Abalone & Pork Dumplings (add: Noodles) Managed to learn about the new Yixiangjia 燚想佳 that had recently opened its doors at Vision Exchange — this would be the commercial building that is located at Venture Drive and connected via an overhead bridge from Jurong East MRT Station; the building is noted for being occupied with quite a number of dining establishments serving up mainland Chinese cuisine. Yixiangjia can be found on the second level of the building, occupying the shop unit that is located right at the end of the building closer towards Jurong East MRT Station in the corner. The store does sport a rather awkward layout where a large part of the shop space is dedicated to the food preparation area and the counter: one can find some dine-in seating located within the store, though most of the dine-in space can be found outside along the corridor. Aside from the posters and signages that one can find at the store that features a hue of green which the brand has adopted as their theme colour, the dine-in furniture features wooden accents with the decor generally being more for function than for form. One can also find a wall-mounted sculpture of hands shaping up dumplings within the establishment as well. Yixiangjia prides itself over the handmade dumplings and wontons that they serve up; they do offer quite a variety of them featuring different fillings, while the establishment also serves up a variety of noodle dishes as well as cold dishes as a sides. Beverages offered by Yixiangjia would be a variety of canned / bottled beverages which are also prominently displayed in the display chiller as well near the counter.
Noting that they specialise in serving up freshly-made handmade dumplings and wontons, we had decided to go with their Abalone & Pork Dumplings — these are offered in portion sizes of both 10 pieces or 12 pieces each, while there is also an option to add noodles and choose the desired broth / sauce option for the dish; we went for the 10 piece option with noodles added, while the sauce option we had went for would be the Original Flavour Dry Mix. It is interesting to note how Yixiangjia attempts to recreate the dining experience of Yuen Kee Dumplings 袁记云饺 not only with the way that the food menu is being designed (by way of customisation options), but also in the design of their diningware which really copies the look except where the branding of the establishment is of concern. We do find that the Abalone & Pork Dumplings were actually pretty well made — comes stuffed with a good amount of pork fillings while some of the pieces does come with prominent chunks of abalone than others being mixed into the dumpling; the small bits of abalone carries a bit of a more springy and bouncy bite as compared to the pork filling, while the pork filling was tender and meaty without carrying an undesirable porky stench. It is also noted that the dumplings here are also particularly juicy, and well-filled with broth within as well that eagerly oozes out of the dumpling as one chews into it. Meanwhile, the addition of
noodles sees the use of egg noodles that one would typically find in Wanton Noodles being served together with the dumplings. It is noted that the noodles does come free from any alkaline-y notes from the lye, though it was tossed in a mix of light soy sauce with chili padi that gives it a lightly savoury and a spicy kick especially when one chews onto the chili padi.
During the same visit, we had also managed to give their Cold Marinated Seaweed a go; this dish does come slightly chilled and features slices of seaweed that feels jelly-like but yet carries a bite that is being tossed in a light soy sauce and chili oil. We personally do not particularly prefer the type of seaweed that they use here for the dish, though one can definitely find light but evident notes of the soy sauce that provides a hint of savouriness that matches alongside the fragrance of chili oil that comes together for this dish.
To be very honest, we do feel like we are sitting a little bit on the fence when it comes to the food that Yixiangjia is serving up; we do find that the dumplings do feel particularly well-made, but its attempt in trying to mimic its branding with Yuen Kee Dumpling’s does make one feel necessary to compare the offerings of both establishments — and it does feel like Yixiangjia does come a little far from recreating the general experience that Yuen Kee Dumpling provides despite Yixiangjia’s attempts to position themselves as “Singapore’s own dumpling brand” without over-emphasising on Cantonese dishes whilst fuses mainland Chinese flavours into their offerings. Whilst carrying somewhat similar customisable options as Yuen Kee Dumpling does, the lack of choices of the sauces apart from the Three-Delicacies Soup, Red Oil (Dry) and Original Flavour Dry Mix does make Yixiangjia feel like they are falling short on the choices that Yuen Kee Dumplings provides — Yuen Kee Dumpling’s sauce choices are also more flavoursome and unique as what Yixiangjia has to offer. It also does not help that there was quite a number of side dishes that was sold out when we visited Yixiangjia during dinner service on a weekday which limited the options of dishes that we can go for as well. We also didn’t like how the indoor seating felt particularly stuffy as compared to the outdoor seating due to the layout of the entire space with its open ktichen concept. That being said, these folks are located within a building that houses plenty of mainland Chinese dining establishments; may this be a spot that works out well for their existence in the local F&B scene here.
