Golden Cafe @ Craig Road (Tanjong Pagar) - Affordable Zichar DIshes In The CBD

Golden Cafe unknown to many is a homegrown zichar brand established in 1988. It started in Boat Quay before relocating to its current home at Craig Road in Tanjong Pagar. Together with a few foodie friends, we had lunch at the Golden Cafe.

Crab with Thick Bee Hoon Soup 3.8/5

Golden Cafe offers several cooking methods for their crabs, and we decided to go for the Crab with Thick Bee Hoon Soup (Seasonal Price). The crab is fresh and sweet, cooked together with the thick bee hoon in a flavoursome and milky broth. Personally, I think they should change the thick bee hoon to a firmer type. The one it is using now is too soft to my liking.

Yue Guang Fried Hor Fun 3/5

Another noodle dish on the menu that we tried is the Yue Guang Fried Hor Fun ($6.30). It reminds me of the Moonlight Hor Fun from Keng Eng Kee Seafood. Hence my benchmark has been raised significantly. In comparison, the version at Golden Cafe is lighter in flavour. While I can taste the wok hei smokiness, I felt the dark sauce lacked the sweetness and aroma to make my taste buds break into a dance under the moonlight.

Special Made Beancurd 4/5

Besides the two noodle dishes we had, we also tried a couple of cooked zichar dishes from the menu too. First up is the Special Made Beancurd ($10/$14). I think this is a bonus dish. Not only do you get to enjoy the silky smooth beancurd, but it also comes with vegetables and mushrooms.

Oyster Omelette 4/5

I also enjoyed the Oyster Omelette ($10/$14). It is beautifully executed, not oily and yet fluffy. It even comes with plump and juicy oysters. I am not sure what is the sauce that is drizzled over the oysters, but it further elevated the whole taste profile.

Sweet & Sour Pork 4/5

Next dish we tried is the Sweet & Sour Pork ($10/$14). This is one of my favourite zichar dishes to order, but not many places do it well. Golden Cafe gets my thumbs up. The meat and flour ratio, as well as the sweetness, are all well balanced while still retaining a nice tender texture within unlike many places that sting on the meat, coating it with a lot of flour.

Nonya Grouper 3.8/5

Last but not least, we have the Nonya Grouper (Seasonal Price). Too often we will either order curry or assam fish; hence I thought it will be a good change. The grouper was steamed to perfection. The nonya sauce was nice, but it seems that it lacks something to brighten it up.

Overall, the Golden Cafe serves pretty decent zichar dishes at affordable prices in the central business district area. For office workers in the area, you can also grab a quick lunch with the affordable rice and noodle dishes starting from as low as $5.80.

Note: This is an invited tasting


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Golden Cafe
5 Craig Road
Singapore 089665
Tel: +65 63233773
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 1130pm
Sat-Sun: 3pm - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Orchid Hotel. Walk to Tanjong Pagar Road. Cross the road and walk to Craig Road. Continue on Craig Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Beauty In The Pot @ VivoCity - Finally A Nearer Outlet For The Westies

Taking over the space which used to occupy Paradise Dynasty at VivoCity is Beauty In The Pot. For those not familiar with the mall, it is located above Golden Village Cinema or besides the new public library at VivoCity. This is by far their latest outlet among the three Beauty In The Pot concept by the Paradise Group.

Like the other outlets, the restaurant offers a variety of soup bases such as the Signature Beauty Collagen Broth, Signature Spicy Nourishing Soup, Herbal Drunken Chicken Broth, Cooling Coconut Broth, Tomato Broth and Mushroom Broth. Depending on the choice of broths, it comes in single pot, dual or quad pots.

I like my meats for hotpot and I like the choices on Beauty In The Pot's menu. For Pork, they have selection such as US Kurobuta Pork, Nagano Pork Belly and Nagano Pork Collar. As for the beef, there are US Angus Prime Short Ribs, US Wagyu Ribeye and Beef Tripe.

One of my must order item at Beauty In The Pot is the thickly sliced Red Grouper served on a bed of ice. It is understand that they are freshly delivered from the fish market daily.

A definitely must order for me is the Fried Beancurd Skin. It is supposed to be only cook for 1 to 3 seconds, so one just gets the bite of crispiness while allowing the beancurd skin to soak up the broth. I personally prefer it to be slightly longer, allowing it to soak up everything.

If you are spoilt of choices and do not know what to order, just go for the different platter selections. Once you know what you like, you can order the specific item in your second round or next visit.

However I have a small complains. I am a bit upset that Beauty In The Pot is charging for the sauces per pax. Come on who eats steamboat without sauces. I have met some staff that didn't even explain to the customers but just put the charges at the end of the dinner in the bill.


Beauty In The Pot
VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#03-08A
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62550758
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Website
Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 6am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Harbourfront MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]