Tien Court Restaurant @ Copthorne King's Hotel - A Roaring Lunar New Year Celebration

Head into the New Year with a roaring start at Tien Court. Master Chef Lui Wing Keung has put together a collection of Lunar New Year specials to usher in the Year of the Tiger. Diners can look forward to Lunar New Year Set Menus for dine-in from $68++ per pax. Value-for-money Auspicious Family Set is also available for takeaway at just $168 Nett.

Prosperity Teochew Yusheng 3.5/5

Unlike the usual Yu Sheng offers at most restaurants, Tien Court offers Prosperity Teochew Yusheng with octopus, salmon or abalone options. It is a classic Teochew style yu sheng with leafy greens tossed in addictively zesty passion fruit and plum sauce that bond everything together.

Kung Fu Pot 4/5

New this year is the Kung Fu Pot available both for dine-in ($268++) and takeaway ($268 Nett with claypot/ $218 Nett in vacuum-sealed pack only). Each bountiful claypot is a labour of love and limited to just 50 pots this year. It is brimming with handmade sotong balls, individually wrapped cabbage parcels stuffed with chunks of crabmeat, scallops and carrot, fish maw with prawn paste, deep-fried prawn roll and more. Unlike the usual pen cai, this version is lighter.

Sauteed Prawn with Pineapple with Sweet and Sour Sauce 4.2/5

An interesting take of the sweet and sour pork dish is the Sauteed Prawn with Pineapple with Sweet and Sour Sauce. It is an auspicious dish that is common on every reunion dinner.

Fortune Spring Chicken 4.2/5

Another dish on the menu which I enjoyed was the Fortune Spring Chicken. It has an aromatic herbal flavour on top of the tender steamed chicken.

Braised Fish Cake with Napa Cabbage 4.2/5

Probably a signature at Tien Court is the handmade fish cake by Chef Lui. The Braised Fish Cake with Napa Cabbage is soft and pillowy, sitting on a bed of soft and sweet Napa Cabbage.

The adorable Tiger Buns are specially made for the year of the Tiger. It is limited to 20 pieces per day at $8,80 (2pc) with a secret dining code. You have to recite to the staff, 你家老虎太可爱 (The Tiger in your house is so cute). 

Steamed Glutinous Rice with Chinese Waxed Meat 3.5/5

Like every Chinese dinner, it will end with a carb dish. We had the Steam Glutinous Rice with Chinese Waxed Meat. It is fluffy and sticky, flavoured by the delicious Chinese waxed meat.

Steamed Nian Gao 4/5

We have the Steamed Nian Gao coated in peanut and coconut for dessert. The extra coating elevates the fragrant and textural enjoyment.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tien Court Restaurant
Copthorne King's Hotel
403 Havelock Road
Level 2
Singapore 169631
Tel: +65 63183193/ 63183198
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Website
Nearest MRT: Havelock (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Havelock MRT station. Take Exit 5. Walk straight down Havelock Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 mintues. [Map]

Tai Er Chinese Sauerkraut Fish @ Jewel Changi Airport - Popular Chinese Restaurant In China With Nearly 300 Stores Opens In Singapore

Popular Tai Er Chinese Sauerkraut Fish, with nearly 300 stores in China, has opened its first outlet in Singapore at Changi Jewel Singapore. The restaurant is known for its Chinese Sauerkraut Fish seeing daily queues at the stores to savour the fish fillets in a spicy and sour broth.

Chinese Sauerkraut Fish 4.5/5

The Chinese Sauerkraut Fish ($48/$68/$88) comes in a huge plate with the tender fish slices swimming in a pool of soup, brimming with red chillis, Sichuan peppercorn and pickled cabbage. If I am not wrong, they use tilapia fish for the dish. The combination of mala, spicy and sour flavours is super shiok. I can understand why it is so popular in China now.

Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chilli Oil 4.8/5

Another crowd favourite is the Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chilli Oil ($26). The beef slices are incredibly tender. The star has to be the aromatic hot and spicy broth accentuating the full enjoyment. I feel the flavours are well balanced for Singapore's palate, neither too spicy nor mala. The dish is seriously one of the best interpretations of the classic Sichuan dish I have eaten for a long while.

Abalone and Shrimp in Spicy Sauce 4/5

The Abalone and Shrimp in Spicy Sauce ($12) is a delightful starter to whet up your appetite. However, I probably save my calories for the other star dishes on the menu, such as the Chinese Sauerkraut Fish and Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chilli.

Fried Crispy Prawn Topped with Mustard 4/5

Not everything on the menu is spicy. There are also non-spicy dishes such as the Fried Crispy Prawn Topped with Mustard ($13). Coated in a light batter, it gives the crunchy prawn a crispy exterior coat paired with a sweet mustard sauce.

Seaweed Roll with Salted Egg Yolk 2.5/5

Exclusively for the Singapore outlet is the Seaweed Roll with Salted Egg Yolk ($6). I find it disappointing for an exclusive dish. It felt half-hearted by putting together a few pieces of seaweed cracker and drizzled it with salted egg yolk sauce.

Egg Coated Glutinous Rice Rolls with Brown Sugar 4.8/5

Another beautiful dish we enjoyed is the Egg Coated Glutinous Rice with Brown Sugar ($10). The texture is like mochi, soft and chewy paired with sweet brown sugar dip. It is so good.

Ice Jelly with Coconut Milk 4/5

Sichuan Pepper Milk Tea and Lemon Tea With Passionfruit Juice

If you find the food is too hot to handle, don't worry. You can cool off with some cold beverages and desserts such as the Ice Jelly with Coconut Milk ($3), Sichuan Pepper Milk Tea ($5) and Lemon Tea With Passionfruit Juice ($5).

I have enjoyed the food at Tai Er Chinese Sauerkraut. I will be back again to check out the rest of the menu. Please note that they do not accept walk-in. You have to make reservation via their facebook page or WeChat. For the first-timer, the must-try items are Chinese Sauerkraut Fish, Poached Sliced Beef in Hot Chilli Oil and Egg Coated Glutinous Rice Rolls with Brown Sugar.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tai Er Chinese Sauerkraut Fish
Jewel Changi Airport
80 Airport Boulevard
#03-208
Singapore 819642
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Website
Nearest MRT: Changi Airport (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 2pm, 5pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Changi Airport MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Tian Tian Fisherman's Pier Seafood Restaurant @ Boat Quay - Brings The Sweetest Catch Of The Sea To The Table

I have walked past Tian Tian Fisherman's Pier Seafood Restaurant at Boat Quay numerous time. Still, I have never thought of dining at the restaurant that spots rows of fish tanks with live seafood such as lobster, fish, prawns, oysters and more. I have the perception that it is a tourist trap until my recent visit, changing my narrow-minded view. The restaurant even won a Michelin Plate, which is a recognition for its good quality food.

On top of Tian Tian Fisherman's Pier Seafood Restaurant's live seafood, not known to many, is their rare fresh catch like Wild Patin Fish. It is my first time to sight both the wild-caught white and black patin fish. It is huge! To my knowledge, the wild black patin fish is even rarer than the white patin fish.

Braised Wild Patin Fish with Golden Soup in Claypot 4.8/5

For diners to appreciate the fatty and collagen-packed wild-caught patin fish, the restaurant creates the Braised Wild Patin Fish with Golden Soup in Claypot ($68++). It is an original creation whereby the white patin fish from the Rajang River in East Malaysia is cooked in an umami golden soup made from a concoction of dried scallops, chicken and over ten different spices. Accompanying the beautiful dish are enoki mushrooms, shredded onions, beancurd and fresh shrimp balls.

Flying Noodles with Chilli Crab 3.5/5

Nowadays, food not only needs to taste good, but it needs to look good or instagrammable too. The Flying Noodles with Chilli Crab ($88++) is such a dish that will make diners take out the phone to snap a couple of photos before eating. The fresh crab blanketed in a thick chilli crab sauce is paired with crispy Hong Kong noodles. However, I find the chilli crab sauce is lacking the spiciness.

Fried Spicy Crab in Authentic Bi Fen Tang Style 4.2/5

You can get a taste of Hong Kong from the Fried Spicy Crab in authentic Bi Fen Tang Style ($88++). The juicy and succulent Sri Lankan crab fried to golden is sprinkled generously with a fragrant mixture of minced garlic, minced ginger, chilli padi, green onions, dried salted radish, dried red chilli powder and more.

Pan-fried Guo Ba with Glutinous Rice 4.2/5

The Pan-fried Guo Ba with Glutinous Rice ($38++) will satisfy diners with its crunchy and crispy texture, fragrant with Chinese sausage, diced mushroom and chicken.

Steamlicious Steampot Set Menu 4/5

A highlight at the restaurant is their Steamlicious Steampot Sets. It comes in 3 sets ranging from $29.80++ to $68++. Currently, it is having a 50% off for their sets. Diners can also round up the steampot with the Boston Lobster Poached Rice. The lobster, cooked rice and crispy rice sit at the bottom of the steampot, absorbing the flavourful juices from the seafood as they get cooked.

Diners get to savour the natural freshness of US oysters, wild prawn, clams, fan scallops, handmade prawn balls, and HK fish balls cook with the 2800-watt high temperate steampot retaining the nutrition, original texture and flavours of the seafood. A selection of sauces or diners can also mix and match their own rendition to perk up the enjoyment. 

Not forgetting the lobster poached rich sitting at the bottom of the steampot absorbs all the flavourful juices from the cooked seafood. Each mouthful of the poached rice has a decadent contrast of crispy and fluffy rice completed with springy bites of lobster.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Tian Tian Fisherman's Pier Seafood Restaurant
42-44 or 73-75 Boat Quay
Singapore 049861
Tel: +65 65341771
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line), Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 12midnight

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Cross the road walk to Upper Circular Road. Walk down Upper Circular Road to North Bridge Road. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Raffles Place MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk to the riverfront. Turn left and walk down Boat Quay. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Full of Luck Restaurant @ Holland Village - Usher In A Bountiful And Joyous New Year With Traditional Dishes With A Modern Flair

Usher in the Year of Ox with classic Cantonese favourites but imbued with a modern flair at Full of Luck Restaurant. Chinese New Year sets will be made available from 1 February to 28 February 2021, with dishes that satisfy your palate and visually delightful with fun and thoughtful designs.

Yu Sheng 4/5

Toss to a year of bountiful blessings with Prosperity Lo Hei with Smoked Salmon and Yuzu. Setting itself apart from others with an adorable cartoon-inspired look, it is also one of the few yushengs that comes with huge fruity pearls of both passionfruit and pomegranate seeds. The homemade sauce is concocted with plum, apple, pineapple and yuzu for a more balanced tangy and sweet flavour.

Truffled Jade Melon Rings Stuffed with Pork & Abalone 4.5/5

Truffled Jade Melon Rings Stuffed with Pork & Abalone surprised me with its soft and tender melon rings and extremely juicy stuffing. The flavoursome sauce is extracted from the ingredients' essence, making the dish even more nourishing.

Double Delights Platter 4.8/5

The Double Delights Platter pairs its Signature Honey Glazed Char Siew with Crispy Kurobuta Pork. The char siew especially had just enough fats to butter over the lean meat. The occasional bites into the charred bits were pleasurable.

Abundance Money Bag Stuffed with Crabmeat and Pork 4.5/5

Abundance Money Bag Stuffed with Crabmeat and Pork was one of my favourite dishes with juicy and flavourful dumplings in sweet and savoury golden pumpkin sauce.

Auspicious XL Prawn Ball with Bak Kwa Sauce 3/5

Auspicious XL Prawn Ball is unique with its housemade bak kwa sauce but the prawn ball was too tough for my liking.

Scallion Oil White Jade Noodle with Black Garlic Tiger Prawns 4/5

Scallion Oil White Jade Noodle with Black Garlic Tiger Prawns will win you over with its homely and comforting taste. The prawns were a tad mushy, but all the flavours were on point.

Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf 4.5/5

The Glutinous Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf with Tiger Prawns and Scallops is one of the highlights in the set meal. Slathered with a layer of piquant garlic spicy sauce, it was yummy and moreish, making sure that you are well-fed for a bountiful year ahead!

Chinese New Year Set menus are available for dine-in from $188 for 2 pax to $668 for 10pax. Takeaway Set Menu is available at $65 per pax with a minimum of 2 to order.

Note: This is an inviting tasting.


Full Of Luck Restaurant
243 Holland Ave
Singapore 278977
Tel: +65 62086845
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Hai Tien Lo @ Pan Pacific Singapore - Rings In The Year Of The Ox With Luxurious Dining Experiences

For this Lunar New Year, Chef Ben Zeng at Hai Tien Lo presents an extensive ten exquisite set menus. The restaurant will be showcasing the finest of Cantonese delicacies available from 25 January 2021 to 26 February 2021. Diners can enjoy a glorious array of classic celebratory fare boasting premium ingredients.

Blossoming Treasures Yu Sheng 4.2/5

Available for both dine-in and takeaway is the Blossoming Treasures Yu Sheng ($168/$288). Customers can toss to a year of abundance with premium ingredient such as lobster, scallops, black caviar crowned with gold and silver flakes atop raw shredded vegetables artfully plated in the shape of two bull horns. The horns are traditional symbols of wealth in Chinese culture.

Classic Wealth Treasure Pot 4.5/5

A must-have classic in any Chinese New Year feast symbolising abundance and good fortune is the Classic Wealth Treasure Pot ($268/$428) featuring eight head whole abalone, bird's nest, sakura chicken, dried scallops, wontons and broccoli.

Premium Wealth Treasure Pot 4.8/5

For a more premium take of the treasure pot, there is the Premium Wealth Treasure Pot ($468/$738) that is brimming with 15 stellar ingredients such as eight head whole abalone, dried oysters, sea cucumber, dried fish maw, pork knuckle, lobster, goose web, dried scallops, boiled chicken, pork dumplings, bean gluten, Chinese mushrooms, black moss, sliced lotus root and broccoli. Both treasure pots are available for dine-in and takeaway.

Pan-fried Wagyu Beef Fillet with Chilled Salad in Sesame Sauce 4.5/5

Some of the best try a la carte specialities are the Pan-fried Wagyu Beef Fillet and Barbecued Crispy Whole Suckling Pig. The Pan-fried Wagyu Beef Fillet is exceptionally tender with melt in the mouth texture. The chilled salad in sesame sauce at the side helps to balance out the richness of the beef.

Barbecued Crispy Whole Suckling Pig 4.8/5

The glorious Barbecued Crispy Whole Suckling Pig is stuffed with glutinous rice, wild mushrooms and truffle. The succulent pork has a layer of crackling skin further elevated by the fragrant glutinous rice and earthy flavours from the wild mushrooms and truffle.

Chilled Water Chestnuts

Wrapping up the dinner is the Chilled Water Chestnuts with Snow Swallows, Lotus Seeds and Egg White. A light and refreshing dessert that is perfect for the sumptuous feast.

From 4 January 2021, guests may pre-order the Chinese New Year goodies from ppsinshop.com and collect their purchases from 25 January to 26 February 2021 at Hai Tien Lo between 12:00pm to 8:00pm (except 11 January 2021 – collection from 10:00am to 5:00pm). To place an order, speak with us at 6826 8240, email dining.ppsin@panpacific.com, or visit ppsinshop.com

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hai Tien Lo
Pan Pacific Singapore
7 Raffles Boulevard
Level 3
Singapore 039595
Tel: +65 68268240
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Xin Cuisine @ Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore - Ushers In A Prosperous Year Of The Ox

Xin Cuisine at Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore ushers in a prosperous Year of the Ox with perennial favourites for takeaways and lavish set menus for up to 8 persons.

Alaskan Crab with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce Yu Sheng 3.8/5

For this year Lo Hei, Xin Cuisine introduces the Alaskan Crab with Salted Egg Yolk Sauce Yu Sheng ($98/$138) available for both dine-in and takeaway. The salted egg yolk sauce gives the yu sheng a tangy twist to the traditional taste. However, I feel that the sweetness can be reduced and the salted egg yolk sauce can be more prominent.

Trilogy of Dim Sauce Delicacies 4/5

Before moving to dinner proper, we started with a Trilogy of Dim Sauce Delicacies. On the plate, we have Pork Dumpling, Deep-fried Prawn Dumpling with Salad Sauce and Deep-fried Yam Dumpling. My favourite is the yam dumpling shaped like a swan with fragrant yam encase by a crispy exterior.

Double-boiled Conch Meat with Dried Scallops & Cordyceps Flower 4.2/5

The Double-boiled Conch Meat with Dried Scallops & Cordyceps Flower is a hearty and nourishing soup to line the stomach before starting on the mains.

Abalone Treasure Pot 4.5/5

Pen Cai which is customarily eaten during Lunar New Year is a festive casserole hotpot dish that symbolises prosperity and abundance. The Abalone Treasure Pot is layered to the brim with premium ingredients such as whole abalone, fresh scallop, deep-fried fish maw, sea cucumber, live prawns,  roasted meat and more.

Wok-fried Glutinous Rice with Preserved Meat 4.2/5

Ending the mains, we have the Wok-fried Glutinous Rice with Preserved Meat. A delectable and excellent rice dish showcases the use of Chinese cured meats to elevate an ingredient that we eat almost daily to a whole different level.

Xin's Deep-fried Nian Gao with Coconut Milk 3.5/5

Last but not least, we have the Xin's Deep-fried Nian Gao with Coconut Milk to wrap up the sumptuous dinner.

Xin’s Set Menus are available for order from 7 Jan to 26 Feb 2021 and reservations for Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner is now open. For more information about Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant’s CNY Set Menus, please click here.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317173
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 930pm
Sat & Sun: 1130am - 1pm, 115pm - 3pm, 530pm - 930pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]