Guo Jiang (锅匠) @ Mosque Street - The Best Of Both Worlds With Half-Half Pot

Located along Mosque Street is Guo Jiang (锅匠), a Szechuan restaurant located at the heart of Chinatown. The restaurant seemed quite popular because even when we had made a reservation, we still had to wait for a while for our table as the restaurant was full.

We decided to go for the half-half pot, which consists of Chicken Stew in Signature Mala Sauce with Baby Yam and Bamboo Shoots (烟笋芋儿鸡) and Fresh Fish Fillet in Sichuan Pickled Mustard (老坛子酸菜鱼).

I enjoyed the stewed chicken in mala sauce and fish fillet in Sichuan pickled mustard. The stewed chicken was tender with the soft yam soaking up the fragrant mala sauce. As for the fish fillet, they are fresh and generous, swimming in the pungent Sichuan pickled mustard broth.

Not to forget to have the chicken and fish with the special house sauce.

Fresh Cucumber Salad

I would recommend having the Fresh Cucumber Salad (凉拌黄瓜) to freshen up the palate. It is refreshing and crunch but also a tad spicy.

Pig Ear

Though the soft bone of the Pig Ear (猪耳朵) gives a delightful and crunchy bite, the gaminess is too strong for my liking.

Overall, I enjoyed the meal at Guo Jiang. If it is the first time visiting the place, I recommend the half-half pot, where you get to try the best of both worlds. Besides that, the portion is also quite generous.


Guo Jiang (锅匠)
38 Mosque Street
Singapore 059516
Tel: +65 62226838
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to New Bridge Road. Turn right at New Bridge Road and walk to Mosque Street. Turn right onto Mosque Street and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ju Hua Tai (菊花台) @ Duxton Hill - Oriental Themed Cocktail With Asian Inspired Bar Snacks & Mains

Ju Hua Tai (菊花台) is an oriental-themed cocktail bar that has recently opened its doors at Duxton Hill. Alongside its artisanal tippers are Asian-inspired bar snacks and mains to complete the experience.

Chrysanthemum's Secret 4.5/5

You may find its list of cocktails as alluring as I did. Ju Hua Tai's signature cocktail, Chrysanthemum's Secret ($22), indeed is a must-try as raved by many. It is a concoction of Chrysanthemum-infused 135 East Hyogo Gin, Lychee, Raspberry and Elderflower Liqueur. The cocktail's distinctive earthy Chrysanthemum scent and herbaceous notes went well with the fruity sweetness of the Lychee. The exquisite handmade Chrysanthemum jelly was aesthetically pleasing to the eyes and delicious.

Osmanthus Concubine 4/5

We also tried Osmanthus Concubine ($23) concocted with Brasslion Dry Gin, Goji Berries and Osmanthus Cordial. It will have stood out more if the Osmanthus notes are stronger.

Szechuan Cucumber 4.5/5

Criss Cut Fries with Thai Curry Crab Dip 3.8/5

The crunchy Szechuan Cucumber ($10) was moreish with piquant Szechuan sauce. The concept of Criss Cut Fries with Thai Curry Crab Dip ($16) is akin to that of Fried Mantou with Chilli Crab sauce. The rich and creamy Thai Curry Crab dip was punchy with herbs and spices, and the addition of the crab meat gave the dip a meaty texture. Plain fried mantou would have been a better medium to complement the dip as the combination of both the saltish fries and rich sauce proved to be rather heavy.

Mala Chicken Popcorn 4/5

Mala Chicken Popcorn ($15) is inbetween a Szechuan Laziji and Popcorn chicken. It has the flavours of the former but a relatively meatier texture.

Pork Belly Bao 3/5 and Scallop Bao 3.5/5

On the menu, there is also a selection of Baos. We tried Pork Belly Bao ($8.80) with stewed pork belly in a fried bun and a Scallop Bao ($9.80) with a tempura-style scallop in a steamed charcoal bun. Overall, we find the type of bun too skinny, which works against the Pork Belly Bao as the bun becomes too greasy when deep-fried. The Scallop Bao was way more enjoyable. However, a smaller and fluffier bun could have made it look fuller and a lot more enticing.

Octopus Leg with Thai Vignette 3/5

Cauliflower Steak 4/5

For mains, the Octopus Leg with Thai Vinaigrette was disappointing with a squashy texture which was not palatable. On the other hand, the Cauliflower Steak ($23) stood out with an evenly grilled exterior that lent a layer smoky flavour that elusively enhanced the flavour of the sweet grilled Cauliflower. To further elevate it, it is topped with punchy ingredients - pickled radish, pomegranate, yuzu dressing.

Words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Ju Hua Tai (菊花台)
9 Duxton Hill
Singapore 089593
Tel: +65 88692629
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm -1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. At Orchid Hotel turn right onto Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road to the opposite side of Tanjong Pagar Road. Walk along Tanjong Pagar Road to Duxton Hill. Turn left onto Duxton Hill and then turn right on Duxton Road. Journey time about 15 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Turn righ and walk to Neil Road. Cross Neil Road. Walk to Duxton Road. Turn right onto Duxton Hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]