Tsui Wah Singapore – Famous Hong Kong Cha Chaan Teng At Clarke Quay
Tsui Wah Singapore (翠華) has opened at Clarke Quay for almost half a year, but we only got around to checking it out a few days ago. After having tried Tsui Wah in Hong Kong, we were eager to see how the Singapore outlet would fare.
Tsui Wah Singapore (翠華)
Tsui Wah Singapore (翠華) is a Hong Kong style cafe located at the Clarke Quay waterfront. It is the first South East Asian branch of Tsui Wah, an iconic cafe chain in Hong Kong. The outlet is a collaboration with Singapore’s Jumbo Group.
Tsui Wah’s Head Chef, Chef Ren, has been in Singapore since last year overseeing the recreation of Tsui Wah’s popular dishes at the Clarke Quay branch.
Great Ambience with Convivial Vibe
We went to Tsui Wah on a Saturday at around 2pm and were surprised to see a queue of about ten people outside the cafe, even though lunch peak hour had already passed.
However, the queue moved quite quickly and we entered cafe after around 15 minutes.
Tsui Wah Singapore has an interior decor that stays faithful to that of Hong Kong cha chaan tengs. The cafe exudes a convivial vibe that makes it the perfect place to enjoy delicious Cantonese dishes with family and friends.
Compared to the Tsui Wah branch we visited in Central Hong Kong, I would say the interior design is quite similar, just that the Singapore outlet has a more modern vibe.
Good Service
I was curious to see if we would experience Hong Kong’s infamous archaic service standards at Tsui Wah Singapore, but I am happy to report that the service here was actually pretty good.
There was an adequate number of staff and we didn’t have any problems getting their attention. When I asked one female staff to help take a photo of us, she even replied “当然可以! (sure of course!)”
I also liked that the cutlery and napkins were conveniently kept in a nifty drawer beneath the table. And our dishes came very promptly, despite the joint being fully packed with diners.
Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk
The Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk ($4) came first, which a server helpfully reminded was “best eaten warm” when he saw us busy taking photos and Insta-stories of the dish.
Photo-taking duties done, I eagerly took one big bite out of the toasted bun.
It tasted great! The bun was nicely toasted with a good balance of fluffiness. But what I liked most was the rich buttery fragrance, complimented perfectly by the sinfully sweet condensed milk spread evenly over the bun.
Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles
For mains, I had the signature Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles ($9.50). This dish’s unassuming presentation belied its delicious taste!
I was hooked from my first bite of the braised pork. The meat was really tender and had a great savoury flavour. It was also quite fatty (in a good way) and I loved how the fatty meat juices oozed into my mouth.
The pork cartilage was a highlight too: it was perfectly cooked and was wonderfully chewy, with an almost jelly-like texture.
And somehow, the scrumptious chunks of meat just went so well with the springy instant noodles. I finished the entire plate in a hurry.
King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles
The wife had the King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles ($11), which was delicious as well.
The noodles were well cooked with great texture and flavour. It was complimented nicely by the savoury XO sauce (specially created for Singapore outlet), which was served separately in a saucer.
The five blanched prawns were quite tender and fresh. I enjoyed chewing on these large king prawns in my mouth. However, I felt they could have been more juicy.
Milk Tea
Like their Hong Kong counterpart, Tsui Wah Singapore’s Milk Tea ($4) is brewed using premium Celyon tea leaves.
The creamy and luscious milk tea had a delicate sweetness which romanced my taste buds and left me wanting more.
And amidst the rich sweetness, I could still taste the aromatic tea flavour which managed to stand up to the sweet condensed milk.
Having tasted the milk tea at Tsui Wah’s outlet in Central Hong Kong, I have to say that the Singapore version fares better!
Signature Dishes Menu (click to enlarge)
This is a list of Tsui Wah’s ten signature dishes, which is a useful reference if you are unsure of what to order. Note that there is also a supper menu after 10.30pm, which includes feisty dishes like Mala Soup 麻辣烫.
- Lamb Chop Curry with Steamed Rice
- Fish Paste Puffs in Fish Soup with Mixian
- Jumbo Hot Dog
- Chicken Wings with Sweet Soy Sauce
- Beef Brisket and Tendon Curry with Steamed Rice
- Shiitake Mushrooms and Broccoli in Abalone Sauce
- Milk Tea
- Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles
- Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk
- Tsui Wah Signature Pork Chop Bun
Conclusion
We were thoroughly impressed with both the food and service at Tsui Wah Singapore. It is no wonder that there was a long queue outside the cafe even when we went after lunch peak hour. Prices were quite affordable too. This is a perfect place to eat any time of the day, be it lunch, dinner or supper after partying in Clarke Quay (the outlet opens till 4am on Fridays and Saturdays).
Tsui Wah Singapore
What to order: Iced Milk Tea ($4), Crispy Bun with Condensed Milk ($4), Kagoshima-Style Braised Pork Cartilage with Tossed Instant Noodles ($9.50), King Prawns in XO Sauce with Tossed Noodles ($11)
Address: 3 River Valley Road Block A, #01-03, Singapore 179020
Opening Hours: | Sun to Thurs: 11am – 1.30am | Fri & Sat: 11am – 4am |
Phone: +65 6250 9270
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