Shanghainese cuisine has something especially comforting about it, from delicate soup dumplings and rich braised dishes to the much-anticipated hairy crab season. For a limited time, RISE at Marina Bay Sands is bringing these familiar flavours to its buffet spread with a special Shanghainese Cuisine Takeover, led by Master Chef Li Yaozhen.
With more than 50 years of culinary experience, Chef Li brings a wealth of knowledge and tradition to the table. We dropped by to explore the special menu, sample the seasonal highlights and discover which dishes are worth making room for.
Hairy Crab
The Hairy Crabs were undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the evening. While we were excited to tuck in, the crabs were relatively small during our visit, which meant there wasn’t quite as much of that prized, rich roe as we had hoped. Chef Li shared that the crabs should be plumper come November, so timing your visit a little later in the season might make all the difference.
Shanghainese Fried Bun with Pork Filling
Shanghainese Fried Dumpling
Xiao Long Bao
The Shanghainese Fried Buns and Dumplings were among our favourites from the special menu. We particularly enjoyed their juicy fillings and beautifully pan-fried, crisp bottoms. The Xiao Long Bao were another pleasant highlight, with reasonably thin wrappers and a satisfying amount of savoury broth tucked inside. These are definitely worth saving some stomach space for.
Crab Roe Tofu
Shanghainese Salted Chicken
Steamed Yellow Croaker in 20-Year Aged Huadiao Wine
Fish Fragrant Eggplant
Shanghainese Braised Pork Belly with Abalone
The selection of Shanghainese hot dishes offers plenty to explore, from Crab Roe Tofu and Salted Chicken to Steamed Yellow Croaker in 20-year-aged Huadiao wine, Braised Pork Belly with Abalone and Fish Fragrant Eggplant. As with most extensive buffets, we found some dishes more memorable than others. Still, I’d recommend taking small portions of a few different dishes first. It’s the best way to discover your own favourites without filling up too quickly.
Peking Duck
Peking Duck may not be a Shanghainese speciality, but it’s certainly a familiar crowd-pleaser. The beautifully roasted ducks looked incredibly tempting on display. Unfortunately, the meat was a little dry during our visit, and the skin lacked the crispness we were hoping for. That said, if you’re a fan of duck legs, you can still help yourself to one (or more!) at the buffet.
Eight-Treasure Rice
Fermented Rice Dumpling
Jasmine Chinese Pastry
Tangerine Chinese Pastry
For something sweet, the Shanghainese-inspired dessert selection includes Eight Treasure Rice, Fermented Rice Dumplings and beautifully presented Jasmine and Tangerine Chinese Pastries. These traditional-style treats can be rather filling, especially after working your way through the savoury spread. My advice? Pace yourself, share a few portions if you can, and leave enough room to sample the ones that catch your eye.
Moutai Cocktail
There’s also a specially created Moutai Cocktail to complement the takeover, combining Moutai with orchid gin, passionfruit purée, lemon juice, flower blossom and sparkling tea. You can order it directly from the bar or enjoy a little tableside theatre as it’s prepared in front of you from the roaming cocktail trolley — a fun touch to round off the dining experience.
If you enjoy Shanghainese cuisine, this limited-time takeover is a lovely opportunity to sample a wide range of familiar favourites alongside RISE’s buffet offerings. Not every dish was a hit, but the variety makes it worth exploring, especially if you enjoy trying a little of everything.
Prices start from S$98, with lunch and dinner available. As pricing and menu selections vary by day, do check RISE’s official website for the latest details before making plans. The Shanghainese Cuisine Takeover runs until 3 November.
Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.
RISE
Marina Bay Sands (MBS)
Hotel Tower 1, Lobby
10 Bayfront Avenue
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 66885525
Website
Nearest MRT: Bayfront (CC, DT Line)
Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 630am - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 630an - 1030pm
Direction:
1) Alight at Bayfront MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]
