LAVI TACO @ Pearl’s Hill Terrace - Hidden Al Fresco Mexician Dining Up on Pearl's Hill

It takes a walk to reach LAVI TACO at Pearl's Hill Terrace, whether or not you're heading there from Chinatown or Outram Park MRT. But make your way up, and you will be welcomed to an al fresco dining space with laid-back and chill vibes, perfect for a night to unwind over food and drinks with friends.

The brand prides itself on offering an authentic spread of Mexican fare.

Nachos 4/5

The classic starter of Nachos ($15) came with crunchy corn tortilla chips and jalapeno pickles, with salsa verde, pico degallo and sour cream to pair. At another $5 top-up, you can opt for the loaded option that provides a topping choice of birria oxtail & brisket or pulled mushrooms.

Birria 4/5

Available in limited portions daily, the Birria ($25) tacos are the one to go for if you are a fan of beef and bolder flavours. The slow-cooked oxtail and brisket, braised in a spicy and aromatic birria broth, is topped with melted cheese and held between tortillas. These are served with an additional cup of broth for you to dunk in or enjoy as soup.

Pulled Mushroom 4.2/5

I first tried LAVI TACO's vegetarian Pulled Mushroom ($18) tacos at their gourmet food truck pop-up in Resorts World Sentosa. I enjoyed the generously filled shells with a very well-textured mushroom filling. The plant-based slow-cooked pulled mushrooms were smoky and flavourful, complemented well with a refreshing and tangy mix of red cabbage, cheese, cilantro, pico de gallo, sour cream and salsa verde.

Taco Meat Platter 4.5/5

Named the "ultimate taco experience", the Taco Meat Platter ($129 for 3-4 pax) is the perfect choice if you're here in a group. The interactive DIY element here adds an extra layer of fun.

Loaded up and served on a tray, it features rows of various taco toppings, including flame-grilled steak, crunchy Argentinean garlic prawns, chipotle pepper chicken thigh, alongside grilled vegetables, an assortment of taco condiments, and a good number of corn tortillas. A smaller portion that feeds approximately 2 pax is also available at $69.

While the prices are on a slightly higher end, they are all nett, without gst and service charges. I would highly recommend making a reservation here https://reserve.oddle.me/kultyard before heading down!

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.


LAVI TACO
195 Pearl's Hill Terrace
#01-54
Singapore 168976
Tel: +65 9763 8931
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Nearest MRT: Chinatown MRT (DT Line and NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Wed-Sun: 5pm - 930pm
(Closed on Mon & Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk straight to the food centre. Cut through the food centre to the back. Walk towards the hill on the left. Take the flight of stairs up the hill. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Shangri-La Singapore - Revel in the Enchanted Wonders of Christmas

Elevate your festive celebrations this year with Shangri-La Singapore. The hotel's dining destinations offer a wondrous lineup of gastronomical feasts from 1 December 2023 to 1 January 2024, with a bountiful selection of festive artisanal creations available for takeaway and delivery from 23 November to 26 December 2023.

Black Angus Beef Wellington

Black Angus Beef Wellington ($348 nett, 1.5kg) is a refined version featuring a tender fillet of Black Angus beef enveloped in a layer of spinach and mushroom duxelles, enriched with bites of foie gras, all encased in a golden, flaky pastry. The combination of spinach and mushroom duxelles added an earthy and savoury depth to the flavour, and the buttery sweetness of the pastry complemented the decadent filling.

Rustico Spice Roasted U.S. Whole Turkey

Rustico Spice Roasted U.S. Whole Turkey ($258 nett, 6kg | $280 nett, 8kg) is seasoned with a blend of Italian Rustico spices. The texture of the turkey was delightfully tender, much more than I had expected.

Gammon Ham

Truffle Honey and Cinnamon Glazed Bone-in Gammon Ham ($298 nett, 7kg) glistened with a glaze concocted with truffles, honey and cinnamon.

Salt Baked Seabass Fillet

Salt Baked Seabass Fillet ($168 nett, 2kg) features a seabass fillet encased and baked in a sea salt crust. While the fillet was very tender, it was too saltish for me.

Leg of Lamb

New on the menu of savoury treats this year is the Slow Roasted Garlic and Rosemary Studded Leg of Lamb ($288 nett, 3.5kg), featuring a succulent leg of lamb. Infused with slow-roasted garlic and rosemary flavours, it is quite a show-stopper this year.

Santa Sleigh

The lineup of sweet delights this year entices in both looks and flavours. My favourite is the new Santa Sleigh ($75 nett, 1kg) - featuring a chiffon sponge base, yuzu curd, fraises compote, vanilla Chantilly, and abundant strawberries. The tartness of the fraises compote was perfect on the airy chiffon and chantilly cream, and the strawberries atop were at their ideal ripeness. I find the yuzu curd, being cloyingly sweet with a thick consistency, a distraction.

Rich Mango Indulgence Log Cake

This year's new rendition of the log cake is the Rich Mango Indulgence Log Cake ($88 nett, 1kg). Joyful and sunny in hues of shades of yellow and orange, this log cake oozes tropical flavours coming from a fusion of mango and passion fruit mascarpone and peach lime chutney.

Triple Truffle Crunchy Log Cake

Triple Truffle Crunchy Log Cake ($88 nett, 1kg), a hot favourite last year, also returns for this season. It boasts a chocolate and nutty flavour - a cocoa sponge filled with hazelnut crunch, Gianduja Crémeux, and truffle praline mousse.

Mao Shan Wang Durian and Coconut Log Cake

Mao Shan Wang Durian and Coconut Log Cake ($90 nett, 1kg) is a twist on a classic vanilla Victorian sponge cake featuring Mao Shan Wang durian mousse coated with coconut flakes. It had a decadent mouth filling texture, but the sweetness can be a tad overwhelming.

Banana Rocher Travel Cake

The newly added Banana Rocher Travel Cake ($35 nett, 750gm) is memorable, considering the rarity of an elevated banana cake being offered in such a season. Crafted with brown sugar, ripe bananas and macadamia nuts, the cake had a good density without being overly sweet. The coating of creamy dulce chocolate boosted its texture as well.

English Fruit Cake with Drunken Fruits

For some traditional must-haves, my absolute favourite is the house-made English Fruit Cake with Drunken Fruits ($40 nett, 400gm), loaded with bitter-sweet dried mixed fruits.

German Stollen

The German Stollen ($46 nett, 750gm) was slightly too bread-like for me.

Classic Italian Panettone

A better option is their panettone, which comes in two variations: the Classic Italian Panettone ($55 nett, 750gm) and the new Pandan Panettone ($55 nett, 750gm).

Pandan Panettone

To order goodies online, visit https://bit.ly/shangrilafestive23, call +65 6213 4511, or email festive.sls@shangri-la.com. Enjoy 15% early bird offer on selected products for purchases made by 3 December 2023.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Shangri-La Hotel Singapore
22 Orange Grove Road
Singapore 258350
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)