Joyden Canton Kitchen (欣艺和) @ HillV2 Shopping Centre (Upper Bukit Timah)

It is double happiness for Joyden as the family restaurant celebrates its tenth anniversary. With the re-branding the restaurant from former West Coast Seafood to Joyden Seafood Restaurant (欣艺海鲜), the restaurant opens its second outlet, Joyden Canton Kitchen (欣艺和) at HillV2 Shopping Centre offering wholesome comfort Cantonese cuisine.

Crispy Golden Lotus Root Chips 4.2/5

We started with some Crispy Golden Lotus Root Chips ($8,80) while waiting for the rest of the group to arrive. Sliced to a nice thin bite and deep fried to crispy crunch, this is as good as your potato chips. Maybe the restaurant should consider selling it for Chinese New Year.

Chicken with Fresh Huai Shan and Wolfberry in Old Coconut Soup 4/5

Cantonese cuisine is known for its soup and the restaurant does live up to the expectation with the Chicken with Fresh Huai Shan and Wolfberry in Old Coconut Soup ($12.80) which is a Foshan classic interpretation. The ingredients were steamed in an old coconut over low heat for up to 3 hours to extract the essence. Result in a light but yet aromatic soup with natural sweetness from the coconut.

Joyden Signature Soy Sauce Chicken 4/5

One of the signature items at Joyden Canton Kitchen is the Joyden Signature Soy Sauce Chicken ($12/$18/$32). The chicken was steeped in a secret blend of superior light sauce and herbs giving it that pleasant flavour on top of their silky skin and tender meat.

Signature Traditional Hakka Salt Poached Farm Chicken 3/5

Another poultry dish on the menu is the Traditional Hakka Salt Poached Farm Chicken ($17) which is accompanied with the secret recipe ginger sauce. Compared to the soy sauce chicken, this is not as flavourful. However the saving grace was the ginger sauce that accentuated the whole enjoyment. It was so good that the table ordered extra servicing to go with their plain rice.

Fish Maw and Prawns with Glass Noodles in Homemade XO Sauce 4.5/5

One of my favourite dishes is the Fish Maw and Prawns with Glass Noodles in Homemade XO Sauce ($18.80). The luxurious fish maw and prawns were well coated with the premium xo sauce that brought out the best of the ingredients. Even the glass noodles were well infused with the xo sauce which was fragrant and slurping good.

Sliced Grouper Fillet with Pine Mushroom and Black Fungus in Rice Wine Broth 3/5

The Sliced Grouper Fillet with Pine Mushroom and Black Fungus in Rice Wine Broth ($17.80) was a comforting pot of goodness that is perfect for cold raining day.

Braised Homemade Beancurd Coin with Poached Shanghai Baby Cabbage 4.2/5

For me the highlight of the Braised Homemade Beancurd Coin with Poached Shanghai Baby Cabbage ($14.80) is the milky broth and shanghai baby cabbage. The milky broth was made from boiling pork bones for several hours. The shanghai baby cabbage which was steamed in pork broth was so soft and sweet that literally melted in the mouth.

Braised Pork Ribs in Aged Mandarin Peel Sauce 4.5/5

We commonly find on the menu coffee or champagne pork ribs but at Joyden Canton Kitchen seeks to be different with the Braised Pork Ribs in Aged Mandarin Peel Sauce ($16.80). After much trial and effort, the refreshing spin to the pork ribs dish was well received by the group. The flavours were well balanced with fall off the bone meat.

Traditional Rice Vermicelli with Poached Egg White, Crabmeat and Scallop 4.5/5

A must try at Joyden Canton Kitchen is the Traditional Rice Vermicelli with Poached Egg White, Crabmeat and Scallop ($15.80). This is something new and currently not seen elsewhere. The wok fried vermicelli tossed in the poached egg white, crabmeat and dried scallop was finished with a swirl of vinegar and a dash of pepper. This is one dish that I would go back for.

There is this saying among the foodie friends, in the east there is Diamond Kitchen while in the west we have Joyen. After dining at Joyden Canton Kitchen, I can't help comparing another similarity. While Diamond Kitchen has the popular superior stock clam bee hoon, Joyden Canton Kitchen has the traditional rice vermicelli with poached egg white, crabmeat and scallop. I am glad I have dined in both restaurants.


Joyden Canton Kitchen
HillV2 Shopping Centre
4 Hillview Rise
#02-21
Singapore 667979
Tel: +65 64659988
Website: http://www.joydencantonkitchen.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Hillview (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 930pm
Dim Sum: 1130am - 430pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Hillview MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right onto Hillview Road. Continue on Hillview Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

The Reading Room Cafe @ Bukit Pasoh Road

With the number of hipster cafes popping out in various corners around the island, the cafe scene has become really crowded. When I said crowded, it is not just referring to the competition. It has also become quite hard to find a conducive cafe where one can simply sit back, relax over a cup of good coffee and let the day goes by.

Recently I popped into The Reading Room Cafe along Bukit Pasoh Road and I felt being teleported into someone's little library with the shelves of books around the walls. It is understand that some of the books are bought by the owners while others are donated by travelers or guests.

Even the menu comes in children story book. The Reading Room Cafe is not just only an cafe but it is also a tapas bar at night. On weekends, it even offers a brunch menu.

Caffe Latte 4/5

The coffee at The Reading Room Cafe is imported from Naples in Italy. The owner's relative is a roaster in Italy and this is specially imported for the cafe. The Caffe Latte ($4.8) was a light body, smooth and easy to drink.

Norwegian Royale 4.2/5

The Norwegian Royale ($18.80) which is available for brunch is hugemongous. The generous portion of smoked salmon, rich creamy scrambled eggs and arugula resting on their famous french toast. If I am not wrong the french toast is a brioche hence it was really soft in texture. The creamy scrambled egg is well executed, cooked using french butter instead of milk. It is a dish that will brightens up anyone's day. A little advice is that you have to eat this quickly or the french toast will become a bit soggy because of the runny scrambled egg sitting on top of it.

Minute Steak & Fries 3.5/5

The Reading Room Cafe is also a great place to catch a meal.  I had the Minute Steak & Fries ($18.80). The sirloin is cooked for a minute medium rare and topped with their homemade cafe de paris butter. The french fries is worthy a mentioned with its thin crispy coat which is almost tempura like that give it that extra crunch.

"Our chef visits the markets really really early to pick and choose the freshest produce for our delicious food. Don't mind him if he appears a little grumpy."

"Our chef goes to our butcher twice a week to ensure our cuts are of the best and freshest for our patrons."

"All our seafood is sourced locally in the wet markets of Chinatown."

All these words tell me that the food at The Reading Room is honest. While it can't be compared to top restaurants, the food here is hearty and honest. This itself already is way better than a lot of cafes that uses chef microwave to simply heat up and serve.


The Reading Room
19 Bukit Pasoh Road
Singapore 089833
Tel: +65 62209019
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheReadingRoom.com.sg
Website: http://www.thereadingroom.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 1130pm
Fri-Sun: 8am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Turn left onto Teo Hong Road. At the end of Teo Hong Road turn left and continue on Bukit Pasoh Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]