Sichuan Kungfu Fish

Sichuan Kungfu Fish
3 Temasek Boulevard
#B1-132 Suntec City

http://www.kungfu-fish.com/

All Ingredients Added

Fairly Fresh Fiery Fish

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $35 per person.

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Opening in Singapore in November 2017, Sichuan Kungfu Fish is an international brand by founder Qi Chunhua, specialising in China Chinese style grilled fish. As indicated by their name, their speciality is Sichuan style mala peppercorn grilled fish, but they also offer a good variety of seafood and skewers, at mid-range prices.

Ambience at Sichuan Kungfu Fish has an industrial rustic charm to it. An eclectic mix of decor, from chalkboards to sculptures adorn the wooden panelled walls. The warmly lit place is closely packed with a variety of sturdy wooden chairs and marble-topped wooden tables. There's a sense of cozy communal comfort here. However, the odour of spices and grilling linger in the air, and sticks to clothing.

Service at Sichuan Kungfu Fish is polite, with mechanical efficiency. Staff converse mainly in Chinese Mandarin; I wasn't able to understand at some points. The menu has helpful English descriptions with numbers, which aid ordering. I note staff clear away and clean tables quickly when diners leave. However, staff display a hurried air admist the bustling crowd at peak periods, don't expect any conversation.

Food at Sichuan Kungfu Fish, as its name suggests, is focused on Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan cuisine, with the star being their mala peppercorn grilled fish. While dishes are tasty, they are able to get over with less than the freshest ingredients, due to all the seasoning and spices used. Portions are sized for communal group dining of at least 2 - 3 people, and prices are mid-range. Budget about SGD $35 per person for a meal here.

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Sichuan Kungfu Fish Seating

Sichuan Kungfu Fish Menu

Sichuan Kungfu Fish Display

A straightforward Pu'Er Tea (SGD $7.90), with a warm, earthy herbal flavour. Served in an unexpectedly elegant European style teapot.

Pu'Er Tea (SGD $7.90)

The Beer Tsingtao Light (SGD $10) is an American style pale pilsner, brewed by Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It has a straw golden colour, with aromas and tastes of rice, corn, metal, and grain. The body is light, thin, and carbonated, and has low bitterness and a hint of citrus sweetness.

Beer Tsingtao Light (SGD $10)

The Grilled Sea Bass Fish In Mala Soup Base (SGD $36.90) features a medium-sized, whole sea bass fish. While it wasn't as fresh as I'd expect, the fish meat was tender, flaky, and savoury sweet, though the fish skin was slightly rubbery. The fiery spicy mala soup base of mala peppercorn, star anise, ginger, spring onions, and chili oil, along with the fish, is served in a large, flat hot pot, and bubbles away delightfully throughout your meal. You can choose to add-on other ingredients to the meal, some of which are served within the hot pot, while others are served separately. Taste is delicious, we got the medium spicy, which has a sharp kick, and a lingering burn. Not overly salty or oily, which I like. Good!

Grilled Sea Bass Fish In Mala Soup Base (SGD $36.90)

Grilled Sea Bass Fish In Mala Soup Base

Selected several other ingredients as add-ons. The Lotus Root (SGD $2.90) is crunchy vegetal sweet, and picks up the soup base well. The Chinese Cabbage (SGD $2.90) has a tender crunch, with a vegetal sweet flavour, but also soaks up the oil. The tender savoury Luncheon Meat (SGD $4.90) has a soft chew. The Kungfu Noodles (SGD $4.90) are thick and flat, with a bouncy chew and a delicate grainy sweet taste. The Kungfu Tofu Beancurd (SGD $4.90) has a spongy soft texture, with a delicate sweet note, served in a sharp spicy broth.

Lotus Root (SGD $2.90)

Chinese Cabbage (SGD $2.90)

Luncheon Meat (SGD $4.90)

Kungfu Noodles (SGD $4.90)

Kungfu Tofu Beancurd (SGD $4.90)

With All Ingredients Added, the dish looks completely hearty and appetizing. I realise that due to the shallowness of the hot pot, there's only a limited amount of add-ons you can put in at any one time.

All Ingredients Added

Loved the Barbecued Squid With Garlic (SGD $10), with its fresh, bouncy chew to texture, and delicate sweet savoury flavour, enhanced with the aromatic minced garlic. Paired with a salty savoury light soy sauce for dipping. Lovely appetizer. Good!

Barbecued Squid With Garlic (SGD $10)

Barbecued Squid With Garlic

Barbecued Squid With Garlic

The Assorted Skewers In Red Hot Chili Pot (SGD $15) is a sample set of all their skewers. Featuring 1 skewer each of crunchy black fungus / cloud ear fungus, tender seaweed, chewy tofu beancurd skin, bouncy shiitake mushrooms, juicy cucumber, firm potatoes, delightful quail eggs, soft crab stick meat, fresh prawn / shrimp, and snappy mini pork sausages. Bonus sticks of tender chicken and chewy pork loin skewers. Served in a mildly spicy soup base; each skewer picks up the tasty spice in its own way, complementing the natural fresh, earthy, vegetal, sweet, savoury, salty, or herbal flavours of the ingredients. Good value for money. The best skewer is the quail eggs, which bursts beautifully, with the warm egg yolk flooding the mouth. Highly recommended!

Assorted Skewers In Red Hot Chili Pot (SGD $15)

Assorted Skewers In Red Hot Chili Pot

Assorted Skewers In Red Hot Chili Pot

The Chicken Snack Platter (SGD $18) is a popular sharing appetizer. Make no mistake, this is in no way a gastronomic delight. It's poor value for money, as it consists largely of frozen, processed snacks you could get in any supermarket. But there's something to be said for guilty pleasures like this, eaten with cold beer. The Soy-Glazed Chicken Skewers are tender with a light salty sweet flavour. The Spicy Chicken Winglets have a mild spicy savoury sweet flavour, and the tender chicken meat comes off easily, but it also is really fatty. The Crispy Chicken Drumlets have a light crunch, with a savoury sweet salty flavour to the tender chicken meat. The Curly Fries have a light crisp exterior, a properly fluffy interior, and good potato flavour.