Zi Char - 101 Seafood Gourmet Tasting Session - Closed
101 Yishun Avenue 5 #01-03
Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11:30pm
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/101-seafood-gourmet-yishun/
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from HungryGoWhere, and Chubby Botak Koala.
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| La La Bee Hoon With Superior Broth (SGD $6 / $12 / $20) |
Tasty & Unique Chinese Zi Char Dishes
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 3
Value for Money: 9
Budget about SGD $38 per person.
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In the highly competitive Singapore Chinese Zi Char arena of Yishun, there is a Zi Char stall every few steps around the markets. In this unforgiving atmosphere is 101 Seafood Gourmet, currently operated by a wholesale seafood supplier. The 3rd owner to use the 101 Seafood Gourmet brand name, they took over the stall in November 2015. And being in such a competitive environment means 101 Seafood Gourmet offers unique, tasty dishes that you cannot find elsewhere.
Ambience at 101 Seafood Gourmet is a typical coffeeshop, brightly lit, rather clean, with functional plastic and metal furniture. Noisy and bustling, their excellent location at the carpark entrance sees high foot traffic. On cool evenings, it's really nice to sit outdoors, though wet weather affects this place greatly.
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| 101 Seafood Gourmet Signboard |
Service at 101 Seafood Gourmet is typical of a normal Chinese Zi Char, which has fast, efficient, but brusque service. Orders are taken and fulfilled quickly, but as staff aren't trained on dishes and ingredients, they can only make general recommendations at best. The stall owners however, can give advice on their dishes, and will engage diners in conversation if needed. Being a wholesale seafood supplier, 101 Seafood Gourmet also has off-menu items from time to time.
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| 101 Seafood Gourmet Facade |
Food at 101 Seafood Gourmet is more than just the usual Chinese Zi Char dishes. Due to the intense competition in the area, they have created a variety of unique dishes to differentiate themselves from competitors. Specialities naturally focus on fresh seafood, and generally I find their dishes to be above average in taste. Portions are large, and meant for communal dining of at least 3 - 4 people. Also, being a wholesale seafood supplier, their prices are very affordable, cheaper than some other places here. Budget about SGD $38 per person for a full meal with a variety of seafood.
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| Menu |
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| Menu |
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| Menu |
A house signature dish, the La La Bee Hoon With Superior Broth (SGD $6 / $12 / $20) is incredibly delicious! Fresh, meaty sweet clams, in a milky sweet soup / broth that has a good seafood and clam flavour. The thin and silky bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles, along with spring onions for crunch and chili for heat, complete this flavourful dish. Highly recommended!
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| La La Bee Hoon With Superior Broth (SGD $6 / $12 / $20) |
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| La La Bee Hoon With Superior Broth |
What stood out about the Crab Bee Hoon (SGD $22 for 1 Crab, SGD $38 for 2 Crabs) is the affordable price. Meaty fresh crab with good sweetness, in a milky savoury soup / broth with thick bee hoon / rice vermicelli noodles. Not that substantial, but has decent flavour.
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| Crab Bee Hoon (SGD $22 for 1 Crab, SGD $38 for 2 Crabs) |
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| Crab Bee Hoon |
It's not easy to get hold of the threadfin fish that is this large. With the Threadfin Fish Head (SGD $68), they've struck gold, a large and meaty fillet of fresh sweet threadfin fish, whose meat flakes off easily. What makes this outstanding is the spicy lemongrass broth, akin to a Thai Tom Yum Soup. The chili lends a good amount of heat, while the savoury sour soup / broth, sweetened with onions, makes you crave more. Highly recommended!
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| Threadfin Fish Head (SGD $68) |
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| Threadfin Fish Head |
The experimental Salted Egg & Black Pepper Crab (SGD $38 for 2 Crabs) is affordable, but rather underwhelming in taste. While you get good spiciness from the black pepper, complementing the meaty fresh sweetness of the crab, the salted egg yolk sauce is too light and watery, lacking that yummy savoury salty taste. Could be improved.
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| Salted Egg & Black Pepper Crab (SGD $38 for 2 Crabs) |
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| Salted Egg & Black Pepper Crab |
The unique Green Dragon Vegetable (SGD $10 / $15 / $20) features fresh, crunchy garlic chives, grassy sweet in flavour with a hint of spicy sharpness. Absolutely loved these, the freshness and simplicity of a quick stir-fry makes it outstanding. Highly recommended!
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| Green Dragon Vegetable (SGD $10 / $15 / $20) |
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| Green Dragon Vegetable |
The experimental Ayam Goreng Kalasan (SGD $18 / $35) is an off-menu dish. What I like about this is the tender, moist, sweet chicken, topped with a slightly crisp, savoury salty skin. Very addictive! Served with a side of home made beancurd tofu, which chef is still tweaking the recipe to get right. During our visit, it was much too salty though.
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| Ayam Goreng Kalasan (SGD $18 / $35) |
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| Ayam Goreng Kalasan |
The Salted Chicken (SGD $18 / $35) features tender and moist chicken, baked in salt, until the meat has absorbed the flavour, making it deliciously salty sweet. The thick, herbal angelica / dang gui gravy complements the fresh taste of the chicken. Good!
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| Salted Chicken (SGD $18 / $35) |
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| Salted Chicken |
Unlike the rather weak wet gravy, the Salted Egg Prawns (SGD $16 / $22 / $30) has a good coat of thick, savoury salty sauce. The fresh and meaty sweet prawns / shrimp work so well with the smoky salted egg yolk sauce. Very addictive. Highly recommended!
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| Salted Egg Prawns (SGD $16 / $22 / $30) |
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| Salted Egg Prawns |
Overall, 101 Seafood Gourmet is a good choice for Chinese Zi Char and seafood, particularly for their unique, signature dishes which you can't get elsewhere. Worth travelling to for Singaporeans living in the North, or if you're around the area.
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CONVERSATION