Chinese Cravings

So lucky to have passed by on the one day they were having a special 50% off mains grand opening promotion, so of course we had to pivot from our original lunch plans.

Restaurant ambience was very on point - think Chinese motifs and themed decor all around, while leaning towards a chic and classy ambience. Think the space would become even more vibey and atmospheric come dinner time, perfect for gatherings and dates.

We ordered the Dry Pot Cabbage with Chinese Bacon ($18) as well as the Pineapple La Zi Ji ($28). Cabbage was perfectly charred with a nice crunch and a touch of its natural sweetness, nicely complementing the saltiness of the bacon as well as the creeping zing of the dried chilli. Pair this with a bowl of their Wuchang Rice ($2), and I guarantee you'll be mopping up every last bit.

As for the laziji, I'm convinced this is one of the better laziji I've ever eaten - the chicken chunks were so tender and the batter was so light and crunchy which altogether made for an extraordinarily addictive dish. The sweet pineapples and crisp cashew nuts also provided contrasting tastes and textures which completed the whole dish. Delicious!

Washed it all down with a glass of Green Snow ($9) which was Silver Needle White Tea with notes of Green Apple, Lemon, and Mint. Tastes slightly like the Pokka Sparkling Apple drink and I thought they could be a little bit more generous with the portion to match its price (might as well head to the nearby Chagee for a cheaper drink with similar quality).

Congee-centric restaurant located on the third floor of Shaw Centre. Service is bright, full of smiles, and efficient. Tables were slightly too close for comfort, and my partner was bothered by some (water?) stains on the cushioned sofa seats. Food-wise, the Pork Meatballs Congee ($10.90) came piping hot and satisfyingly thick. Elevate the taste with the light sauce and white pepper provided on each table, or choose to upgrade to a set (+$5) for a stick of youtiao, half a century egg, and a drink of your choice to complement the congee. I especially liked the youtiao for being not too oily. However, if I had to choose a favourite from my meal, it would definitely be the Golden Crispy Prawn Cake ($13.90) - so flavourful, juicy, with distinct chunks of prawn, and a delightful crunch from the cubes of water chestnut within. Delicious! If I were to share any complaint, it would be that the prices lean toward the steeper side, with this entire meal costing us almost $36 which would be outrageous if the food wasn't this satisfying. However, restaurants specialising in congee are a dime a dozen in the Orchard area so do pop by for a try!

Think this is the only Malatang place in Causeway Point, hence the perennial long queue every night. Their selection of ingredients rival that of other hotpot chains, while I feel that their malatang base leans more towards savoury than spicy - liked this concept of DIY-ing your own spice levels as I thought their base was sufficiently spicy for me. Service is quick and friendly too.

Multiple XXH stores have been popping up all over Singapore, yet I see a perennial long queue almost daily. Queueing / reservation system was pretty confusing - I couldn't make a same-day dinner reservation online, but my mom managed to walk-in at 6.30pm without a fuss.

While the quality of service and the food was good, I wouldn't say they were so delicious that I would return every week. We got the Pounded Chilli Eggplant and Century Egg ($12.90), Pumpkin Shrimp and Tofu Stew ($19.90), Cauliflower ($13.90), Dry Tossed Vermicelli ($14.90), and Golden Broth Sour and Spicy Fish ($32.90). Nothing really stood out for us, and which for their prices we expected more. Though with the member prices, and topup credit discounts, I would see why this could be a somewhat value-for-money meal.

My overall experience at this establishment was unsatisfactory. Both the service and the food quality fell below expectations, with no notable redeeming qualities—aside from the iced lemon tea, which was decent.

I visited primarily due to a Burpple deal for the noodle set. When I attempted to apply the Burpple deal at payment, I was informed - rather rudely - that 1) I should have said earlier, and 2) she was not aware of any such deal. Another staff I asked was also clueless about the Burpple deal. This was frustrating, particularly since the deal was the main reason for our visit.

Be that as it may, I thought the Noodle Set B ($10.30) was quite value for money given that you get a good bowl of minced pork noodles plus a drink and ice jelly dessert. However, my partner clearly disliked her Dry Mala and I had to agree - the boiled ingredients were subpar and the sesame-chilli mix sauce was not to our tastes.

Given the subpar experience, would caution against coming to this place for the dry mala. The noodle set might be worth your while, however.

Sweet & Sour Pork was superb. Still so crisp after being drenched in the addictive sauce. Best I've ever tried. Mantou and grilled enoki mushrooms also good. The roasted lamb leg also can try. Can skip the shredded potato, cauliflower pot and grilled leeks. If possible, sit indoors in air-conditioned comfort; we sat outdoors because of the grilled lamb leg and was quite affected by the smoking and shouting and vomiting at the outdoor section.

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!