The Dragon Chamber is the first speakeasy restaurant in Singapore. A new dining concept by TungLok Group, The Dragon Chamber is hidden within Lokkee at Plaza Singapura.

For the uninitiated, a speakeasy usually refers to a bar which is hidden from plain sight; with that, part of the fun is in digging out its whereabouts. Go through a secret entrance in Lokkee and enter a different world. The Dragon Chamber is effortlessly hip and cool without trying too hard.

Do be warned that this new concept is not a space for political correctness. Only individuals aged 16 and above are permitted to enter. Contrasting Lokkee’s familiar, lovable Chinese-American recipes, The Dragon Chamber pushes boundaries by adopting experimental techniques and working with unconventional animal parts—think grilled pig’s tail and crocodile foot—to create a myriad of exotic dishes.

Whoever said dining in Singapore is getting boring most definitely need to know about The Dragon Chamber. Now, we promise you an experience unlike any other.

A KINKY INTERIOR

If you have been wondering about the story behind The Dragon Chamber, it is actually inspired by secret hideouts and gambling dens where Chinese gangsters used to hang out at. Let your hair down and be free from any social limitations!

The short journey from Lokkee to The Dragon’s Chamber is intriguing in itself. Entering through a random red door located in the middle of Lokkee, you will find yourself stumbling through a tunnel filled with mirrors and red fluorescent lighting. After which, you will move past a set of curtains which will eventually reveal a totally different space.

Upon entering and soaking up the atmosphere of the place, we finally understood what being in an underground Chinese triad den felt like. It was rather daunting at first, we won’t deny. The lights were dimly lit (there is only a total of 14 filament bulbs lighting up the entire place), giving the speakeasy restaurant a dark and dingy feel.

‘BAKKWA’ BACON SALAD

Making a grand entrance with an amazing fog effect, we were blown away by the beauty of the ‘Bakkwa’ Bacon Salad (S$32++). It is indeed a feast for both your eyes and taste buds.

What you get is succulent bacon strips grilled “bakkwa style”, giving it a lovely caramel coloured sheen and has a sweet and smokey flavour. Accompanied by fresh, oriental green salad, do not miss out on the lotus root croutons.

‘GUO TIE’ POTSTICKERS WITH DANCING CRAB® SIGNATURE SAUCE AND BAKED CHEESE

A collaboration with Dancing Crab®, those who are a fan of the Louisana seafood restaurant will recognise its signature cajun sauce which has been incorporated into grilled potsticker dumplings (S$18++). It is then topped with cheese before baking in the oven.

It was subtly spicy, giving it a good kick and the tartness from the sauce helped to cut through the intense meatiness of the potstickers really well.

CRISPY CORN ROLLS

Any corn lovers out there? You get to create your very own Crispy Corn Roll (S$14++) at The Dragon Chamber with stir-fried sweet corn and mini Sakura shrimp stuffed in tortilla cones.

JOSPER GRILLED PIG’S TAIL

Do not be put off by its name because the Josper Grilled Pig’s Tail (S$28++) is nothing too gross. In fact, it is very flavourful and much effort has been taken to prepare it. Grilled in a Josper oven, this method of cooking results in juicy and tender meat encased in delicate, crispy skin.

The staff will pull the meat apart. You have the option of enjoying it on its own, or wrapped up in lettuce leaves along with fresh cilantro and basil leaves to offset the intense porky flavours. To give it an additional kick, drip in a few drops of chili padi-infused fish sauce and enjoy!

‘MALA’ IRISH DUCK

This is not your typical mala dish. What we love about their ‘Mala’ Irish Duck (S$60++ for whole; S$36++ for half) is the in-house special mala sauce drenched over beautifully roasted Irish duck—it has a rich mala flavour without being overly spicy that it stings your tongue. A must-try for all duck lovers!

DRAGON’S CLAW

We wouldn’t blame you if you are wondering what Dragon’s Claw (S$60++) is because of its ambiguous name. It is essentially a crocodile’s foot! Yes, not one for the faint-hearted but nobody goes to The Dragon Chamber without trying this.

A Singapore farmed crocodile foot is braised in a herbal sauce and served atop a bed of kale. The melt-in-the-mouth texture and herbal taste resembled that of braised pig’s trotter.

Trust that The Dragon Chamber is not one to skimp on theatrics. The dish comes served surrounded by a ring of fire and once the fire dies out, that’s when you tuck in.

X.O. ‘GRUB’ CHOP SUEY

Daunting as it may look and sound, fret not because no actual grubs were used in making this dish. The X.O. ‘Grub’ Choy Suey (S$24++) features grub-like abomination that is actually a special type of artichoke.

The dish is stir-fried with mushrooms, kale and zucchini.

LOBSTER CRISPY NOODLES

The Lobster Crispy Noodles (S$25++ for regular; S$48++ for large) at The Dragon Chamber is one of our favourites. The juicy grilled lobster is as stunning to look at as it is delicious.

When the special gravy is doused over and the crispy ‘sheng mian’ absorbs the decadent sauce, enjoy it together with the scrumptious lobster and your day is sure to be made.

WAGYU TRUFFLE HOR FUN

It would be a sin to skip the Wagyu Truffle Hor Fun (S$50++). This dish left all of us speechless; it was easily the best dish on The Dragon Chamber’s menu.

Imagine medium rare A4 grade Wagyu beef atop warm hor fun. It is made all the better with crispy deep-fried hor fun strips, poached egg with a runny yolk and truffle gravy. The sheer explosive flavours is mind-boggling. As luxurious as hor fun can get, we will never look at hor fun the same way ever again.

SWEET MULBERRY EGG TEA

End your meal with Sweet Mulberry Egg Tea (S$7++), the house’s signature dessert that is brewed with egg, mulberry tea, dates and cane sugar.

Also known as ‘Sang Ji Sheng’, this is a delectable ancient Chinese dessert with many health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood circulation.

The Dragon Chamber
68 Orchard Road
#03-02 Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

The aesthetic appeal of Sinpopo Brand will first catch your eyes then lure you into the cafe. Then, it is the vintage-retro and laidback vibes that will charm you and entice you to take a seat.

With a menu of traditional local favourites with modern interpretations, Sinpopo Brand is an extremely charming retro café that sits amongst the many shophouses in Joo Chiat. It is one that never ceases to impress, both with its vibe and food.

Based on feedback from its regulars, Sinpopo Brand has introduced several new dishes and drinks which are more familiar with the locals. Now, let us discuss the dishes that are worth your calories and will make you want to visit the cafe.

OUR FAVOURITE KOPITIAM DRINKS SERVED IN THE FORM OF COCKTAILS

Fancy your morning glass of Teh-O Peng in a cocktail glass? Sinpopo Brand’s Special Teh-O Peng (S$5) doesn’t steer too far from what the classic “kopitiam drink” should taste like—sweet and dense in every sip. Sinpopo Brand has also added a subtle hint of pandan to give it a fragrant and stronger taste.

And when served in a cocktail glass? Yes, Instagram time.

If you enjoy grandma’s traditional brew of red dates and longan, you will come to love Sinpopo Brand’s Red Date & Longan Tea (S$5). Revitalising and packed with Vitamin C, this traditional speciality is served to you in a beautiful martini glas. Same same but different.

One word came to mind when our Gula Melaka Shake (S$8) was served to us: Chendol. The colour of the drink itself topped with chendol jelly and drizzled with Gula Melaka somehow screamed ‘local’s favourite’. We totally love the blend of sweet, fragrant gula melaka in coconut ice-cream.

We would expect the Gula Melaka Shake to be thicker in coconut flavour, but the Pandan Shake (S$8) came along with an even thicker coconut base. Just like a creamy pandan cake, the drink is rich in coconut and definitely a drink fit for all of you with a sweet tooth.

TWO NEW MAINS TO TRY

One of Sinpopo Brand’s tweaked recipes, Baked Cod with Dao Jio Crust (S$18), was originally termed ‘Baked Salmon’.

Now, instead of salmon, it is a thick slice of straight-from-the-oven cod sitting atop a bed of glass noodles. We were undeniably mesmerised by this gorgeous main dish that emerged from the kitchen.

The blend of glass noodles with the cod was well executed and the seasoning in the noodles gave the cod so much more flavour.

Curry Pai Kwuat (pork rib)—once a local favourite dish—is a delicacy you can hardly find in Singapore nowadays. Sinpopo Brand has brought back this famous Hainanese curry dish and tweaked it slightly to elevate it to the next level.

There is still the rich and robust curry that everyone is familiar with but what makes it better than the traditional dish is the use of premium pork ribs. Served with a side of steamed rice, egg and crispy potatoes which are first cooked in curry before being fried, the Curry Pai Kwuat (S$18) is one dish that you should not miss at Sinpopo Brand. Do note that it is available for a limited time only.

NEW BAKES WITH CALORIES WORTH GAINING

The Pandan Kaya Tart (S$7) is a soft and richly flavoured dessert that comes with a delectable crumbly crust. The curd is smooth and every bite screams nostalgia. You know, you really shouldn’t be too bothered about that new pair of skinny jeans you bought when you have something this good.

AND NOT FORGETTING SINPOPO BRAND’S SIGNATURE DISHES

The Nasi Lemak Set and Sliced Wagyu Horfan are some honourable mentions and you may want to try them if it is your first ever visit to Sinpopo Brand.

SINPOPO BRAND’S NASI LEMAK (FOR 2)

This is basically our local favourite with six side dishes. Steamed coconut rice is free flow and served with the house special har jeong kai wings (so damn good!), lam yu-marinated pork belly, luncheon meat crisps, rojak slaw and sambal fishballs.

At S$28 for this massive spread, your taste buds will be spoilt with an explosion of familiar flavours that will linger in your mouth (and mind) for a long, long time.

SINPOPO BRAND SLICED WAGYU HORFUN

Have you tried fried horfun? One of the cafe’s bestsellers is the Sliced Wagyu Horfun (S$18). It is tossed with tender wagyu slices, crispy garlic, sliced onions, spices and you can squeeze a little lime if you enjoy a bit of a sour finish.

Sinpopo Brand
458 Joo Chiat Rd Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Tue to Thu, Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Closed on Mon
Nearest Station: Dakota

This post is brought to you by Sinpopo Brand.