Victor's Kitchen (Sunshine Plaza)

Victor's Kitchen located at level one of Sunshine Plaza specialises in serving authentic Hong Kong Dim Sum. I am sure that when Dim Sum is mentioned most of you would be thinking of the likes of Peach Garden, Peony Jade, Lei Garden, Red Star or East Ocean. What's the difference you may ask? Well, to me the Dim Sum at Victor's Kitchen is cheap and good!

Victor's Kitchen 

Arrived at 1pm on a Saturday. Victor's Kitchen was packed! Luckily, the turnover is quite fast, found a table within 5minutes. Do expect to be seated next to strangers with narrow passage ways.

Drinks Menu 

Dim Sum Menu (a)

Dim Sum Menu (b)

To order, you will need to get the order slip(menu) from the counter along with a pencil and tick the items along with the quantity you want. After you are done, pass it to one of the helpers and then wait. Can't help but comment, look at the disclaimer 'we serve the best foods, but not fast food'. Well, for good food, you have got to wait.

H.K. Summer Ice Ying Yang (Mix CoffeeW/Tea) $3.00

The H.K. Summer Ice Ying Yang comes with ice surrounding the cup of ying yang (also known as yuanyang; coffee with tea) . This way, the drink is kept chilled without diluting the the taste of the drink.

Chicken & Sausage in Glutinous Rice $4.00

I am not a fan of glutinous rice and in most places, most of the glutinous rice was hard. But we had to order it as we were starving and needed carbohydrate. When the Chicken & Sausage in Glutinous Rice arrived, my first (negative) thought was 'Wa, so plain'. But well, this is amazing sticky, soft and fragrant. I was totally won over by this dish. The best glutinous rice I have ate! What a great start to my meal.

Char Siew Cheong Fun $4.00

The Char Siew Cheong Fun was smooth and thin with pieces of char siew in it of course. It was average.

Phoenix Porridge $3.50

I was not fast enough in taking a photo of the Phoneix Porridge. This is what is left after the 3 of us too our portions. Phoneix Porridge consist of century eggs and chicken. It was quite plain tasting. For those who want a strongly flavour, can add pepper and light soy sauce. I quite like the fact that it was plain tasting as it complement the other dishes. Moreover, thought that it was cooked well as it was not watery. Remind me of Teochew style porridge.

Vegetable and Quail Egg Siew Mai $3.50

My first time trying such a Siew Mai; Vegetable and Quail Egg Siew Mai.It consist of egg quail on top and  vegetable at the bottom. This is one dish that I dislike. Weird combination of taste that did not appeal to me. Moreover, thought that the meat had a weird after taste.

Yummy Yummy Phoenix Claws $3.50

I am the only one among us who knows how to eat this dish; Yummy Yummy Phoenix Claws. Lucky me, because it was yummy. A must order!

Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun $4.00

The Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun (liu sha bao / custard bun) is another must order! Be careful when eating it. As inside, it is full of buttery runny custard that is sweet, salty and sinful! Shiok!

Rosey Wine Yummy Char Siew Bun $3.50

There was just 2 pieces of Rosey Wine Yummy Char Siew Bun which was filled with sweet and tender meat. After having the Golden Egg Yolk Lava Bun, this was really just average.

Scallop, Sausage Carrot Cake with XO Sauce $4.00 (+$0.50 for adding XO Sauce)

The Scallop, Sausage Carrot Cake with XO Sauce was fantastic! I have never eaten something like this before. The carrot cake was soft and mashy (like mashed potato) soaked in their home-made XO sauce. Somehow, we could not detect any XO taste in it, it was more like soy sauce. Nevertheless, this dish wow us so much that we had to order an addition serving of this.

$0.50 for adding XO Sauce

This time we were determined to find out the exact taste of the XO Sauce. Hence, we added 50cents for the above. And well, we were truely shocked. I really have no idea what this is. Its like preserved vegetable soaked in oil? Anyone knows?

Yutiao Cheong Fun $3.50

The Yutiao Cheong Fun was soaked in thick black sauce. Personally thought that it would taste better if it was soaked in soy sauce. Most online reviews have raved about how good this dish was. Well, I beg to defer, this dish did not appeal to me at all.

Steam Chicken with Chinese Wine $3.00

Well, the Steam Chicken with Chinese Wine was our last dish. The chicken was tender and fragrant having been soaked and steam in the chinese wine. Quite a normal and common dim sum dish.

Overall, the dim sum served here is really good and value for money. It was so good that we ordered 3 times in total, adding some dishes and ordering some dishes twice! In the end we over-ordered. I will definitely be back for more. If you have never been here, time to give it a try. Or you will never know what you are missing!

Victor's Kitchen (Sunshine Plaza)
91 Bencoolen Street
#01-21 Sunshine Plaza
Tel: 9838 2851
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 1030am to 8pm
                         Closed on Mon
Location

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Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)

A trip down to Paradise Dynasty on a weekday for lunch. We arrive before 12 noon. Do not be mistaken by the queue. They are waiting for either their friends or waiting to be seated. Still lots of space available inside at this time. Do note, you will only be brought inside when all your guest have arrived. 

The World's First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao

The World’s First 8 Flavoured Xiao Long Bao which created lots of publicity online and in the media for this restaurant.

Tables near the entrance. This photo was taken as we were leaving at around 130pm. By then, the place was full. Not an easy accomplishment as it was a weekday and the place was huge!

We were seated inside. Here you can spot more empty tables as these photos were taken when we arrived. Huge place with large sitting capacity. Amazing, it was full by 1245pm. Look at setting of this restaurant. Moreover, waiters and waitress were in uniform that makes you feel as if they are serving a prince/princess (you).

he cLighting on teiling

What drinks to order? Water or tea when the price is the same.

Tea

Well, we ordered tea, which was refillable.

Legend of Xiao Long Bao

How to eat your Xiao Long Bao?

Signature Dynasty Dumplings (8 flavours) $13.80

Needless to say, we ordered the Signature Dynasty Dumplings. Appearance wise, I would have given a perfect 10. Taste wise, it was a disappointment. Even the original flavour one was so-so. I would still prefer Crystal Jade’s.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup $9.80

I ordered the La Mian with Sliced Pork in Signature Pork Bone Soup. The la mian was good,  each strand was thin, soft and fragrant. Each piece of pork was thinly sliced. The half an egg was nicely cooked too with its runny yolk. The only down side was that the soup base was quite salty.

Part of La Mian Menu

La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup $8.50

The La Mian in Hot and Sour Soup was supposed to be spicy and sour. But it was way too sour.

Making Xiao Long Bao

Overall, in terms of food, Paradise Dynasty reminds me of Crystal Jade. After tasting the food, I would prefer Crystal Jade’s Xiao Long Bao and La Mian. In terms of service, Paradise Dynasty’s service was prompt and efficient. Felt that Paradise Dynasty’s Xiao Long Bao was over-hyped. Nothing special. But overall, is still a decent place to come for lunch if you are in town especially for its la mian.

Paradise Dynasty (ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
#04-12A ION Orchard
Tel: 6509 9118 
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri  11am – 10pm
                                 Sat–Sun & PH10.30am – 10pm
Website
  

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Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Bugis Junction)

Dropped by Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao  located at Bugis Junction for dinner.

Menu Cover Page

The menu cover page has changed. Looks so colourful and seems to be targeting the younger generation too. Moreover, with a tagline of 'King of Noodles & Tim Sum'.

Tim Sum Menu

Weird that Crystal Jade uses Tim Sum instead of Dim Sum.

Steamed Pork Dumpling $5.00

We ordered the Steamed Pork Dumpling or you can call it Xiao Long Bao (XLB). The XLB is one of Crystal Jade's signature dish. It is served in bamboo basket.  The xiao long baos must be eaten hot when they are served. The skin is thin yet does not puncture easily. Inside, it is filled with tasty pork broth and tender pork fillings. Matched with vinegar and ginger which enhances the taste of the tender pork, it is heavenly.

Soup and Noodle Menu

Spicy & Sour Soup Noodle with Shredded Pork & Beancurd $7.50

Looks delicious?

Here's how the Spicy & Sour Soup Noodle with Shredded Pork & Beancurd looks like after stirring it. Crystal Jade's la mian (handmade noodles) is one of my favourite. The spiciness and sourness of the Spicy & Sour Soup Noodle with Shredded Pork & Beancurd was perfect for me. Not too sour yet spicy. Shiok! Moreover, each strand of la mian was cooked to perfection, it was soft, springy, thin and flavourful. The whole combination was perfect and delicious!!

Mega Bowl Soup La Mian

Chicken Wing Mega Bowl Soup La Mian $9.90

Where's the chicken wings?

Chicken Wings

Well, I am glad they served it separately so that the wings will not be soggy. Other parts of the chicken wings was missing. Moreover, the wings were quite oily. Inside, the meat was slightly dry. Not as delicious as I expected.

La Mian was perfect, similar to the ones served in the spicy & sour noodles. However, the La Mian Soup base was salty. The prawns in it was not fresh. Stuck to the shells and meat was not firm. The dumplings were average. To be frank, I felt that this dish was terrible compared to the other dishes in the noodles/la mian menu.

You might have read in earlier post that I am a crazy fan of Crystal Jade's chilli. I can literally eat the chilli alone without anything to accompany it while waiting for the food to come. Right amount of spiciness, somewhat crispy to me. How do they make it?

Overall, the dishes such as Sour and Spicy Noodle and Xiao Long Bao are delicious! (and not forgetting the chilli!). But I certainty will not be ordering the Mega Bowl Soup La Mian. Price wise, it is quite affordable and value for money. Where else can you get such price at restaurants and with such good food! As for service, the staff are prompt and efficient.

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao (Bugis Junction)

200 Victoria Street

#B1-04A Bugis Junction

Tel: 6339 6902
Opening Hours: Daily 11am – 9.30pm

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