Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest 1 Michelin Star dim sum restaurant from Hong Kong, is opening in Singapore at The Atrium @ Orchard, Plaza Singapura today. Opened by Chef Mak Kwai Pui (previously from Lung King Heen at Four Seasons Hong Kong), Tim Ho Wan has gained a strong following over the years and long queues are a common sight at his restaurants.
We got a sneak preview at a media tasting last night. Here are some of the highlights from the much anticipated Tim Ho Wan in Singapore.
Words and photographs by Sarah Lim
Speak about Arteastiq, and its tea lounge at Mandarin Gallery instantly comes to mind. Recently, the good people behind this one-of-its-kind art jamming cum studio café have gone traditional with its new restaurant Arteastiq Tea Bone China at Millenia Walk.
The décor was effortlessly classy, bringing a sense of nostalgia without the tackiness. We were especially fascinated by the birdcages that dangled from the ceiling, an attempt to recreate the experiences of olden-day Chinese merchants who’d bird-watch while sipping pots of tea.
The long queues outside Tim Ho Wan, the cheapest one Michelin star restaurant in the world, are a testament to its popularity. Waiting time is easily an hour, yet people queue up for their dim sum. Now, we will be able to enjoy the famous barbecued pork buns without having to fly to Hong Kong. Tim Ho Wan will be opening its first overseas outlet in the new atrium wing of Plaza Singapura on 10 April 2013.
Even though I have been to Ritz-Carlton Singapore many times, for some reason, I never had the chance to eat at Summer Pavilion, the luxe hotel’s Chinese restaurant. So, when I was there for a staycation recently, I made a reservation to drop by for lunch to sample some of their signature Cantonese dishes.
Regular readers will know that I am a fan of Paradise Pavilion at Marina Bay Financial Centre. Not only is it one of the most gorgeous Chinese restaurants in town, it also serves Chinese food of unimpeachable quality. I have been to Paradise Pavilion on several occasions, and they have always maintained a high standard.
I’ve been to Peach Garden a few times, and while they have very good steamed salted yolk creamy buns, I have always felt that the rest of the dim sum offerings were decent, but not remarkable.
It has been a while since my last visit, so I decided to drop by for lunch to satisfy my craving for custard bun. I am not sure if they had made any changes, but the quality of the dim sum that we had that day was of a high standard.
Jiang-Nan Chun at Four Seasons is known for serving classic Cantonese cuisine in a luxurious setting, and while I’d been meaning to venture there for a meal, it took me until recently to do so.
The new Chinese executive Chef Alan Chan used to be from Crystal Jade Dining IN, and since joining Jiang-Nan Chun, he has introduced a new menu. It is evident that he is adamant to make his mark on the restaurant. The food that we had were well-executed using traditional cooking techniques, with a slightly modern twist.
Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant at Sheraton Towers Singapore is renowned for its exquisite Cantonese cuisine. I have tried most of the dim sum places in town, but for some reason, I have never been to Li Bai. When my friends asked me to suggest a place for brunch, I immediately replied: let’s go to Li Bai.
It’s really interesting that whenever I blog about a certain cuisine/food, I get a lot more traffic. After blogging for so many years, I guess it becomes a part of me, and I usually have a pretty good hunch of things that people like the most. It’s really not that difficult to spot future food trends.
Want to make a guess which are the Top 5 Most Popular Posts that you guys like to read on my food blog?
Char Siew Sou from Tung Lok Seafood
Ever since I first tried the Char Siew Sou at Yanting Restaurant four years ago, I’ve been on a hunt for the best in Singapore. Sadly, most places serve mediocre Baked BBQ Pork Puffs that aren’t worth the calories.
After trying so many dim sum restaurants in Singapore, I managed to find the really good ones. So here’s my list of the Best Char Siew Sou in Singapore.
I’m a fan of Crystal Jade Group of Restaurants. Not only because they’re conveniently located in shopping malls, but because they offer consistently good Chinese food at reasonable prices.
Crystal Jade Golden Palace at Paragon is a modern restaurant, with a sexy and dark tone. Most Chinese restaurants are quite boring when it comes to the interior decor. Not Crystal Jade Golden Palace. It is definitely one of the most gorgeous Chinese restaurants that I’ve been to.
Prices are what you would expect from a good restaurant. However, dim sum during lunch is much more affordable. Most of the dim sum items are priced between $4.2 – 5.5 for a basket, which is very decent for a fine dining restaurant.
I am sure you know that I am on a quest to try all the dim sum places in Singapore. My latest adventure brings me to Imperial Treasure Nan Bai at Ngee Ann City.
I have been wanting to go there for a while, but never had the chance until recently. Judging from the crowd on the weekend, Imperial Treasure Nan Bei seems to be extremely popular, especially with families.