Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant (萬豪軒) @ Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel - “The Return of Sri Lankan Crabs”, Wan Hao’s Limited-Time Offering Till 31 Aug 2023

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant is bringing back its "The Return of Sri Lankan Crabs" promotion, which features twelve crab-centric dishes centred around local and Chinese flavours with modern elements. The menu offers both Dim Sum and A La Carte options, with the Dim Sum offerings exclusively available during lunch hours.

For Dim Sum, you can expect creations such as Pan-Fried Chilli Crab Bun ($3.80 per piece) and Black Pepper Crab Meat Spring Roll ($3.80 per piece), while the A La Carte dishes include Stewed Crab with Shallot & Sha Jiang in Claypot ($15/100g), Braised Luffa Gourd with Crab Meat & Crab Roe ($48) and more.

Hairy Crab Xiao Long Bao 4/5

From the Dim Sum menu, we sampled the Hairy Crab Xiao Long Bao ($4.80 per piece, min. order of 2 pieces). The xiao long bao broth carried a more savoury-sweet flavour profile, deviating from the usual porky richness.

While I found the portion a bit small considering the price, it was quite an indulgent treat with the morsels of crab meat.

Wok-Fried Prawn with Egg White & Fresh Milk in Crab Roe Sauce 4/5

The Wok-Fried Prawn with Egg White & Fresh Milk in Crab Roe Sauce ($48) featured a smooth and custardy egg white topped with crunchy prawns. The crab roe and its sauce added a buttery richness, though the fried piece carrying the ingredients could be done significantly better. It lacked crunch and, unfortunately, gave a tad oily aftertaste, which affected the overall experience.

Braised Iberico Pork Ball with Hairy Crab Superior Stock & Bok Choy 4.2/5

A standout for us from the A La Carte menu was the Braised Iberico Pork Ball with Hairy Crab Superior Stock & Bok Choy ($38 per pax). The golden stock was rich and savoury, complementing the packed yet tender pork ball. The addition of crunchy water chestnut bits added texture, while the crab meat lent a subtle sweetness.

Salted Egg & Chicken Floss Crab 4.5/5

The batter on the Salted Egg & Chicken Floss Crab ($15/100g) was perfectly executed. It was skillfully done thin enough to thoroughly coat the crabs and pick up the salted egg and chicken floss. There was even a generous amount of crunchy batter bits all around.

Although the salted egg flavour was less robust than expected, this decadent combination will appeal to the local palate. The crabs themselves were incredibly fresh with plump meat. I was thoroughly impressed by the amount of crab egg roe found in the shell - it was packed!

Steamed Crab Roe with Wok-Fried Glutinous Rice 4.2/5

We concluded our crab feast with the Steamed Crab Roe with Wok-Fried Glutinous Rice ($16/100g). Personally, I prefer steamed crabs, especially when they are fresh, as it allows its natural sweetness to shine through. The lightly seasoned glutinous rice studded with Chinese sausage was a great accompaniment to the firm crab meat.

If you are a crab enthusiast, Wan Hao’s crab creations are worth a try before their seasonal menu comes to an end.

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.


Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant (萬豪軒)
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
320 Orchard Road
Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605
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Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NE, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11.30am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm

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

KEK Seafood @ Pandan Gardens

Keng Eng Kee Seafood (KEK) has opened a second outlet at Pandan Gardens. It is a dream comes true for head chef Wayne Liew, one of the youngest local zichar chef in Singapore. At KEK Seafood Pandan Garden, the menu is different from the Alexandra main branch. Chef Wayne Liew will be introducing his version of progressive zichar together with a couple of their signature dishes.

Prawn Toast 3.5/5

A delightful light starter is the Prawn Toast with sweet chilli sauce. The prawn is topped on toast and deep fried, resulting in a crispy exterior, crunchy and fluffy interior.

KEK Crunchy Greenery 3.8/5

This is an interesting twist for salad using ingredients such as Nai Bai Cai (Baby White Pak Choi), Fried Lotus Root, Prawn, Cashew Nuts and Deep Fried Flour Crisp. The medley of ingredients is then dressed in a sweet plum sauce and sesame oil inspired from the Chinese Yusheng sauce. A light and refreshing KEK Crunchy Greenery to kick start the dinner.

Sambal LaLa 3.8/5

We felt like having something spicy so we tried the Sambal LaLa ($12). The lala is big and plump, well coated with the sambal sauce. It is not as spicy as I thought, with a hint of sweetness. Hence those with low tolerance for spicy food, will find it easy for consumption.

Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs 4/5

KEK Seafood is known for its signature coffee pork ribs but I was in the mood to try something new. Hence I had the Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs ($15) instead. The pork ribs are deep fried to flavoursome and yet succulent. A very enjoyable dish.

Kai Lan with Dragon Beard 4/5

It is always good to have some greens in your meal for a balanced diet. We had the Kai Lan with Dragon Beard ($8). The addition of crispy baked cod fish strips provided an extra layer of texture enjoyment.

Salted Egg Yolk Crab Pasta 4.2/5

At KEK Seafood, it is not just about communal dining. There is also one meal dish such as the Salted Egg Yolk Crab Pasta ($15). This is another twist from Wayne to introduce a new take for zichar, catered to the young generation. The highlight has to be the rich and creamy salted egg yolk saue which made the pasta slurping good.

As you can see from my review, KEK Seafood at Pandan Gardens is offering a new take of zichar dishes. This is the space where Chef Wayne will constantly comes up with new idea and dishes to progress from the tradition. For fans of their traditional dishes, KEK Seafood at Alexandra will continue to wok up these dishes.


Keng Eng Kee Seafood
200 Pandan Gardens
#01-12
Singapore 609336
Tel: +65 66943044
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Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Jurong East Bus Interchange (Stop ID 28009). Take bus number 51. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant (琼荣记海鲜) @ Bukit Merah Lane 1

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant (KEK) has been one of my favourite zi char places to go to whenever I have family gathering or friends visiting from other countries. Started in a humble hawker centre in the 1970s, Keng Eng Kee moved from the demolished Havelock Road hawker centre to its current location at Alexandra Village. It was only a small stall when it moved into Alexandra Village. Down the years, it has expanded the business and took over the whole premises. Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant is a family business whereby the kitchen is now helm by one of the youngest local chef, Wayne Liew while his brother Paul, runs the operations.

Mingzhu Roll 4/5

Mingzhu Roll ($9/$12/$15) is one of KEK's own creation. The golden brown roll is stuffed with salted egg yolk, prawn, ham, mushroom and parsley in a fried tau pok shell. What result is a crispy exterior with many layers of flavours what work harmoniously.

Moonlight Hor Fun 4.2/5

Another signature dish at KEK is the Moonlight Hor Fun ($5/$8/$12/$16) that is wok fried to fragrant in the dark sweet sauce. giving it a smokey aroma or better known as wok hei in our local description. A raw egg is cracked with the egg yolk resembling the moon. Give it a good toss so that the rice noodles are well coated in the egg yolk. I felt it give the noodle a pleasant smoothness in texture while at the same time cut through that rich sweetness from the dark sauce.

Chinese Spinach with Fried Ikan Bilis 4.2/5

For a more balance diet, we order some greens in the Chinese Spinach with Fried Ikan Bilis ($8/$12/$16). The spinach is cooked to a nice crunchy bite with the ikan bilis giving the dish an additional crispy texture.

Prawn Rolls 4.2/5

The huge and plump homemade Prawn Rolls or Hay Chor ($8/$12/$16) is made with a blend of minced pork, carrot, prawn and water chestnut, wrapped in beancurd skin. I like the addition of the water chestnut, giving it a nice crunchy enjoyment.

Coffee Pork Ribs 4.5/5

The aroma of coffee filled the air when the Coffee Pork Ribs ($10/$18/$25) topped with sesame seeds is served to the table. I like the fact that the bones of the pork ribs are removed so it is really easy for consumption. The caramelized sweetness, coffee flavour and aroma made this an excellent dish. This is a must order for me whenever I visit KEK.

Salted Egg Crab 4.5/5

Many foreigners that visit Singapore will always go for the iconic Chilli Crab or Black Pepper Crab. However these are on the spicy side which may not be suitable for the foreign palate. Hence I will usually order the Salted Egg Crab (seasonal price) which is not spicy but instead comes with a sweet buttery and creamy taste that is more suitable for the foreign palate. My foreign friends that have tried it, all have enjoyed it.

Good news to the fans of KEK. KEK has opened a second outlet at 200 Padan Gardens. The menu is slightly different with Chef Wayne's modern take of zi char dishes and a couple of all times favourite from the KEK flagship outlet. Do look out for my post of their second outlet soon.


Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant (琼荣记海鲜)
Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Singapore 150124
Tel: +65 62721038
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Nearest MRT: Queenstown (EW Line), Redhill (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Queenstown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Queenstown MRT station (Stop ID 11149). Take bus number 195. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Redhill MRT station (Stop ID 10201). Take bus number 33 or 120. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time 10 minutes. [Map]

Brizo @ Park Hotel Clarke Quay

Within a short 3 months period, I am back again at Brizo at Park Hotel Clarke Quay. For the period of 1 October to 27 December 2015, guests can look out for a gastronomic buffet spread from different Mediterranean regions, featuring a mouth watering array of 20 seafood dishes and a new Lobster in a Pan dish.

Some of the Mediterranean dishes available on the spread include Provencal Seafood Stew, Seafood Paella, Mediterranean Grilled Sea Bream in Paprika, Rosemary & Garlic, Black Mussel & Clam in White Sauce with Fresh Herbs and Pasta Fusilli Crabmeat Au Gratin.

Brizo has also recently added a BBQ section, guests can tuck into BBQ items such as Tiger Prawns Marinated in Cajun Spices, Dory Fish Fillet and Squid with Sambal Chilli, assorted vegetables and grilled potato.

Lobster in a Pan with Cioppino Sauce

Lobster in a Pan with Garlic Cream Sauce

The star of the Aloy! It's Seafood Night! buffet dinner is the Lobster in a Pan that contains a whole maine lobster, tiger prawns, clams, black mussels, potatoes, corn and gourmet sausages. There is a choice of garlic cream or cioppino sauce. I preferred the garlic cream sauce over the cioppino. Each pan is also served with refillable truffle steak fries to accompany the luxurious seafood.

Rest assured with the Mediterranean theme, the all time favourite crab dishes such as Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab and Salted Egg Yolk Crab will still be available in the buffet spread.

The Ahoy! It's the Seafood Night! buffet dinner is available every Thursday to Sunday, from 630pm to 1030pm at $65++ per adult. Children aged 6 to 12 years old at $32++ per child, complimentary for children under 6 years old.


Brizo
Park Hotel Clarke Quay
1 Unity Street
Singapore 237983
Tel: +65 65938888
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Website
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 6am - 1030am, 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to bus stop at Clark Quay Station (Stop ID 04222). Take bus number 54. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to the end UE Square Shopping Mall. Journey time about 8 minutes.  [Map]

Eastern House of Seafood @ Chai Chee Drive

If you are a foodie, you would probably often hear the saying that good food resides in the East of Singapore. It is actually quite true with the recent discovery of Eastern House of Seafood located at the HDB block in Chai Chee Drive, woking up a delectable selection of zichar dishes.

Dinosaur Pork Rib 4/5

Don't be mislead that I am having extinct meat in the Dinosaur Pork Rib ($16). The pork rib is hugemongous hence the name. The pork rib is cooked to a nice tender and fell off the bone with ease. I found the sauce on the sweet side but my friends thought otherwise.

Fried Beehoon with Pig Trotter 4.2/5

One of my favourite dishes is the Fried Beehoon with Pig Trotter ($8/$16). The beehoon infused with the pig trotter's essence came across comforting and flavourful. Definitely a dish I would recommend ordering to go with the other delectable dishes on the menu.

Dry Roast Sotong 4.5/5

The Dry Roast Sotong ($15/$22/$28) is a must try at Eastern House of Seafood. Marinated overnight with soy sauce and celery, the sotong is understand to be bathed in hot oil instead of grill. It results in a tender sotong with the marinade kind of glued to the flesh. Every bite into the flesh is returned with a burst of lovely flavours.

French Bean in Tempura Style 3.8/5

I have mixed review of the French Bean in Tempura Style ($15/$20/$25). I think kids will enjoy this with the crispy tempura. However for adult like me probably felt that the batter masked off the natural flavour of the greens.

Prawn with Pork Floss and Rice Cracker 4.2/5

The Prawn with Pork Floss with Rice Cracker is a new dish that the chef prepared for us, this is not even in the menu. The is an addictive change from the usual cereal prawn/ The crunchy prawns accompanied by the pork floss and rice cracker, provides a multi textural enjoyment.

Salted Egg Crab 4.5/5

While Chilli and Black Pepper Crabs are the favourite among manys, I felt that Salted Egg Crabs (2 for $50) has won the hearts of many too, especially those that can't take spicy. At Eastern House of Seafood, the version is consider the dry style using crabs around 500 to 600 grams. One just need to get into it and get your fingers dirty. It is simply finger licking good.

Assam Fish Head 4.5/5

When the Assam Fish Head ($18/$20) was served, the first thing I noticed is the huge portion for the price. This is really value for money. The rich and robust assam gravy with its spiciness and tanginess, made this super shiok! Give me another bowl of rice!

If you are looking for a place to have a good zi char dinner with your family or gathering, I would recommend Eastern House of Seafood. The pricing is very reasonable with good quality and delicious food.


Eastern House of Seafood
Blk 55 Chai Chee Drive
#01-174/6
Singapore 460055
Tel: +65 91508172
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Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Bedok MRT station (Stop ID 84039). Take bus number 222. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat @ Bukit Batok Crescent

To be frank I would have never imagine myself travelling all the way to the West for Zi Char not to mention an ulu location nestled in the Bukit Batok industrial area. Who would have known that there is a coffeeshop with a zi char stall which is only opened for around 2 weeks during my visit. The location of Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat actually felt a similarity to Sin Min industrial area with eateries opening in the area in recent years.

Fish Head Steamboat 3.5/5

Dinner started with Ah Lim's signature Fish Head Steamboat (market price) using charcoal fire. While the soup is packed with the vegetable sweetness, all of us felt that it is lacking the robustness that we are seeking for. Compare to popular fish head steamboat like Whampoa Keng and Nam Hwa Chong (Ah Chew), this fell short of my expectation. Nevertheless this place is opened for only two weeks, probably a little more adjustment and fine tuning they should be good.

Homemade Golden Mushroom Beancurd 4/5

The Homemade Golden Mushroom Beancurd ($12) was much better. The star has to be the silky and smooth beancurd. For me the golden mushroom is purely gimmick but it did give the dish an extra crispy bite.

Crispy Chicken 3.8/5

I thought the Crispy Chicken with Plum Sauce ($22) was quite unique in its own way. The delectable crispy chicken skin is like an interpretation of suckling pig or Peking duck. However I thought if the marination for the crispy skin could be stronger or tastier it would be even better.

Fried Five Spice Pork 4/5

The inconspicuous Fried Five Spice Pork ($10/$15) has a familiar homely taste that I could not really put a picture or word to it. The combination of the aromatic spices together with the layer of fats simply melted my heart disintegrate in my mouth.

Salted Egg York Crab 3/5

While I applauded the thought behind the Salted Egg York Crab (market price) to showcase the freshness and natural sweetness of the crustacean, the salted egg york flavour was hardly noticeable. Having grown up with the saucy chilli crab and pepper crab, a good sauce has become an important criteria to determine a good crab dish. I still think Singaporean will still prefer something that is more saucy to encompass the sweetness of the crustacean.

Stir Fried Dou Miao with Fried Garlic 4.2/5

The Stir Fried Dou Miao with Fried Garlic demonstrates the wok skill of the chef. It was cooked to perfection with the greens retaining the crunchiness. I like having the fried garlic giving it an extra aroma boost.

Braised Pork Belly 4.5/5

A must try at Ah Lim Zi Char is the Braised Pork Belly ($15/$20). The gorgeous looking collagen packed pork belly glazed with honey was melting delicious. As this takes long hours to cook, each day only limited amount is available. If you want to savour this and not to be disappointed, it is better to pre-order before your visit.

Thai Sambal Chilli Fish 4.5/5

The other worth ordering dish is the Thai Sambal Chilli Fish (market price). Fresh red snapper fish head cooked in a delectable Thai sambal sauce that not only worked harmoniously, it also accentuated the taste of the fish meat.

Being only opened for two weeks, I have not set my expectation high as I understand it will take them sometime to settle down. Saying that, they did manage to delight my palate with the execution of the Braised Pork Belly and Thai Sambal Chilli Fish.


Ah Lim Zi Char & Fish Head Steamboat
WCEGA Plaza
1 Bukit Batok Crescent
#02-06
Singapore 658064
Tel: +65 81980414
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ahlimkopitiam
Nearest MRT: Bukit Batok (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bukit Batok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bukit Batok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 43009). Take bus number 77 or 106. Aight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]