Hans Im Gluck @ Orchard Road - A Fairy Tale-like German Burger Chain Opens In Singapore

Situated in the heart of Orchard Road is Hans Im Gluck, an established German Burger Grill and Bar from Munich which has launched 49 outlets across Europe and hereby marking Singapore as the franchise’s 50th outlet globally. Originating from a wonderful story of Hans Im Gluck which is meant to teach readers the true origin of happiness, diners will be instantly transported to an enchanting dining experience akin to dining in a whimsical fairy tale forest with its carefully curated interiors - the lush greenery and floor to ceiling birch tree trunks sprouting in between tables to create a green haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Burgers are their forte. The casual gourmet burger restaurant specialises in an extensive selection of quality European gastro burgers - with over 30 beef and chicken burgers served alongside salads, as well as vegetarian and vegan burgers to cater to those with dietary restrictions. Also, the restaurant brings in its own range of housemade sauces, as well as multi-grain and sourdough buns, which come frozen from Germany and are made exclusively for the chain, in order to ensure consistency and quality. I liked how all burgers come with an option for customers to choose their choice of bread from Sourdough, Multigrain or go Naked, which basically translates into a bun-less burger, perfect for those on a carb-free diet.

1 PFUND SUSSKARTOFFEL-FRITTEN 4.5/5

The 1 PFUND SUSSKARTOFFEL-FRITTEN ($9) comes in a generously portioned sweet potato fries which boasts a crispy exterior, with a sweet potato fragrance within its soft airy insides. Though good on its own, pair them with the different sauces available and you will finish all one pound of these addictive sweet potato goodness in no time.

HANS IM GLUCK 4.2/5

The HANS IM GLUCK ($17) features a beef burger which comes with parmesan cheese, parma ham, rocket leaves and balsamic glaze. The subtle sweetness from the balsamic glaze complemented the savouriness of the other ingredients quite well, while the beef patty leans towards the tougher side as they only do their beef well-done. Furthermore, the restaurant opts for fresh Australian beef, which averages at 20 per cent fat-to-meat ratio. This explains why the patty lack the juiciness one usually expect for their burgers.

KLASSIK 4/5

Another beef burger from their menu, the KLASSIK ($14) claimed as the 'mother of all burgers', also came with a nicely seasoned beef patty, as well as the standard set of toppings such as fresh lettuce, red onions, sun-ripened tomatoes and their signature HANS IM GLÜCK sauce. Boasting a good balance of flavour and texture, their rendition of European beef burgers are generally less greasy and more healthy than the American-style burgers.

VOGELWILD 3.8/5

The VOGELWILD ($14) features a grilled chicken breast burger with sour cream chive sauce and crispy fried onions. A healthier option as grilled chicken breast is used, the meat was a tad dry on its own. However, the dressings provided a creamy tanginess which lends a refreshing flavour to the burger in between bites.

ABENDROT 4/5

One of the vegetarian burger options from the menu, the ABENDROT ($15) comes with parmesan cheese, grilled vegetable tartare & rocket leaves. Crunchy and flavourful, this meatless option is still satisfying as the rich flavour of the grilled vegetable tartare works wonderfully on the palate.

JUGLANS 4/5

Their Vegan options are no less impressive with the JUGLANS ($15) which comes with cranberries, sprouts and walnuts. The vegan patty has a nice crispness on the exterior while the interior retains a succulent texture. Its accompaniments provide a good balance of flavour to the vegan burger.

HENNE 4/5

The HENNE ($15) is a grilled chicken breast burger which comes with avocado cream, sprouts, orange and mustard sauce. However, with the option to go naked (without burger buns), the dish resembles a salad. It may look like a mess of leafy greens, yet it fares notchers higher than the regular salad bowls with its luscious avocado cream and mustard sauce adding a zesty kick to the entire dish. Fresh and yet retaining a nice crunchy texture, it is no less satisfying than the regular burgers and perfect for those on a carb-free diet.

OMAS GEHEIMNIS 4.5/5

End the meal on a sweet note with their selection of desserts, such as the OMAS GEHEIMNIS ($12) which features warm molten chocolate cake served with vanilla ice cream & whipped cream. The soft moist molten cake oozes intensely rich chocolate lava upon breaking it open. The classic combination of the warm chocolate and cold ice cream never goes wrong, and is well executed in this case.

WOHLERGEHEN 4/5

The WOHLERGEHEN ($10) comes in a pile of mini Crepes drizzled with warm chocolate and served with a scoop of rich vanilla ice cream. The dish also came with some walnuts to add a crunchy texture to the soft mini crepes and creamy ice cream.

BESTER 4.2/5

The BESTER ($12) features warm glazed apple tart served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. The apple tart leans towards the sour side with a subtle sweetness while the creamy vanilla ice cream on the side provides a good complement to the apple tart, with the addition of whipped cream for a lighter finish.

Hans Im Gluck presents a whole new slew of wholesome burgers which is of both quality and nutritious value, defying the common perception of unhealthy burgers that we get mostly from fast-food restaurants. Owner Mrs Hirschberger says: "European burgers are healthy and nutritious. Our burgers are different from fast food. We want to offer gourmet burgers in a restaurant setting as proper sit-down meals." As a one-stop burger place to cater to different dietary preferences, it elevates its variety of handcrafted burgers into an exciting and healthy meal – with virtually unlimited options and something special for everyone.

Words and photos 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.


Hans Im Glück
362 Orchard Road
Singapore 238887
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 12midnigh
Fri-Sat: 11am - 1am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Follow the underpass too Shaw House. Walk to ground level. Turn right onto Orchard Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 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
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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]