Finally, the day has come for all durian fans—a Mao Shan Wang cafe opened this year at Temple Street on our little island without much fanfare. Helmed by the team behind Four Seasons—a well-known durian specialty confectionery in Singapore—Mao Shan Wang Cafe is where you can indulge in everything durian.

The industrial-themed cafe is a great place to stop by for afternoon tea or just whenever you are craving for the king of fruits at any time of the year. Yes, you no longer have to wait for the annual durian season to have a taste of this luxurious fruit.

What makes Mao Shan Wang Cafe stand out is their willingness to experiment with various flavours to create new offerings. Their creative menu features both traditional and innovative durian creations; think durian pastries, durian black charcoal pizzas and even durian-dipped nuggets!

For those who prefer sticking to something familiar, Mao Shan Wang Cafe has a delectable range of durian puffs, cakes, mochi, ice cream and pancakes. Their signature Mao Shan Wang Delight (S$15.80) comes with Mao Shan Wang ice cream topped off with delicious ingredients such as brownies, marshmallows and thin almond flakes.

For alternatives, try the Mao Shan Wang Ice Cream Puff ($15.80 for 6), Durian Mochi which is infused with rich D24 (S$5 for 4) or Mao Shan Wang (S$8.80 for 4) fillings and Napoleon (S$8.80), a mille-feuille French pastry slapped with luscious durian paste and whipped cream.

Photos Credit: Mao Shan Wang Cafe

If you are feeling adventurous, go straight for the unconventional Black Charcoal Mao Shan Wang Durian Pizza (S$18.80), Durian Nuggets (S$6) and Durian French Fries (S$3.80).

Mao Shan Wang Cafe
49 Temple Street
Singapore 058594
Tel: +65 6221 2338
Mon to Fri: 1.30pm – 10pm
Sat: 11am – 10pm
Sun: Closed
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Yakitori bars have been sprouting up a lot recently in Singapore, especially with the pairing of cocktails and Japanese meat skewers gaining immense popularity. Nestled along the cafe-strewn street of Bukit Pasoh Road lies Chikin, a new Yakitori bar that dishes out hearty meat skewers with a twist.

Opened by the owners of Sum Yi Tai, Chikin is an unassuming bar which specialises in clever cocktail infusions, comforting Japanese eats as well as Szechuan mala yakitori—the first of its kind. Combining traditional Japanese methods with mouth watering Szechuan flavours, Chikin aims to reshape the way we think and feel about Japanese yakitori forever.

The first floor features a neon-lit open concept kitchen and bar with a gorgeous marble bar top and the walls are covered in cheeky murals that encompass Japanese pop culture elements. With a mixture of hip-hop and clubby tunes playing in the background, stepping into Chikin almost feels like being in a club.

Chikin’s menu boasts a variety of Izakaya-style dishes to complete the dining experience. Among these are spicy variations of Japanese street snacks and comforting Japanese favourites and with a namesake like Chikin, it is not hard to guess that most of their skewers are going to made of chicken.

Ensuring no part of a chicken goes to waste, their selection of yakitori features several unconventional parts such as windpipe, heart and cartilage—which are surprisingly delicious if you are ballsy enough to try them.

Using Japanese methods of grilling skewers over binchotan flames, Chikin marries the art of Japanese Yakitori with mouth watering Szechuan spices in a creative effort to combine the best of two Asian disciplines.

We opted for a selection of 6 different chicken parts—the thigh meat (S$3), skin (S$3), ‘oyster’ (S$4) which is essentially the breast meat portion of the chicken, heart (S$3.50), cartilage (S$3.50) and chicken meatballs (S$4.50)

Spice lovers will most definitely fall head-over-heels with this. Their meat is pre-marinated in a mixture of Szechuan spices and just before serving, is dusted with more Szechuan spices. With varying degrees of spiciness, get your lips ready to be numbed in the midst of savouring the succulence of the grilled meat.

Our top three favourites were the chicken skin, chicken thigh and chicken heart.

The skin was incredibly crisp with a light dusting of spices to give it a slight kick. The heart may seem daunting at first, but it is actually really tasty with an interesting texture to it—tender and not off-putting at all.

Overall, this is a great place to hang out be it after work or not. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves from the great skewers, friendly staff, right down to the sexy interior (of which is perfect for selfies).

Chikin
6 Bukit Pasoh Road,
Singapore 089820
Tel: +65 6910 2742
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

China Square Central is a dining establishment located in Singapore’s Central Business District. Featuring Chinese architecture, the modern shopping mall has artfully preserved and modified several traditional shophouses from the 60′s into cafes and restaurants.

While most people tend to associate China Square Central with its grand office tower, there is more to this place than meets the eye. There are not one, but three distinct blocks that make up China Square Central—18 Cross Street, 20 Cross Street and 22 Cross Street. Yes, that means dining options are aplenty!

From Korean BBQ to Thai favourites and coffee houses, here are 9 Restaurants, Cafes & Eateries In China Square Central You Must Dine At.

#1 CLUB MEATBALLS

An open restaurant with a cocktail and wine bar, Club Meatballs is one of the nicest chill-out spots in China Square Central.

As the name suggests, meatballs are a core of Club Meatball’s menu. Some meatball dishes to try are The Vietnamese (S$9.50 and S$12.50 for 2 and 4 meatballs respectively), ‘Pimp Your Burger’ (S$14.90) and ‘Pimp Your Balls’ (S$15.90). Quirky names, but honest food.

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, diners can enjoy 50% off club sodas and soft drinks when you bring your own mug to the restaurant.

Club Meatballs
20 Cross St, #01-34/35/36, China Square Central, Singapore 048422
Tel: +65 6222 8660
Mon to Fri: 8am – 12am
Sat: 11am – 12am
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#2 ESPRESSOLAB

Espressolab is a huge franchise chain originated from Malaysia with more than 20 outlets spread across the Malay Peninsula. Good news—they have expanded to Singapore in 2014 and it is at China Square Central!

The sophisticated cafe has since been keeping diners happy with their house blend handcrafted coffee. Some unique specialities include the red velvet hot chocolate and grilled salmon with yuzu orange dressing. Also not forgetting the value for money set lunch options with complimentary ice lemon tea.

Espressolab is a welcoming place at an ideal location to host corporate meetings, all sorts of events, lunch and social gatherings. It is a great spot in the CBD that is heavy with goodness but light on the pocket.

Espressolab
18 Cross St, #02-07/08 China Square Central, Singapore 048423
Tel: +65 6536 2328
Mon to Fri: 8.00am – 7pm
Sun: 9.30am – 6pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#3 FOLKS COLLECTIVE

A vintage shophouse inspired by Bangkok’s Rod Fai Vintage Market, most of the décor at the Folks Collective (even the bricks on their walls) were sourced directly from Thailand.

Start your meal with comforting Thai favourites such as the Pomelo Salad (S$10.90) and Angel Wings (S$10.90). Enjoy the Thai-style Sea Bass (S$33.90) before completing your meal with Ice Cream Kati (S$5.90)-a coconut ice cream with sweet coconut glutinous rice, toasted peanuts, palm seeds and jackfruit strips.

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, diners will receive a free Coca-Cola or a Cold Lemongrass upon ordering any Daily Special Set at S$10.90 (U.P. S$14.80 to S$16.80++).

Folks Collective
20 Cross St, #01-25 China Square Central, Singapore 048422
Tel: +65 6536 6730
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#4 J3 COLD PRESSED JUICE

Detox juice cleanse is all the rage right now. One brand to try out is J3 Cold Pressed Juice. They offer a range of juices—from the Detox Series (vegetables and superfoods) to the Refresh Series (fresh cold-pressed fruit juices).

Green juices tend to have a bad rep, with many having a generally unfavourable taste. But that’s not so for the green juices here, so much so we’d gladly go on a juice cleanse programme here. We especially loved the D2 Beet-Liver from the Detox Series which is a mix of beetroot, red dragon fruit, broccoli, celery, tomato, red apple, pear, orange, starfruit and lemon.

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, you can get 3 cold pressed juice bottles for S$18.90 (U.P. S$20.70); 1 cold pressed juice bottle and 1 nut milk bottle for S$13.80 (U.P. S$14.80) or a full 1-Day Cleanse with 6 juices and 1 nut milk for S$43.90 (S$49.30).

J3 Cold Press Juice
18 Cross St, #01-12 China Square Central, Singapore 048423
Tel: +65 6221 0754
Mon to Fri: 9am – 6pm
Sun: 12pm – 6pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#5 MOUTH RESTAURANT

The Mouth Restaurant is known for their seafood delights. The signature Sautéed Boston Lobster is S$49.80 each and there is an optional top-up of S$6 if you wish to enjoy it with vermicelli.

Crabs come in 6 different flavours—such as Salted Egg Yolk or Black Pepper. The BBQ Trio Combi (S$28) is also a hot favourite of the restaurant!

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, visit the restaurant with a mug or tumbler to enjoy a complimentary hot or cold drink. A minimum spending of S$68 and S$78 will also entitle you to a free Sautéed Sri Lankan Crab in Cream of Chardonnay or a free Sautéed Boston Lobster with Vermicelli respectively.

Mileslife is our favourite app to accumulate miles through everyday spending. You can earn 2 miles for every dollar spent at this restaurant. Download and try Mileslife out now! You can use our code ‘Ladyironchef‘ upon your first spending to get 1,000 miles.

Mouth Restaurant
22 Cross St, #01-57/62 China Square Central, Singapore 048421
Tel: +65 6438 5798
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 10am – 4pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#6 SPINELLI COFFEE COMPANY

Widely acclaimed for its fragrant coffees and cakes, Spinelli Coffee Company is a coffee chain that hails from San Francisco and only brews coffee from locally roasted beans.

Nestled in the corner of China Square Central, this coffee joint is usually not overcrowded unlike other coffee places in the CBD, thus making it a perfect place to grab a quick cuppa in a comfortable environment.

Why not also enjoy a slice of their signature cheesecakes, or a dish of roasted chicken with mashed potatoes?

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, order any Spinelli Coffee Company’s Signature Beverage to go in your Spinelli Tumbler and enjoy S$1 off your drink.

Spinelli Coffee Company
18 Cross St, #01-28 China Square Central, Singapore 048423
Tel: +65 6327 4837
Mon to Thu: 8am – 8pm
Fri: 8am – 9pm
Sat: 9am – 8pm
Sun/PH: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#7 TA LU PRAWN NOODLES

Tucked away on the 2nd level of China Square Central, Ta Lu Prawn Noodles is a humble air-conditioned eatery well-known for local favourites, in particular, the prawn noodles (S$5, S$7, S$9, S$12).

The broth is thin yet very flavourful, and a bowl of noodles is served with a generous portion of tender pork ribs and prawns.

Another local favourite worth a try is the tasty fried carrot cake.

From 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017, bring along your own mug or tumbler to Ta Lu Prawn Noodles to redeem a complimentary hot or cold drink and do your part to support Singapore’s World Water Day.

Ta Lu Prawn Noodles
18 Cross Street, #02-32/33 China Square Central, Singapore 048423
Tel: +65 6536 1538
Mon to Fri: 7am – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#8 WANG DAE BAK KOREAN BBQ RESTAURANT

Oh glorious, glorious meat! Enjoy a massive meat feast at the ever popular Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ Restaurant where you can find premium cuts of meat such as Boneless Prime Rib (S$29), Marinated Chicken ($18), Pork Belly (S$18) and Marinated Shoulder-Loin (S$18).

The meats here are the undisputed frontrunners, especially the beautiful marbling on the prime rib. After cooking to a nice medium doneness, dip it in the sauce of your choice and savour those melty textures.

Popular side dishes include the Spicy Seafood Tofu Soup (S$11 – S$16), Kimchi Pancake (S$19) and a huge selection of side dishes or bapsang.

You can also redeem a free cup of cold or hot drink here when you bring your own mug or tumbler from 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017.

Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ Restaurant 
22 Cross St, #01-64 China Square Central, Singapore 048421
Tel: +65 6225 2646
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

#9 YUAN KEE FAMOUS CHICKEN RICE

Yuan Kee Famous Chicken Rice’s history dates all the way back to the 1970s when it used to be just a small stall selling Cantonese-style chicken rice. While it has since transformed into a much bigger air-conditioned eatery, Yuan Kee Famous Chicken Rice still sticks to its original philosophy of “home cooked goodness for all”.

Signature chicken rice dishes to try there are the steamed and roasted chicken rice sets. We thoroughly enjoyed having the fresh white chicken together with fragrant rice and spicy chilli sauce!

Besides that, the eatery also offers Emperor Chicken with Rice, Hainanese Pork Cutlet with Rice & Egg and other zi char style dishes.

You can also redeem a free lime or chestnut drink when you bring your own mug or tumbler from 28 March 2017 to 30 April 2017.

Yuan Kee Famous Chicken Rice
20 Cross St, #01-03/04 China Court, Singapore 048422
Tel: +65 9658 8955
Mon to Fri: 9am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown/Telok Ayer

This post is brought to you by China Square Central. 

Chinatown is an ethnic neighbourhood in Singapore that was once home to the early Chinese migrants.

Today, the cultural enclave has evolved into an eclectic mix of old and new, where visitors can visit modern establishments housed in restored heritage shophouses. Interestingly, the district has a few long-standing attractions that still serve the local communities today.

From visiting national monument Sri Mariamman Temple, attending tea appreciation classes, eating local delicacies at Chinatown Complex Food Centre to savouring traditional bakery Tong Heng’s famous egg tarts, here is our Guide to Singapore’s Chinatown. There is so much to see, so much to eat and one would have to explore the vicinity to understand what we mean.

Source: Super Merlion

BUDDHA TOOTH RELIC TEMPLE

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple is an intricately designed Tang-styled Chinese Buddhist temple where visitors can find sacred religious artefacts. Those in search of solace should head up to the tranquil rooftop garden perched atop, where it features a large prayer wheel and pagoda.

288 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058840
Tel: +65 6220 0220
Daily: 7am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

CAFE INSADONG

Bingsu is all the rage right now and speciality cafes have been sprouting up all over Singapore like mushrooms. Cafe Insadong serves affordably priced Korean shaved ice dessert well under S$10—a real steal when compared to all its other competitors.

279 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058828
Tel: +65 8533 2003
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm
Fri to Sat: 12pm – 11.30pm
Closed on Sunday
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Source: Chinatown Food Street

CHINATOWN FOOD STREET

From Hainanese chicken rice to fresh frog porridge, there is a whole range of mouthwatering cuisines at Chinatown Food Street. The street is lined up with pushcarts that resemble Singapore’s olden days and aims to provide a glimpse of Singapore’s past.

7 Smith Street
Singapore 058921
Daily: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

CHINATOWN COMPLEX FOOD CENTRE

If you are after an authentic Singaporean experience, head to Singapore’s largest hawker centre at Chinatown Complex Food Centre. This is where you get to savour traditional delicacies at unbelievable prices ranging from S$2.50 to S$3. It is a place where Singaporeans love and seek comfort in our local delights.

335 Smith Street
Chinatown Complex
Singapore 050335
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Source: Chinatown Heritage Centre

CHINATOWN HERITAGE CENTRE

As the name suggests, Chinatown Heritage Centre is where tourists can get a taste of how life was for the early migrants that settled in Chinatown. The venue has successfully recreated the original interiors of shophouses back in the 1950s.

48-50 Pagoda Street
Singapore 059207
Daily: 9am to 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Source: Design District

CULINARY CLASSES AT FOOD PLAYGROUND

Want to pick up new cooking skills or brush up on your culinary techniques? Sign up for one of the day classes at award-winning Food Playground. Challenge yourself and learn to prepare traditional delights such as Chicken Rice, Laksa and Satays.

24A Sago Street
Singapore 059020
Tel: +65 9452 3669
Nearest Station: Chinatown

EAT DIM SUM

The Cantonese community is one of Singapore’s earliest immigrants and along they brought with them age-old recipes of dim sum. Complete your trip with a scrumptious meal of dim sum at one of the teahouses, namely Yum Cha Chinatown and Tak Po Dim Sum Restaurant.

Yum Cha Chinatown
#02-01, 20 Trengganu Street
Tel: +65 6372 1717
Mon to Fri: 11am – 11pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Tak Po Dim Sum Restaurant
42 Smith Street
Tel: +65 6225 0302
Daily: 7am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

LEPARK

Named after the Malay slang for chilling, Lepark is a cooler hang-out spot in Chinatown with its Mod Sin tapas and iced cold beers. Its unique location is such a surprise; who would have thought that a bar could exist at the outdoor carpark of People’s Park Complex!

People’s Park Complex Level 6
1 Park Road
Singapore 059108
Tel: +65 6908 5809
Tue to Thu: 4pm – 11pm
Fri: 4pm – 12am
Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

MAD ABOUT SUCRE

Mad About Sucre patisserie has been making waves in the local food scene with its unconventional yet impressive desserts, especially its highly raved about Coco Citron ($9.80+). Its chief baker studied at Le Cordon Bleu.

27 Teo Hong Road
Singapore 088334
Tel: +65 6221 3969
Mon: Closed
Tue to Sat: 12.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 12.30pm – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

SHOP FOR TRADITIONAL CHINESE CLOTHES

Take a walk around Chinatown neighbourhood and you will be greeted by rows of mannequins donning traditional Chinese clothing such as cheongsams, jade accessories and whatnot.

SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple built in Dravidian style. The beautiful national monument was built to worship goddess Mariamman, who is renowned for her healing powers.

244 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058793
Daily: 7am – 12pm, 6pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

TEA APPRECIATION

The consumption of tea is an important part of Chinese culture and visitors can drop by either Enjoy Tea or Tea Chapter for tea appreciation classes. These two specialty tea stores also sell a selection of tea accessories and premium tea leaves and they make great souvenirs.

Enjoy Tea
#01-01, 18 Sago Street
Singapore 059017
Tel: +65 6221 7479
Daily: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Tea Chapter
9 Neil Road
Singapore 088808
Tel: +65 6226 3026
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

THE DAILY ROUNDUP

Housed within co-working space The Working Capitol is a little cafe called The Daily Roundup, and they specialise in sweet and savoury crepes. These French galletes are simply irresistible and we highly recommend the divine Yuzu Butter Crepe (S$10).

1 Keong Saik Road
#01-02 The Working Capitol
Singapore 089109
Tel: +65 6338 8035
Mon to Sat: 8am – 8pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park

TONG HENG

Chinese bakery Tong Heng has been around since Singapore’s colonial days and is most well known for their mouthwatering diamond-shaped egg tarts. A wobbly pure egg custard is encased in a slightly flaky crust. Besides the must-order egg tarts (S$1.40 each), visitors can also indulge in other Cantonese confectionery such as Char Siew Crispy Cakes and Curry Puffs.

285 South Bridge Road
Singapore 058833
Tel: +65 6223 3649
Daily: 9am - 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

If you are looking for a place to spend a quiet afternoon at, Lepark at People’s Park Complex – an unlikely location for a cool mod-sin tapas bar, we know – counts as a recent discovery and is now our new hideout.

With its hole-in-the-wall setting, it might take a little more effort to hunt this cafe down, but we promise you will not be disappointed with a rooftop dining experience unlike any other.

With a scenic view overlooking Chinatown and the Central Business District, its name was inspired by the Malay slang “Lepak”, which was recently adopted by the Oxford Dictionary to mean the act of chilling or hanging out.

Lepark prides itself in that motto, evidently seen in the unique bench seatings rendered in the cafe that propels diners to bask in an atmosphere with great chill-out music at an alternative social space.

Lepark offers a menu with interesting fusion options, such as the SEY (S$12) – comprising soft shell crab, crab cake balls sitting on two nicely toasted mantou buns and finally drizzled with salted egg yolk sauce – where the medley of the bold flavours and distinct textures proved that one serving is simply not enough.

Another dish worth mentioning is their Poached Chicken Sushi (S$8 for 5 pieces) that is prepared by rolling homemade chicken rice into balls of sushi and wrapped with a thin strip of seaweed. A dollop of garlic chilli, egg floss and cherry tomatoes are then draped over it.

Our only gripe is that Lepark does not serve water. But fret not, for it carries a vast range of beers and drinks specially sourced from New Zealand. Beer flight options are also available for those who wish to sample a variety of beers at once.

Lepark
People’s Park Complex Level 6
1 Park Road
Singapore 059108
Tel: +65 6908 5809
Tue to Thu: 4pm – 11pm
Fri: 4pm – 12am
Sat: 11am – 12am
Sun: 11am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

About the writer:
Cassandra is a staff writer for ladyironchef. During her free time, she fuels her passion for fashion through shopping and indulges in all things food. She loves anything egg related and is always ready for a cafe-hopping adventure.

If you like Korean BBQ buffet and do not mind paying slightly more, then Han Geun Doo Geun Korean BBQ Buffet Restaurant, an under-the-radar outlet at Chinatown Point, is for you. Well, they may not have the cheapest buffet prices (S$26.90++ for lunch, S$36.90++ for dinner) in town, but hold your horses and do not just strike them off your list yet. Let us tell you why.

Not only does Han Geun Doo Geun serve a selection of decent meats, it also has a buffet station with 12 to 14 banchan (side dishes) that you can stuff yourself silly with. AND, ala carte servings of noodles, bibimbap, topokki, and Korean soups and stews.

This alone is reason enough for us to come back to Han Geun Doo Geun. Spoilt with so many choices, it is one meal to luxuriate in for a satisfying Korean affair.

In the soup and stew menu, you can find the usual suspects such as Kimchi Jjigae, Sundubu Jjigae and Doenjiang Jjigae, but what surprised us is the inclusion of the pricier Korean dishes like Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) and Budae Jeongol. And we had thought they would be diluted, so we were really caught by surprise when we tasted the richness of ginseng!

Well, it might be an expectations thing – on one hand, we know for sure that they won’t serve top-grade ginseng at buffets, so when we found out it actually tastes better than decent, we were pleasantly surprised. Likewise, if you go with very high expectations and set connoisseurs’ benchmarks, then this won’t be for you.

The dinner buffet has 11 meat options (pork, chicken and beef) which include Bulgogi, Galbisal, Chadolbagi, Samgyeopsal, and Dwaeji Galbi. All free flow, and all-you-can-eat. It was a whole night of meat fest for us, and it was one dinner that we really enjoyed and look forward to return to.

Lunch: Child S$19.90++, Adult S$26.90++
Dinner: Child S$29.90++, Adult S$36.90++

Han Geun Doo Geun Korean BBQ Buffet Restaurant
133 New Bridge Road #02-35 Chinatown Point
Tel: +65 6538 2775
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Chinatown

Eating out in Singapore is getting considerably expensive. Nowadays, it is increasingly difficult to find a restaurant that serves good food at reasonable prices.

When I was at The Clan Restaurant for dinner, I was surprised to find out that it not only dishes out an extensive menu – with offerings of cold dish, side dish, soup, main course and dessert – that you really cannot go wrong with, but it is also relatively inexpensive given the quality of the food.

Under the cold dish category, our party tasted most of the dishes, and everyone agreed that the Beef Carpaccio ($20) was a terrific choice. The pairing of well-marbled beef slices and truffle mustard salad with truffle teriyaki & horseradish sauce made for a winning combination.

The other favourite of the table was Alaskan King Crab ($22). It stood out with its light homemade Karashi dressing that allowed the freshness of the crab to shine through.

The Chef’s Starter ($18) – a trio of foie gras chawanmushi, seared scallops with truffle foam, and hamachi with ponzu – is also a good way to start the meal.

After sampling the cold dishes, we progressed to side dishes of Deep Fried Foie Gras ($18) with balsamic reduction and cheese focaccia, Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit ($15) with pork cracker and passion fruit sauce and Steamed Razar Clam ($15) drizzled with Japanese sauce, and Herb Crusted Mushroom Escargot ($15). Among them, the standout dish was the Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit, while the Foie Gras was disappointing as the deep-fried batter overwhelmed the foie gras.

The Clan has main courses like Spiced Braised Lamb Shank ($29), 48 Degree Poached Salmon with Japanese broth ($27) and Pan Seared Cod Fish ($29). But what you must order is the 48 Hours Beef Short Ribs served on hoba leaf and lava stone. Everyone was gushing when the waiter served the dish to the table. It was outstanding, and undoubtedly the highlight of our dinner. Another commendable dish from the menu is the Duck Confit ($26) with plum mustard, and truffle mashed potato.

Sweet treats include a Madeira Cheese Panna Cotta ($10), Chocolate Lava ($10) with homemade gelato, Triple Espresso Crème Brulee ($10) and the excellent and highly recommended Chan La Royaltine Chocolate Cake ($11).

The Clan Restaurant
1 Selegie Road, #02-01 PoMo
Singapore 188306
Tel: +65 6222 2084
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

Words and photos by Sarah Lim.

You know the food has to be good when a restaurant gets booked well in advance despite being housed in a location away from the bustling office crowd. The tranquillity is lost once inside the restaurant. A waitress piles her arms with several dishes, hastily serving them up before disappearing behind the kitchen doors.

Restaurant Ember at Hotel 1929 serves modern European cuisine, and it is not a secret that they have one of the best set lunches in Singapore.

The restaurant has a minimalist interior design; no white tablecloth, no ostentatious cutlery, even the lunch menu came in the form of a piece of card, simply printed in black-and-white and folded in half.

It took some time for the complimentary bread to arrive, but more than redeemed itself up for the wait. Two loaves of sun-dried tomato focaccia, specked with herbs and each haphazardly divided in six unequal pieces, were served to us piping hot. Crusty on the outside yet chewy inside, we struggled to decline our waitress’ offer to replenish it in anticipation of our meal.

A generous slab perched atop cubes of syrup-soaked fruits, the pan-seared foie gras with caramelized apples and clove, port and raspberry glaze was prepared with expertise, resulting in a dish of wobbly, fatty goodness encased in a delicate crisp exterior. We savoured each forkful of the delicacy and it was gone all too soon.

We were equally amazed by how the roasted and poached foie gras (pictured at the start of the post) with mirin, shoyu and shiitake managed to retain its shape on the plate when it simply disintegrated once in our mouths. The tangy, mild-tasting sauce cut through the richness of the foie gras perfectly. Of the two, we preferred the pan-seared version simply for the striking contrast in texture.

The pan-roasted scallops with parma ham, citrus and tarragon vinaigrette was a feast for the eyes. Two plump, juicy scallops wrapped in savoury bacon served with a heaping mound of salad. The dish was competent on its own, but simply paled in comparison to the stellar foie gras appetisers.

We were once again blown away by the faultless preparation of the crispy duck leg confit with new potatoes, caramelized onion – thyme jus, one of the best renditions of the dish we have tried. It was just unfortunate that the sauce was a tad one-dimensional in flavour.

The marinated cod with black miso, sweet peas and herbed potatoes would please those with a sweet tooth. A fillet of oily cod coated with a generous layer of sticky, caramelized miso, this proved to be a safe choice – too safe, perhaps, as the presentation left us slightly underwhelmed.

Among the mains, the pan-seared Chilean seabass with mushroom and smoked bacon ragout, truffle yuzu butter sauce was a clear winner. A thick slab of fatty, flaky fish served atop juicy mushrooms in a pool of luscious golden-yellow sauce. We refused to have the plate cleared until we managed to mop up the last of it. If we were to nitpick, we didn’t particularly like how searing dried up the fish. We’d have gladly forsaken the pretty golden-browned hue it added.

Meant for sharing between two, we slightly regretted our order of the apple tart tartin with vanilla bean ice cream since this meant that we could only order one other dessert. Tasting it did not convince us otherwise – the cloyingly sweet apples atop the soggy tart simply failed to impress.

The crispy caramelized pear tart with homemade baileys ice cream, on the other hand, fulfilled all the requirements of a perfect tart – crispy, buttery and crumbly. We just wished that the baileys ice cream had a more alcoholic edge to it.

Service while not top-notch, is attentive and earnest. At $39.50++ (or $45.50++ if you pick a foie gras appetiser), Ember is more than what we can ask for. This is the kind of place that will leave you yearning for a return, simply for the delicious food in an unpretentious setting.

Restaurant Ember
50 Keong Saik Road
Hotel 1929
Tel: +65 6347 1928
Nearest Station: Outram

Within the edgy New Majestic Hotel is The Majestic, a modern restaurant with a causal yet classy vibe. The boutique hotel is located in Singapore’s historic Chinatown, a 5-minute walk from Outram Park MRT Station.

Majestic Restaurant is known for their Cantonese cuisine and it has been around since 2006. Chef Yong Bing Ngen (who also runs Jing Restaurant at One Fullerton) is no stranger in the Singapore Food scene. Previously from Doc Cheng’s and Hai Tien Lo, he led Majestic Restaurant to clinch the Asian Restaurant of the Year title during the WGS 2010.

I was at Majestic Restaurant on a Sunday for dim sum brunch. With only 13 items on the Weekend ala carte dim sum menu, there is not much choice. Most of the dim sum are priced at $4.50 for a basket of 3 pieces.

Even though I’ve eaten at many dim sum restaurants in Singapore, I have yet to taste a 10/10 Siew Mai. Nonetheless, I am happy to say that Majestic Restaurant’s Steamed Pork Dumpling is better than the average ones that I’ve had.

The Custard Bun ($6 for 3) at Majestic Restaurant comes in two options: steamed or deep-fried. Evidently, we had the steamed ones, and it was quite a moment as the molten custard flowed out. Majestic Restaurant’s Custard buns were good, but not great.

Next up, we had the fluffy and soft Steamed Barbecue Pork Buns ($3 for 2).

We also had the ubiquitous Steamed Prawn Dumpling ($4.50 for 3 pcs). As much as I think that Har Gow is boring, there’s something profoundly reassuring to see a basket on the table. The mere presence of it makes you feel that you are really having dim sum.

I had just one Char Siew Sou with buttery flaky crust and savoury Char Siew fillings. They were so good! Maybe I should have gone for a basket of four Baked Honey Pork Puff ($4.50 for 3) instead. Hmm…

I have a soft spot for Roast Duck ($20), and the one I had at Majestic was good. I think the picture of the Roast Duck tells you everything.

It was impossible to stop at one cube of Roast Pork ($12), but thank God the portion was tiny so it made us less guilty of having more.

The Deep-fried Baby Squid ($12) was a great appetiser. It was strangely addictive and we couldn’t stop eating it.

All in all, Majestic Restaurant is a stylish Chinese Restaurant and it is an ideal place for a quiet business lunch. Most of the dim sum items that we had were decent, nothing particularly outstanding. If you are thinking of visiting Majestic Restaurant for dim sum, do note that they only have 5-6 selections on the weekday menu. I’d probably come back again and order their signature dishes from the Majestic Restaurant’s main menu.

Read my list of Dim sum Restaurants | Brunch Places in Singapore

Singapore Food Blog Review
Majestic Restaurant
31-37 Bukit Pasoh Road
New Majestic Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6511 4718

Featured in

icon-3

When it comes to the best Xiao Long Bao in Singapore, most people will usually think of Din Tai Fung, Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao, or Nan Xiang Xiao long bao restaurant. Along the sleepy Neil Road at the intersection of Chinatown & Maxwell Food Market, there’s a very popular place that serves good xiao long bao? Try to search for Neil Road, and Google will actually prompt “Neil Road Xiao Long Bao”, or “Neil Road Qun Zhong”.

The Lonely Planet Guide refers to Qun Zhong Eating House as the #433 out of 625 Things to do in Singapore. Are the Steamed Pork Dumplings there really so good?

If you are a superficial or lazy person like me, chances are, you’d have walked past Qun Zhong Eating House a dozen times without noticing it. The place doesn’t look very impressive from the outside, and there’s always a long queue during peak hours.

Before coming here, I heard about the reputation of the ‘service’, or rather the lack of service. Stepping inside, most of the staff were rather grumpy and appeared to be in a hurry. We were actually quite afraid to ask them for water. Okay to be fair, it wasn’t that bad. I asked for water nicely, and they gave it to us without much trouble.

The Xiao Long Baos from Qun Zhong Eating House were much bigger than any of the dumplings that I had before. And it was for a very good reason. They held a lot of soup within the seemingly-thick folds of the steamed pork dumpling ($7 for 7). It literally gushed out when I took a nibble of the xiao long bao.

Is this the best Xiao Long Bao in Singapore? I can’t answer that, but if you like a meaty and thick steamed pork dumpling, with lots of soup, Qun Zhong’s Xiao long bao is definitely the one for you. We also had the Pan Fried Dumplings ($8 for 10), and together with the 7 xiao long bao, and a bowl of zha jiang mian – it was really a lot of food for the two of us.

Other than the Zha Jiang Mian (noodle with minced pork & soya bean paste), Qun Zhong Eating House also serves a variety of Beijing cuisine and food like the Chinese Pizza, Steamed vegetarian dumplings and Hot & Sour noodle.

If you still have room in the stomach after eating the xiao long bao, Dim Joy is just across the street. For desserts, there’s Flor Patisserie, Once Upon A Milkshake and Patisserie Glace nearby.

Restaurant Review
Qun Zhong Eating House
21 Neil Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6221 3060

It’s a pity that Korean food in the Singapore food scene isn’t as strong as its Japanese counterpart. Most people tend to crave for sushi rather than kimchi. I’m sure you can easily rattle off a list of good Japanese restaurants, but it’s not the same story when it comes to Korean Restaurants in Singapore.

My friends were craving for Korean food, and after hearing so much about Togi Korean Restaurant at Mosque Street, we decided to check it out on a weekday night.

The Ginseng Chicken Soup ($21) was mightily awesome. Even though the soup wasn’t that flavorful, the chicken was really tasty as it absorbed the finesse of all the ingredients.

Everybody loves bibimbap – tell me who doesn’t?

We poured a lot of the spicy-sweet chili into the pipping hot stone pot, stirring and mixing the Bibimbap ($11) into a delightful color of red, yellow and green. It looked good, it tasted even better! With an assortment of vegetables, mushroom, chicken, chili and steamed rice jumbled up — the bibimbap is a dish for all seasons.

We also had the stirred fried Spicy rice cake ($12), a famous street food in Korea. To be fair, I think it’s an acquired taste, and it’s really one of those dishes that you either love or hate.

I looked at the table, and fought the temptation to order the crispy Korean crispy pancakes: “No Brad, there’s too much food left”. Another visit to Togi Korean Restaurant, perhaps?

Judging by the crowd on a weekday dinner, Togi Korean Restaurant is definitely one of the more popular Korean restaurants in Singapore. Prices at both Togi and Kim’s Family Restaurant are in the same range, but the latter serves ten side dishes while the former only has six.

Even though I enjoyed the dinner there, Kim’s Family Restaurant is still my best Singapore Korean Restaurant.

Restaurant Review
Togi Korean Restaurant
11 Mosque Street Singapore
Tel: +65 6221 0830

Featured in

icon-31

Loh Mei specialist is a store in the People’s Park food centre at Chinatown. “Ru wei” or braised meat, is very famous and commonly found in Taiwan, but somehow in Singapore, its not the case. Thus its good to see a store delicated to selling this alone.

Their Loh mei comes in 3 prices, $4, $6, or $8. The picture doesn’t looks very flattering, but i felt that their loh mei is not bad, but the portion is kind of small at $4, and at a hawker centre paying 4 bucks is slighlty above average prices.