Yaowarat Seafood @ Lavender Street - Transporting Your Tastebuds to Bangkok's Chinatown

Yaowarat Seafood, formerly nestled in Teck Chye Lane, has found a new abode on Lavender Street, bringing with it a taste of Thai-Chinese seafood cuisine inspired by Bangkok's renowned Yaowarat district.

Blanched Ark Cockles on Ice

A novel experience begins with the Blanched Ark Cockles ($13 for 500g/ $20 for 1kg), a departure from the local variety, boasting plump succulence with a satisfying crunch and without the overpowering blood taste.

Homemade Moo Ping (Pork Satay)

Grilled to perfection, the Homemade Moo Ping ($3.30 each, minimum 2pc) unveils skewered pork bathed in a special homemade marinade, rendering the meat tender, succulent, and slightly sweet.

Deep Fried Garlic Pork

Taking the crown for my favourite dish is the Deep Fried Garlic Pork. Tender pork cubes wok-fried to crisp perfection, accompanied by whole crispy garlic gloves, offering a delightful depth of flavour and fragrance.

Thai Stir Fried Morning Glory (Kang Kong)

Freshwater Kang Kong ($12) is stir-fried to crunchy perfection with fragrant garlic, chilli, and soy-based sauce, though a bit more spice could elevate its kick.

Live Mud Crab Vermicelli

The Live Mud Crab Vermicelli ($60) sees the vermicelli absorbing the sweet crustacean essence, with room for a bit more peppery punch.

XO Seafood Treasure Pot

The XO Seafood Treasure Pot ($68) presents a medley of seafood treasures simmered in a rich, milky broth enhanced with a shot of aromatic XO liquor. While delicious, it leans more towards a local crab beehoon than a Thai dish.

Tom Yum Mama Noodles Pot

Currently, at a promotional price of $9.90 and $12.90 with a drink, the Tom Yum Mama Noodles Pot is a slurp-worthy explosion of fiery Tom Yum essence, complemented by prawns, squid, crispy pork skin, and a raw egg.

Thai Steamed Seabass in Spicy Garlic Lime

The Thai Steamed Seabass in Spicy Garlic Lime ($30) embodies Thai cuisine's essence, delivering a tantalising combination of sharp, sour, and spicy flavours. It could use more of the spicy kick.

Grilled Australian Rock Lobster

A grand entry is made by the Grilled Australian Rock Lobster ($120 for 800g), showcasing the natural richness and succulence of premium rock lobster, distinctively firmer and sweeter than its Boston counterpart.

Salted Egg Squid

A crowd-pleaser, the Salted Egg Squid ($21) features generously cut squid encased in a delectable salted egg coating, accented by heat from chilli and fragrance from curry leaves, seemingly a blend of Thai-Chinese and local influences.

Singapore Chilli Crab Meat with Fried Mantou

The Singapore Chilli Crab Meat with Fried Mantou ($24) nods to local flavours. While well-executed, the crab meat needs more presence. Pair it with the golden, pillowy mantou to soak up the delicious chilli crab sauce.

Chatuchak Coconut Ice Cream

For a sweet conclusion, the Chatuchak Coconut Ice Cream ($7) offers velvety coconut delight adorned with cashews, fried mung beans, sweet corn, and tender coconut meat.

Overall, Yaowarat Seafood presents bold flavours that many in Singapore would appreciate, albeit with some tweaks to suit local palates. The addition of Singaporean dishes to the menu adds variety but also deviates slightly from its Thai-Chinese authenticity.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yaowarat Seafood
320 Lavender Street
Singapore 338820
Contact: +65 68585988
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Nearest MRT: Boon Keng (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 5pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Boon Keng MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk straight down Serangoon Road towards Lavender Street. Turn left onto Lavender Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Famous Treasure @ Capitol Piazza - A Gem In The City Serving Reasonable Priced Chinese Food

Taking over the defunct Four Seasons Chinese Restaurant Singapore at Capitol Piazza is Famous Treasure. Famous Treasure is the sister outlet of the popular Famous Kitchen in Sembawang. I have not visited Famous Kitchen but I have heard good words about their food. Hence I am really looking forward to my visit to their newer and more posh outlet in the city.

Marinated Cockles Teochew Style 4.8/5

We started with the Marinated Cockles Teochew Style ($12). I love my cockles and this is even better with the topping of their homemade chilli. Definitely a winner for me.

Deep Fried Pork Belly with Fermented Bean Curd 4.5/5

Deep fried to golden brown is the Pork Belly with Fermented Bean Curd ($20/$30$/$40). The pork belly coated in a batter of fermented bean curd, is fragrant and juicy. Not forgetting the tangy green chilli sauce dip that elevates the whole enjoyable of the dish.

Wok Fried Squid with Cincalok and Lady's Fingers 4.5/5

The restaurant impressed me further with yet another excellently executed dish - Wok Fried Squid with Cincalok and Lady’s Fingers ($18/$27/$36). Instead of the usual sambal, what a brillant idea to replace it with cincalok. It definitely gives the dish a deeper depth of flavours and something different from the usual. 

Daily Nourishing Boiled Soup 4.5/5

The daily nourishing boiled soup at the restaurant changes regularly and today we have the Pork Ribs and Ba Wang Hua Soup ($28). Boiled for hours to extract the ingredients’ essences, the soup is hearty, sweet and flavourful. What caught my interests is the used of Ba Wang Hua (Night Blooming Cereus), a type of cactus that is seldom seen or used in cooking. Apparently it has several health benefit too.

Supreme Soy Braised Duck Platter 3.5/5

The Supreme Soy Braised Duck Platter ($24) consists of duck slices, webs, wings and beancurd. A great sharing platter that comes with a white vinegar and chilli dip.

Steamed Shark's Head with Spicy Yellow Bean Sauce 3/5

If you have not try Steamed Shark's Head ($7/100g) before, it is not about eat the flesh but appreciating the cartilage and collagen of the shark's upper jaw area. The version here is cooked in a spicy yellow bean sauce which we thought didn't quite highlight the dish. I had a better one that is just steamed with soy sauce, deep fried caught and sesame oil.

Traditional Fish Head Curry in Claypot $35

From one fish head we go to another, the Traditional Fish Head Curry in Claypot ($35). This is one of the signature dish at Famous Kitchen Sembawang, now you can also have it at Famous Treasure. The creamy and lemak curry fish head, served in a claypot comes with a lot of vegetables (cabbage, eggplant and lady fingers) which is really value for money. I love my fish head curry and I have to admit this is one of the better one I have eaten. I can tell why they are popular with the dish.

Famous Treasure's KL Style Hokkien Mee 4.2/5

Instead of travelling to our neighbouring country for their hokkien mee, Famous Treasure does a good rendition in their KL Style Hokkien Mee ($18/$27/$36). Perfumed with fragrant dark sauce and pork lard, this is a plate of goodness with pork, cuttlefish and prawn.

Braised Rice Vermicelli with Local Lobster and Leek in Superior Broth 4.2/5

For a more luscious enjoyment, there is the Braised Rice Vermicelli with Local Lobster and Leek in Superior Broth ($16/100g). Sweet and bouncy lobster flesh, comes with vermicelli that has been simmered in the rich broth, soaking up the richness.

Salted Baked Flower Crabs 5/5

A must try at Famous Treasure has to be their Salted Baked Flower Crabs ($6/100g). The way of preparing the flower crab gives it a charred seafood aroma that just whets up the appetite. The used of sea salt also further elevated the sweetness of the flower crab. This scores full mark for me. Definitely a must order dish whenever I go back.

Famous Treasure
Capitol Piazza
13 Stamford Road
#02-28
Singapore 178905
Tel: +65 68816668
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit B or D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]