Jia He Chinese Restaurant @ One Farrer Hotel Connexion - Serving Traditional Chinese Classics And Reimagined Dishes

Opened just November 2019 within the Connexion in Farrer Park, Jia He Chinese Restaurant offers a wide array of Chinese cuisine dishes from traditional Chinese classics such as Steamed BBQ Pork Bun to reimagined dishes such as Steamed Bak Kut The Xiao Long Bao. Not to be missed as well are their signature dishes such as Crispy Hor Fun with Seafood and Egg Sauce. Helmed by chefs with decades of experience from various top hotel dining restaurants along with one that specialises in the art of dim sum creation, diners can expect premium-grade dishes at affordable prices.

Sauteed Stuffed Button Mushroom with Truffle Sauce 4/5, Steamed Bak Kut The Xiao Long Bao 4.2/5

We started off with the appetiser dishes - Sauteed Stuffed Button Mushroom with Truffle Sauce ($14) and Steamed Bak Kut The Xiao Long Bao. The uniquely flavoured bak ku teh xiao long bao has a rich herbal broth encased in a delicate beetroot dumpling skin, while the sauteed stuffed button mushroom was juicy with a nice crisp texture.

Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Stuffed Pig Maw, Shark's Fin and Sarawak Pepper 4/5

Next, we had the Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Stuffed Pig Maw, Shark's Fin and Sarawak Pepper ($138) which was luscious and rich. The stuffed pig maw and shark's fin is added to up the indulgence and provide the boast in flavours and textures of this nourishing soup.

Crisp-fried Fillet of Sea Perch with Lemongrass and Pepper 3.8/5

Crisp-fried Fillet of Sea Perch with Lemongrass and Pepper ($18) features a crispy fish fillet dressed in a spicy-sweet lemongrass sauce.

Wok-fried Live Prawn with Garlic and Shallot 3.8/5

The Wok-fried Live Prawn with Garlic and Shallot ($28) was plump and juicy, coated in a thick sweet, spicy sauce which elevates the taste of the fresh seafood.

Crisp-fried Hor Fun with Seafood and Egg Sauce 4/5

The Crisp-fried Hor Fun with Seafood and Egg Sauce ($24/small) comes in the form of crispy seafood hor fun. A skinnier version of deep-fried skinny kway teow is used for the dish and is paired with a thickened egg seafood gravy. The nest of fried hor fun lost its crispiness when smothered by the egg gravy, and gave a crackling sound as it softens.

Roasted Peking Duck 4/5

The Roasted Peking Duck ($55/whole) is the highlight of our meal. The duck air-dried for 24 hours before being barbecued, basting the meat and rendering the skin extremely crispy. Best enjoyed with some vegetables and wrapped in a thin pancake.

Chilled Back Glutinous Rice with Ice Cream 4.2/5

To round off the meal, we had the Chilled Black Glutinous Rice with Ice Cream ($7) from their desserts menu. The Black Glutinous Rice is encased in a firm ring of coconut jelly, and also comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream to add a subtle sweetness and luxurious mouthfeel to the black glutinous rice.

To commemorate Singapore’s 55th Birthday, Jia He will be having a 30% discount for their Lunch & Dinner ala-carte menu for both dine-in and takeaways/delivery (with free delivery for orders above $50). For dine-in customers, with spending above $100 per table, will get a free Signature Peking Duck; for takeaway/delivery customers, with minimum spending of $100 and above, we will also get a delicious Signature Roasted Duck for free too.

Apart from having a delicious NDP 55 promotion till end of September, Jia He also offers a Dim Sum Brunch Cum Hi-Tea every weekend.  Customers can enjoy a variety of dishes ranging from handmade Dim Sum, desserts and even Roasted Peking Duck for just from just $20.80++ (Min 4 Pax). There are three sessions in total: 1045am to 1245pm, 1pm to 3pm & 315pm to 515pm.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Jia He Chinese Restaurant
One Farrer Hotel Connexion
1 Farrer Park Station Rd
#01-14/15/16
Singapore 217562
Tel: +65 6694 8988 / +65 6694 9466 / +65 8870 8988
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am – 3pm daily (a-la-carte), 530pm - 10pm

Weekend & Public Holiday [Buffet]
3 Seating: 10.45am / 1pm / 3.15pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

KEK Seafood @ Pandan Gardens - Innovative Oriental Burgers That Is Better Than McDonald's Burgers

Recently I was back at KEK Seafood Pandan Gardens with my mother-in-law. This is her first time visiting the place so I ordered a few classic dishes as well as new creations by Chef Wayne for his new outlet.

Moonlight Horfun 4.2/5

The Moonlight Horfun ($6/$10) is a dish that I never failed to order at Keng Eng Kee (KEK). The dish get its name for the egg yolk symbolizing the moon. The richness of the dark sauce infused with the wok hei aroma, coated with the egg yolk for a smooth and silky finish.

Thai Style Tofu 4/5

This is my first time ordering the Thai Style Tofu ($8/$12) and we all enjoyed it. Especially the crispy exterior and silky smooth interior. For the extra texture enjoyment, it is topped with cucumber and crispy baked cod fish strips.

Lotus Heaven Macadamia 4/5

For something light and crunchy, you can try the Lotus Heaven Macadamia ($10/$20). The used of cashew and macadamia nuts provided the extra crunch on top of the greens, mushroom and lotus roots.

Coffee Pork Ribs 4.5/5

Not to be missed at KEK Seafood is the Coffee Pork Ribs ($12/$18) which is both tender and juicy. An excellent dish bursting with rich flavours with the chemistry of the caramelized sweetness and coffee aroma coming together. I have ordered the dish regularly and the consistency is always there.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti 4.2/5

A one pot dish that is worth having is the Salted Egg Yolk Crab Spaghetti ($12). Unlike many other places that just tossed the spaghetti with the sauce, the spaghetti is given a toss in the wok infusing the wok hei aroma and coating it evenly with the salted egg yolk sauce.

Pai Gu Wong Burger 4.5/5

One of the latest creation at KEK Seafood is their Oriental Burger, giving the western fare an Asian twist. A total of seven different burgers are created incorporating Asian techniques into the burger. I had the Pai Gu Wong Burger ($9) which comes with a huge piece of tender and juicy pork in a sweet sauce, sandwiched between 2 toasted buns. It turned out surprisingly good. Other burgers available on the menu are Salted Egg Chicken Burger, Marmite Chicken Burger, Coffee Pork Burger, Salted Egg Pork Burger, Sambal Beef Burger, Salted Egg Sotong Burger. For a mere $9, it comes with pickles and a drink.


Keng Eng Kee Seafood
200 Pandan Gardens
#01-12
Singapore 609336
Tel: +65 66943044
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Nam Hwa Fishboat @ Owen Road

I am glad to know that my favourite Nam Hwa Chong (Ah Chew) Fish Head Steamboat Corner (亚秋南华昌鱼头炉) at the corner of Jalan Sultan and North Bridge Road has opened its second outlet at Owen Road. The second outlet is named Nan Hwa Fishboat offering the signature charcoal fish head steamboat as well as some new zi char dishes. A slight different from the flagship outlet is that the new outlet will be offering premium Dragon Grouper and Potato Cod Grouper for the fish head steamboat besides the traditional promfret, red snapper and red grouper.

Premium Dragon Grouper Fish Head Steamboat 4/5

It is great to know that the new outlet is still using the same recipe for the silky smooth superior fish soup brimmed with an unique combination of 12 ingredients, slow cooked over hot charcoal embers. We tried the Premium Dragon Grouper Fish Head Steamboat ($38/$48/$68). The dragon grouper fish head has a firmer texture. The soup also tasted a bit different from what I am familiar with. The soup seems more subtle and balanced, rather than just hitting you straight in the face with its rich flavour. It was explained to me that the recipe is the same but the choice of fish will relish a different flavour.

Champagne Pork Ribs 4/5

At Nam Hwa Fishboat, besides the signature fish head steamboat, the restaurant also offers zichar dishes to complete the meal. Some of the exclusive dishes available only at the second outlet includes Champagne Pork Ribs, Crispy Fried Prawn in Golden Pumpkin Sauce and Claypot Drunken Rice Wine Clam.

The Champagne Pork Ribs ($12.80/$18.80) is tender and glazed with a subtle sweet sauce that is very pleasing to the palate. Sesame and almond is added for a lift in flavour.

Crispy Fried Prawn in Golden Pumpkin Sauce 3.5/5

The Crispy Fried Prawn in Golden Pumpkin Sauce ($18.80/$28.80) comes with crunchy and plump prawns that are coated with the golden pumpkin sauce. The sweetness is given a hint of spicy kick with the addition of curry leaves and chopped chilli.

Claypot Drunken Rice Wine Clam 3/5

The Claypot Drunken Rice Wine Clam ($15.80/$20.80) was palatable but did not have that wow factor.

Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves 3.5/5

Stir Fried Sambal Sotong 3.5/5

Singaporean loves spicy stuff so it is inevitable that the menu offers zi char dishes such as the Sambal Sweet Potato Leaves and Stir Fried Sambal Sotong ( $11.80/$17.80). The sambal with its mild fiery kick, together with the fragrant from the dried shrimps, accentuated the flavours of the sweet potato leaves and sotong.

Dragon Grouper Shan Lao Hor Fun 4.2/5

The other highlight at Nam Hwa Fishboat has to be their Dragon Grouper Shan Lao Hor Fun ($12/$18). The ordinary looking plate of rice noodles with beansprouts and chunky fish fillet was surprisingly brimming with the nice wok hei flavour. Definitely one of the better shan lao hor fun, I have eaten for a long while.

Nam Hwa Fishboat has been around since 1927. I have eaten at their flagship outlet for many years. Not sure why it took them 88 years, to open their second outlet. A slight different from the flagship outlet is that it is trying to offer premium fish for their steamboat as well as some new dishes into their menu. I think it is a good approach as food needs to progress with time while still retaining the essence of tradition.


Nam Hwa Fishboat
93/95 Owen Road
Singapore 218907
Tel: +65 86132732
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk straight towards Owen Road. Turn left onto Owen Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]