Chinese Cravings

Chinese Cravings

Featuring Birds of a Feather, Victor's Kitchen (Sunshine Plaza), JB Ah Meng, Wok Master 一品锅 (City Square Mall), Ah Chiang's Porridge (Tiong Bahru), Founder Bak Kut Teh 发起人肉骨茶 (Balestier), Dong Bei Ren Jia 东北人家, Thien Kee Steamboat Restaurant (Golden Mile Tower), Fat Bird 胖胖鸡 (Bugis), My Favourite Cafe (Lucky Plaza)
Darren Teo
Darren Teo

Came by just for porridge but their menu looked so extensive and interesting, we couldn't help but add on another dish. The Pumpkin Congee with Prawn Balls ($13.80) was a surprise hit, with the mild sweetness of the congee contrasting nicely with the bouncy prawn balls. This was a nice twist to the usual plain congee. We added on a plate of the Steamed Mushroom and Chicken Rice ($7.80) which was superbly delicious, from the juicy mushrooms to the well-marinated tender chicken pieces. The umami sweet-savoury sauce was also delicious, but a tad too much with the rice at the bottom soaking everything up. Overall, a standout dimsum restaurant at decent prices, that could rival the usual popular joints. Would return to try their unique 'Modern Dim Sum'!

GO Noodle House has always been my go to casual noodle joint, and when I saw that they opened a new restaurant with a rice concept, I had to go and try! We tried the Lap Mei Rice ($15.90) and added the Superior Soup ($10.90) as we were also craving GO's delicious soup. The claypot rice was delicious as expected, with the rice soaking up all the richness from the sauce and the meats. Loved it! Nothing to complain about for our meal here.

Still a very popular place with families even though they seem to have been around for quite a while already. Waited about 20min on a Fri night, but they do give out lemon tea and snacks for waiting customers. We ordered the signature Hunan Stir Fry Pork ($19.90) which had pork slices, mushroom, and green peppers in a savoury sauce that went really well with rice, but ultimately we felt like this was a normal stir-fry, nothing outstanding. The Steamed Egg w/ Shrimp ($11.90) was a much more satisfying dish in our eyes, with rich savoury egg custard topped with shrimp that was tender yet with a bite. So good, especially when steaming hot and taken with rice. Best to go early, and with a group so you'll be able to try more of their signature dishes.

Had this in China (first at Jiuzhaigou, to be exact) last December and loved the dumplings so much, both fried and steamed. Saw that they JUST opened when we returned to SG so of course we had to try the Singapore one.

First thoughts: shop space was very small, with tables squeezed together - looks to be more for takeaways. Also, they didn't have fried dumplings, and also not the pork and chive ones that we had in China. We got the Shrimp and Crab Roe Pork Wanton Dry Noodles ($8.80) as well as the Assorted Pork Dumpling Set Meal ($13.80) which came with 12 pcs dumplings in choice of style, lettuce with garlic, and red bean soup. Quite an affordable price if you ask me.

The dumplings were all huge and bursting with fillings, and while my mind still thinks about the China pork cna dchive dumplings now and then, these singapore ones were not too bad too. The noodles were also aromatic and rich from the scallion oil. Only the lettuce felt abit off - think it was too bitter and garlic was also too overpowering.

Recently dined at Qing Hua Jiao and tried their Combo Set 3 ($65.60), which included the Signature Sichuan Peppercorn Fish, Maggi Fresh Squid, Stir-fried Pork Aorta, and Stir-Fried Royale Chive. We also added the Stir-Fried Cabbage ($10.80) and Spicy Pork Intestines with Fish ($28.80). Overall, it was a flavorful and satisfying meal with some standout dishes.

The Signature Sichuan Peppercorn Fish was the highlight—tender, smooth fish infused with the numbing, aromatic heat of Sichuan peppercorns. Bold and addictive, and leaning more towards vinegary rather than spicy. The opposite could be said for the pork Intestines with fish, which was intensely flavorful and packed with fiery heat.

The Maggi Fresh Squid was another winner, with a perfect balance of chewiness and flavor, enhanced by the umami Maggi seasoning. The Stir-fried Pork Aorta was also surprisingly delicious! I would liken it to a blander squid, with a slightly chewy texture that paired well with the bold seasonings. The vegetable dishes were fresh and fragrant, providing a nice contrast to the heavier dishes. Our preference was definitely the cabbage though, just so addictive!

The service was efficient, and the ambiance was casual, making it a great spot for a hearty, flavorful meal. However, not sure if it was the spiciness or the poor air conditioning, but all of us were sweating by the end of the meal! the free ice jelly dish (with unlimited toppings!) definitely saved us here.

If you’re a fan of Sichuan cuisine or love bold, spicy flavors, Qing Hua Jiao is definitely worth a visit.

Ordered their signature Green Pepper Grilled Fish ($48.90), along with sides of Cucumber with Garlic ($4.90), Cauliflower ($11.80), and Dumplings with Chilli ($3.80). Overall, it was a satisfying meal, but there were a few areas that could be improved.

The fish was flavorful and well-cooked, with tender meat and a smoky aroma. However, even after requesting for less spice, it was still quite fiery, which might be overwhelming for those with a lower tolerance for heat. It’s worth noting if you’re not a fan of spicy food! We added on Cabbage ($4.60) and Ramen ($2.80) but you can choose not to as the add-on prices are rather steep.

The sides were a great addition to the meal. The cucumber was refreshing and crunchy, providing a nice contrast to the fish. The cauliflower was well-seasoned and cooked just right, while the dumplings were juicy and flavorful, though not particularly a standout.

Service was prompt, and the ambiance was lively, making it a good spot for a casual meal. Do make a reservation or come early, as there was a long queue during peak dinner time. I also used the Grab Dine Out 20% deal to pay, so the total for 5 of us only came up to about $108!

Saw that they were having a $9.90 promotion for their claypot dishes so we decided to try. The Sesame Oil Chicken Claypot (u.p.$19.80) was filled with tender chunks of chicken smothered in a tasty sesame oil sauce. This more of a sharing dish so don't forget some bowls of rice to mop up the sauce with! We also got the Crispy Sesame Shredded Potatoes ($15.80), but it did not hit our expectations. Tasted so similar to the jagabee potato sticks, except greasier. Although the portion was huge, this was not worth the price.

Saw that Paradise was having their anniversary deals available so decide to head over for a family dinner. Used the voucher where one could redeem a free Signature Pickled Fish (u.p. $33.80) with a minimum spend of $50. A pretty good deal as the dish was really delicious, with a sizeable portion of tender fish slices with a multitude of other ingredients in the tangy suancai soup. We haad this with the Xiao Long Bao ($9.80for 6 pcs), French Bean ($14.30), La Mian Pork Dumpling ($12.80), and Shanghai Fried Rice ($14.80). All were of good quality as expected from Paradise Dynasty. Use the voucher while it lasts!

Chanced upon this restaurant while searching for a dinner spot at Raffles City and the ambience seemed pretty inviting - warm lighting, quiet environment, and not very crowded - so decided on this.

There's a huge variety of dishes on selection here so we decided to go with the signatures: the Fresh Chicken Hot Pot ($28.80) with an add-on of the Egg Bomb ($4.80), and the Fresh Clam Thick Beehoon ($10.80, not pictured). Even with it being just a small portion, the chicken hotpot was huge and it could pretty much feed all 3 of us with the chicken, cabbage, and radishes. The chicken meat was so tender and flavourful, and made even better with the broth (which you could ask for refills of!). While i thought the egg bomb could be crispier, just shred it into small pieces and let them soak in the broth - seriously a burst of flavours and textures which we couldn't get enough of. Just grab a steaming bowl of rice ($1.50) and you're good to go.

The Clam beehoon was also delicious with a concentrated seafood flavour, and I loved the chilli they gave to accompany it.

Seriously such a good, fililng meal and I'll definitely return to try their other dishes. Total damage ~$57 for 3 of us.

Edit: Returned again and besides the clam beehoon, I tried the Egg Fried Rice ($7.80) and the Luohan Huo & Dried Longan drink ($4.80). The fried rice had a bit of an addictive spicy kick and came with a substantial portion; though it's more to pair with their a la carte dishes rather than to eat on its own. As for the drink, just don't bother. I finished it in practically 3 gulps and it's not worth the price.

Waited approx 40min on a Friday evening. Ordered the Crispy Pork w/ Chilli Powder ($13) and the Sliced Beef & Ox Tongue in Chilli ($12) to start off. Both were good but I especially enjoyed the mala flavours of the beef. Shared the Chinese Saukeraut Fish (2 pax portion for $49) and added glass noodles and bamboo shoots for an additional $3 each. Fish was tender and almost gelatinous, and the suancai was really good. Signed up for the membership to get the free birthday treat of a Beef Noodle w/ Suancai (u.p. $10). Nice! To end off, had the Glutinous Rice Rolls w/ Brown Sugar Syrup ($11) - good for those who like the chewy texture. Total damage was ~$110 for 4 pax and we had a filling meal. Don't forget the free flow roselle tea!

Thought the price was not very value for money considering the portion and taste. Noodles smelled fragrant but flavour was very slight. Chicken was crispy but needed some sauce as it became quite 'dry' after awhile. Some shreds of veges completed the dish but also could use some dressing.

Moody and atmospheric restaurant with perfect lighting; vibes alone are enough to impress a date. Service was also top-notch, always polite and with a smile. Food-wise, the dishes we ordered were all presented beautifully and delicious.

Our favourite was the Oriental Bolognese ($26) which was capellini pasta in an asian-inspired pork ragout sauce. The onsen egg added creaminess to it and the sauce was the standout of the dish. Equally as good was the Find the Chicken in the Chillis ($19) - the the dish doesn't deviate too much from the ubiquitous la zi ji of Chengdu cuisine, except perhaps I wished there were more of the popcorn chicken because after a few morsels I was, true to its name, finding if there were any more chicken in the chillis. The Yu Xiang Eggplant ($17) was mentioned in several reviews, but personally I thought it was just average, with the eggplant being small in portion and slightly too mushy in texture. The mozzarella balls and spring onion 'biscuits' also didn't really add to the dish. Overall felt that this dish was a bit of a mess. We washed all the food down with a glass of Bird's Rebujito ($18) which was refreshing.

Overall, the food had some hits and misses but I think the vibes and service made up for it. Would return to try their Sharing Menu for Two.

Adventurous and always looking for new flavours on my tongue!

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