Lee's Taiwanese @ JEM

Celebrating its 3rd anniversary, Lee's Taiwanese has refreshed its menu with the returning of old favourites and new delights. On top of that it has also introduced an a la carte buffet with a selection of over 20 dishes. The a la carte buffet is available on weekday only with free dessert and drinks. Do note that the buffet is available at JEM outlet ($16.90) from 1130am to 5pm while Star Vista outlet ($19.90) is from 3pm to 10pm.

Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua 4/5

Probably the very first dish that I am introduce to Taiwanese cuisine is the Pig Intestines & Meat Ball Mee Sua ($10). The version at Lee's Taiwanese is as close as the one I had in Taiwan topped with garlic, chilli and vinegar. The rice vermicelli which comes with a nice silky bite is imported from Taiwan.

Sweet Potato Fries 3.5/5

Instead of buying an air ticket to fly to Taiwan, Lee's Taiwanese has brought the popular Taiwan street food dishes to their menu. I tried some of the street snacks such as Sweet Potato Fries ($6.90), Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90), Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) and Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80).

The Sweet Potato Fries has a nice thin batter coated around it, giving it a nice crispy bite. The sweet potato itself thickly cut, allowing one to appreciate its sweetness to the fullest.

Salt & Pepper Chicken 4/5

A very enjoyable snack delight is the Salt & Pepper Chicken ($6.90). These crispy and juicy chunks of chicken meat are popping goodness that is perfect with a a glass of beer.

Pig Intestines with Scallion 3.5/5

The Pig Intestines with Scallion ($7.50) was fried to a nice crunchy bite. The scallion stuffed into the pig intestines is a clever idea to mask the gamey taste of the innard.

Crispy Chicken Chop 3/5

Another popular Taiwan street food dish is the Crispy Chicken Chop ($7.80). This is really a huge piece of offering on the plate. While the meat still retained the juiciness, I thought the batter was a pale shadow compare to the other Taiwanese restaurants or stalls.

Crispy Bean Curd Rolls 3/5

Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi 3/5

Some other dishes I tried on the menu are the Crispy Bean Curd Rolls ($4.80) and Golden Tofu with Taiwan Kimchi ($4.80). Nothing much to shout about but a nice complement to the meal at Lee's Taiwanese.

Century Egg Tofu 3/5

I am a big fan for Century Egg Tofu ($4.80) but this at Lee's Taiwanese did not manage to excite me. The whole execution felt very individual. I still miss the authentic century egg cold tofu I had in Taiwan years back.

Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup 4/5

Not to miss is the Signature Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup ($13.80) which comes with a hint of spiciness in the soup base. Severed with tender beef, salted vegetables and handmade noodles, this is a good slurping bowl of springy noodles dish.

Braised Minced Pork Rice 4/5

Shredded Chicken Rice 3/5

For those that needs their daily intake of rice, there are the Braised Minced Pork Rice ($9.80) and Shredded Chicken Rice ($7.80). The braised minced pork rice is really flavoured which I don't mind polishing it off. The shredded chicken rice which is so called the Taiwanese version of hainanese chicken rice will find it hard to win the palate of the local who are already used to their own authentic version in locally. However I must applauded the shallot oil that perfumed the bowl of plain looking rice which surprisingly is very fragrant and aromatic.

Mala Spicy Stir Fry 4.2/5

It seems like Mala Guo is the latest trend and craze in Singapore. Despite the fiery spiciness of the dish, Singaporean seems to enjoy it. With that, Lee's Taiwanese has also come up with its own Taiwanese style Mala Spicy Fry (from $12.80). It also has a Mala Guo Set ($28) with appetizers and drinks that is good for 2 pax. With three different spicy levels to choose from, this is one of the most memorable new dishes that I tried.

Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls 3/5

Last but not least, the Signature Red Bean Ice with Yam Balls ($5.80) to cool off that fiery tongue after the Mala Spicy Fry. The portion is quite huge. It is perfect for sharing.

Lee's Taiwanese is one of the few Taiwan restaurant I would go to if I am looking for some authentic Taiwanese food. The quality has been pretty consistent. The new dishes look promising and the a la carte buffet is very value for money.


Lee's Taiwanese
JEM
50 Jurong Gateway Road
#03-05/06
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 66941588
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leestaiwanese
Website: http://www.leestaiwanese.com/
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Drirection:
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Town Restaurant @ Fullerton Hotel Singapore

Town Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel Singapore welcomes guest Chef Frank Ho Chien Pin from Taiwan, as they collaborates for a week long culinary promotion from 10 April 2015 to 19 April 2015, adding an array of delicious Taiwanese specialties to the restaurant's dinner buffet.

Stir Fried Noodle with Three Juliennes 4/5

Chef Ho is currently an Associate Professor in the National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Chinese Cuisine Faculty as well as restaurant consultant. Armed with more than 47 years of experience in the culinary field.

Stir Fried Pork with Scallion 3.5/5

Guest at Town Restaurant during this period can savour a wide selection of over 30 authentic Taiwanese dishes under one roof on top of the local spread such as Laksa, Satay and Bak Kut Teh.

Three Cup Chicken 4/5

During my visit, I managed to try some of the authentic cooked dishes from Taiwan such as the Yang Zhou Style Fried Rice with Shrimp and Char Siew, Stir Fried Noodle with Three Juliennes, Three Cup Chicken, Stir Fried Fresh Whole Chicken with Ginger and Sesame Oil, Stir Fried Pork with Scallion, Stir Fried Squid and Sauteed Oyster with Black Bean Sauce.

Yang Zhou Style Fried Rice with Shrimp and Char Siew 4.2/5

Among the cooked dishes I tried, the fragrant fried rice topped with diced char siew and shrimp was one of my favourite. Each grain of the rice is nicely coated and separated, not sticking to one another and most importantly not greasy. The added char siew and shrimp further boost the aromatic experience.

Stir Fried Squid 3/5

Stir Fried Fresh Whole Chicken with Ginger and Sesame Oil 4.2/5

The other dish that stood out for me is the Stir Fried Fresh Whole Chicken with Ginger and Sesame Oil. Perfumed by the aromatic sesame oil, ginger and spring onion, the chicken was cooked to a palatable tender bite.

Braised Pork with Steamed Bun and Pickled Mustard Green 4/5

Another interesting dish to try is the Braised Pork with Steamed Bun and Pickled Mustard Green. Similar to our local Kong Bak Pau, the additional of pickled mustard green and peanut provided extra layers of textures and flavours to the whole execution compare to the version we are more familiar.

Chef Ho demonstrated his skill handmaking us the La Mian. He told us that on average it takes about 2 years to master the skill. Look at how skillful he is, just by using his fingers to provide the long strand of noodles.

Steamed Rice Cake stuffed with Red Bean

Steamed Rice Cake stuffed with Pickled Mustard Green

The Taiwan dinner buffet also comes with a selection of sweet treats such as the Penghu Black Sugar Steamed Rice Cake stuffed with Red Bean, Steamed Rice Cake stuffed with Pickled Mustard Green, Peanut Mochi, Pineapple Cake and Sun Cake. Among the 6 delicious treats, my favourite has to be the green coloured Steamed Rice Cake stuffed with Pickled Mustard Green. I like the savoury stir fried filling that has crunchy shreds of vegetables fragrant by the mushrooms and dried shrimps.

Town Restaurant's Authentic Tastes of Taiwan Dinner Buffet
Date: 10 April to 19 April 2015
Time: 630pm to 1030pm

Sun-Tue: $55++ (adult), $28++ (child)
Wed-Sat: $69++ (adult with seafood selection),
                $89++ (adult free flow of draught beer and Singapore sling),
                $34++ (child)

Reservation
Tel: +65 68778128
Email: town@fullertonhotel.com



Town Restaurant
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheFullertonHotel
Website: http://www.fullertonhotel.com/dining/diningCategories_2-en.html
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Shin Yeh @ Liang Court Shopping Centre

If you are looking for authentic Taiwanese cuisine, Shin Yeh located at Liang Court Shopping Shopping Centre offers once forgotten home cooked Taiwanese dishes recreated in a unique style. Taipei-based Shin Yeh is a joint venture with TungLok Group in Singapore.

The casual and modern oriental restaurant setting has a cozy ambience accentuated by the beige leather sofas set up within a cozy bamboo garden.

The 300 seater restaurant has eight private rooms and also offers a private function area that can accommodate up to ten tables.

The restaurant also comes with a nice view overlooking the Singapore River.

In conjunction with Shin Yeh's fourth anniversary and Taiwan National Day, Shin Yeh has arranged a series of promotions in the month of October to celebrate the occasions. From October onwards, Shin Yeh is upgrading its menu to include new desserts and the most iconic Taiwanese street snacks or known as "Xiao Chi". These Taiwanese street snacks will be available in the daily lunch menu (11.30am - 2.30pm) priced at $3.80 - $8.00.

From 1-10 October 2012, there will be a special weekday only promotion where one can enjoy 10 specially selected Taiwanese street snacks dishes at only $4 each. Each table however can only order a maximum of 4 dishes.

Tai Nan Rice Cake 4/5

Tai Nan Rice Cake or Bowl Cake ($4.80) translated directly from Chinese is a southern local snack. It is made from grounded rice which has been immersed in water. The rice mixture and other ingredients were placed in a rice sized bowl and steamed for approximately 20 minutes. The texture is quite similar to our local chwee kueh but with more flavours and ingredients.

Taiwan Homemade Sausage 3/5

The Taiwan Homemade Sausage ($4.20) marinated in Shaoxing wine was quite delectable. Unfortunately it was baked instead of grilled lacking the char-grilled aroma which is commonly found in Taiwan night markets.

Steamed Bun with Lean Pork and Pickled Cabbage 4.2/5

The Steamed Bun with Lean Pork and Pickled Cabbage (2pc for $4.80) or known as Yibao which resembled a wallet is usually served in Weiya (尾牙). The auspicious dish is a symbol of wealth and happiness, eating it at the end of the year is to earn more money next year. As the shape of the dish looks like the mouth of a tiger with a piece of pork inside, it also symbolises eating up all the bad things of the past year and welcoming a prosperous new year.

The steamed bun with lean pork and pickled cabbage also comes with peanut candy powder which gave the dish the additional texture and flavours that was very enjoyable.

Shih Lin Pan Fried Oysters Omelette 4.2/5

There was a little fine tuning to the Shih Lin Pan Fried Oysters Omelette ($6.80) served at Shin Yeh. The usual Taiwan Oysters Omelette has a higher proportion of starch to egg. To suit the local Singaporean's palate, more eggs were added to the dish. Even the sweetness of the sauce is adjusted down.

Crispy Fried Chicken with Dip 4.2/5

A popular Taiwan street snack, the Crispy Fried Chicken ($6.00) must be eaten while hot to savour the moist and juicy chicken with a nice exterior crispiness.

Pork and Golden Petals Broth 4/5

A northern urban taiwan snack, Pork and Golden Petals Broth or simply Rougeng (肉羹) is a hearty dish to eat during the cold weather that warms the body. The starchy broth has many variations where different ingredients can be added to lift the taste. At Shih Yeh, it used pork and the broth was more savoury compared to those I had in Taiwan night market.

Taiwan style Braised Oyster Mee Sua 4.2/5

Many of us who have visited Taiwan will know about Ah Zoong Mian Xian at Ximendeng. The Oyster Mee Sua ($5.80) at Shih Yeh probably is the closest to it that I have tried.

Fried Beancurd and Minced Pork with Mapo Spicy Sauce 4/5

Do not be mislead by the name and visual of the dish, the Fried Beancurd and Minced Pork with Mapo Spicy Sauce ($4.80) was not really spicy. The beancurd used was firmer and had a nice biting texture.

Zhang Hua Meatball 4.2/5

A favourite and household dish in Taiwan, the history of Changhua Meatballs dated back all the way back 186 years ago. It was created using sweet potato flour and pieces of meat when northern Taiwan was hit by flood and there was a shortage of food. The recipe has grew in popularity nationwide, revised and improved over the years.

The Zhang Hua Meatball ($4.80) served at Shin Yeh had a very "Q", soft and chewy texture  stuffed with a generous amount of meat fillings. The sauce had also been fine tuned to be less sweet and had a hint of spiciness to it which complemented the meatball perfectly.

Taiwan style Rice with Soya Sauce Lean Pork 4/5

Taiwan style Rice with Soya Sauce Lean Pork ($4.80) or commnly known as Lu Rou Fan (卤肉饭) is probably one of the most well known Taiwanese dishes. Different parts of Taiwan have various interpretations of the dish. The northern Taiwan Lu Rou Fan is served with ground pork, soy sauce and rice while the southern Taiwan is prepared with a whole piece of lean pork placed atop of the rice.

Fried Xin Zhu Rice Noodles with Lean Pork 4.5/5

We also have the privilege to meet Shin Yeh Taiwan's Executive Chief Chef Chen Zhong Sheng and sample 3 of the dishes from the 8 courses Special Master Chen Set Menu which was only available between 1-7 October 2012 only.

Accordingly to my understanding, Xin Zhu is a place with very strong wind. While other places required at least 2 days to dry the rice noodles, it only takes a day at Xin Zhu. The Fried Xin Zhu Rice Noodles was really springy and fragrant.

Stewed Pork Ribs with Fermented Rice Paste 4/5

The Stewed Pork Ribs with Fermented Rice Paste was unique and came with an interesting flavour that I have never tried before. The fork tender pork ribs were cooked to perfectly and came of the bone with ease.

Pan Seared Milk Fish with Salted Pepper 4.5/5

Only in October 2012, Shin Yeh is holding a special promotion of rhte premium Taiwanese delicacy Milk Fish (虱目鱼). The fish is popular in Taiwan for its tender and juicy meat, and high nutrition including calcium. 3 cooking methods are being offered at Shin Yeh. Pan Seared Milk Fish, Steamed Milk Fish and Milk Fish with Ginger and Tofu Soup. I tried the Pan Seared Milk Fish ($12 per piece) which was crisp on the exterior and the meat was so soft that it melted in my mouth.

The unique name came from the tendency of the fish turning white as milk when it is cooked and its spotless white abdomen. We were told that the fish has a lot of bones and usually only eat the abdomen portion.

Mango and Red Bean Shaved Ice 4/5

Lastly wrapping up the dinner in a sweet note, we tried both the Mango and Milk over Shaved Ice ($8.00 serves 2 persons) and Red Bean and Milk over Coconut Shaved Ice ($6.00 serves 2 persons). The mango shaved ice was fruity and refreshing. The red bean shaved ice has other ingredients should as sweet potato and yam inside.


Shin Yeh
Liang Court Shopping Centre
177 River Valley Road
#02-19
Singapore 179030
Tel: +65 63387337
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TungLokGroup
Website: http://www.shinyeh.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line), Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 6pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit C, F or G. Walk along the river toward Riverside Point direction. Cross the bridge to the other end of the river. Turn left and walk towards Liang Court. Journey time about 10  minutes. [Map]

3) 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 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]