hints of lemongrass coupled with tender porky goodness.

Traditionally made with minced pork and ham, the one here is further enhanced with mushroom and prawn paste. Lemongrass sticks are used in place of regular wooden skewers to provide a secondary burst of refreshing flavour. The drumstick-like meat roll is then deep-fried with a soybean crumb for a satisfying crunch.

BRAISED FISH MAW, ABALONE, SEA CUCUMBER AND CONPOY IN BROWN BROTH

A Cantonese meal is never quite the same without a bowl of comforting double-boiled soup.

Featuring a thick and rich broth that comprises premium ingredients such as pork tendon, dried scallops, abalone, mushrooms and sea cucumber, the Braised Fish Maw, Abalone, Sea Cucumber and Conpoy in Brown Broth is easily one of the best soups we’ve tasted in recent times.

Simmered low and slow, the soup achieves a cloudy hue from all the flavour that the pork imparts and Hua Diao wine is also added to enhance the aroma and overall taste. Thicker than your average Cantonese soup, we must say that this dish in itself is worth returning for.

PORK RIBS WITH “ZHE JIANG” VINEGAR IN “ZHENG JIANG” STYLE

Braised in a claypot with the restaurant’s signature black vinegar, the Pork Ribs with “Zhe Jiang” Vinegar in Zheng Jiang Style is a slightly modern take on the Chinese classic.

We dug in to tender and incredibly flavourful pork ribs. Each bite was a mixture of sweet and sour coupled with a subtle yet satisfying porky taste.

DEEP-FRIED CHICKEN ROLL IN “DALIANG” STYLE

Prepared using Kurobuta pork, prawn paste, barbecued chicken liver, ham and rose wine, the Deep-fried Chicken Roll in “Daliang” Style is a popular Cantonese dish, and one worth mentioning.

Served alongside a special dip comprising lemon, vinegar, chilli and garlic, Chef Leung gives this 200-year-old dish a truly refreshing twist.

FISH IN “SHUN DE” STYLE

If you are the sort of person who loves fish but dislikes the hassle of picking out the fine bones, then the restaurant’s Fish in “Shun De” Style is perfect for that “laziness”.

The dish features a mud carp that is manually deboned and stuffed with a fish paste that is elevated by the likes of coriander, mushroom, black moss and diced chestnut. A nice crunch coupled with an intense umami flavour and the added bonus of being boneless, we can see why people, especially kids, would love this.

STIR-FRIED GARDEN VEGETABLES WITH TRUFFLE SAUCE

Featuring a medley of stir-fried vegetables and a tender radish that sits neatly on top, the Stir-Fried Garden Vegetables may not seem like a top priority as far as feasting goes.

Yet, we were truly surprised by the complexity of flavours at work here. The sauce that is drizzled over top is accented with truffles, giving it a nuanced umami flavour that takes it one step higher compared to your average vegetable dish.

BRAISED PRAWN WITH VERMICELLI IN SPICY CHILLI SAUCE

A dish that boasts a delightful wok-hei flavour coupled with a punchy hit of spice is the Braised Prawn with Vermicelli in Spicy Chilli Sauce. Slightly spicy with prominent notes of wok-fried prawn coming through, we were sold the second the dish arrived.

The vermicelli was flavourful without being too dry and everything about this was just delightful—from the smoky, seafood flavours to the lip-smacking spice that kept us reaching in for more.

CLAYPOT RICE WITH ASSORTED WAXED MEAT

A dish that best demonstrates a chef’s skill is claypot rice. Seemingly simple to whip up given that there are so few ingredients involved, it actually requires a lot more in terms of culinary technique to achieve the best flavour and the perfect texture of rice.

What else can we say? The Claypot Rice with Assorted Waxed Meat here did not disappoint. In fact, we were so utterly blown away by it we almost could not stop ourselves from reaching out for a third helping.

Cooked to just the right doneness, the rice was still fluffy without being overly burnt. Chef Leung emphasised that getting the proportion of water to rice is absolutely crucial in this and in order to achieve such a gorgeous aroma, a mixture of waxed meats needs to be used.

We were delighted by the likes of Chinese sausage, Chinese liver sausage as well as waxed duck which all did well to give this dish such a meaty, yet robust appeal.

HOMEMADE BEAN CURD

No one—we repeat, no one—leaves Si Chuan Dou Hua without a serving of their signature Homemade Bean Curd with Wolfberry.

Although this dessert is not new to the Chef Leung’s refreshed lineup of dishes, the warm and soothing soft beancurd served with sweet wolfberries is just the perfect finish to a fine culinary experience such as this one.

To refresh your memory, this dinner offer extends from now all the way until 30 June 2018, meaning that all of the 18 new dishes (doesn’t include beancurd) cost just S$18++ per dish and our readers can also quote ‘ladyironchef’ to enjoy an additional 20% off a la carte orders on the Flavours of Jiangnan Menu.

We’re definitely heading back and we shall see you there!

Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant
Level 3, PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road,
Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3170
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest station: Farrer Park

This post is brought to you by PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road.