• Don’t let the fact that Crystal Cafe is located at the quieter side of town give you pause. The restaurant has been around for more than a decade and from the looks of the crowd, is still going strong.
Based at the ground floor of the Orchard Grand Court serviced apartments along Killiney Road, Crystal Cafe is popular for its affordable Taiwan porridge buffet that features a range of traditional Teochew dishes.
While the restaurant looks dated, it maintains a cosy and laid-back ambience; the typical bermudas and flip flops clad Singaporean would feel right at home here. You enter a very spacious dining room filled with wooden tables, rattan chairs, carpeted floors and the buffet spread at its centre. Ample seating is available.
Weekdays: S$11.80++ per adult; S$9.80++ per child
Weekends, Eve of & Public Holidays: S$13.80++ per adult; S$11.80++ per child
Rating:
For the low prices, the variety of the spread is decent. You can help yourself to more than a dozen dishes that include
– Braised chicken feet
– Braised pork belly
– Braised tau kwa
– Braised tau pok
– Braised mui chye
– Braised kiam chye
– Braised egg
– Fried jacket fish
– Steamed brinjal with chai poh and bellpepper
– Hae bee hiam (sambal dried shrimp)
I personally would not touch these chicken feet with a ten-foot pole even as I watch my mom help herself to one after another. I keep refilling my plate with brinjal and fish while steering clear of the braised dishes (I know – what a waste!).
Most of the items are meant to complement the sweet potato porridge. If porridge isn’t your thing, try the delicious mee goreng instead. I enjoy pairing it with the savoury hae bee hiam.
As for desserts, there is a small selection of mini cakes, cut fruits and almond jelly.
The cakes include mango, chocolate, carrot and one with thick cream layers. A self service coffee and tea station is also available. Not bad at all.
Looking around the restaurant, I see a very good evening crowd of mostly families, including grandparents and kids, and some apartment residents. Admittedly, the food may not be to everyone’s liking, especially the younger generation. My parents are big fans though and it’s their second time to Crystal Cafe. The staff are quick to remove your used plates and refill the trays – two very important points for a buffet. Overall, it’s an inexpensive buffet that would appeal to those yearning for a piece of nostalgia.
Know of any buffets that provide great value? Share with us in the comments!
Orchard Grand Court
131 Killiney Road
Singapore 239571
Tel: +65 6830 2020 | Website
Service:
Operating hours:
Mon-Fri: 12noon – 2:30pm; 6-10pm
Sat, Sun & Public Holidays: 12noon to 10pm
Apr 7, 2011
2
Thanks for the recommendation! Looks good and value for money! Definitely going to pay a visit soon!
Apr 8, 2011
8
Amazing! This is so unique! First time read about porridge buffet!
Aug 14, 2011
3
Hello Veron,
Based on my 10 years dining at Crystal Cafe, I can safely tell you the standard has dropped by many notches.
For example, the braised duck used to be fragant, now it is very salty. The tau pok seems to be soaking overnight in the salty gravy.
It used to be that the braised tau kee would be replenished now it is seldom, you now pick single pieces of tau kee floating in the claypot.
The cakes seems to be catered by a third party, i think i know which factory does it , i find the same mini cakes at office functions. And guess what, the desserts – 10 years never changed !!
At this point i have to tell you, the desserts are at least ok standard.
I live nearby and many of neighbours say : Sian already!
As recent as 2 years ago, i would see regular faces ( not my neighbours) at the buffet dinner, now no more. Then I heard many have gone to another Teochew porridge buffet down the road, around mohamad sultan area, the name is Chow Zhou Mei ( teochew girl) , something like that.
If you have not gone there, it was something different than Crystal Cafe … it came with Bah Ku Teh, but so sorry, it has closed down.
Sep 13, 2011
1
http://t.co/uxCpNNp – Gonna wake up at 7am on a fri for this. Hope e plan works. #breakfast #:) @jozephzamuel
Mar 28, 2013
1
Went there for dinner with my family. The taste of the sweet potato porridge is not as what recommended. It just taste like the plain porridge we cook at home, and the desserts is only the mini simple swissroll (mango and strawberry flavor) and a nyonya kuey, not much choices. And the weekday price is $13.80++, weekend price is $15.80++. they had increased the price. Overall just ok, can’t expert more as is only $16.25 net/pax. Will not going back again