Xia Mi Hao Liao (虾觅好料) @ Jalan Besar - Hairy Crabs and Crawfish at New Hubei-style Chinese Restaurant

Xia Mi Hao Liao (虾觅好料) is a new Hubei-style seafood restaurant that has just opened its doors in Jalan Besar, specialising in hairy crabs and live crawfish. These seafood delights are flown in weekly from China to ensure freshness. Diners can enjoy their crabs and crawfish prepared in one of five ways: Spicy, Signature 10 Spiced, Steamed, Minced Garlic, or Bi Feng Tang style.

The restaurant, which seats 68 guests across two stories, is decked in vibrant, eclectic colours and lively wall paintings. For those seeking a more private dining experience, VIP rooms are available by reservation.

Pickled Cucumbers 3.5/5

We began our meal with the Pickled Cucumbers ($12). Despite its unassuming appearance, these crunchy cucumber strips packed a surprisingly strong kick of heat and a lingering numbness. However, we found the portion size too pricey for what was offered.

Lotus Root Fries 3/5

Next, we tried the Lotus Root Fries ($16). These thick-cut, crunchy fries provided an interesting alternative to the usual potato fries.

Salt & Pepper Crawfish Tail 3.5/5

Another starter we had was the crunchy Salt & Pepper Crawfish Tail ($32), which could be eaten whole, shell included. The seasoning was addictive, but these weren't as fresh and fleshy and felt pricey for its portion. From now until 30 September, the restaurant is offering a promotion of 50% off this dish, with a minimum order of one large portion of live crawfish. This offer is valid for dine-in only.

Steamed Hairy Crab 3.8/5

The first main dish we tried was the Steamed Hairy Crab (Seasonal Price), served in a bamboo steamer. Each crab was fresh and carried a good amount of rich, creamy roe. Although dips of soy sauce, vinegar, and ginger were provided, we preferred to enjoy the natural flavours of the crab on its own.

Steamed Crawfish 3.8/5

Following the hairy crab, we were served a basket of Steamed Crawfish ($48 for S, $90 for L). The bright red crawfish were also served with the same dipping sauces as the hairy crab. The crawfish meat was decent on its own, but the dips helped to enhance the flavour.

Signature 10 Spiced Combo 4/5

We moved on to the Signature 10 Spiced Combo ($125), which was much richer in flavour. This dish featured crabs and crawfish cooked in an oil-stewed 10-spice sauce made from a blend of spices, including star anise, licorice root, and Chinese cinnamon. There's also an option to add instant noodles, which can be tossed in the base red oil, though we found the noodles to be a bit too salty for our liking.

Bi Feng Tang Combo 4/5

The final dish we tried was the Bi Feng Tang Combo ($125). It consisted of a mix of crabs and crawfish coated in deep-fried minced garlic, peppered with chillies and black beans. The aromatic garlic added a delightful crunch.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xia Mi Hao Liao (虾觅好料)
20 Upper Weld Road
Singapore 207377
Tel: +65 8314 5451
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar MRT (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 5pm - 1am
Sat-Sun, PH: 1130am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk towards Weld Road. Turn right onto Weld Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Locanda @ Rowell Road (Jalan Besar) - A Cosy Italian Trattoria Offering Hearty Classics

Locanda is a delightful new Italian trattoria nestled in the vibrant heritage district of Little India. Conceptualized by the Michelin-starred team behind Buona Terra, Locanda exudes the warmth and charm of a classic Italian "inn." In the past, locandas in Italy were places where weary travellers could find refuge and refuel with simple, hearty meals. Locanda brings this tradition to life in Singapore with a menu filled with comforting Italian classics.

Locanda Soft Roll with Eggplant, Tomato Dip 4.2/5

We began the evening with the Locanda Soft Roll with Eggplant, Tomato Dip ($8). The bread was warm, soft, and buttery, making it the perfect pairing with the tangy, flavourful eggplant and tomato dip. It was a simple yet satisfying start to our meal.

Gnocco Fritto E Affettati 3.5/5

Next, we moved on to the Gnocco Fritto E Affettati ($15/50g of selected cold cuts). The Gnocco Fritto — golden-brown fried dough puffs — was an absolute delight. The crispy exterior gave way to a soft, airy interior, which paired beautifully with the selection of classic Italian cold cuts.

Focaccia Bread, Casera Cheese, Lardo, Hazelnuts, Truffle, Honey 4/5

Focaccia, Scamorza, Black Pepper, Grilled Zucchini 4/5

We had the pleasure of trying two variations of focaccia, starting with the Focaccia Bread, Casera Cheese, Lardo, Hazelnuts, Truffle, Honey ($18). Topped with melted Casera cheese, lardo, and toasted Piedmont hazelnuts, it was finished with a drizzle of truffle honey and shaved black truffle. Every bite was a symphony of creamy, nutty, and earthy flavours.

The second version, Focaccia with Scamorza, Black Pepper, Grilled Zucchini ($18), was equally delightful. The smoky Scamorza cheese paired with the fresh crunch of grilled zucchini and a hint of black pepper. Both focaccia options were so good that I honestly couldn't choose a favourite.

Deep Fried Marinated Sardine, Onion and Raisin 4.2/5

One of the standouts for me was the Deep-Fried Marinated Sardine, Onion, and Raisin ($22). Deep-fried and marinated in vinegar, the sardines were served atop a crispy fried polenta base, accompanied by braised onions, raisins, pine nuts, and a hint of mint. It was a perfect blend of sweet, savoury, and tangy flavours.

Yellowtail, Lemon, Fennel Oil 3.8/5

We also tried the Yellowtail, Lemon, Fennel Oil ($28), a light and clean dish featuring fresh slices of yellowtail dressed with a bright lemon dressing and a sprinkle of sea salt. The charred orange segments added a hint of bitterness that balanced the dish beautifully, while the fennel oil provided an aromatic finish.

Veal Eye Round, Tuna Sauce and Capers Berry 4/5

The Veal Eye Round ($24) is a boneless cut from the rear leg of the calf that's first sous-vide, then seared to perfection in the pan. It's thinly sliced and served with a classic tonnato sauce, then garnished with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and caper berries. The dish is understated, focusing on the pure tenderness of the veal and its mild, delicate flavour. It's a straightforward preparation that highlights the quality of the meat without unnecessary embellishments, perfect for those who enjoy simple yet expertly executed dishes.

Tagliolini, Fresh Tomato, Crab, Lemon 4.2/5

When it comes to pasta, Locanda does not disappoint. The Tagliolini, Fresh Tomato, Crab, Lemon ($28) was one of my favourites, featuring perfectly cooked tagliolini in a sweet and tangy tomato sauce with generous chunks of crab and a zesty hint of lemon. It reminded me of a refined version of Singapore's chilli crab but with pasta — a real treat for seafood lovers.

Pappardelle Ragu Genovese, Mix Mushrooms 4.2/5

The Pappardelle Ragu Genovese, Mixed Mushrooms ($24) was another excellent option. The wide, ribbon-like pasta was coated in a rich, hearty beef ragu made from different cuts of Australian beef, slow-braised until tender. The addition of braised mushrooms added depth to the dish, creating a perfect balance of flavours and textures.

Malloreddus, Red Wine Octopus Ragu, Capers 3.8/5

We tried the Malloreddus, Red Wine Octopus Ragu, Capers ($28) for something a bit different. The shell-like pasta had a pleasant bite, and the octopus ragu was flavorful and rich, elevated by the capers' briny punch.

Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare 4.5/5

I recommend the Spaghetti ai Frutti di Mare ($118++) for larger groups, which is good for up to 4 people. This seafood pasta was tossed in a luscious tomato sauce and topped with an assortment of sautéed seafood, including clams, lobster, scampi, and red prawns. A seafood lover's dream!

Secreto Iberico Pork, Braised Endive, Apple 4.2/5

The Secreto Iberico Pork, Braised Endive, Apple ($39) stood out among the mains. The Iberico pork was beautifully glazed with pork jus, honey, and spices, then grilled over binchotan for a smoky, caramelized exterior. The tender meat was perfectly complemented by the slightly bitter braised endives and sweet apple sauce.

Hanging Tender, Rucola & Parmesan 4.2/5

We also tried the Hanging Tender, Rucola & Parmesan ($42). The lesser-known cut of beef was simply seasoned with salt and grilled to perfection, served with beef jus, a peppery rucola salad, and shavings of Parmesan. It was a no-frills dish that allowed the beef's rich, natural flavour to shine.

Gelati & Sorbetti 4/5

To finish, we had a scoop of Gelati & Sorbetti ($9/scoop). While the pistachio and chocolate gelati were delicious, I found them a bit pricey for the portion size. However, the real star of the dessert menu was the Sicilian Cannolo ($15/2pc). Each cannolo was filled with a luscious mix of Artigiana ricotta, chopped Valrhona 55% chocolate, candied orange and lemon, and finished with Sicilian pistachio on each end. It's a perfect sweet ending to an indulgent meal.

Sicilian Cannolo 4/5

Locanda brings the warmth and hospitality of a traditional Italian inn to Singapore, with a menu full of comforting and well-executed Italian classics. Whether you're in the mood for delicious pasta, hearty meat dishes, or an authentic Italian dessert, Locanda delivers a memorable dining experience in the heart of Little India. It is an excellent spot for a cosy meal with friends or family, and I'll definitely be back to try more of their offerings.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Locanda
109 Rowell Road
Singapore 208033
Tel: +65 9619 2691
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Fri: 6pm - 12midnight
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Jalan Besar Road. Walk to Rowell Road. Turn left onto Rowell Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tan Xiang Yuan 炭香YUÁN @ Jalan Besar - New Seafood Focused Cantonese-Chinese Creations by Chef Cao Yong and $1 Peking Duck Promotion

Tan Xiang Yuan 炭香YUÁN was founded by four co-founders, including celebrity Ben Yeo and Chef Cao Yong. Located in Jalan Besar, the restaurant offers a menu featuring both traditional and modern Cantonese-Chinese dishes. As part of its new menu launch, diners can enjoy a $1 Peking Duck Promotion with every order of its Signature Seafood Pot. The lunch dine-in promotion is available daily, limited to one duck order per table, with minimum 4 pax to dine.

We were seated on the second floor of the restaurant shophouse, which offered a more dimly lit ambience. Upon reservation, diners can request various seating options, including outdoor seats or the more brightly lit indoor seats on the first floor.

If you're visiting for dinner, make sure to check out their new secret neon-lit alley decorated with familiar Singaporean phrases — definitely Instagram-worthy!

Signature Seafood Pot 招牌海鲜炉 4.5/5

We had a hearty start to dinner with Tan Xiang Yuan's Signature Seafood Pot ($98 for Small / $188 for Large). The large-sized pot feeds 6-8 pax comfortably with its generous combination of fresh prawns, fish maw, abalones, clams, scallops, prawn paste, taro, cabbage and more. The broth, simmered for hours with old hen, pork bones, and prawn shells, was bursting with flavourful crustacean sweetness and umami. I appreciated the quality and fresh ingredients, plus the use of the induction cooker, which ensured that the pot stayed piping hot throughout our meal.

Lo Han Pork Stomach 罗汉猪肚 4/5

The new Lo Han Pork Stomach ($16) offers a modern twist on the classic pork trotter jelly. This dish carried tangy and meaty flavours, featuring a hand-stuffed whole pork stomach filled with braised pork trotter and topped with a housemade garlic chilli sauce. While the slices could hold together better, the contemporary take is delightful.

Peking Duck 北京烤鸭 4.2/5

One of the crowd favourites of the night was the Peking Duck ($98). The duck slices and its skin were served wrapped in freshly made rice paper skin. What set these rolls apart was the unexpected crunchy addition inside each roll: corn fritters. Together with scallions and a drizzle of sweet sauce, this was satisfying!

Soup-Filled Foie Gras Shrimp Ball 灌汤鹅肝酱虾丸 4.2/5

At first glance, I mistook these golden brown balls for solid shrimp paste balls. They were an elevated version: Soup-Filled Foie Gras Shrimp Balls ($12/pc). Each ball contains minced prawn mixed with a rich soup stock of pig skin, pork knuckle, and foie gras, encased in a perfectly crunchy bread cube coating.

Golden Garlic Steamed Lobster with Yam Cake 金蒜芋头糕蒸龙虾 3.8/5

The Golden Garlic Steamed Lobster with Yam Cake (Seasonal Price) is another recent addition to the menu. It features whole Australian lobsters steamed with a bed of local yam cake in a housemade sauce, topped with steamed and fried garlic. While the garlic aroma was enticing, we found the yam cake texture slightly too cakey and didn't match the crustacean that well.

Angelica Black Pepper Crab 当归黑胡椒蟹 4.2/5

As its name suggests, the Angelica Black Pepper Crab ($12.80/100gm) is unlike your usual black pepper crabs. The infusion of Dang Gui (Chinese Angelica Root) gave the dish herbaceous notes that complemented the robust heat of black pepper. The crab was fleshy and succulent.

Superior Foie Gras Crab Meat Broth 鹅肝蟹黄羹 4.2/5

The comforting Superior Foie Gras Crab Meat Broth ($38.80) is another new creation by Chef Cao Yong. Beneath the thick crab meat broth lies a bed of steamed foie gras egg that enhances the dish with a buttery richness without overwhelming. For a different taste experience, try it as served first and add a dash of vinegar after for that extra punch.

Mango Pomelo Sago 楊枝拌金露 4/5

I can't resist a bowl of chilled Mango-Pomelo Sago ($7.80) whenever I see it on the dessert menu. Tan Xiang Yuan's rendition is velvety and rich, studded with sweet mango and pomelo bits.

Mao Shang Wang Pudding Topped with Ice Cream 猫山王榴莲布丁 4.2/5

Indulge in the Mao Shang Wang Pudding Topped with Ice Cream ($8.80), a treat designed for durian enthusiasts. Featuring a smooth and decadent durian pudding base, it's crowned with creamy vanilla ice cream and finished with bits of popping candy.

While prices at Tan Xiang Yuan are on the high end, we especially enjoyed the seafood dishes, which impressed us with their freshness and quality.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tan Xiang Yuan 炭香YUÁN
1 Dickson Road
Singapore 209493
Tel: +65 8058 5527
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am to 3pm, 530pm to 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT statton. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Dickson Raod. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Allô @ Jalan Besar - Indulge In French Cuisine For A Chic Brunch Or Cosy Dinner In Modern Shophouse

The newly opened French restaurant Allô sits along one of the many lanes of shophouses in Jalan Besar. It may seem to be quite an unexpected location at first. Still, the restaurant has done its interior in a chic yet cosy fashion, which makes it suitable for various occasions. When we came by for dinner, there were several groups of diners celebrating Father's Day.

Dinner aside, Allô also offers both brunch and value-for-money lunch sets. The Brunch menu is available on weekdays from 11am to 3pm and all day on weekends, offering classic brunch options such as Eggs Benedict ($23) and elevated dishes like Rosti, Eggs & Minute Steak ($32).

The Lunch Sets, on the other hand, are priced affordably from $15.90 onwards. Available from Tuesdays to Fridays, 11am to 3pm, the three-course weekday set lunch includes a choice of starter, a pasta main and a dessert.

Beverages

The restaurant offers various alcohols: beers, house pours, reds, whites, dessert wines and champagnes. We opted for non-alcoholic beverages of Sparkling Apple ($6) and Citrus Blue Magic ($7.50). The former is made with sparkling water infused with 100% apple juice, while the latter has blue pea flower tea, yoghurt drink and citrus juice.

Salmon Rillette 3.5/5

Our starter of Salmon Rillette ($18) features a rillette made of cured salmon slow-cooked in butter, served with capers, a petit salad and a side of sweet potato chips. My dining companion and I were quite disappointed with this as the rillette was mostly overpowered with a sharp sourness and masked any flavour of the salmon. The sweet potato chips lacked crispness as well.

Lobster Bisque 4.5/5

Thankfully, the next dish fared much better. This Lobster Bisque ($18) was also one of our two favourites of the night. Made in-house from freshly caught lobsters, the bisque turned out luscious and creamy but not overly thick. It was bursting with seafood sweetness and had just the right amount of savoury notes.

My dining companion and I enjoyed this very much and mopped it up quickly with the bread from the complimentary bread basket. I did wish there were bits of lobster meat in it for extra texture, though!

Saucisson Croquettes 3.8/5

The homemade Saucisson Croquettes ($12) came in a portion of three, served with a tangy peanut butter dressing with a touch of heat. We appreciated the crunchy exterior and creamy filling; otherwise, it was average. We also hoped to have a better bite of the saucisson bits in it.

Duck Confit with Pomme Purée & Orange Balsamic Glaze 4/5

Next, we were served our first main, the Duck Confit with Pomme Puree & Orange Balsamic Glaze ($30). The dish uses a whole duck leg roasted in its own fat, served with a side of purée and asparagus.

While I enjoyed the tangy-sweet orange balsamic glaze and the slight crispiness on the duck skin, the duck meat was not as fork-tender as I expected. The meat could be better tenderised, and the mash could be more buttery.

Lobster Risotto 4.5/5

Then came our second favourite of the night, the Lobster Risotto ($32). It was hands down one of the best risotto we have had in a while. The rich lobster stock base had an impressive amount of crustacean sweetness brimming through and was nicely finished with cream to achieve that lip-smacking consistency. The arborio rice was perfectly cooked to a lovely creaminess and further topped with chunks of tender butter-poached lobster meat.

Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake 4/5

We ended our dinner on a sweet note with the Valrhona Dark Chocolate Feuillantine Cake ($15). Made of dark chocolate covertures on a base of feuillantine and crumbles, the chocolate portion was rich without being cloying. The accompanying scoop of yoghurt gelato gave a refreshing and tangy touch.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Allô
72 Desker Road
Singapore 209595
Tel: +65 88979230
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line), Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 12midnight
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight down Jalan Besar Road to Desker Road. Turn left onto Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit F. Walk to Roberts Lane. Turn left onto Roberts Lane, walk to Serangoon Road. Cross the road and walk down Desker Road. Walk down Desker Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]