Reviewed by : Deyana
Lesson number 1: A teahouse does not serve only tea . Visiting a teahouse is always an eye-opener since you never know what to expect. ChaKuan, which literally translates into “teahouse”, brings you a wealth of good food rather than teas. Located on the ground floor of the newly-revamped Market Street Carpark, this restaurant specializes in Chinese delicacies that focus on Cantonese and local Chinese cuisine.
The ambience of this teahouse – bustling, professional and creative replicates the area where it is located in; the heart of Raffles Place, Singapore's financial centre. Utilizing earthy colours that complement the bright red hues characteristic of the Chinese, ChaKuan's décor is empathetic to local living of the Singaporean-style city. Its fusion interior is further enhanced by cosy white brick pillars that create a very underground feel. Juxtaposed against this are the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the red walls that are painted with Chinese calligraphy. All in all, it is tradition meets modernity in ChaKuan, exuding a chic Oriental-Cosmopolitan look.
Teahouses love their specialties; sampling them is a must! Try the Teahouse Crispy Duck ($9.70), a dish of sliced roast duck in light sauce. Tender and juicy, the duck meat tastes especially delicious when soaked in the salty sauce. And of course, the highlight of roast duck is always the skin; ChaKuan's version is thin and crispy the way it should be.
For something less sinful, try the Broccoli with Shrimp ($11.70). Presented in an appetizing circle of broccoli with a centre of shrimps, the dish tastes as good as it looks. The broccolis are large, crunchy and, thankfully, not overcooked. Complementing the sweetness of the fresh prawns, this dish needs neither sauce nor seasoning to taste good.
However, if you like your vegetables a little soaked, you might want to sample the ChaKuan Treasure Plate ($6.70). A typical Cantonese dish of braised beancurd, the tofu here is well-fried to a thin and taut covering. Braised with thick, slightly sticky gravy, the Treasure Plate also comes with shitake mushrooms and an assortment of other vegetables.
Too much vegetable? Settle your meat-fix with ChaKuan's Rock Salt Pork Ribs ($10.70), platter of small pieces of deep-fried pork ribs and red peppers. Though a little tough, the salty goodness of the dish makes it irresistible.
If you do not have time, skip everything else and try the desserts at ChaKuan, particularly the Red Bean Banana Fritters ($3.70). This typically local dessert comprise of small, piping hot fritters. Well-fried, the banana here is extremely soft and sweet. In addition, the red bean paste is very smooth and adds texture to the banana. Alternatively, try the Mixed Fruits Sago ($3.90), a favourite among ChaKuan's patrons. Exquisitely presented with a flourish of colours, this sago consists of watermelon balls, kiwi slices, mango cubes and strawberries. Sourish sweet, the milk in the sago adds richness to the fruity concoction.
Perfect for the lunchtime crowd, service in ChaKuan is prompt and efficient. It still retains in warmth and friendliness, though, adding to the cosy feel of the place.
ChaKuan is an excellent place to visit if you happen to be around the area. It gives you the feel of being away from the crowd, and its ambience is bright and relaxing. Moreover, the food is above average and reasonably priced.
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