• Do you know that Tung Lok Seafood has a wonderful ala carte buffet promotion at Orchard Central? I’m not sure how I ever missed it, but if it wasn’t for the American Express SELECTS programme, I wouldn’t have known.
The daily ala carte lunch and dinner buffets at Tung Lok Seafood restaurant offer 40 dishes available for repeat orders, including seafood, meats, Japanese cold cuts and sashimi, rice and noodles, and desserts. During our dinner, each of us also gets a serving of chilli crab and shark’s fin soup (I am not sure if these are also available at lunch).
Lunch on weekdays: Adult S$24.80++ / Child (below 12 years old) $14.80++
Lunch on weekends & PH: Adult S$26.80++ / Child $16.80++
Dinner daily: Adult S$38.80++ / Child $28.80++
The price is pretty decent for the quality of the food served and the unlimited orders allowed. As with most Chinese and seafood restaurants, you are charged for the Chinese tea and pickles. If you make payment with your AmEx card before 29 January 2012, there is the extra perk of entering the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway!
Here, I will highlight my personal picks. The drunken prawns is definitely one of the best dishes of the night. The prawns are large and juicy, but the real star of the show is the herbal soup, which is perfectly clear and light in colour but intensely tasty. You would want a repeat order of this.
Also worth a mention is the crispy fish skin with salted egg yolk. It may sound icky, but it makes a delightful snack — like chips!
For appetisers, the smoked duck breast receives votes of approval from my whole family. Served sans embellishments, the sensuously thin slices of duck are flavourful and make an exceedingly satisfying prelude to the meal. They disappear from the plate within minutes!
The availability of a Japanese selection of salmon, sushi, octopus and baked scallops is surprising but much welcomed. The salmon sashimi is fresh and served in generous ample slices.
Amongst the seafood, apart from the aforementioned drunken prawns, you also can’t go wrong with the cereal prawns, covered in a heap of crispy fragrant cereal.
Chilli crabThe chilli crab seen here is the serving for five. Whilst usually sweet and savoury, the sauce in this case is marred by a rather strange tasting sourness. If you’re wondering why, here’s the official reply from Tung Lok:
Our Chilli Crab contains a unique blend of Orange Juice and Tomato sauce!
How interesting! A side of fried buns — one of the 40 buffet items — proves to be the perfect complement.
My most favourite item from the Tung Lok Seafood ala carte buffet is the sautéed sliced venison, a superlative effort by the chef. Meat lovers just can’t miss this. The dish features tender chunks of venison. Colourful vegetables and a lovely black pepper sauce complete the delicious scenario.
For dessert, you may partake of five choices:
- Herbal jelly served with honey
- Chilled almond beancurd with longan
- Sweetened sesame cream
- Sesame pancake with lotus seed filling
- Ice cream puff
They live up to expectations too!
Even at a very busy evening, the staff are quick to tend to our orders and serve us with a smile. At the Tung Lok Seafood buffet, you expect to eat to your heart’s content… and you will not be disappointed. If you decide to head down, reservations are a must!
Where can we enjoy a decent ala carte buffet in Singapore? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road #11-05
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834 4888 | Website
Service:
