Zi Char - Paradise Group (Canton Paradise)

Zi Char - Paradise Group (Canton Paradise)
2 Jurong East Central 1
#02-09 JCube

311 New Upper Changi Road
#B2-10 Bedok Mall

1 Vista Exchange Green
#B1-45 The Star Vista

1 Sengkang Square
#03-19 Compass Point

53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3
#B2-01 Ang Mo Kio Hub

112 East Coast Road
#B1-15 I12 Katong

https://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/


Good Dim Sum & Roast Meats

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 9
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $28 per person.


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Canton Paradise is the Paradise Group Dim Sum concept restaurant, styled after Hong Kong tea houses. Welcoming diners into a elegant oriental setting, and serving up Cantonese favourites like Dim Sum, Congee, Wanton Dumplings, and Roast Meats, as well as a selection of Chinese Zi Char dishes, I enjoyed my dining experience at Canton Paradise!

Ambience at Canton Paradise is styled after a traditional Chinese tea house, but with touches of elegance. Colours themes of purple, black and gold lend an air of sophistication and royalty, while partitions and furniture in oriental style bring to mind the traditional. As befitting the Hong Kong tea house inspiration, the interior does get noisy and bustling during peak periods. I also like that the roast meats are well displayed, and look appetizing!

Service at Zi Char - Paradise Group (Canton Paradise) is efficient, with orders served extremely quickly, even during peak periods! I also like that they assign a particular staff to attend to a selected group of tables, which results in more proactive attentiveness, such as quick clearing of dirty / empty plates, topping up of drinks, and friendly service. Staff are also knowledgable on the menu, and able to make recommendations. Excellent!

Food at Canton Paradise includes a variety of Cantonese specialities, such as double boiled soups, roast meats, dim sum, and wanton dumplings. They also do pretty good Chinese Zi Char dishes, as per the rest of Paradise Group. Portions are meant for sharing, and communal dining is encouraged. But I find prices to be slightly higher than other dim sum restaurants, budget about SGD $28 or more per person for a meal here.


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A steaming Tea Pu Er (SGD $1.20) & Salted Peanuts to start off the meal. Love the deep, earthy taste of the tea, great as a palate cleanser too!

Tea Pu Er & Salted Peanuts

We ordered the BBQ Combination (SGD $22.80) with 3 varieties of meat - BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce, Crackling Pork Belly, and Crispy Roasted Duck. Perfect for sharing, and I find it value for money for the portion size, overall, this is an above average dish.

The BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce is sweet, and the meat is well marinated, but I find it lacks a noticeable smoky char of grilling. The Crackling Pork Belly is above average, with skin that is so crispy and satisfiying with a loud crunch, but while the meat is tender, there is a strong smell of pork. The Crispy Roasted Duck has a nice savoury, salty taste, and the duck is tender and moist, but the skin isn't too crisp.

BBQ Combination

BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce

BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce Slab

Crackling Pork Belly

Crispy Roasted Duck

Loved the Double Boiled Spare Ribs Soup With Chinese Yam And Snow Pear (SGD $8.80), the soup is fragrant and sweet from the infusion of snow pear and chinese yam. The fruits are suitably soft, as is the tender pork ribs at the bottom. A very good Cantonese style soup / broth!

Double Boiled Spare Ribs Soup With Chinese Yam And Snow Pear

The Duck Soup With Winter Melon, Barley And Lotus Leaf (SGD $6.80) features small chunks of tasty, tender duck meat on bone, with soft, tender slices of winter melon and barley. This Cantonese style soup / broth is fragrant, with a balance of salty and savoury tastes, and a slight sweetness from the barley. Pretty good!

Duck Soup With Winter Melon, Barley And Lotus Leaf

A standard bowl of White Rice (SGD $0.50) which accompanies nearly every Chinese meal. The rice here is well cooked, with grains that separate easily without clumping together.

White Rice

The Canton Jumbo Prawn Wanton Soup (SGD $8.90) features huge, fresh prawns, wrapped in a dumpling skin that is thin enough to be translucent, yet thick enough to hold together without falling apart. Very good wantons, but the soup is rather astringent, with a strong soybean taste that I didn't quite like.

Canton Jumbo Prawn Wanton Soup

The Prawn Dumpling Soup (SGD $8.90) sadly, isn't as good as the other dumpling soups. The lettuce soup / broth has that same astringent, sour taste. But what causes this to be less value for money is the 5 small dumplings within. While the prawns are fresh and meaty, there is little stuffing within each dumpling, and some contain black fungus or mushrooms, while others don't. Also, I find this skin to be much thicker than other dumplings. Skip this.

Prawn Dumpling Soup

The Congee Scallop, Prawns, Sliced Garoupa (SGD $11.20) was so heavenly! The congee porridge was thick yet smooth, and fragrant with ginger infusion. The garoupa fish is thickly sliced and very fresh, without any bones. The fresh seafood, consisting of prawns and scallops, were large, meaty, and scrumptious.

Congee Scallop, Prawns, Sliced Garoupa 01

Congee Scallop, Prawns, Sliced Garoupa 02

You can also choose to get the Congee 2 Varieties (SGD $8.20), which allows you to choose 2 ingredients to add to the fragrant, thick, smooth Congee. I chose the Congee Sliced Grass Carp, Hand Made Pork Meatball. The grass carp fish slices are slightly thin, but there are sufficient pieces within. I also loved the tasty pork meatball, which was fresh and tightly packed. Very good!

Congee Sliced Grass Carp, Hand Made Pork Meatball 01

Congee Sliced Grass Carp, Hand Made Pork Meatball 02

The Steamed Pork Dumpling (SGD $5.80), or Dim Sum Siew Mai, is fresh and meaty, very delicious! I like the little garnish of fish roe on top, lending a splash of colour!

Steamed Pork Dumpling

The Steamed Prawn Dumpling (SGD $5.80), or Dim Sum Har Gow, is well made, with fresh, meaty prawns within the soft, pliable dumpling skin that is just the right thickness.

Steamed Prawn Dumpling

The Steamed Spare Ribs With Black Bean (SGD $4.30) is fragrant and delicious, with a good ration of lean pork meat to fat. Love how tender the meat is, and the fat comes off easily too.

Steamed Spare Ribs With Black Bean

I felt the Steamed Scallop And Scrambled Egg White Dumpling (SGD $4.90) was odd in terms of taste and texture. Not used to the gooey, almost cartilage like substance within, this unusual combination with the soft egg white tasted quite plain. Personally, I didn't like it.

Steamed Scallop And Scrambled Egg White Dumpling

The Steamed BBQ Honey Pork Bun (SGD $4.60) was really good. The bun is soft and fluffy, served piping hot, and holds the savoury mixture of BBQ honey pork really well. The meat itself is very tasty, with a slight hint of sweetness. Highly recommended!

Steamed BBQ Honey Pork Bun

The sauce of the Wanton With Chilli Oil (SGD $5.80) is the real winner here. A well balanced mix of quality vinegar and chili oil result in a sauce that is predominately sour and tangy, with a hint of spicy. The wanton dumplings are large and meaty, holding the meat juice really well, but I find the skin slightly too thick.

Wanton With Chilli Oil

Love the Crisp Fried Egg Plant With Pork Floss (SGD $7.80), with its crisp, almost crunchy texture! I also like that it isn't too oily, but the overall taste without the pork floss is rather plain... but together, it's quite tasty!

Crisp Fried Egg Plant With Pork Floss

The Steamed Ling Zhi Spring Water Tofu With Minced Pork And Salted Fish (SGD $13.80) is incredibly silky smooth in texture, with a fragrant hint of the mushroom infusion. The garnish of salty, savoury minced pork and salted fish lend a punchy flavour, and this dish is best eaten when paired with rice or porridge / congee.

Steamed Ling Zhi Spring Water Tofu With Minced Pork And Salted Fish

I thought the Wok-Fried Mustard Leaf With Minced Duck Meat (SGD $12.80) was rather novel and unique. Despite the name, only the stems are used in this dish, stir fried with minced duck till it absorbs the fragrance of the meat. Has a refreshing, light mouth feel, with hints of savoury taste. Good!

Wok-Fried Mustard Leaf With Minced Duck Meat

The Steamed Sea Bass In Supreme Soya Sauce (SGD $28) is an example of a simple dish, done well. A whole fish, extremely fresh, is simply steamed in a savoury soy sauce in the traditional Cantonese / Hong Kong style. Garnished with a few aromatics, this is completely delicious, well worth ordering if you dine here!

Steamed Sea Bass In Supreme Soya Sauce 01

Steamed Sea Bass In Supreme Soya Sauce 02

Loved the Deep-Fried Pork Ribs With Minced Garlic (SGD $16.80), which featured crisp, savoury, tasty pork ribs, garnished with fried bits of garlic and chili, which lent a wonderful fragrance, and a slight spicy heat. Also loved that it wasn't too oily!

Deep-Fried Pork Ribs With Minced Garlic

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Update Feb-2017: More than 2 years since I last visited Paradise Group (Canton Paradise), and they're still consistently serving good quality food, in a comfortable, Oriental ambience, with professional and friendly service. Prices are slightly higher than before, but Paradise Group (Canton Paradise) remains a pretty good choice for a dining destination. This time, I tried more of their Chinese Zi Char dishes, which are served from lunch to dinner.


The Braised Peanuts & Water Chestnuts (SGD $1.20) is served as an appetizer. The braised peanuts have a tender, soft texture, with an earthy salty nutty flavour from being braised in a light soy sauce. The water chestnuts have a tender texture with a slight chew, and flavours that are sweet nutty earthy, pairing well. Good!

Braised Peanuts & Water Chestnuts (SGD $1.20)

Love the Green Dragon Vegetable (SGD $9.80) with its fresh, crunchy texture, and sweet vegetal flavours, fragrant with garlic. The qing long cai / green dragon vegetable / garlic chives is cooked together with straw mushrooms, which lends a touch of earthy flavour to the dish. Pairs well with white rice, good enough on its own. Good!

Green Dragon Vegetable (SGD $9.80)

The Pork Rib Soup With Adzuki Beans & Arrow Root (SGD $8.80 / $22.80) has a rich, cloudy look, with a lovely earthy sweet savoury flavour. The stewing of adzuki beans, arrow root, salted mackerel fish, and pork ribs creates fragrant layers of taste that are distinct, yet complement well. Hearty, and it opens the appetite. Good!

Pork Rib Soup With Adzuki Beans & Arrow Root (SGD $8.80 / $22.80)

Pork Rib Soup With Adzuki Beans & Arrow Root

The Steamed Kampong Chicken Canton Style, Crispy Roasted Duck (SGD $21.80) features tender, clean-tasting, sweet savoury steamed chicken, having a lovely bouncy texture to the meat. The robust flavours of the roasted duck is meaty and savoury, with a hint of salty, and the meat is firm with a slight chew. Worth ordering!

Steamed Kampong Chicken Canton Style, Crispy Roasted Duck (SGD $21.80)

Steamed Kampong Chicken Canton Style, Crispy Roasted Duck

Loved the Braised Firm Tofu With Assorted Mushrooms (SGD $14.80), which features soft, silky tofu beancurd in a braised soybean gravy. Served along with a medley of vegetables, including carrots, kai-lan / Chinese kale / Chinese broccoli, straw mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and king trumpet mushrooms. Simple and satisfiying, flavours of earthy savoury sweet vegetal, textures of tender crunchy soft silky. Good!

Braised Firm Tofu With Assorted Mushrooms (SGD $14.80)

Loved the X.O. Carrot Cake (SGD $6.80), which features cubes of soft white daikon radish, tossed in eggs, crunchy bean sprouts, and a special dried shrimp sauce. Fragrant, eggy savoury sweet with hints of vegetal flavours, this was so addictive. Highly recommended!

X.O. Carrot Cake (SGD $6.80)

X.O. Carrot Cake

What I like about the Stir-Fried Sliced Marbled Beef With Black Pepper (SGD $18.80) is the tender, soft cuts of beef, coated in a spicy but not too sharp black pepper sauce. The smoky caramelised onions and bell peppers / capsicum lend a lovely sweetness to the dish. Pretty alright, not the best I've had, just decent.

Stir-Fried Sliced Marbled Beef With Black Pepper (SGD $18.80)

Stir-Fried Sliced Marbled Beef With Black Pepper

The Steamed Molten Salted Egg Yolk Custard Piggy Bun (SGD $6.20) is the cutest thing ever. If you can get past the pretty presentation, you'll find the execution is spot on too. The thick, luscious salted egg yolk custard is piping hot and rich in salty savoury flavour. Incredibly satisfiying. Would order again. Highly recommended!

Steamed Molten Salted Egg Yolk Custard Piggy Bun (SGD $6.20)

Steamed Molten Salted Egg Yolk Custard Piggy Bun

Steamed Molten Salted Egg Yolk Custard Piggy Bun

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Update Jul-2018: Over 1 year has passed, and I dropped by Paradise Group (Canton Paradise) for a meal with loved ones. Not much has changed, from the comfortable, Oriental ambience, the professional and friendly service, or the decently tasty Chinese Cantonese specialities. Prices remain the same as last year.


The BBQ Combination 3 Varieties (SGD $27.80) is better than I remember. The BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce has a pronounced sweet savoury flavour, with the meat being well marinated and juicy, with a faint smoky aroma. The Crackling Pork Belly has a crispy skin with tender meat that has a delicate savoury salty flavour. The Roasted Duck has juicy and tender duck meat, with bold savoury flavour, and the skin is lightly crisp with a touch of salty flavour. Good!

BBQ Combination 3 Varieties (SGD $27.80)

BBQ Pork With Honey Sauce

Crackling Pork Belly

Roasted Duck

Greatly enjoyed the Poached Sea Bass Fish With Pickled Cabbage In Spicy Fish Stock (SGD $32.80). The large portion is sufficient for 3 - 4 people, with the thin but flavourful fish soup / broth having a delicate sour salty spicy flavour, that gradually builds throughout the meal, and numbs the palate. The chunks of sea bass fish are generous, with a tender, flaky texture, and a light sweet savoury flavour, though it seems they use 1-day old sea bass fish for this. The slightly crunchy pickled mustard greens round out this delicious main course. Would order again.

Poached Sea Bass Fish With Pickled Cabbage In Spicy Fish Stock (SGD $32.80)

Poached Sea Bass Fish With Pickled Cabbage In Spicy Fish Stock

We didn't enjoy the Wok-Fried Rice Noodles With Sliced Beef (SGD $14.80), as it has inconsistent execution. Some parts had a beautiful smoky wok hei / breath of the wok, while other parts had the flat rice noodles clumping together. The slices of beef were dry and limp, although the bean sprouts and spring onions were fresh and crunchy. Skip this.

Wok-Fried Rice Noodles With Sliced Beef (SGD $14.80)

Wok-Fried Rice Noodles With Sliced Beef

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Update May-2019: The ongoing circuit breaker as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore means everyone should stay home. As a result, we decided to order some of the new bento sets from Paradise Group (Canton Paradise), to be delivered. I like that Paradise Group (Canton Paradise) has produced these bento set meals to be substantial, balanced, yet wallet-friendly enough. Pretty good Chinese Zi Char meals.

The Hot & Sour Soup With Seafood (SGD $8.80) has a gloopy thick stew texture, and is filled with tender chunks of fresh seafood, including Spanish mackerel fish slices and deshelled prawns / shrimp, alongside soft silken tofu beancurd strips. This has a bright sour savoury flavour, with mild salty spicy sweet notes. Wish it was more spicy, but as is, this is pretty decent.

Hot & Sour Soup With Seafood (SGD $8.80)

Hot & Sour Soup With Seafood

The Pork Rib King Bento (SGD $11.56) is a great value for money set meal. The sticky white rice with grainy sweet notes, is accompanied by tender sauteed string beans tossed with bits of minced pork which has lovely vegetal sweet salty flavours. The soft tofu beancurd is coated with a little chili, giving it a mild spicy kick. The medium sized pieces of tender boneless pork chop / pork rib king are generously glazed in a sticky sweet and sour gravy, lending a beautifully addictive sweet savoury sour flavour. Good!

Pork Rib King Bento (SGD $11.56)

Pork Rib King Bento

The Ginger & Spring Onion Fish Bento (SGD $13.70) is a decent Chinese Zi Char rendition of a set meal. The sticky white rice with grainy sweet notes, is accompanied by tender sauteed string beans tossed with bits of minced pork which has lovely vegetal sweet salty flavours. The soft tofu beancurd is coated with a little chili, giving it a mild spicy kick. The thickly sliced pieces of tender boneless Spanish mackerel fish are tossed with ginger, crunchy shallots, and crisp spring onions, resulting in a bright vegetal sweet herbal savoury flavour. Worth ordering!

Ginger & Spring Onion Fish Bento (SGD $13.70)

Ginger & Spring Onion Fish Bento

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