Let’s Kinn BRO @ Crown Centre - Be Transported to Thailand with Signature Spicy Seafood Mama Tom Yum Hot Pot

Let's Kinn THAI started in Tanjong Pagar and quickly gained popularity for their signature Seafood Mama Tom Yum Hot Pots. The team opened their newest outlet in the West, in Crown Centre at Bukit Timah. Crown Centre is the mall which houses Crown Bakery, just down the road from Atlas Coffeehouse. This new outlet goes with the name of Let's Kinn BRO.

Similarly, the team hopes to serve authentic Thai dishes alongside their highly raved hotpots. You can find classic options, such as Moo Ping, Green Curry Chicken, Basil Pork with Rice & Egg, and more.

Thai Ice Milk Tea 4.2/5

What's a Thai meal without Thai Ice Milk Tea ($2.50)? Although it was a tad too sweet for my liking, it tasted authentic. The tea base was fragrant, and as a whole, it was sufficiently thick without being cloying.

Fresh River Prawn Seafood Lover Mama Hot Pot 4.2/5

The main highlight of our meal here was definitely the Fresh River Prawn Seafood Lover Mama Hot Pot ($42.90). The portion feeds 3 pax well, with a layer of cabbage topped with mama instant noodles, mushrooms, clams, mussels, squid, eggs, prawns and a bigger river prawn, all brimming in a hearty tom yum broth. While the seafood could be fresher, the star for us was the flavourful broth that boasted tangy and spicy notes.

Thai Steamed Seabass with Lemon 4/5

We also had the Thai Steamed Seabass with Lemon ($29.90). The seabass was fresh and meaty, and I appreciated how cleanly the flaky meat fell off its bones. The spicy lime base sauce was appetising and garlicky, and I imagine it would pair well with white rice. However, it was a pity that our seabass was served lukewarm, and the base flame provided could not heat it up better.

Mango Sticky Rice 3.5/5

We had the Mango Sticky Rice ($8.90) to end our meal. While I enjoyed the coconut cream giving it a clever savoury addition, the glutinous rice was a little too hard. The mango was more sour than sweet as well.

Let's Kinn BRO is a decent spot for an authentic Thai meal. Skip the dessert and go for their tom yum hot pot. The restaurant also offers a range of alcoholic beverages for you to wash down the spice!

If you are heading down, I recommend making a reservation by calling them at +65 8851 2138 or saving a table online via Quandoo.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


LET’S KINN BRO
Crown Centre
557 Bukit Timah Road
#01-14
Singapore 269694
Tel: +65 8851 2138
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Nearest MRT: Botanic Gardens (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 8am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Botanic Gardens MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Bukit Timah Road. Continue walking down Bukit Timah Road and walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes.[Map]

Tan Xiang Yuan @ Dickson Road - A Seafood Hotpot Haven and Chinese Delights By Actor Ben Yeo

Nestled within a charming two-storey shophouse along Dickson Road, Tan Xiang Yuan offers a delightful array of Chinese dishes, opened by actor and host Ben Yeo. While their signature seafood hotpot steals the spotlight, the restaurant also presents a diverse selection of Chinese cooked dishes that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Signature Seafood Hotpot 4/5

The centerpiece of Tan Xiang Yuan is their Signature Seafood Hotpot ($98/$188), a culinary masterpiece that is served over a charcoal fire. The broth, simmered for eight hours with prawn shells, old hen, and pork bones, exudes a rich and sweet flavor that is packed with seafood goodness. Sliced fish, yam, prawns, abalone, scallops, and more adorn the hotpot, creating a seafood extravaganza that will leave you craving for more.

Black Vinegar Pork Trotter Jelly 3/5

For a modern twist on a traditional favorite, the Black Vinegar Pork Trotter Jelly ($6) takes the stage. These mini sphere-shaped delights offer a unique and delicate rendition of the classic Teochew pig's trotter jelly, although the portion size may leave you longing for more.

Mao Shan Wang Durian Chilli Crab Ball 4/5

Prepare for a surprising combination with the Mao Shan Wang Durian Chilli Crab Ball ($12/pc), an appetizer that encases the bold flavors of durian and chili crab in a crispy shell. This unusual fusion surprisingly works, creating a burst of flavors that will intrigue your taste buds.

Handmade Fish Curd with Luffa Melon 2.5/5

Unfortunately, not all dishes at Tan Xiang Yuan live up to expectations. The Handmade Fish Curd with Luffa Melon ($20/$30/$40), while comprising luffa, handmade fish curd, black fungus, carrot, and mushroom, fell short in terms of flavor. It lacked seasoning, leaving a bland impression on the palate.

Signature Fried Rice 2.8/5

The Signature Fried Rice ($22/$33/$44), a staple dish in any Chinese restaurant, also failed to impress. With its lackluster taste and ordinary presentation, it did not meet the expectations one would have for a restaurant of this caliber.

Hand Drizzled Roast Chicken 4.2/5

However, Tan Xiang Yuan redeems itself with their Hand Drizzled Roast Chicken ($26 Half/ $48 Whole), a dish that showcases the artistry of drizzling hot oil over the chicken to achieve a crispy skin while keeping the meat tender and juicy. The result is a flavorful and satisfying poultry indulgence.

Signature Beef Cubes 4.2/5

To spice things up, the Signature Beef Cubes ($26/$39/$52) stir-fried in a piquant black pepper sauce take the spotlight. The succulent meat, infused with the aromatic black pepper, creates a mouthwatering symphony of flavors that will leave you craving for more.

Overall, Tan Xiang Yuan at Dickson Road offers a memorable dining experience with its show-stopping seafood hotpot and a mix of Chinese dishes. While some dishes may fall short of expectations, the restaurant's highlights shine through, making it a worthwhile destination for seafood lovers and Chinese cuisine enthusiasts alike.


Tan Xiang Yuan
1 Dickson Road
Singapore 209493
Tel: +65 80585527
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Nearest MRT: Jalan Besar (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Jalan Besar MRT statton. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to Dickson Raod. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

ViewDee Thai Bistro & Bar @ Sprout Hub - Great Chill Out Place With Delicious Thai Food At Former Henderson Secondary School

Taking over the space at Sprout Hub is ViewDee Thai Bistro & Bar, transforming the former Henderson Secondary School's canteen into little Thailand with neo lights and stalls selling Thai-centric cuisine. The huge and airy premise is an excellent location for chilling out with friends over drinks and delicious Thai food. The huge selection of Thai dishes also caters for a hearty family dinner.

Signature Lobster Tom Yum Mama 4/5

Great for sharing is the Signature Lobster Tom Yum Mama ($48.80). Besides the majestic lobster, there is other seafood, such as squid, mussels and clams. It is very enjoyable. However, the tom yum soup was too sweet. A bit more balance in the soup would be preferred. There is even a hearty seafood porridge version that is ideal for the rainy weather.

Royal Thai Fish Head Hot Pot 4.5/5

Something uncommon on the menu is the Royal Thai Fish Head Hot Pot ($48.80). The creamy soup base is packed with robust flavour, complemented by ingredients such as tofu, mushrooms, seafood and yam and vegetable. It is non-spicy, hearty and comforting.

Green Papaya Salad $11.80

Besides the sharing tom yum mama and hotpot, the kitchen woks up an eclectic selection of Thai dishes. We started with the Green Papaya Salad ($11.80), whetting the appetite. The sharp flavours and the salad's crunchy texture make it an appetising starter.

Waterfall Deep Fried Pork Belly 4.5/5

The Waterfall Deep Fried Pork Belly ($15.80) is a favourite of mine and the dining group. The deep-fried pork belly is succulent and crispy on the skin. However, the soul of the dish goes to the sweet, sour and spicy sauce that elevates the taste profile to a whole new level.

Thai Style Kang Kong 4.2/5

Basil Minced Pork 4.2/5

The Thai Style Kang Kong ($12.80) and Basil Minced Pork ($15.80) are two items I often order at a Thai restaurant. Both are well executed in the way I like. I understand Thai chefs cook the dishes, and they don't hold back or tone down the flavours. That is why I enjoyed their cooking.

Thai Style Steamed Seabass 3.8/5

Another dish I enjoyed is the Thai Style Steamed Seabass ($38.80). The fish was moist and fresh, cooked in a sweet, sour and spicy sauce, the characteristic flavours in Thai cuisine. However, being picky, the chef is slightly heavy-handed on the sweetness.

Flaming Pork Knuckle 3.5/5

The Flaming Pork Knuckle ($38.80) made an impressive entrance lighted in flame. Served bone-in, it is crispy on the skin with fork-tender meat. It comes with three dipping sauces for full enjoyment.

Tom Yum Seafood Pizza 2.5/5

The menu even includes western fare, such as pizza and burgers. We tried the Tom Yum Seafood Pizza ($19.80). The flavours reconciled with me, but I was not fond of the dough. It tastes like instant dough.

Beer Gao

ViewDee Thai Bistro & Bar is a great place to chill over delicious Thai food. Besides the usual beer tower or liquors, you can get Beer Gao here, a combo of Stout and Lager.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


ViewDee Thai Bistro & Bar
Sprout Hub
102 Henderson Road
Singapore 159562
Tel: +65 65134611
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Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 11pm
Fri: 12pm - 1am
Sat: 1130am - 1am
Sun: 1130am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10161). Take bus number 16 or 851. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

1) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10209). Take bus number 132 or 145. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Xiabu Xiabu @ Lazada One (Bras Basah Road) - Stress-free Dining Experience With Individual Hotpots And Bubble Tea

Chinese hotpot chain Xiabu Xiabu has recently opened its first overseas outpost in Singapore in Lazada One. With over one thousand outlets across China, Xiabu Xiabu is known for its personal hotpots serving delicious soups at affordable prices. You can also enjoy your favourite bubble tea from Tea Mi Tea and hotpot within the same premises.

Each customer is to choose one personal hotpot set; sharing a hot pot comes with a surcharge. Each set comes with a dual hotpot (Mushroom Soup Base + the choice of another soup base), vegetable platter, unlimited condiments at the buffet-style condiments bar, ice slushie bar, and tea (choice of either Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Er Tea). The dual hotpot is created for Xiabu Xiabu's first overseas outlet to cater to our preference. Unlike some mushroom soups with a very weak consistency and taste rather one dimensional, Xiabu Xiabu's carries depths of flavours from a combination of King Trumpet mushrooms, white button mushrooms, and Blaze mushrooms.

USDA Shortplate

Australian Oyster Blade

The choices for the hotpot set are Popular Beef Set ($28/$32), Classic Pork Collar Set ($28), Signature Chicken Set ($28), Beef and Seafood Set ($38) and Vegetarian Set ($25). The Beef set is a hot favourite, with three types of cuts (140g each) to choose from - USDA Shortplate, Australian Oyster Blade or Australian Thin Beef Flank. We went for USDA Shortplate and Australian Oyster Blade for their fattier cuts.

Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base

We chose the much-raved Stew Pork Tripe and Chicken Soup Base (+ $2) and Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base. Enriched with Oatly milk and barley, this peppery pork tripe soup has a milky consistency that is deeply satisfying. It is slightly on the saltier side, but its creaminess goes very well with the thinly shaved meats, vegetables, and especially the noodles that soak up the milky broth.

Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base

The Golden Sauerkraut Soup Base was highly appetising with its tangy profile, created from a combination of sour vegetables, marinated mustard greens, golden apple, and rosemary. It's perfect if your dining companion has a rich soup base such as the stew pork tripe or other options such as Nanyang Curry Soup Base (+$2) and Hot and Spicy in Sichuan Style Soup Base (+$2).

Vegetable platter

The design of the hotpot set is thoughtful. It has a good assortment of ingredients to jazz up the hotpot for one person. The Vegetable Platter includes black fungus, greens, tofu, mushroom, meatball, mussels and a big lovely chunk of yam which is a bonus to me.

Prawn Paste 2.8/5

Lu Rou Fan 3/5

The rest of the meats, such as the Belgian Pork Collar, Chicken and Seafood, are also available on the ala carte menu, alongside other ingredients such as Prawn Paste ($10), Fuzhou Fishballs, Assorted Mushrooms etc. You can even have Lu Rou Fan ($2.50), but there was no braised egg which was disappointing. The Prawn Paste came frozen in the shape of a leaf and tasted average.

At the condiments counter, one of the highlights is the free flow of noodles - Udon, Spinach Noodles, Carrot Noodles, Prince Instant Noodle, and Bean Vermicelli. The various condiments include Xiabu Xiabu Sesame Dipping Sauce, their signature dipping sauce made from finely ground groundnuts blended with white sesame for an extra creamy texture.

Each set comes with Da Hong Pao Tea or Aged Pu Erh Tea, provided by Tea Me Tea. You can also top up for a choice of your favourite bubble teas.

Dessert

The most fun part of the entire Xiabu Xiabu experience is the Dessert station, where you can make your own Shaved Ice. I miss those I had in Taiwan. Here I had all my favourite toppings laid out in front of me - plump red beans, chunky yam paste, silky beancurd, brown sugar syrup, and less commonly seen topping such as watermelon jelly, cucumber jelly and chewy oatmeal. Nothing was overly sweetened.

Photos and 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.


Xiabu Xiabu
Lazada One
51 Bras Basah Road
#01-03/04
Singapore 189554
Tel: +65 85965752
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Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC Line), Bencoolen (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bencoolen MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Black Knight Hotpot (黑武士火鍋) @ Millenia Walk - Authentic & Pioneer Taiwan Hotpot Establishment Well-loved By Celebrities

Black Knight Hotpot (黑武士火鍋) is a pioneer hotpot establishment from Taiwan located at Millenia Walk. The premium Taiwanese hotpot experience is well-loved by celebrities for its house-made soups boiled for 16 hours. In addition, it offers seven different slow-cooked soup bases for an incomparable hotpot experience.

Fish Maw Chicken Pot and Spicy Pot

The hotpot experience comes in two sizes - single and double pot, across seven tantalising soup bases. The seven flavours are Drunken Pot, Fish Maw Chicken Pot, Spicy Pot, Pork Tripe & Chicken Peppercorn Pot, Nourishing Beauty Pot, Sliced Pork Pickled Cabbage Pot and Taro Spareribs Pot.

A good choice is the Assorted Meat Platter (market price) if you need help deciding what to go for. It comprises three different types of beef and pork. Premium choices include Japanese A5 Wagyu, Japanese A4 Wagyu, Japanese Wagyu Beef Shank and Snowflakes Wagyu Beef.

Besides the quality meat cuts, there are classic hotpot items such as fried bean curd rolls, quail's egg, lobster meatballs, beef tripe, a variety of vegetables, fungus and noodles.

There is also fresh seafood on the menu Scallops, Bamboo Clams, Live Prawns, Crab, Lobster, Oyster and Abalone. The Handmade Shrimp Paste topped with ebiko is a must-have. It has a delightful crunchy texture when it is cooked.

Black Truffle Fried Rice

Black Knight Hotpot even offers cooked dishes on its menu, unlike other hotpot restaurants. Diners can look forward to various cooked seafood such as Chilli Crabs, Cereal Prawns, Steamed Fish and more. To complete your meal, you may also complement it with hot dishes such as Mongolian Short Ribs, Sweet & Sour Pork, Fried Frog Leg etc. There are also Fried Rice and Noodles to fill you up if you are still not full.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Black Knight Hotpot
Millenia Walk
Nihon Street
9 Raffles Blvd
#02-02/05
Singapore 039596
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 4pm, 530pm - 1030pm

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