Nan Yang Dao (PLQ Mall)

Have seen quite a number of social media posts going around some time back mentioning about Nan Yang Dao’s newest outlet at PLQ Mall — these folks have been pretty much on an expansion craze ever since the success that they had found shortly after their now-defunct first location at Serangoon Central had gained popularity. While Nan Yang Dao had initially operated out of locations that are situated in the ground level of HDB blocks at town centres within the heartlands, they had since shuttered the outlets of such nature — this includes their first store at Serangoon Central, as well as another outlet at Aljunied Crescent which they had operated from; their operating model seemingly having moved towards being located in shopping centres, which includes their Hillion Mall location, the Heartland Mall location, and this one at PLQ Mall near the entrance that directly links up to Paya Lebar MRT Station’s Circle Line station. Nan Yang Dao has always adopted a look that follows that of Malaysia’s Oriental Kopi very closely — one that is pretty much being a contemporary version of a colonial-era Hainanese coffeehouse especially with the style of the furnishings and fittings used; think a royal green-based colour theme matched by wooden accents and white sidings used on its walls — the table tops bearing a look that resembles that of old-school Formica tables with dining chairs with wooden and rattan elements. The Nan Yang Dao outlet at PLQ Mall serves up the same menu that all other Nan Yang Dao outlets serves — the current rendition of the menu comprising of sections dedicated to NanYang Sam Hei (i.e. Butter Polo Bun and Puff Pastry Egg Tart), Petai Series, Salted Egg Delight, Nanyang New Products (comprises of all new items on their menu), Lala, Appetiser / Side Dish, Fish Head Nan Yang Signature, Signature Dishes, Mee Siam, Signature Mini Trio Noodles, Noodles, Bowl Rice Series, Fried Rice Series, NanYang Nasi Lemak, and Desserts. There is quite an extensive list of beverages available here, which are split into categories dedicated to Tea Series, Cute Special Beverages, 3 Layers Coffee Signature, Cincau Series Drinks, Traditional Cold Beverage, Cold Drinks, NanYang Hot Beverage, and Hot Drinks.

Not sure if it was a coincidence or if it was a bit of a post-trip withdrawal symptom acting up for us, but we found ourselves winding up at Nan Yang Dao just two days after ending a trip to Johor Bahru, Malaysia where we have had our very first taste of Oriental Kopi. That being said, we had been eyeing on some of the items which Nan Yang Dao is offering in its Nanyang New Products menu, which prompted us to make the visit to their newest outlet at the point of writing to give those items a go. The items in question that had captured our attention were their new offerings in relation to the Hainan Crispy Chicken — this would be their series of products that takes inspiration from the Hainanese Pork Cutlet often seen in traditional Hainanese eateries elsewhere. We went for the Hainan Crispy Chicken Rice since the Hainan Crispy Chicken (i.e. the version that comes with fries) was not available during our visit to the Nan Yang Dao location at PLQ Mall; Nan Yang Dao does not describe the elements that comes with their dishes, though we do note that our order of the Hainan Crispy Chicken Rice comes with a deep-fried chicken cutlet drenched in the typical sauce that carries a red hue which typically comes with Hainanese Pork Cutletsc as well as a sunny side-up and salad on the side. Digging into the Hainan Crispy Chicken Rice, we found that the rice comes a little more moist than what we would usually prefer — not that it was wet, though the grains are definitely softer than what we initially had expected. As we went for the sauce that was drenched atop the Hainan Crispy Chicken, the sauce was actually pretty well-executed — carried those notes of ketchup and Worcestershire sauce that carried a slight tang that accompanied the savoury note that provided some contrast to the fried chicken cutlet.

The sauce also comes accompanied with the usual assorted vegetables as well as onions that follows closely to what one can find in the same sauce that is served with the old-school Haiannese Pork Cutlet. We were actually quite satisfied with the fried chicken cutlet in terms of how it was all crisp on the exterior without feeling particularly greasy; the meat was also easy to chew through having retained the juiciness of the meat despite being a fried item. That being said, there was a hint of garlic that came across to us as rather strong in its batter — this somewhat interfered with the experience considering how the usual Hainanese Pork Cutlet would typically come coated with a batter that features crushed soda crackers that would not see such a flavour come through. The accompanying sunny side-up was a wee bit disappointing; while it does come with crisp, browned edges and was pretty much free from any undesirable hint of overused oil, the egg yolk has been cooked fully here — definitely something that those whom prefer runny yolks would pick on. The garden salad that came on the side consists of leafy greens and julienned cucumber that is being drizzled with mayonnaise; a good to have considering all the carbs and fried nature of the dish. Considering how we have since experienced Oriental Kopi’s version of the egg tarts and also already at Nan Yang Dao, we had decided to give the Puff Pastry Egg Tart a second try after our first encounter of the items at the Heartland Mall outlet. It seems that the folks at Nan Yang Dao had worked on the item a little; we did notice that the Puff Pastry Egg Tart was significantly less greasy at the bottom as compared to our first time trying it when the item had just launched. The pastry skin is also light and flaky, whilst holding up the egg curd fairly well — the egg curd carrying a notable eggy note without being too sweet; the egg curd also being suitably moist without being too firm.

That being said, the Puff Pastry Egg Tart at Nan Yang Dao does come a touch more buttery than the Oriental Egg Tart served up at Oriental Kopi; this also meant that the Puff Pastry Egg Tart might inherently get a little jelat rather quickly as well. We did recall that the Iced Kopi at Nan Yang Dao used to have come with the overflow aesthetic by default (also replicating the aesthetics of the same at Oriental Kopi); not sure if they had stopped doing so since our order now comes in a mug rather than a glass, with no saucer to catch the overflow at the bottom if there was one anyway. The Iced Coffee at Nan Yang Dao is pretty thick and rich, but those whom prefer Oriental Kopi’s rendition would find Nan Yang Dao’s variant less sweet and less smooth in comparison — seemingly more tuned towards the Singaporean taste buds. Nan Yang Dao is pretty much a the Singaporean rendition of Oriental Kopi that is located across the border — the brand has found success in its initial days serving up satisfying Malaysian fare at reasonable prices though one would often also describe their establishments to be a tad claustrophobic with attempts of trying to include as many seats in the establishment as possible. For those whom have been to Oriental Kopi in Malaysia, it can only be described that the resemblance between the two is indisputable — from the design of the entire concept from its interior to the menu, and with the plating of their items. That being said, it seems that some of the quality of the food served up at Nan Yang Dao in its early days has seemed to have lost — this is particularly stark in the dishes that are recently added to the menu; the nostalgic factor having been lost from some elements that they chose to have used. Still, Nan Yang Dao does seem to work just about right to settle cravings of Malaysian fare served at modern, hipster Hainanese coffeehouses — one that would do for those whom choose not to cross the border. Still looking forward to giving their upcoming Thomson location a go once it has opened that would be a more convenient location of Nan Yang Dao for us to visit.