Showing posts with label Zi Char. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zi Char. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Red Lantern Live Seafood Restaurant @ Sembawang Country Club - Hidden Live Seafood Restaurant In The North Offering Tze Char Dishes

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Red Lantern Live Seafood Restaurant officially opened in August this year and is situated within Sembawang Country Club. It offers more than 80 tantalising Asian seafood dishes, such as the signature Live lobster porridge, Chilli Crab, Squid, Kailan, BBQ Pork Ribs and more. The spacious restaurant is not enclosed and has a nice view of the golf terrace.

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Golden Salted Egg Squid 4/5

We started our meal with the Golden Salted Egg Squid ($15). Deep fried to a crispy texture, the slightly chewy rings of squid were coated in a slightly spicy, creamy salted egg paste. It was an enjoyable dish that packed a nice salted egg flavour.

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Dual Taste Kailan 3.8/5

A unique way to kick up a notch to the usual kailan dishes, the Dual Taste Kailan ($12) was served with a pile of crispy kailan leaf shreds and anchovies atop the crunchy Kailan stalks. It was an interesting twist that gave diners two different flavours and textures from one vegetable.

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BBQ Spanish Pork Ribs with Red Wine 4.2/5

One of our favourite dishes is the BBQ Spanish Pork Ribs with Red Wine ($18). The pork rib meats were superbly fork tender and fell off the bone easily. It was also coated in an incredibly flavourful marinate before being smoked and glazed, packing a robust sweet-savoury flavour with a strong smoky aroma.

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Fragrant Spicy Crab 4.2/5

As they had run out of Lobsters for the day, we settled for the Fragrant Spicy Crab ($88) instead, which did not disappoint. The wok-fried crab was tossed and covered in loads of chilli peppercorns and crispy fried garlic pieces, which brought out the lovely spicy fragrance, while the crab meat was thick, sweet and fleshy. Besides the Fragrant Spicy Crab, they offer choices of Chilli Crab and Black Pepper Crab as well.

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Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Red Lantern Live Seafood Restaurant
249 Sembawang Road
Sembawang Country Club
Singapore 758352
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Spring Leaf (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Spring Leaf MRT station. Take Exit 3. Walk to bus stop opposite Thong Soon Road (Stop ID 56091). Take bus number 167, 169, 860, 980. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Toranto Road. Turn right onto Toranto Road and walk to the end of the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Jin Jue Seafood @ Jalan Besar - Cantonese Style Seafood Zi Char That Opens Until 5am

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Just across the busy cluster of eateries in Jalan Besar is the new brightly lit signboard of Jin Jue Seafood. Specialising in Cantonese-style seafood zi char, it has a homely space with a reasonably priced menu. It operates till 5am daily, serving as another supper spot you can booklist.

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Red Snapper Fish Head Steamboat 4.5/5

The signature of Jin Jue Seafood would be their charcoal Red Snapper Fish Head Steamboat ($38). The fresh snapper slices are deliberately served separately to avoid having the fish break up throughout the meal and for diners to be able to have them fresh upon cooking. We especially enjoyed the broth's herbal notes, which resulted from the addition of goji berries and dang gui.

You have vegetables like yam, seaweed and Chinese cabbage in the base. You can opt to top up for additional ingredients to go along, such as Prawns ($18/5 Pieces), Spinach ($6), Enoki Mushrooms ($4) and more. We appreciated our pot was promptly refilled and that they provided the actual broth for refills instead of watered down base or water.

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Lemongrass Pork Ribs 4.2/5

It looked unassuming, but the Lemongrass Pork Ribs ($18) was quite a crowd favourite. The sweet-glazed exterior had a nice slight crunch, while the meat was tender and easily torn off from the bone. The hints of spice also had us wanting more. We didn't mind it, but as its name suggests, we expected the lemongrass flavour to be much more pronounced than it was.

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Stir-fried Dried Scallops & Kailan 3.5/5

The Stir-fried Dried Scallops & Kailan ($15) had stir-fried kailan beneath deep-fried kailan. Adding dried scallops helped lend an umami touch, but we found the dish as a whole too oily.

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Curry Fish Head 3.8/5

I haven't had that many curry fish heads to compare, but my dining companions found Jin Jue's Curry Fish Head ($35) pretty satisfying. It came with a generous portion of vegetables like brinjal and ladyfinger, along with crisped beancurd skin. The curry leans more milky and creamy, and we thought the spice could be more assertive.

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Black Pepper Crab 4/5

We were impressed by how fresh the Black Pepper Crab (Seasonal Price) was, the meat was firm and sweet, and it came with a good amount of roe. Their black pepper sauce leans sweeter, with a medium spice level from the chilli and peppers used.

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.


Jin Jue Seafood
369 Jalan Besar
Singapore 208997
Tel: +65 65303689
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bendemeer MRT (DT Line), Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 5am

Direction:
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk towards Kitchener Link. At Kitchener Link walk to Petain Road. Turn right at Petain Road, walk towards Jalan Besar Road. Turn left at Jalan Besar Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit A. Left right and walk to Kallang Bahru towards Lavender Street. At Lavender Street, turn right and walk towards Foch Road. Turn left onto Foch Road and walk towards Jalan Besar. Cross the road at Jalan Besar. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Tang Xiang Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat @ 5 Kallang Food Centre - Popular Fish Head Steamboat By Mediacorp Celebrity Ben Yeo & Chef Cao Yong

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Mediacorp celebrity Ben Yeo and Chef Cao Yong have partnered to open Tang Xiang Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat at 5 Kallang Food Centre. The new zichar stall is located in an industrial food canteen selling Signature Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat and an array of zichar dishes. The stall is so popular that the wait can be up to two hours long.

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Red Grouper Steamboat 4.5/5

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A must-try here is their Signature Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat which comes with two options - Giant Grouper Steamboat ($40/ $60/ $88) and Red Grouper Steamboat ($48/ $68/ $88). Each steamboat comes with fried fish head, round cabbage, yam, seaweed, tofu, tomato and a separate plate of fish slices. The robust broth s refillable too.

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Unlike other fish head steamboat places, the concept at Tang Xiang Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat allows diners to add on ingredients for the steamboat, similar to having hotpot concept.

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Fried Prawn Roll 4.5/5

Besides the fish head steamboat, the stall woks up an array of delightful zichar dishes too. We had the Fried Prawn Roll ($12/ $18/ $24). It is meaty and plump, with a light crispy coat on its exterior, giving it an extra textural enjoyment.

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Royale Chives with Bean Sprout 4/5

For a balanced diet, we had the Royale Chives with Bean Sprout ($12/ $18/ $24). I enjoyed how the contrasting textures of the vegetables complemented each other for a delectable crunch.

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Salted Egg Squid 4.5/5

The salted egg sauce for the Salted Egg Squid ($18/ $26/ $36) is legit goodness. It is probably one of the better salted egg squid I have eaten. Both flavour and texture are executed perfectly, with the addition of curry leaves lifting the taste profile.

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Signature XO Yam Ring 4.2/5

Unlike the usual yam ring, the Signature XO Yam Ring ($28) here is black, infused with charcoal powder and comes with seafood instead of the usual chicken and vegetable. It is an elevated version of the traditional yam ring and an instagrammable one.

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Claypot Spicy Chicken 4/5

Fragrant and tender is the Claypot Spicy Chicken ($15/ $22/ $30). Though the description said it is a spicy dish, I find it otherwise. The spiciness is very mild. I feel it is suitable for kids too.

The zichar stall is very popular, and the wait can be up to 2 hours. Hence, I highly recommend making reservations and pre-ordering your dishes before going down.


Tang Xiang Charcoal Fish Head Steamboat
5 Kallang Place
Singapore 339152
Tel: 8847 3776 (reservation via text only)
Nearest MRT: Bendemeer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Mon, except PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at Bendemeer MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk down Kallang Bahru Road towards Kallang Place. Turn right onto Kallang Place. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, April 17, 2022

Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) @ Clementi Ave 2 - Zichar Stall By Disciple Of One Of The Four Heavenly Kings

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For those staying in Clementi, we are blessed to have one of the best zichar stalls in Singapore. Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant (开洋海鲜菜馆) is located inside a coffeeshop at Clementi Ave 2. The man behind the wok is non-other than Chef Hoy Yong, the disciple of one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Singapore.

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Fried Hor Fun with Egg 4.5/5

One of their popular items, which you probably get to see on every table, is their Fried Hor Fun with Egg. We have the medium portion priced at $11. For the price, the portion is very generous with prawns, vegetables, fish slices, pork slices, and squids, topped with pork lards. The sight of the runny egg, coupled with the breath of the wok, already made me drool before digging in. It is definitely one of the best hor fun I have eaten.

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Pig's Stomach Soup 4.5/5

A must-try if it is your first time visiting Hoy Yong is their Three Treasures - Pig's Stomach Soup, Braised Pork Ribs and Deep Fried Duck Roll. I had two out of the three dishes, starting with the Pig's Stomach Soup ($14). You can taste the soup that has been boiled for hours from its creaminess with a piquant peppery kick. What astonished me was the amount of ingredients in the bowl of soup. You get chicken pieces, fish maw and pig's stomach. It is restaurant quality serving!

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Deep Fried Duck Roll 4.5/5

The other Three Treasure item we tried is the Deep Fried Duck Roll ($14). It is a unique and tasty creation. It is like a tempura Ngoh Hiang in the crispy crumb, stuffed with roasted duck, pork and prawn. Best to have it together with the mayonnaise.

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Garlic Kai Lan 4/5

When you have a master behind the wok, even the Garlick Kai Lan ($12) tasted great. The greens still retain a delectable crunchy texture, simply stir-fried with garlic, ginger, and some pork lards.

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Claypot Egg Plant 4.5/5

The other vegetable dish we ordered is the Claypot Egg Plant ($18). Not shown in the picture is the fried egg hidden inside the claypot, soaking up the delicious sauce. Instead of the usual minced meat, it uses crunchy shrimp coated in batter for extra textural enjoyment.

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Herbal Kampong Chicken 4.2/5

To round up our meal with a meat dish, we decided to go for the Herbal Kampong Chicken ($18 Half). It was sauna-bath in aluminium foil wrap, cooked to fork-tender in a flavoursome herbal broth.

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Hoy Yong is indeed a gem in the West. Its restaurant-quality dishes make it a notch above many zichar stalls in Singapore.


Hoy Yong Seafood Restaurant
Blk 352 Clementi Ave 2
#01-153
Singapore 120352
Tel: +65 67782223
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 52 and 154. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dover MRT station. Take Exit A Walk to bus stop at Dover MRT station. (Stop ID 19031).  Take bus number 74. Alight 2 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Maddie's Kitchen @ Far East Plaza - Wallet Friendly Zi Char Dishes At Orchard Road

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If you think that having a meal at Orchard Road will be very expensive, you are wrong. They are food outlets that sell affordable priced food in that area too. Maddie's Kitchen is probably known to many locals, hidden and located in the far corner on level two of Far East Plaza.

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Pork Chop Set 3.8/5

I tried the Pork Chop Set Curry Rice ($6.80). For the price, it is value for money. The messy plate of rice comes with deep-fried pork chop, stewed cabbage and a fried egg, drenched in a pool of curry sauce. Though the curry sauce is not spicy, it is packed with aroma. It is the soul that holds everything together. As for the other ingredients on the plate, the pork chop was a bit hard but generous in serving, while the cabbage was sweet and soft. 

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Beef Tenderloin Hor Fun 4.2/5

The highlight for me is the Beef Tenderloin Hor Fun ($13.80). First to hit me is the breadth of the wok, piled with a generous serving of bittergourd, black beans and tender beef slices. The noodle dish is common in many zichar places but what makes it different here is the quality of beef used. Slightly seared, thickly cut and tender.

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Overall, Maddie's Kitchen offers delicious yet wallet-friendly zichar dishes at Orchard Road. Though I only tried two dishes out of the eclectic menu, it already won me over with its delicious food. I will definitely drop by again for my meal if I am at Orchard Road.


Maddie's Kitchen
Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
#02-10/11/12/13
Singapore 228213
Tel: +65 63650501
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Turn right and walk down Scotts Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Sunday, March 7, 2021

Golden Charcoal @ Bedok North Street 1 - Zichar By An Indian Head Chef Fluent In Mandarin

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Golden Charcoal, located at Bedok North Street 1 is a new Zichar stall by two young partners. Justin, the owner, used to work in the finance industry while his head chef, David (小黑), worked for a zichar stall in the Thomson area. Currently, they are having promotions offering two crabs for $60.

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Mala Chicken 3/5

My friend who has dined here a few times is in charge of ordering some of her favourite dishes. We started with Mala Chicken, whereby the tender chicken is tossed in fragrant mala sauce. While the mala is pungent, I thought it was a bit heavy with the sodium chloride.

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Prawn Paste Chicken 3.8/5

I think children will love the Prawn Paste Chicken here. Not only is it juicy, but it is also incredibly crispy. However, I prefer the prawn paste flavour to be more distinct.

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Sambal Kang Kong 4/5

Sometimes, the most simple dish is the best way to show the chef's culinary skill behind the wok. The Sambal Kang Kong is one of the best I tried. The sambal is fragrant and with the greens still having a nice crunch.

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Assam Fish Head 4/5

Another beautiful dish on the menu is the Assam Fish Head. The fresh fish head is complemented by the pungent assam, which is incredibly delicious. I could not help drenching my plate of rice with the flavoursome sauce.

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Cereal Fried Rice

For some carbo intakes, diners can go for the Cereal Fried Rice or Moonlight Hor Fun. Children will enjoy the Cereal Fried Rice. The topping of the sweet and crispy cereal brightens up the fluffy fried rice. 

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Moonlight Hor Fun 3.8/5

For the Moonlight Hor Fun, I can't help comparing it to my favourite at KEK Seafood. The style here is the savoury type packed with wok hei. Give the egg a good toss to give the noodles an enjoyment coat of creaminess. 

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Chilli Crab 4.2/5

Diners should not miss the current two crabs for $60 promotion. We have it cooked with chilli crab sauce. The sauce is legit, and it is one of the best I have eaten. Best is to order some mantou to wipe up the yummy chilli crab sauce. I heard their mala crab and black pepper crab are as good too.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Golden Charcoal Seafood
Blk 204 Bedok North Street 1
#01-435
Singapore 460204
Tel: +65 97304808
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left to the pathway between Bedok Mall and Bedok Interchange hawker centre. Walk to the end. Walk to block 204. Walk to the coffeeshop facing the park. Journey time about 4 minutes. [Map]

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Auntie’s Wok and Steam @ Andaz Singapore - Start The Year With An Ode To Singapore Tze Char Culture With A Szechuan Twist

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Andaz Singapore’s Auntie’s Wok and Steam has finally reopened for this 2021 after months of closure! To celebrate the reopening, they have launched a refreshed menu featuring delightful Chinese classics and Singaporean favourites, prepared in a homely tze char style. Enjoy the perfect weekday escapade with an epic view on level 25, alongside a scrumptious feast.

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Their Lunch Tray Sets offers great value for money with one main, one side and Andaz Iced Tea for $26 or with an additional dessert for $29. It is available from Monday to Friday, 12pm - 2.30pm, or you can order from their a la carte menu, which is available all day.

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Auntie's Laksa 4/5

We ordered the Auntie's Laksa ($16), a classic local favourite. The fragrant laksa broth is creamy and mildly spiced and comes brimming with ingredients like fresh tiger prawns and fish cake. The thick beehoon is also chewy and springy, which makes for a great bowl of laksa.

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Char Kway Teow 3.8/5

Another tze char staple is the Char Kway Teow ($16). The flat rice noodles are stir-fried over high heat with soya sauce, lup cheong, egg and fishcake, giving it a pleasant fragrance and texture. Although lacking slightly in the wok-hei, it is still a pretty decent plate of Char Kway Teow.

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Crab Fried Rice 4.2/5

One of their familiar favourites includes the Crab Fried Rice ($14/$22), served with crab meat and asparagus. Unlike the usual fried rice dish, it uses organic white and brown rice from the Raitong Organics Farm in North-eastern Thailand, which makes for a healthier alternative without compromising the flavours.

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Double Boiled Chicken Soup of the Day 3.8/5

We ordered the Double Boiled Chicken Soup of the Day ($10) as a side to the Lunch Tray Set. It is comforting and nourishing, yet we felt that the soup ingredients were too little, with just a single piece of chicken and two radish cubes.

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Poached Herbal Prawns 4.2/5

One of our favourites is the Poached Herbal Prawns ($22) steamed in a brine of Chinese Shaoxing wine and nutritional herbs such as the Danggui (Angelican root), Yuzhu (Solomon’s Seal), Gui Pi (Cinnamon), and Ba Jiao (Star Anise). It gives the broth a rich and robust herbal flavour.

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Rainforest Alliance Coffee Ribs and Sesame 3.5/5

The Rainforest Alliance Coffee Ribs and Sesame ($18) is coated in a sauce made from a full-bodied espresso, pulled from sustainable Fair Trade Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee beans from Bon Café. However, it fell short of expectations with the espresso sauce lacking in flavours, and the pork ribs' meat having a much tougher bite.

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French Beans 3.8/5

We also had the French Beans ($12) which is lightly cooked to retain a crispy texture with a sweetness hint. It is served with flavourful minced pork to make for a simple and comforting side dish.

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Chilled Mango Sago and Pomelo 4/5

Round off your meal with a selection of traditional Chinese desserts such as the Chilled Mango Sago and Pomelo ($8). The refreshing fruity dessert is smooth and subtly sweet, while the lightly acidic and bitter taste of the pomelo pairs well with the mango's sweetness.

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Steamed Yam Paste 4/5

Our favourite is the Steamed Yam Paste ($8) topped with ginko nuts. The addition of coconut cream adds a creamier texture and a subtle sweetness to the smooth yam paste, without overwhelming the original taste of yam.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Auntie's Wok & Steam
Andaz Singapore
Level 25
5 Fraser Street
Singapore 189354
Tel: +65 64081255
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

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