http://sparklette.net/food/canton-paradise/ http://sparklette.net/food/canton-paradise/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:03:39 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1323 Canton Paradise is a new restaurant by the Paradise Group. With outlets located at 112 Katong and JCube, Canton Paradise serves up Hong Kong cuisine, dim sum and specialties of the Shunde district in China.

The spacious 250-seater restaurant at 112 Katong exudes an oriental vibe with decorations and partitions that will bring to mind the era of ancient China.

Catch the chefs in action through the open kitchen, where the tempting roast meats on display will trigger cravings.

Dim Sum

Dim sum fans can have your fill here everyday till 5pm.

Steamed scallop with scrambled egg white dumpling
S$4.50++

The steamed scallop with scrambled egg white dumpling is a must-try! It is light on the palate yet flavourful at the same time. With a chock-full of ingredients underneath the thin dumpling skin, this dim sum will leave you wanting more.

Steamed cheong fun stuffed with preserved turnip
S$4.20++

For those who love chee cheong fun and have a fondness for chui kueh that is served with preserved radish relish atop, you will enjoy the steamed cheong fun stuffed with preserved turnip. The steamed cheong fun boasts extremely thin sheets of rice noodle that are almost translucent, yet won’t break apart when you grip it with chopsticks.

Wok-fried cheong fun with XO chilli sauce
S$5++

For more intense flavours, try the wok-fried cheong fun with XO chilli sauce, which is coated with a pronounced XO chilli sauce. The cheong fun, however, is slightly denser, thicker and starchier than the steamed version, and therefore the flavours of the sauce fail to penetrate through.

Steamed shanghai pork dumpling
S$4.20++

The steamed shanghai pork dumpling is a popular favourite, bursting with delicious stock as you bite into the neatly pleated dumpling skin.

Deep-fried taro puffs with diced chicken and prawn
S$3.80++

The deep-fried taro puffs with diced chicken and prawn is a personal favourite. The golden brown exterior is light and crispy without being greasy.

Nestled within is smooth yam paste that surrounds diced chicken and fresh prawns.

Baked black truffle chicken pie
S$5.80++

The baked black truffle chicken pie encompasses a fragrant buttery pie crust baked to a golden sheen, with mouthwatering black truffle chicken within.

Congee

Grass carp fish congee
S$6.80++

The smooth and comforting congee is made with two kinds of rice — jasmine and glutinous — for the perfect texture. The fish ball is the highlight; it is made up of grass carp fish blended into a paste, flecked with mushrooms and other ingredients.

All-day menu

The extensive all-day menu offers Hong Kong classics such as roast meats, claypot dishes and nourishing soups.

Daily nourishing soup (3 flavours per day)
S$16.80++ for 3-4 persons, S$6++ per person

The soup we had for the day was pork rib, snow pear and fig soup that is full of flavour. The soup has been simmered for hours to achieve that much tenderness in the pork ribs. It sure reminds one of home!

BBQ meat noodle (2 varieties)
S$9.20++

As for noodles, you can opt for the BBQ meat noodle which gives you the option of 2 meat varieties. We chose the steam kampong chicken and BBQ honey pork belly that both go equally well with the noodles.

Desserts

Stewed egg custard
S$5++

The stewed egg custard is light on the palate and is a nice way to round off a heavy meal. Topped with red bean relish, it tastes more like a steamed milk custard rather than an egg custard.

Custard glutinous rice ball with grated oat
S$4.80++ for 3 pieces

The custard glutinous rice ball with grated oat is a novel dessert that is highly recommended. It will garner raves and repeat orders with its medley of textures — crispy, sticky, chewy and gooey.

Bakery

Apart from the restaurant, Canton Paradise also has a bakery by the entrance of the 112 Katong outlet. Here, you can purchase freshly baked buns (prices from S$1.30).

Baked BBQ honey pork bun
S$4.50++ for 3

The baked BBQ honey pork bun is highly recommended, especially when it arrives straight from the oven. The tender pork filling will melt in your mouth.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Where can you enjoy the best dim sum in Singapore? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Canton Paradise
Website

Canton Paradise 112 Katong

112 Katong
112 East Coast Road #B1-15
Singapore 428802
Tel: +65 6344 8201

Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 10:30am – 10pm

Canton Paradise JCube

JCube
2 Jurong East Central 1 #02-10
Singapore 609731

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http://sparklette.net/food/stacked-dim-sum-bar/ http://sparklette.net/food/stacked-dim-sum-bar/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:00:16 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1225

Love dim sum? You need not be restricted to having dim sum only in the day. At Stacked, you can have dim sum all day till 1am!

Located along The Quayside at Robertson Quay, Stacked is a dim sum bar that offers a good variety ranging from the traditional classics to inventive creations. Following the stacked theme, the dim sum is served in a novel way — stacked in uniquely designed bamboo steamer baskets.

With its close proximity to many tourist spots, you can expect to see many expatriates and tourists amongst the diners. This is an ideal spot for pre-party goers as well, with popular clubs within walking distance. For the football fanatics, there are two TV screens broadcasting live games.

The interior is prepossessing; the blending of rustic elements with a modern twist creates an urban-industrial feel, with subdued lighting to complete the look. This hidden gem of a restaurant is set in a laid-back atmosphere — a good spot for after-work relaxation.

Although there is no air-conditioning, the indoor area is well-ventilated by a huge fan. You can also opt for outdoor seating by the riverside to enjoy the cooling breeze.

Drinks

Forget the traditional yum cha etiquette of pairing dim sum with tea. At Stacked, you can pair dim sum with alcohol! The drinks menu is extensive, with wines and beers, along with signature cocktails. Do take advantage of the 1-for-1 promotion on all house pours, beers and wine by the glass everyday before 9pm.

Asian mojito
S$16++

The beautifully garnished Asian mojito is a blend of lime juice, ginger, lemongrass and chilli padi. The distinct taste of the lime juice is overwhelming and somewhat obscures the rest of the ingredients. Having said that, it still makes a refreshing aperitif.

Honeydew melon beer
S$12++

The fruity beers are a must-try! These sweet-scented beers aren’t too intoxicating with just 4% alcohol. A popular choice amongst the ladies, the beers are available in two flavours: honeydew melon and lychee.

North Taiwan lychee beer
S$12++

The North Taiwan lychee beer is more favourable in terms of taste; the lychee and beer are harmoniously blended with a sweet fruity fragrance. For those who dislike the taste of beer, this potation may just convert you!

Lychee martini
S$12++

The lychee martini is decked out with a mountain of crushed ice. While it adds much visual appeal, the large amount of ice restricts sipping. When it melts, you’ll not be enticed with a bland mixture. Still, props for a tasty martini — mild, mellow and nicely sweet!

Stacked Singapore Sling
S$16++

Upon the first sip of the Stacked Singapore Sling, you will taste the sweet nectarous blend before the potent alcohol kicks in. Topped with cubes of nata de coco, you have something to munch on while enjoying this intoxicating drink!

Bloody Mary
S$12++

The Bloody Mary is a sure-fire hangover cure, consisting of a blend of spices, vodka and mainly tomato juice, garnished with a carrot stick and lemon. The diversity of ingredients is reflected in its taste — you either love it or hate it!

Bloody Mary fans, you can look forward to Stack’s Bloody Sunday promotion where the 1-for-1 deal on Bloody Mary lasts till 3pm.

Dim Sum

Get started with the dim sum classics, before venturing into the more creative options.

Steamed har kau (shrimp dumpling)
S$5.90++

Wrapped in a thin translucent skin, the pouch-shaped steamed har kau (shrimp dumplings) boast plump, springy prawns that are nicely seasoned.

Steamed creamy custard pau
S$5.90++

The steamed creamy custard pau has a soft bread texture — neither too dry nor tough, with a sweet and savoury egg yolk core.

The custard filling has a very enjoyable creaminess, although the texture is slightly sandy, probably due to the salted egg.

Cold tofu with citrus sauce
S$4.50++

The cold tofu with citrus sauce is quite forgettable. As interesting as the citrus sauce may sound, it does nothing to save the cold tofu from its blandness. You should leave stomach-space for better dishes.

Mildly spicy salted egg squid
S$12++

The mildly spicy salted egg squid is one of the highlights. Lightly battered and crispy, the well-seasoned squid is neither tough nor chewy — an addictive treat that should be enjoyed immediately upon being served.

Margherita dumplings
S$8.90++

The Italian-inspired Margherita dumplings are generously stuffed with mozzarella cubes, shredded basil and finely diced tomatoes in a crispy skin (albeit a little thick). The various ingredients add texture and provide well-balanced flavours.

Pesto scallop dumpling
S$8.90++

Crispy on the outside, starchy and redolent on the inside; the pesto scallop dumpling is served with mayonnaise, although it is quite delicious on its own. The bite-sized dumplings are so palatable you will find it hard to resist another serving!

Shredded duck dumpling
S$8.90++

The pan-fried shredded duck dumpling is lightly browned to a slight crisp, its skin yielding to a well-marinated filling. It is paired with a specially concocted hoi sin dip, a slightly sweet sauce that provides extra zing. Definitely a must-try!

Steamed chilli crab pau
S$8.90++

The steamed chilli crab pau has a fluffy and moist exterior with a delicious chilli crab filling. The flavours are robust and not too spicy, just enough to stimulate your appetite. Honestly, this is one of the tastiest chilli crab pau fillings I’ve tasted to date!

All the pau on the menu are available as steamed or fried options (and somehow everything tastes better fried!). The fried chilli crab pau is another hit.

Fried chilli crab pau
S$8.90++

The crab filling is identical, while the bun has been fried to a smooth golden brown crust. Take a bite of the chilli crab pau and you will be instantly reminded of the chilli crabs served with deep fried mantou at seafood restaurants. Only that this time round, you have all the elements in one single bun! How convenient is that?

Char siew pastry
S$5.90++

The char siew pastry has a sweet, tender and flavourful filling encased in a fragrant flaky skin.

Sichuan grouper fish dumpling
S$8.50++ for a basket of 5

On first glance, the layer of chilli oil on the Sichuan grouper fish dumpling may turn off health junkies. But given a try, the taste will win you over. Eating this proves to be an effortless affair; the dumplings are so soft, you barely have to chew at all.

Prawn cake asparagus
S$10.50++ for 3 pieces

The salted prawn cake asparagus is fried to golden brown, with a texture similar to that of fish cakes.

Stir-fried XO carrot cake
S$8.50++

For something more substantial, you can try the stir-fried XO carrot cake, albeit with a barely-there XO flavour. The fragrant carrot cake is evenly fried, each cube having a crispy crust and soft interior. Tossed with bean sprouts and eggs, this simple dish is slightly spicy and gratifying.

Stewed black sauce pork belly (served with steamed white bun)
S$9.50++

The stewed black sauce pork belly here is legit, with pork belly stewed to melt-in-the-mouth tenderness. Undeniably satisfying, this hearty classic will bring back nostalgic memories of grandma’s home-cooked meals.

Desserts

Sweet potato with red bean paste
S$7.90++

The sweet potato with red bean paste dessert has a mixture of the two ingredients encompassed in a golden crust. It is a little too oily but undoubtedly tasty. Worth a try, but anything more than a couple may leave you feeling jelat.

Mango sago with vodka
S$7.90++

Although the mango sago with vodka dessert is delicious by itself, you can choose to have it added with vodka. The drink is rich and made with actual real fruit, with the sago adding a touch of chewy fun.

With each order of the set platters, you also receive a complimentary pair of Stacked oriental fans.

As friendly as the waitstaff are, service is a little slow at times. Food-wise, it is certainly comparable to reputable dim sum restaurants. Stacked is an all-around good destination for a casual bite and a round of drinks by the Singapore River, where you can enjoy the breeze and people-watch in a squeaky clean environment.

Where can you enjoy the best dim sum in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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Yum Cha Chinatown occupies the second floor of a three-storey shophouse building. The design of the current premises remains conservative with the standard-issue Chinese restaurant look, including marble table tops and old-style wooden chairs. The staff even serve dim sum in bamboo steamers from the traditional trolley.

Xiao long bao
S$4.20++

For dim sum, you can choose from the classics like pork dumplings, siew mai and xiao long bao.

Xiao long bao is the acid test of dim sum and the ones here are benchmark, boasting thin skin, hot soup and savoury minced pork filling.

Prawn dumplings
S$4.50++

The prawn dumplings are slightly lacking in flavour and you really have to dip into the soy and vinegar dipping sauces. They will also fare better with a thinner skin.

Lotus leaf glutinous rice
S$4++

Stuffed with chicken, mushroom, egg and small slivers of crab stick, the lotus leaf glutinous rice is vividly flavourful and satisfying.

Seafood fried rice
S$12/18/24++

For something more filling, you can’t go wrong with the seafood fried rice, a pyramid of savoury rice with a tiara of egg, scallions, scallop medallions and shrimp.

Deep fried custard rolls
S$2.80++

I can’t decide whether the deep fried custard rolls are dim sum or dessert. Dessert or not, I really love the taste of these rolls, the bright yellow sweet egg custard encased in a wafer-thin deep fried skin. These spring roll lookalikes will absolutely delight egg tart fans.

And speaking of egg tarts, Yum Cha does have a mini egg tart item on the menu that I have yet to try. The egg custard filling is perhaps similar.

Apart from the food, you’ll also appreciate the little device they place on each table for “quick service”. It has various buttons that allow you to request for water or the bill. Once you press a button, the LED counter on the wall would light up with your table number, alerting staff to your needs.

Credit

Here’s a tip: Like in many Chinese restaurants, the staff would hand you wet tissues and peanuts without your asking. You can return these if you don’t want to be charged for them in your bill.

In addition to dim sum, Yum Cha Restaurant also has an a la carte menu. The prices are a bit high for Chinatown standards. If you want to dine in a laid-back place out of town, you’d be happy here.

What are your favourite dim sum restaurants in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Yum Cha Chinatown

Chinatown
20 Trengganu Street #02-01
Singapore 058479
Tel: +65 6372 1717
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 9am – 11pm

Yum Cha Serangoon Gardens

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Just by looking at the round bamboo baskets placed on almost every table, you can pick up that the delicate xiao long bao are a big draw. After all, how often do you see them in striking colours like pink and black and innovative flavours like cheese and foie gras? Altogether, they come in eight colours, each one representing a unique flavour.

The “extra” ingredients taste subtle rather than overwhelm the filling. Regardless of which flavour you go for, the xiao long bao tastes marvellous, bursting with hot, fragrant broth with a tinge of novelty.

1. Original (white) – As the acid test of the sampler, the classic soup dumpling with its thin, firm skin passes with flying colours.
   
   (S$6.80++ for 6; S$9.80++ for 10)
2. Ginseng (green) – The herbal flavour is very distinct in this green cutie.
   
   (S$12.80++ for 6; S$19.80++ for 10)
3. Foie gras (brown) – At almost twice the price, it is difficult to tell this apart from the original.
   
   (S$12.80++ for 6; S$19.80++ for 10)
4. Black Truffle (black) – The earthy taste of truffles adds an interesting dimension to the filling. This is one of my favourites.
   
   (S$12.80++ for 6; S$19.80++ for 10)
5. Cheese (yellow) – A popular hit with kids, mozzarella cheese is added in small amounts for a rich and satisfying morsel.
   
   (S$8.80++ for 6; S$13.80++ for 10)
6. Crab Roe (orange) – Sweet crab meat and a dash of crab roe are added to the pork filling.
   
   (S$12.80++ for 6; S$19.80++ for 10)
7. Garlic (grey) – Uh, get this only if you like the garlicky taste.
   
   (S$8.80++ for 6; S$13.80++ for 10)
8. Szechuan (pink) – A light hand is employed with the chilli oil and peppercorns. The spiciness may be mild, but still ups the excitement factor.
   
   (S$8.80++ for 6; S$13.80++ for 10)

You can indulge in all eight flavours in the sampling basket. Then, when you have decided on your favourites, order them separately. (That somewhat reminds me of the buffet at Rice Table Indonesian Restaurant where every dish is served at the beginning for sampling before you go on to order your favourites.)

To make it even more fun, follow the colourful guide available on every table for the proper sequence to eat the dumplings, starting from the mildest-flavoured to the heaviest.

Pork dumpling with chilli sauce
S$4.80++
Rating:

Apart from the colourful xiao long bao, the pork dumpling with chilli sauce also makes a first-rate starter. The addictive tangy and spicy sauce would take your taste buds one step beyond.

While enjoying your dim sum, a tea pouring expert who hails from the Sichuan province in China would go from table to table to refill cups. Amazingly, he pours from a pot with a meter-long spout with no spillage. Check out his feat in this video:

Have you ever seen such skillful tea pouring? Perhaps the more familiar teh tarik uncle comes to mind!

Appetisers & Small Dishes

Drunken chicken
Rating:

The drunken chicken cold dish tastes remarkably like… regular chicken. While I am not expecting full on liquor flavour, the taste of Chinese wine or liquor is sorely absent. Maybe it’s true what they say: When you visit a Chinese restaurant, always go for the other white meat.

Braised pork belly
S$12++
Rating:

If you are the kind that live to eat and throw your doctor’s advice to the wind, you would have no problems eating the delicious braised pork belly. Soaked in a delectable sweet dark sauce, the sinful meat gushes pork fat at first bite. Strictly not for the squeamish or health-conscious!

La Mian

Another major offering at Paradise Dynasty is the wide range of la mian. 18 types in total grace the menu, with ingredients ranging from pork and beef to chicken and seafood.

La Mian with poached marbled beef in Szechuan style
S$10.80++
Rating:

The la mian with poached marbled beef in Szechuan style would appeal to all you spicy food lovers (Hint: Don’t forget to take my poll below)! I approach the flaming red soup with caution, getting ready to douse my tongue with cold water any moment. Surprisingly, the thought that comes to mind on the very first sip is “Hey, it’s not that spicy”. It does pack a punch, but certainly not nostril-searing hot. If you’ve ever had a mala steamboat you would find this familiar in a more savoury way. “Shiok” is the word! (Aside: I would gladly have this over that overpriced curry rice at the basement.) My only gripe is that the beef slices could be more tender.

La Mian with sliced pork in signature pork broth soup
S$9.80++
Rating:

The la mian with sliced pork in signature pork broth soup looks bland on first sight, but explodes with flavour in the mouth. Apparently, the signature stock uses ingredients like pork bone, pork ribs and whole chicken and is simmered over slow fire for 12 hours before being served.

Desserts

Glutinous rice dumplings in ginger soup
Rating:

End the meal on a sweet note with the glutinous rice dumplings in ginger soup. Not only is the calming ginger soup excellent as a light finish to a heavy meal, it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, too.

Soufflé egg white balls stuffed with red bean and banana
S$4.50++ (3 pieces)
Rating:

The soufflé egg white balls has a delightful red bean and banana filling, held together in a light and fluffy skin. After a big meal, this may feel rather heavy on the palate, and is more ideal as an afternoon tea snack.

In addition to the quality food, you will also appreciate the service here. Even with the brisk business, the waitstaff are very efficient and always at the ready to bring extra bowls and plates or refill our cups.

If you are in search of quality Chinese fares at exceedingly reasonable prices and great quality, you will find Paradise Dynasty hard to beat.

What do you think of the colourful soup dumplings? Have you come across any affordable, quality finds in town? Share with us in the comments!

Paradise Dynasty
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn #04-12A
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9118 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon – Fri: 11am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 10am – 10pm

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With all the buzz surrounding Resorts World at Sentosa, some of you may be looking to spend some time over here. Perhaps you are also curious about the dining options. What restaurants are there? Are they affordable?

After watching movies like Ocean’s Eleven, casinos give me the impression of being brimming with tycoons and rich people that have the ability to blow cash freely at the tables. So, the restaurants at a casino resort must be really posh and unaffordable for the general population, right?

Wrong. The Dining Room at Crockfords Tower Hotel, one of the six at the Sentosa Integrated Resorts, offers an array of Cantonese dishes that are surprisingly inexpensive (see menu below). You would also find a rare dessert delicacy here that I would urge everybody to try at least once, because it is pretty darn good!

Let’s start with the dim sum. A selection of dim sum is available, including the crowd favourites like xiao long bao, har kow and siew mai.

Steamed scallop dumpling
S$4.80++
Rating:

But our favourite is the scallop dumpling. This comes in threes, each one topped with a slice of sweet scallop. What they don’t tell you is that it also contains a plump, juicy prawn! Seafood lovers rejoice!

Steamed xiao long bao
S$4.80++
Rating:

The xiao long bao is your standard soupy dumpling with a thick and chewy skin, served with a vinegar and ginger dip. It is quite tasty, albeit a tad salty for people that are looking for something milder. As far as the xiao long bao is concerned, the ones at Crystal Jade are still unbeatable. Everyone agree?

Cantonese seafood rice in chicken broth
S$9.80++
Rating:

The seafood rice in chicken broth is something new for me. I always had the impression that porridge is “sick man’s food” because that’s what our parents like to feed us when we are ill. That is, until I tasted my first bowl of congee that actually made me feel wonderful.

Well, this one is even better than that. It is basically a cross between porridge, rice and soup. Okay, so it is really just rice in soup, but it tastes much better than it sounds and looks. You get fresh seafood and various kinds of vegetables in the chicken broth. The combination is chock-full with flavour and the perfect comfort food. Forget porridge; this nutritious combo is what I’d like to have when I’m sick. Decent price, too.

Star grouper slices braised with fresh tomatoes and eggs
S$19.80++
Rating:

What we find less decently priced is the grouper. Now, I am certainly no fish expert, but I got a fishy feeling about this. Is grouper an expensive fish? For that price, three rather small slices is quite a skimpy portion. We do enjoy it nonetheless, thanks to the tomatoes and the unusual but much-welcome ingredient of beaten eggs that lends an additional richness.

Baked egg tart with bird’s nest
S$10.80++ for 3
Rating:

The best part of this meal is hands-down the aforementioned bird’s nest egg tart. We really have the chef to thank for this. He had already run out of the tarts, but he made a few more specially for us.

To be honest, we were sceptical when we first saw this item on the menu, thinking that the bird’s nest was simply a gimmick. To our surprise, each egg tart comes topped with a sizable heap of bird’s nest. Oodles of squeal-inducing, rock sugary sweet bird’s nest on a warm delicious egg tart! We are delighted! Right there and then, we have tasted the best egg tarts we’ve ever had in our lives!

If you are looking to impress that hard-to-please mother-in-law or pamper your partner, this, I can imagine, is quite perfect.

While the official website indicates otherwise, a check with the staff reveals that the restaurant is open 24 hours daily. This is to cater to hotel guests and patrons of the 24-hour casino. No one goes hungry!

The Dining Room
Resorts World Sentosa
Crockfords Tower, Level 2
Service:
Tel: +65 6577 889 | Website
Menu: Starters | Main courses | Desserts

24 hours daily

Open only to Crockfords Tower Hotel guests

Resorts World at Sentosa

Check out what you can expect at the rest of Resorts World at Sentosa. Want more desserts? Head over to Boulangerie at Festive Hotel.

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© 2011 Sparklette.net

To make up for its relatively inaccessible location at Turf City, the dim sum here is dirt cheap! All prices have been slashed 50 percent from Mondays to Saturdays, and 30 percent on Sundays and public holidays! It appears to be a permanent promotion too! They also have a similar promotion for their live seafood.

Of course, low prices alone would be useless if the food sucks. Fortunately, the dim sum here is pretty decent, and certainly comparable to any reputable dim sum restaurant!

Steamed Fish Roe Siew Mai
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

We ordered a huge spread of dim sum dishes, including a few of the most common dim sum such as siew mai and steamed shrimp dumpling.

Ah Yat Steamed Shrimp Dumpling
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

While not particularly memorable, these dim sum were at least decent.

Steamed Shanghai Dumpling with Crab Meat
S$3.20++ (before discount)
Rating:

One of my favourite dishes was the crab meat xiao long bao (steamed Shanghai dumpling). Surprisingly, it was the cheapest item on the menu! Can you tell how succulent the dumplings were? With each bite, delicious soup sweetened with the taste of crab meat oozes out! Yum!

Deep-fried Beancurd Roll with Shrimp
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

I didn’t like the deep-fried beancurd rolls filled with shrimp however. For one, there wasn’t much shrimp to speak of. The beancurd skin was too thick and kind of soggy too. It ruined the taste for me. I simply do not like beancurd, except when it’s tau huay (beancurd custard with syrup).

Steamed Glutinous Rice with Abalone
S$5++ (before discount)
Rating:

You can also find some rarely seen dim sum dishes here, such as the steamed glutinous rice with abalone that comes wrapped in leaves. It reminds me of the lembas in Lord of the Rings! Okay, lembas is some kind of bread or cake that the elves and hobbits eat in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth legendarium. It is also wrapped in leaves. In the movies we frequently see Frodo and Sam eating it as they go on their quest to destroy the One Ring!

Before my mind starts running wild and back to Middle Earth, I should say that I didn’t like this abalone dim sum. As posh-sounding as it may be, it didn’t go down very well. For one, the small bit of abalone that came in each of the three leaf bundles was so tiny, I almost missed it! It was way too chewy too.

Deep-fried Seafood Roll
S$3.80++ (before discount)
Rating:

Another very unusual dish was this one — deep-fried seafood rolls. It also happens to be my most favourite dish of the entire meal! Those rolls looked cute, like shaggy-haired puppies!

Here’s a closer look. The strands of “hair” form a thick coat around each deep-fried roll, holding a blended mixture of seafood at the centre. It was very, very crispy and a delight to eat, especially with that “crunch, crunch” sound that comes with each chew!

I have to say that we really got much bang for our buck. With the 50% or 30% discount, most of the dishes cost only $1.60 or $1.90 each! Tell me, where else can you find such cheap dim sum in a nice restaurant in Singapore?

Also, the fact that the dim sum is so cheap would lead to people ordering more of it. This high turnover rate results in the kitchen constantly churning out fresh dim sum! Everybody wins!

Ah Yat Seafood Restaurant
Turf City
200 Turf Club Road
#03-01/02 Main Grandstand
Singapore 287994
Tel: +65 6883 2112 | Website
Service:

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So, I decided to give Chinese restaurants a go.

The local Chinese restaurant scene is largely duopolised by two heavyweights — Crystal Jade and Tung Lok. While I dine at the Crystal Jade restaurants often enough, I have not been to any of those in the Tung Lok Group. The latter is slightly more upmarket and famous for its fine dining restaurants.

The Tung Lok restaurant we picked was Teahouse that spans the entire third level of China Square Food Centre (not to be confused with China Square Central). As its name suggests, the menu here consists mainly of Chinese tea and dim sum. Kind of nice for a light family lunch together.

There is a very old-fashioned and quaint feel to this eatery. The décor is done in generic Chinese style, with bright red lanterns adorning the entrance, simple wooden furniture and ornamental ceiling fans hanging from the ceiling.

In an authentic dim sum eatery, I would expect to see wheeled carts being pushed around from table to table, serving dim sum from bamboo steamers. But strangely, we got none of that over here for a place that’s oozing such tradition.

Steamed Mushroom and Pork Dumplings
S$5+++
Rating:

One dim sum classic is siew mai, which is possibly the commonest and most popular variety of dim sum. For the dim sum newbies, siew mai is a mixture of usually shrimp and meat that is then steamed to perfection. It tends to come with a bright orange dot on top. I thought the siew mai here was decent and certainly wasn’t anything out of the ordinary.

Steamed Juicy Prawn Dumplings
S$5+++
Rating:

Most of the dim sum we ordered had prawn filling, such as these steamed juicy prawn dumplings. Encased in a translucent rice-flour skin, the prawn dumplings tasted sort of bland, like the siew mai. All right, maybe I’m just not a fan of Chinese food. They all taste bland to me! Or maybe I just have higher expectations for an illustrious restaurant group like Tung Lok.

I do like these ones though.

Steamed Dumplings with Scallop Filling
S$5+++
Rating:

These colourful dumplings had scallop and actually tasted rather delightful! Plus, I like the effort that had been put into making each one look pretty.

Here’s a close-up on one. Does anyone know what’s that orange stuff?

Deep-fried Bean Curd Skin Rolls with Prawn
S$5+++
Rating:

My mom loved these bean curd skin prawn rolls. The bean curd skin had a sweet taste to it that reminded me of the ones used in inari sushi. We ordered a few plates of these.

Steamed Flour Rolls with Barbecued Pork Filling
S$5+++
Rating:

The steamed flour rolls (a.k.a. chee cheong fun) had barbecued pork filling (a.k.a. char siew). Again, it tasted monotonous and would have made for a better dish had the skin been thinner.

Deep-fried Prawn Dumplings Served with Mayonnaise
S$5+++
Rating:

The only highlight of this whole meal (for me) was the deep-fried prawn dumplings served with mayonnaise. Fried stuff always tastes good! This one had a very light and crispy skin wrapped around some very juicy and crunchy prawn. Yum! In fact, it tasted so good we had nine!

Teochew Yam Paste with Ginko Nut and Mashed Pumpkin
S$6+++
Rating:

And finally, the dessert that reminds me of an egg served sunny-side up — yam paste with ginko nut and mashed pumpkin. According to my Mom, it’s really good.

So that’s it for my first meal at a Tung Lok restaurant! I find that when you visit a nice Chinese restaurant at either Crystal Jade or Tung Lok, the food never sucks. But it is never fantastic either. The food is so safe and consistent that it gets sort of boring. Certainly not the kind of food that would make me get a craving for. I wasn’t wowed or impressed.

But that’s just me.

Tung Lok Teahouse
51 Telok Ayer Street
#03-01/03 China Square Food Centre
Singapore 048441
Tel: +65 6533 0660 | Website
Service:

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In a bid to increase returning customers, the restaurant introduces new dishes to their menu from time to time. They now have a pan fried version of their popular Shanghai pork dumpling. It even comes on a hot plate.

Pan Fried Shanghai Pork Dumpling in Hot Plate (铁板小笼包)
S$4.80++
Rating:

At $4.80 for four dumplings, it’s also a fraction more expensive than the original Shanghai pork dumpling that costs $3.60 for four. Taste-wise I couldn’t really pinpoint any difference between the two; they were both equally bland. It’s just the usual xiao long bao sans the soup. Other than the fact that it came with egg on a hot plate, there wasn’t any sign of this being a pan fried dish.

Beijing Pork Dumpling (北京水饺)
S$4.50++
Rating:

Obviously I’m not a huge fan of their Shanghai pork dumpling. As with previously, I very much prefer the Beijing pork dumpling. It had so much more flavour to its pork filling. It begs me to wonder whether the Crystal Jade chefs use any secret ingredient for their marinade. Oh those juicy dumplings. I love the way the yummy soup fills my mouth when I bite into one.

La Mian in Spicy & Sour Soup (酸辣汤拉面)
S$7.50++
Rating:

Ah… The best dish of the night had to be the la mian (hand-pulled noodles) — and I don’t even like noodles! The noodles were nice and chewy but it was the spicy and sour sauce that made the dish. It was spicy with a touch of tang, yet not too hot at the same time. So people who don’t take much chilli can eat this comfortably as well. The ample portion served ensured that we were kept full and satisfied.

Steamed Chicken in Sichuan Style (四川口水鸡)
S$7++
Rating:

The Sichuan steamed chicken was served… Cold. I didn’t notice this oddity until now. Did they steam it before cooling it? Or did they simply serve us the wrong dish? Come to think of it, the dish looked quite different from what was pictured on the menu. Nonetheless, I liked the tasty black sauce. It was very spicy and rich in flavour. But overall, this dish was hardly worth the seven bucks as the chicken portion was so small, with most of it being bone!

Longan Drink with White Fungi (龙眼雪耳糖水)
S$3++
Rating:

For drinks I highly recommend their home-made longan drink which is supremely refreshing and healthful. It also makes a good palate cleanser.

This marks yet another pleasant trip to Crystal Jade. One reason why I’ll keep returning is that the food is consistently good (this does not include C-Jade Express, which sucks). The service is excellent. What I hate most about any dining establishment is having to wait a long time to be served. When I step into a Crystal Jade restaurant I am assured of a pleasant experience with ever willing waitstaff. And good food of course.

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