When you’re dining under the Tung Lok group of restaurants, you are assured of decent food and service. Zhou’s Kitchen is the group’s newest addition, named after the owner himself.

This mid-range restaurant offers a high-class version of Chinese zi char (home-cooked fares). While it is marketed as a place for casual dining, the food and decor are by no means casual. You would find slightly “posh” dishes such as wasabi-mayo prawns and crab glutinous rice (with a whole crab!) here. The atmosphere is unintimidating and friendly, and would appeal to families of all generations. My Mom totally enjoyed the Chinese oldies playing in the background. We sat by the large glass windows overlooking the posh car showrooms across the road. These, I feel, are the best seats in the restaurant.

Sautéed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat

Sautéed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat
S$12++
Rating:

Starting out light, we had ourselves the sautéed egg white with dried scallops and crab meat. The egg white is steamed to perfection, intermixed with bits of vegetable and chunks of tasty scallop and crab meat.

Sauteed Egg White with Dried Scallops and Crab Meat

The result is a unique blend that tastes not only light and delicious, but is healthy at the same time. The health-conscious bunch would love this (or is there high cholesterol level in this?). But if you’re someone that fancies a lot of flavour in your food, this may be a tad mild.

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flakes

Coffee Pork Ribs with Almond Flakes
S$14++
Rating:

The coffee pork ribs with almond flakes is one of the most unique dishes I have ever come across. I never imagined coffee would be used as an ingredient in dishes! Being a coffee fanatic, I was looking forward to sampling this dish for the sole fact that it’s coffee-flavoured. Even as I worried that it might end up tasting weird, I felt it’s one of those dishes that’s worth trying just for the heck of it!

Boy, were my worries unfounded! This was easily the best dish of the night! The dark coffee sauce tastes bittersweet and fragrant and goes remarkably well with the meat. Strong coffee aroma filled the air throughout the entire meal. Along with the fact that the chunks of pork ribs are so very tender, it suffices to say that I love this dish, even if I don’t normally take pork.

Ever come across any other coffee-flavoured dish? Let me know and I would love to give it a go!

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce


Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce
S$18++
Rating:

The deep-fried prawn dish is a house recommendation. Huge prawns dipped in wasabi-flavoured mayonnaise sauce. That’s bound to be good right? At least that’s what I thought.

Deep-fried Prawns with Wasabi-Mayo Sauce

Seriously, the dish was only average. For starters, other than the light minty green shade, I couldn’t tell there’s wasabi. I have had better renditions at japanese restaurant, Sho-U and was pretty disappointed with this. Plus, 18 bucks for 5 or 6 prawns is a bit much, don’t you think?

Claypot Braised Diced Chicken with Garlic Cloves, Ginger and Basil Leaves

Spicy Claypot Braised Diced Chicken with Garlic Cloves, Ginger and Basil Leaves
S$10++
Rating:

The braised diced chicken fares much better. Besides the coffee pork ribs, this is another dish that won me over. It arrived in a claypot full of chicken chunks which were packed with intense flavours, due to the use of garlic, ginger and basil leaves. At just ten bucks, this is a robust-tasting dish that goes easy on the wallet too.

On weekends and public holidays, the restaurant also offers a high tea buffet with a different set of dishes.

Zhou’s Kitchen
– Far East Square
– Square 2
Website