LingZhi Greens @ Palais Renaissance - Relocates from Liat Towers to a New Home, Starting a New Chapter

Award-winning vegetarian restaurant LingZhi Vegetarian at Liat Towers enters an exciting new chapter with the launch of LingZhi Greens at Palais Renaissance. Established in 1991, the restaurant has long been known for its refined approach to Chinese vegetarian cuisine, and its new home brings a refreshed concept centred around whole foods, premium vegetables, wild mushrooms and seasonal ingredients.

Led by Executive Chef Michael Huang, the refreshed menu takes a more contemporary approach to plant-based dining, pairing familiar Chinese flavours with creative touches and cross-cultural influences. From chilled appetisers and hearty curry dishes to premium morel mushrooms and crispy beancurd skin, the menu offers plenty of variety for both long-time LingZhi fans and those looking to explore vegetarian cuisine.

Chilled Tomato with Chef’s Homemade Sauce 4/5

Starting on a refreshing note, the Chilled Tomato with Chef’s Homemade Sauce ($19.80) is a simple dish that puts the spotlight firmly on the quality of the produce. Plump, skinless tomatoes are chilled and marinated in a house-made sweet and savoury sauce. The marination gives the tomatoes time to absorb the flavours while retaining their natural juiciness and sweetness. Each bite is cool, juicy and refreshing, with a pleasant balance between the tomato’s natural acidity and the slightly sweet-savoury glaze.

Wasabi-Mayo Monkey Head Mushroom Served in Fresh Dragon Fruit 4.2/5

The Wasabi-Mayo Monkey Head Mushroom Served in Fresh Dragon Fruit ($28) is one of the menu’s more playful creations. Meaty monkey head mushrooms are fried until crisp on the outside while retaining their substantial, almost meat-like texture within. They are then tossed in a creamy house-made wasabi-mayo, bringing a punchy heat and savoury richness to the mushrooms. The presentation is particularly interesting because it uses a fresh dragon fruit as the serving vessel. The naturally sweet and juicy dragon fruit provides a refreshing contrast to the creamy, spicy wasabi-mayo, cutting through the richness and giving the dish an unexpected sweet-savoury interplay.

Truffle Mushroom Bisque Served in Stone Pot 5/5

One of our favourites was the Truffle Mushroom Bisque Served in Stone Pot ($14). This velvety mushroom soup brings a touch of Western influence to the predominantly Chinese vegetarian menu. Made with a blend of premium wild mushrooms, the bisque has a deep, earthy character and a smooth, comforting consistency, while black truffle adds another layer of luxurious aroma. Served bubbling hot in a stone pot, the soup stays warm throughout the meal, keeping the mushroom and truffle aromas pronounced with every spoonful. It is rich without being overly heavy, making it a comforting start to the meal.

Grilled Plant-Based Treasures in Curry Sauce 4.5/5

For something more substantial, the Grilled Plant-Based Treasures in Curry Sauce ($24 for 4pcs) offers plenty of flavour. The grilled plant-based vegetarian fish slices have a pleasantly firm and tender texture, absorbing the fragrant curry sauce while retaining enough bite. The aromatic curry brings warmth and depth, making this dish feel hearty and satisfying. The accompanying vegetables add further textural contrast, with okra, tomatoes and eggplant bringing their own natural sweetness and freshness, while fried tofu puffs soak up the curry beautifully. The dish balances textures well, from tender plant-based slices to soft vegetables and sauce-filled tofu puffs.

Pan-Fried Stuffed Morel Mushroom with ‘San Bei’ Sauce 4/5

The Pan-Fried Stuffed Morel Mushroom with ‘San Bei’ Sauce ($38.80) combines premium ingredients with the familiar flavours of Taiwanese three-cup cooking. Morel mushrooms, prized for their distinctive honeycomb-like texture and earthy aroma, are filled with a savoury vegetarian stuffing, then pan-fried until golden. The mushrooms are then glazed with a fragrant ‘san bei’ sauce made with sesame oil, soy sauce and house-made broth. The result is savoury, aromatic and deeply umami, with the morel mushroom providing a delicate yet satisfying chew. The stuffing also adds substance, making it more than just a showcase of the mushroom itself.

Vegetarian Goose and Crispy Beancurd Skin Served with Wheat Wrap 4/5

For something interactive, the Vegetarian Goose and Crispy Beancurd Skin Served with Wheat Wrap ($26 for 8pcs) is a playful vegetarian take on the classic Peking Duck experience. Crispy beancurd skin is fried until wonderfully crunchy, creating a delicate, almost shattered texture that contrasts nicely with the savoury vegetarian goose. The vegetarian goose is seasoned with five-spice aromatics, giving it a familiar Chinese roast-meat-like character. Wrap everything in the soft wheat wrapper with cucumber and hoisin-style sauce for a combination of crisp, savoury, sweet, and refreshing flavours. The contrast between the crunchy beancurd skin, tender filling and fresh cucumber makes each wrap satisfying to eat, while the interactive assembly adds a fun element to the meal.

Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice Cream 3/5

For dessert, we had the Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice Cream ($12 per person). The version here is relatively light and slightly watery, closer to a light red bean soup than the richer, creamier black glutinous rice desserts we usually prefer. The coconut ice cream adds a pleasant cooling element and some creaminess, but I would have preferred the black glutinous rice to be thicker and more indulgent.

Mango Cream with Pomelo 3/5

The Mango Cream with Pomelo ($6 per person) is a classic combination that needs little introduction. It pairs the familiar mango and pomelo, offering a fruity, refreshing finish to the meal. However, the mango leaned more toward the sour side on our visit, and I would have preferred a sweeter, more intensely ripe mango flavour to better balance the dessert.

With its move to Palais Renaissance, LingZhi Greens presents a refreshed take on the restaurant’s long-standing philosophy of Chinese vegetarian dining. The new menu demonstrates that plant-based cuisine can go beyond simple vegetable dishes, incorporating premium ingredients such as monkey head mushrooms and morels while drawing inspiration from Chinese, Taiwanese and Western culinary traditions.

Among the dishes we tried, the Truffle Mushroom Bisque, Grilled Plant-Based Treasures in Curry Sauce and Wasabi-Mayo Monkey Head Mushroom were our highlights, particularly for their combination of texture and bold flavours.

The new space and refreshed menu should appeal not only to vegetarian diners but also to those seeking a more contemporary, refined plant-based dining experience.

As an added treat, diners can also stand a chance to draw a LingZhi Pals 小蔬友 Blind Bag plush charm, featuring 9 adorable vegetable characters. The promotion runs from 25 August to 30 October 2026, while stocks last.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


LingZhi Greens
Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
#B1-04/05
Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6734 3788 / +65 8321 0130
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Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Cross the road at the traffic light junction and turn left towards Royal Thai Embassy. Walk to Palais Renaissance, which is right after the Royal Thai Embassy. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Botanico @ The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens) - 2019 World Gourmet Summit Rising Female Chef Of The Year Brings new Maturity And Confidence In Her Creations

My last visit to Botanico at The Garage was 3 years ago when Chef Sue takes the helm introducing her interpretation of Asian flavours in her dishes. Since then, she has grown from strength to strength, winning the 2019 Rising Female Chef of the Year and spent time in the kitchens of Michelin-starred Mugaritz polishing her culinary skills.

Beef Tongue Tacos 3.5/5

I guess no one has ever seen or tried taco presented in such a matter. The Beef Tongue Tacos ($18) is served jicama slaw, toasted rice, ginger flower, baby bokchoy and cashew cream. To enjoy it, simply piece everything together and have it in one mouthful to get the different textures and flavours all at play in one go.

Corn Pani Puri 4/5

The Corn Pani Puri ($10) is a playful touch by Chef Sue where puffed little pillows of Indian-inspired puri pastry acted as a cup, holding within it, spiced baby corn and a rich espuma of curried Japanese corn. Pop this in the mouth for a burst of aromatic flavours dancing in the mouth.

Rojak 3.5/5

The Rojak ($15) may look plain, but it is actually packed with the lovely savoury shrimp paste flavour. Give the heiko foam a good mix, coating the pile of kohlrabi and seasonal Southeast Asian fruits salad. It reminds me of the Penang-style rojak, giving the refreshing salad a delightful combo of sweet, savoury, and sour with each bite.

Wing Bean Salad 4.2/5

Chef Sue took inspiration from a staff meal that one of her Malaysian chefs created. Together with her team, they took the dish apart and created the new elevated Wing Bean Salad ($15) using European techniques with Southeast Asian flavours. The wing beans are paired with cubes of housemade chickpea tofu, chopped hard-boiled egg, bird's eye chilli, dressed in a bright, punchy dressing of lime juice, lemongrass, fish sauce, belachan and Thai palm sugar. It even comes with a generous topping of Asian anchovies or better known as ikan bilis in Southeast Asia.

Assam Pedas Snapper 4.2/5

Fish lover will adore Chef Sue's modern take of the traditional assam pedas - Assam Pedas Snapper ($32). The red snapper fillet is grilled over banana leaf, complemented with saffron risotto, okra 2-ways, assam pedas and ginger flower.

Herbal Chicken 4.5/5

I love both Hainanese chicken rice and herbal chicken; hence I really enjoyed the Herbal Chicken ($29) at Botanico. The chicken breast is slow-cooked to tender and dressed in angelica sauce. The sauce is definitely the star which brightens the dish. Not forgetting the chicken rice couscous, which is a flavourful substitution of the usual rice to pair with the herbal chicken. What I feel missing is the chilli sauce to complete the whole enjoyment.

65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly 4.2/5

I am sure not many can resist the gorgeous piece of 65 Degree Kurobuta Pork Belly ($30) slow-cooked to fork-tender. It is served with textures of sunchoke, leek flowers and housemade soy-vinegar infused with Szechuan peppercorns.

Crab Rissoni 4.8/5

The crowd favourite definitely goes to the Crab Rissoni ($32). The outer circle is a ring of Japanese deep-sea red crab and blue swimmer crab. The internal circle is Japanese nori rissoni and a comte custard right in the middle. The beautiful dish is sprinkled with octopus bottarga made in house with octopus egg. Give everything a good mix, to get the lovely crustacean's sweetness swimming in each mouth fill. 

BGR (Black Glutinous Rice) 4/5

Even the desserts at Botanico are inspired by flavours in Southeast Asia. First up is the BGR ($12), a playful name for the black glutinous rice dessert recreated with a modern look. It came in the form of black glutinous rice mochi cake topped with toasted rice ice cream and compressed coconut resting on a bed black glutinous rice foam.

Ondeh Ondeh 3.5/5

Familiar yet not is the Ondeh Ondeh ($12). The beloved nonya kueh is transformed into a bowl of pandan glutinous rice cake with coconut foam, kaya ice cream and gula melaka. It is definitely interesting and yummy, but I still miss the oozing gula melaka moment whenever one bites into the traditional ondeh ondeh.

Having dined at Botanico when Chef Sue first took over the helm, I can really taste the improvement in her culinary skill. Her creations now reflect a greater nuance and finesse with a new focus on South East Asian flavours. 

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Botanico 
The Garage (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
via Cluny Park Gate
50 Cluny Park Road
Singapore 257488
Tel: +65 98311106
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Thu: 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to Cluny Park Road. Turn left onto Cluny Park Road and continue walking down the road. At Cluny Park Gate, walk in and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. {Map]