Dim Sum Haus @ Jalan Besar - Delicious And Affordable Handcrafted Dim Sum In Singapore

Nestled along Jalan Besar Road, Dim Sum Haus has been around for a number of years, known for their freshly prepared dim sum, extensive menu and affordable pricing. Apart from dim sum, congee, fried rice, and HK-style noodles are also available.

Baked Salted Egg Custard Bun 4.2/5

The Baked Salted Egg Custard Bun ($6.80) was baked perfectly with a crispy bun crust. You get a nice flow of the rich and creamy salted egg custard lava upon breaking it apart.

BBQ Pork Bun 3.8/5

The BBQ Pork Bun ($5) comes with soft white buns filled with a generous amount honey glazed BBQ pork meat.

Truffle Siew Mai 4/5

The Truffle Siew Mai ($6.90) is a luxurious twist on a classic favourite. The addition of truffle lends an earthy aroma to the tender siew mai.

Crispy Shrimp and Mango Roll 4.2/5

Crispy Shrimp and Mango Roll ($6.10) is easily one of our favourite dishes. Deep-fried till golden brown on the outside and drizzled with mango sauce, it is filled with plump juicy prawns and mango chunks, rendering each bite sweet and savoury.

Crispy Shrimp Rice Roll 4.2/5

One of our favourites is the Crispy Shrimp Rice Roll ($5.80), made fresh from scratch, with the skin folded twice to hold the crispy fried shrimp. The fried shrimp added a nice crispiness to contrast the softness of the rice rolls, while the sweet and savoury soy sauce was light and complimented the rice rolls well.

Twin Swan 3.5/5

The Twin Swan features two deep-fried yam balls with two paper swan heads placed on top of them. While the exterior is nicely crisped, we wished the yam flavour was more pronounced.

Fried XO Carrot Cake 3.8/5

The Fried XO Carrot Cake ($8.60) comes in a plate of carrot cake cubes fried to a nice crisp texture and cooked in fragrant XO sauce.

Mango Sago 4/5

End the meal on a sweet note with the Mango Sago ($5.60). It is a refreshing and satisfying dessert, filled with mango chunks and pomelo, perfect for the hot weather.

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.


Dim Sum Haus
57 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208809
Tel:
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 930am - 1030pm
Tue-Sun: 930am - 530am

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

JUMBO Seafood @ Riverside Point - Usher In An Abundant Chinese New Year With Sumptuous Seafood Feasts

JUMBO Seafood ushers in the most auspicious time of year with special set menus centred around its Award-Winning Chilli Crab. Its Reunion Sets are available on the eve of Chinese New Year (11 February) for those looking to enjoy one day-exclusive menu, with prices start from $298 for 4 pax.

We had their A8 Celebration Set Menu which is available from 25 January to 28 February (except 11 February), at $588 for 8 pax. (Prices start from $258 for 4 pax).

Prosperity Salmon 'Yu Sheng' 4/5

In all Lunar New Year reunion dinners, a must-have to start the evening is the Prosperity Salmon 'Yu Sheng' ($58/$88) to toss for abundance, prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead consisting of a vibrant medley of shredded vegetables and assorted toppings. It is also served with generous servings of fresh salmon slices, and other condiments before the Lo Hei commences.

Fried Baby Squids 3.5/5, Seafood Donut 3.8/5, Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd 4.2/5

We started the meal with a trio of JUMBO Seafood Appetisers consisting of Fried Baby Squids, Seafood Donut Tossed in Salad Cream, and Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd. My favourite is the Crispy Fried 'Otah' Beancurd, bringing an interesting twist to the traditional otah. This delicate treat is crispy on the outside and encases a flavourful and soft beancurd-like otah within.

Seafood Soup Braised with Crab Meat 3.8/5

Similar to the Shark's Fin Soup, but replaced with crab meat instead, the Seafood Soup Braised with Crab Meat is packed with a sweet crustacean freshness.

Boiled Live Prawns 4.2/5

To ensure utmost freshness, freshly caught live prawns are tossed into a boil with the head and shell still attached, and cooked till pink before serving. The Boiled Live Prawns have a sweet flavour and firm flesh, which tasted good enough on its own even without any chilli or sauces.

Live 'Long Hu' Garoupa Steamed with Preserved Radish 4/5

An auspicious tradition Lunar New Year dish, the Live 'Long Hu' Garoupa Steamed with Preserved Radish comes in a whole sizable portion. The fish is cooked to a perfectly soft and fork-tender texture, while the sauce packs a rich, savoury flavour to the dish.

Broccoli Braised with Shiitake Mushroom and Whole Conpoy 3.5/5

Another dish as part of the set menu is the Broccoli Braised with Shiitake Mushroom and Whole Conpoy. The juicy shiitake mushrooms, scallops and crunchy broccoli come in a full-bodied, savoury gravy that complements the rest of the ingredients.

Award-winning Chilli Crab with Deep Fried Mini Buns 4.5/5

The highlight is their Award-winning Chilli Crab that features live crabs drenched in a mouth-watering chilli crab sauce concocted with a myriad of over 10 different Southeast Asian spices. The flavourful blend of spiciness is tinged with a sweet sourness that complements the crab's freshness. The accompaniment of Golden Deep Fried Mini Buns is the best way to mop up all that finger-licking gravy.

Supreme Seafood Fried Rice 3.8/5

Light and fragrant, the Supreme Seafood Fried Rice showed a fair amount of egg, shredded cabbage and juicy prawns embedded in it, giving the dish a nice texture and flavour.

Chilled Mango Sago Pomelo 4/5

Bring the meal to a sweet finale with the Chilled Mango Sago Pomelo. The mango flavour has a refreshing fruity sweetness, paired with generous amounts of sago and pomelo, which adds a nice bite.

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.


JUMBO Seafood
Riverside Point
30 Merchant Road
#01-01/02
Singapore 058282
Tel: +65 65323435
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C or G. Turn left and walk along the river. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Auntie’s Wok and Steam @ Andaz Singapore - Start The Year With An Ode To Singapore Tze Char Culture With A Szechuan Twist

Andaz Singapore’s Auntie’s Wok and Steam has finally reopened for this 2021 after months of closure! To celebrate the reopening, they have launched a refreshed menu featuring delightful Chinese classics and Singaporean favourites, prepared in a homely tze char style. Enjoy the perfect weekday escapade with an epic view on level 25, alongside a scrumptious feast.

Their Lunch Tray Sets offers great value for money with one main, one side and Andaz Iced Tea for $26 or with an additional dessert for $29. It is available from Monday to Friday, 12pm - 2.30pm, or you can order from their a la carte menu, which is available all day.

Auntie's Laksa 4/5

We ordered the Auntie's Laksa ($16), a classic local favourite. The fragrant laksa broth is creamy and mildly spiced and comes brimming with ingredients like fresh tiger prawns and fish cake. The thick beehoon is also chewy and springy, which makes for a great bowl of laksa.

Char Kway Teow 3.8/5

Another tze char staple is the Char Kway Teow ($16). The flat rice noodles are stir-fried over high heat with soya sauce, lup cheong, egg and fishcake, giving it a pleasant fragrance and texture. Although lacking slightly in the wok-hei, it is still a pretty decent plate of Char Kway Teow.

Crab Fried Rice 4.2/5

One of their familiar favourites includes the Crab Fried Rice ($14/$22), served with crab meat and asparagus. Unlike the usual fried rice dish, it uses organic white and brown rice from the Raitong Organics Farm in North-eastern Thailand, which makes for a healthier alternative without compromising the flavours.

Double Boiled Chicken Soup of the Day 3.8/5

We ordered the Double Boiled Chicken Soup of the Day ($10) as a side to the Lunch Tray Set. It is comforting and nourishing, yet we felt that the soup ingredients were too little, with just a single piece of chicken and two radish cubes.

Poached Herbal Prawns 4.2/5

One of our favourites is the Poached Herbal Prawns ($22) steamed in a brine of Chinese Shaoxing wine and nutritional herbs such as the Danggui (Angelican root), Yuzhu (Solomon’s Seal), Gui Pi (Cinnamon), and Ba Jiao (Star Anise). It gives the broth a rich and robust herbal flavour.

Rainforest Alliance Coffee Ribs and Sesame 3.5/5

The Rainforest Alliance Coffee Ribs and Sesame ($18) is coated in a sauce made from a full-bodied espresso, pulled from sustainable Fair Trade Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee beans from Bon Café. However, it fell short of expectations with the espresso sauce lacking in flavours, and the pork ribs' meat having a much tougher bite.

French Beans 3.8/5

We also had the French Beans ($12) which is lightly cooked to retain a crispy texture with a sweetness hint. It is served with flavourful minced pork to make for a simple and comforting side dish.

Chilled Mango Sago and Pomelo 4/5

Round off your meal with a selection of traditional Chinese desserts such as the Chilled Mango Sago and Pomelo ($8). The refreshing fruity dessert is smooth and subtly sweet, while the lightly acidic and bitter taste of the pomelo pairs well with the mango's sweetness.

Steamed Yam Paste 4/5

Our favourite is the Steamed Yam Paste ($8) topped with ginko nuts. The addition of coconut cream adds a creamier texture and a subtle sweetness to the smooth yam paste, without overwhelming the original taste of yam.

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.


Auntie's Wok & Steam
Andaz Singapore
Level 25
5 Fraser Street
Singapore 189354
Tel: +65 64081255
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Dine At Home During Circuit Breaker - Soi Aroy

One of the better meals I had during the circuit breaker period is Thai food from Soi Aroy. I am glad that even during this pandemic, I am still able to discover new restaurants that I didn't get to visit before the whole world goes into various lock down measures to fight against the pandemic.

Premium Tom Yum Soup with Thai Mama 

In my opinion, the best way to tell whether a restaurant is serving legit Thai food is from their tom yum soup. When I took a sip of the Premium Tom Yum Soup, it blew me away with its depth and bold flavours. You can choose to go along with some rice or add noodles to it. Customers will have a choice of egg noodles, brown rice bee hoon, Thai rice noodle or Thai Mama. I have gone for the Thai Mama as I like my maggie mee. 

Thai Collagen Porridge

Another dish that caught my attention is the Thai Collagen Porridge. The rice and ingredients come packed separately from the 12hr collagen base soup without MSG. It is very hearty and comforting. You can also request additional ingredients such as egg, vegetables, meat patty and more. 

Grilled Pork Cheek

Lemongrass Chicken

For some grilled stuff, they have Grilled Pork Neck and Lemongrass Chicken. The grilled pork has a delightful crunchy bite on top of its smokiness. The lemongrass chicken was tender with refreshing lemongrass aroma.

Thai Fish Cakes

Another popular item on their menu is the Thai Fish Cakes which goes excellently with the Thai sweet spicy sauce. 

Thai Seafood Fried Rice

As I mentioned earlier that I have not visited Soi Aroy at Sim Lim Square so I went online and try to find out more about the restaurant. I realized it is actually quite a small place located on level 2 of the mall. It amazes me that with such a constraint space, the restaurant was able to wok up so many varieties on their menu. Besides the dishes I mentioned earlier, they have many more cooked dishes such as Thai Seafood Fried Rice, Thai Basil Pork, Sambal Kang Kong with Squid and Sambal LaLa.

Thai Basil Pork

Sambal Kang Kong with Squid

Thai Basil Pork and Sambal Kang Kong with Squid is probably two of my most ordered items whether I visited a Thai restaurant. With a plate of fragrant steamed rice, it basically completes a meal. 

Sambal LaLa

Worth mentioning is their Sambal LaLa. Not only was the LaLa fresh and juicy, it like the layer of aroma from the Thai basil which just elevated the whole spicy affair.

Mango Sticky Rice

Not to forget to wrap your meal with some sweetness too. This can also helps to cool the tongue after all the spicy food. Some of the desserts I tried are Mango Sticky Rice, Tapioca, Red Ruby and Mango Sago.

Tapioca, Red Ruby and Mango Sago

Currently the restaurant is having the following promotion. Free drink for every $15 spent and $5 off for orders above $50. Delivery fees ranged from $5 to $17 depend on the zone. You can refer to their facebook page for the delivery fee charges. To order WhatsApp the restaurant at 9641 8988.

Soi Aroy

Sim Lim Square

1 Rochor Canal Road

#02-08

Singapore 188504

Tel: +65 96418988

Facebook

Nearest MRT: Rochor (DT Line)

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat: 11am - 8pm

Sun: 11am - 4pm

Direction: 

1) Alight at Rochor MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Majestic Restaurant @ Marina One - New Location New Dishes Same Majestic Dining Experience

Majestic Restaurant which used to be housed inside the New Majestic Hotel has found a new home at Marina One. The new restaurant is bright and spacious with floor-to-ceiling glass windows, Italian stucco walls and dark wood floors. Fans of Majestic restaurant will be able to spot paintings by contemporary Chinese painter Li Jin around the restaurant which has been brought over from the previous location. Even the original signboard has been retained.

Crispy Mangalica Pork Belly Marinated with Five Spices 4.8/5

The beautifully sliced Crispy Mangalica Pork Belly Marinated with Five Spices ($14) got me salivating with its 65-70% fat to 30-35% lean meat ratio. Considered as one of the tastiest pork in the world, it doesn't have that porky taste, it fact it was kind of clean tasting complemented by the five spices rub on the crispy skin.

Organic Greens with Pomelo in Lychee Dressing 4/5

A refreshing and healthy dish on the menu is the Organic Greens with Pomelo in Lychee Dressing ($12). I thought it is rather unusual to have a salad dish in the menu of a Chinese restaurant. Saying that, it will be a welcome option for vegetarians and office worker in the area.

Crispy Fish Skin Topped with Caviar 3/5

Having crispy skin alone may be a bit boring but how about topping it with caviar and some fruits. The combination of saltiness and sweetness, on top of the crispy fish skin makes the Crispy Fish Skin Topped with Caviar ($12)  a delightful snack to kick start the dinner.

Double-Boiled Seafood Clear Soup served in Whole Yellow Cucumber 4.5/5

Making a towering entrance is the Double-Boiled Seafood Clear Soup served in Whole Yellow Cucumber ($18). Besides the robust and flavoursome soup, and the seafood in the yellow cucumber, I also applauded the addition of the diced vegetable stem for the extra crunchiness.

Sauteed Boston Lobster with Trio Onions 4.2/5

The Sauteed Boston Lobster with Trio Onions ($68) is a new to me. I have tried several ways of cooking the crustacean but this is a new to me, especially how the spring onions perfume the dish, elevating the whole dimension of the dish.

Smoked French Corn-Fed Chicken with Salt and Hickory 4.5/5

The highlight at Majestic Restaurant has to be their new item, the Smoked French Corn-Fed Chicken with Salt and Hickory ($28). It is limited to about 6 portion each day, so you to pre-order if you want to try it. The corn-fed chicken has a subtle sweetness that is infused with the smokey aroma of hickory. Not sure whether it is due to the breed, the chicken skin is thicker, allowing one to appreciate the crispiness more.

Black Truffle Fried Rice with Crabmeat and Egg White 4.2/5

A comforting end to the mains before moving to the desserts is the Black Truffle Fried Rice with Crabmeat and Egg White ($20). The rice has been cooked to an enjoyable fluffy bite, with diced vegetable, crabmeat and egg white. I was initial worry that the addition of the black truffle essence would leave an oily aftertaste but it turn out not. Instead it gives the fried rice an aromatic boast.

Crispy King of Durian with Maple Syrup 4.2/5

Durian lovers will be rejoice with the Crispy King of Durian with Maple Syrup ($10). Diner will get a whole block of durian ice cream encased in a crispy batter, drizzled with maple syrup.

Chilled Mango Puree with Vanilla Ice Cream, Sago and Pomelo 4/5

Another dessert I had is the Chilled Mango Puree with Vanilla Ice Cream, Sago and Pomelo ($8.80). Nothing fancy but a refreshing and sweet dessert to wrap up the dinner.

It is great to see Chef Yong Bing Ngen and Majestic Restaurant back with a refreshed menu and new location at Marina One. In addition to the contemporary Cantonese food rooted in traditional Chinese culinary techniques, Chef Yong has also introduced a full selection of dim sum for lunch, as well as set menus starting from $48 per pax for lunch and $68 per pax for dinner.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Majestic Restaurant
Marina One, The Heart (East Tower)
5 Straits View
#04-01
Singapore 018935
Tel: +65 62501988
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Downtown (DT Line), Marina Bay (CC Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 545pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Downtown MRT station. Take Exit D. What to Straits View road. Turn right on Straits View road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Marina Bay MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Marina Way road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]