With more than 30 years of experience under his belt, renowned Chef Tonny Chan helms the kitchen at Tonny Restaurant just a six-minute walk away from Kallang MRT Station. Expect innovative items using quality ingredients, like the Crispy Yam with Truffle Oil ($16) — a pile of thinly shredded yam drizzled with truffle oil, or the tummy-warming Double Boiled Black Chicken Soup ($32) with almond milk. The crown jewel however, is the award-winning Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon ($9) — a pool of silky smooth scallops and egg white held together in a crispy wonton skin shell. Then, load up on carbs with the Braised Pork Hock with Mee Hoon ($20). This sinfully satisfying dish of stewed trotters and fried lard sit atop a hill of mee hoon that feeds two comfortably. Pro tip: Book a table via his website and get one of four of his signature dishes at half price (only one item per table).
Avg Price: $35 per person
Photo by Burppler Caecilia Caecilia
Located in the heart of Chinatown and just a two-minute walk from Chinatown MRT Station, this four-storey restaurant is perfect for accommodating the whole extended family for a meal. Prices are affordable, portions are big and flavours are consistently good. Follow Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim's lead and order the Roasted Peking Duck ($58) to share. After savouring the beautifully lacquered skin, the remaining meat can be cooked with either rice or noodles as the main (she does not recommend frying the duck meat with salt and pepper as it loses its sweetness). If you can stomach more, the gravy-slicked Lala Beehoon (from $28) is worth a try, or get their signature Popiah ($7.50) to share. It is a massive pillow stuffed full with ingredients that make it well worth every penny. End the meal with the crowd favourite Yam Paste with Gingko Nut (from $26).
Avg Price: $30 per person
Photo by Burpple Tastemaker Felicia Sim
BILL: $58.50 nett (3 pax) inclusive of the 5th dish, Prawn Ball with Mayo & Pork Floss, which arrived first and got wiped out too soon
WAITING TIME: Reached at 6.45pm on Sunday. Not long at all for such a popular zichar place. Very efficient system (order first before getting a table). First dish arrived after 5 minutes.
SETTING: Coffeeshop
PARKING: Right downstairs (Coupon parking)
CHILLI: Nice belachan chili sauce + the usual chilli w/ soya sauce
SPECIAL LOVE FOR 💗: the sauce in the Chili lala dish • the small crunchy bits in the signature Butter Pork Ribs
WILL NOT ORDER AGAIN: 1) Fragrant beancurd $12 - we all wished there were chyepoh among the minced meat but nope. 2) Prawn Ball with Mayo & Pork Floss $15 - the quantity just doesn't justify the price. Also do not like the mayo.
WILL WE RETURN? Definitely
