Taan

Taan
30 Liang Seah Street

https://www.facebook.com/taan.singapore/

Platter Of Skewers

Tasty Asian Skewers & Tapas

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 6
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $35 per person.


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Taan was established in November 2014, by the same folks behind equally successful China Chinese cuisine restaurants Chong Qing Grilled Fish and Fat Bird. With Taan, they've introduced the charcoal grilled, Asian skewers concept. The wide variety of grilled dishes, and Chinese and Japanese inspired skewers, make Taan an ideal drinking and tapas place.

Ambience at Taan resembles a modern gastropub. The small floor area is dimly lit, with touches of neon highlights. The sturdy wooden and metal furniture is modern casual and neatly laid out, with sufficient space for large groups. Decor features superhero / anime characters, along with Chinese Mandarin music. Atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, well suited to lingering meals. Advance reservations are recommended during peak periods, as the small place fills up quickly.

Service at Taan is friendly, efficient, and attentive. Staff converse mostly in Chinese Mandarin, but can also understand English. They're quick to greet and seat guests, and display decent product knowledge when queried on the menu or ordering process. Staff are also quick to clear away empty / dirty tables when diners finish. However, it does feel more transactional instead of personalised. As dishes are grilled to order, be prepared for a short waiting time of about 15 minutes or so.

Food at Taan is North China Chinese cuisine, focusing on grilled / rotisserie items. Generally, dishes are bold in flavour and tasty, prepared over the charcoal grill. For skewers, they offer a choice from 4 different types of seasonings. I find quality to be fairly consistent and above average. Portions are mostly tapas size, designed for sharing. Prices are comparable to most gastrobars, budget about SGD $35 per person for a meal with drinks here. Large eaters should opt for the dinner buffet, which offers good value-for-money.


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Taan Facade

Taan Exterior

Taan Interior

Seating Outdoors

Seating Indoors

Menu - Cover, Seasoning Flavours

Menu - How To Order, Buffet Timings

Menu - Signature Dishes, Appetizers

Menu - Grills & Skewers, Staples, Desserts

Menu - Draft Beer On Tap

Menu - House Beer

Menu - Skewers Party

The Beer Tiger (SGD $12) is an Asian pale lager brewed by Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore in Singapore. It has a clear, bright golden yellow colour, with aromas of wheat, metal, corn, and yeast. The body is smooth, crisp, and refreshing, with tastes of malts, bread, hay, and popcorn. Fairly flat sweet bitter taste, with metallic notes and an empty finish. Great thirst quencher, though not big on flavour.

Beer Tiger (SGD $12)

The Beer Erdinger Weizenbier (SGD $10) is a German style hefeweizen / white beer / wheat beer, brewed by Privatbrauerei Erdinger Weißbräu Werner Brombach GmbH / Erdinger Weißbräu, in Erding, Bavaria, Germany. It has a hazy, pale golden colour, with aromas of cereal, honey, lemon, and yeast. The body is thin, lively, and refreshing, with a medium carbonation, and tastes of wheat, bread, cloves, and banana. Nice sweet notes at the front, leading to a soft bitter finish.

Beer Erdinger Weizenbier (SGD $10)

The Beer Kirin Ichiban Original (SGD $8) is an American style pale lager, brewed by the Kirin Company in Tokyo, in the Kanto region of Japan. It has a clear, straw golden colour, with aromas of malt, grains, skunk, and lemon. The body is light, crisp, smooth, with lively carbonation, and tastes of bread, metal, grass, and cereal. Has a slight sweetness and slight bitterness. Very drinkable but light, and refreshing.

Beer Kirin Ichiban Original (SGD $8)

The versatility of the Beer Kirin Ichiban Original means a lot of different flavours can be infused into it. There is a good range of fruit infused flavours here, including the Beer Kirin Ichiban Yuzu (SGD $8), the Beer Kirin Ichiban Pineapple (SGD $8), the Beer Kirin Ichiban Cranberry (SGD $8), the Beer Kirin Ichiban Apple (SGD $8), and the Beer Kirin Ichiban Lychee (SGD $8). Each takes on a prominent flavour of the fruit it's infused with.

Beer Kirin Ichiban Yuzu (SGD $8)

Beer Kirin Ichiban Pineapple (SGD $8)

Beer Kirin Ichiban Cranberry (SGD $8)

Beer Kirin Ichiban Apple (SGD $8)

Beer Kirin Ichiban Lychee (SGD $8)

The Grilled Oyster With Minced Garlic (SGD $5.80 per piece) are served in its half shell, and each piece carries a delicious smoky aroma. With a soft meaty chew and a sweet savoury flavour to the large, fresh oysters, it's complemented by the generous garnish of garlic, spring onions, and clear vermicelli noodles.

Grilled Oyster With Minced Garlic (SGD $5.80 per piece)

Grilled Oyster With Minced Garlic

Served in its half shell, the Grilled Scallop With Minced Garlic (SGD $4.80 per piece) is fresh, with a bouncy texture and a light chew. The generous garnish of garlic and scallions lend a refreshing sharpness to the delicate sweet savoury flavours of the scallop. Goes down so easily, making you crave more.

Grilled Scallop With Minced Garlic (SGD $4.80 per piece)

Grilled Scallop With Minced Garlic

The Mouth-Watering Chicken (SGD $5.80) is a popular Sichuan appetizer, featuring chilled poached chicken in a spicy, oily gravy. This classic Chinese dish has tender, succulent chicken meat that is clean tasting, fresh, and sweet, while the gravy; fragrant with garlic, chili, and peppercorn; has a slow, lingering burn. Cool down with the chilled, crunchy slices of cucumber plated beneath.

Mouth-Watering Chicken (SGD $5.80)

Mouth-Watering Chicken

The Beijing Northern Steamed Pork Dumplings (SGD $3.80) has clean, sweet savoury, fresh tasting pork meat within the lightly steamed dumplings. The dumpling skins are of medium thickness, and hold up well. Pair with the black vinegar and ginger dipping sauce for added tangy sour flavour. Nice starter to a meal.

Beijing Northern Steamed Pork Dumplings (SGD $3.80)

Beijing Northern Steamed Pork Dumplings

The Seasoned Baby Octopus (SGD $4.80) here is served with the heads removed, making it easier to eat and more pleasing to the eye. The tender, slippery, crunchy pieces of baby octopus are generously coated in a chilled, sticky sweet savoury gravy / sauce. Decent enough, but doesn't really go with beer.

Seasoned Baby Octopus (SGD $4.80)

Seasoned Baby Octopus

The Seasoned Jellyfish (SGD $4.80) has a slippery, crunchy, smooth texture. The strips of chilled jellyfish have absorbed the sweet spicy flavours of the marinade, making it tasty. Decent enough for a side dish.

Seasoned Jellyfish (SGD $4.80)

Seasoned Jellyfish

The Yunnan Grilled Pork Neck (SGD $10.80) harkens to the traditional Chinese barbecue pork of the region. The thinly sliced, tender strips of pork neck are lightly dry rubbed with star anise and black cardamom spices, then grilled till it has a smoky layer, complementing the natural savoury flavours of the pork. A rich, thick dipping sauce of Shaoxing Chinese rice wine, black vinegar, ginger, rock sugar, and chili, is served on the side, lending a powerful tangy savoury sour spicy flavour to the meat. Plated with a fresh mesclun salad dressed in creamy goma dare / sesame sauce. Good!

Yunnan Grilled Pork Neck (SGD $10.80)

Yunnan Grilled Pork Neck

The Baby Cabbage Foil Wrapped (SGD $3.80) has tender young napa cabbage, gently steamed in a foil wrap. The Chinese style sauce is made from chicken stock, shallots, garlic, sugar, salt, and corn starch, resulting in a vegetal sweet salty flavour. Goes well with other dishes, pretty light and easy to eat.

Baby Cabbage Foil Wrapped (SGD $3.80)

Baby Cabbage Foil Wrapped

The Eggplant With Minced Garlic (SGD $3.80) is unique, because it's meant to be eaten as a staple starch. The whole brinjal / eggplant / aubergine is halved and grilled, making the flesh moist and soft and starchy, pulling away from the smoky charred skin in long strips. The garnish of finely minced garlic and chili lend a sharp savoury spicy flavour to the natural vegetal sweet flavours of the brinjal / eggplant / aubergine, making this rather addictive, and a good pairing with beer.

Eggplant With Minced Garlic (SGD $3.80)

Eggplant With Minced Garlic

The Tataki Beef (SGD $10.80) features tender, juicy slices of medium-rare beef, nicely seared. Served with spring onions and cherry tomatoes in a gravy of light soy sauce, white vinegar, and Mirin rice wine. Bold, meaty flavours here, tasty and appealing.

Tataki Beef (SGD $10.80)

Tataki Beef

The Teriyaki Cuttlefish (SGD $6.80) has a semi-firm, bouncy texture to the rehydrated cuttlefish. Generously coated in a sticky sweet teriyaki sauce, the glaze complements the natural sweet savoury smoky flavours of the grilled cuttlefish. Decent, but not memorable.

Teriyaki Cuttlefish (SGD $6.80)

Teriyaki Cuttlefish

The Baby Back Pork Ribs, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $10.80) have a tender, moist, easy to chew texture to the pork ribs. The meat requires some effort to pull away, but the savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts lends the savoury sweet pork meat good flavour.

Baby Back Pork Ribs, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $10.80)

Baby Back Pork Ribs, Chinese Secret Spice

Despite the fine but edible bones in the Sanma Mackerel Pike Fish, Spiced Salt (SGD $5.80), it's so well grilled that you can actually eat everything (except for the main bone). The fish meat is beautifully smoky savoury salty peppery in flavour, with a flaky, tender, moist texture. Served with a wedge of lemon for some zest. Well worth the money too. Good!

Sanma Mackerel Pike Fish, Spiced Salt (SGD $5.80)

Sanma Mackerel Pike Fish, Spiced Salt

The Shishamo, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $2.50 per skewer) is nicely grilled, the smoky savoury flavour of the shishamo / smelt fish enhanced with a savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts. The belly has a decent amount of roe. I enjoyed this.

Shishamo, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $2.50 per skewer)

Shishamo, Chinese Secret Spice

The Prawn, Spiced Salt (SGD $2 per skewer) is perfectly grilled. The fresh, juicy bouncy texture of the prawn / shrimp has a nice smoky savoury salty peppery flavour, complementing its natural sweet taste. Little messy peeling the shell off, but still satisfiying.

Prawn, Spiced Salt (SGD $2 per skewer)

Prawn, Spiced Salt

The Potato Slices, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.50 per skewer) has thinly sliced, semi-firm, semi-crunchy slices of waxy potato, coated in a savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts. Not overly salty, which is nice. Makes for a decent side to accompany a meal.

Potato Slices, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

Potato Slices, Chinese Secret Spice

The String Beans, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.50 per skewer) surprised me, because it retains a crunchy, bouncy, moist texture, even after being grilled. The savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts complements the natural vegetal sweet flavours of the vegetable. Good!

String Beans, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

String Beans, Chinese Secret Spice

The King Oyster Mushrooms, Spiced Salt (SGD $1.50 per skewer) borders the line between moist and dry, but at least the king oyster mushrooms look whole and appealing. Kudos to the chef, most other places would have this grilled till bone-dry, but it's very well executed here. Has a tender texture with an earthy salty peppery flavour. Decent choice for a vegetable side dish.

King Oyster Mushrooms, Spiced Salt (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

King Oyster Mushrooms, Spiced Salt

Despite being listed on the menu as 'Garlic Flower', the Garlic Chives, Spiced Salt (SGD $1.50 per skewer) is a familiar vegetable. With a juicy crunchy texture, and a natural vegetal sweet flavour, this is enhanced with smoky notes from the grill, and salty peppery flavour from the seasoning. Highly recommended!

Garlic Chives, Spiced Salt (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

Garlic Chives, Spiced Salt

The Broccoli, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $2 per skewer) has small florets of broccoli, having a crunchy and moist texture. Nice smoky aroma, yet it remains vibrant and appetizing to the eye. The lovely savoury sweet flavours of the teriyaki sauce glaze complement the natural vegetal sweet flavour of the broccoli, nice pairing.

Broccoli, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $2 per skewer)

Broccoli, Teriyaki Tare

The Chicken Meat, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer) has a delicate smoky aroma, with a sweet savoury flavour that also has a touch of spicy kick. The texture of the chicken meat is tender and juicy, with a slight chew. Good!

Chicken Meat, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer)

Chicken Meat, Original

The Chicken Skin, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $1.50 per skewer) retains a beautifully crisp texture, crunching loudly when bit. The lovely savoury sweet flavours of the teriyaki sauce glaze coats the palate nicely, then you get the delicate salty oily flavours of the chicken skin beneath. Good!

Chicken Skin, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

Chicken Skin, Teriyaki Tare

The Chicken Mid-Joint Wing, Original (SGD $2 per skewer) has a faint smoky aroma, with the chicken mid-joint wings having a tender, juicy texture. Bold savoury notes, followed by a light sweet salty flavour from the chicken meat. Well executed but not too memorable.

Chicken Mid-Joint Wing, Original (SGD $2 per skewer)

Chicken Mid-Joint Wing, Original

The House Special Chicken Meat Balls, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $2 per skewer) has a faint smoky aroma, with a juicy chew to the medium-sized chicken meat balls. The lovely savoury sweet flavours of the teriyaki sauce glaze complements the natural sweet savoury flavours of the chicken meat balls, tasty.

House Special Chicken Meat Balls, Teriyaki Tare (SGD $2 per skewer)

House Special Chicken Meat Balls, Teriyaki Tare

The Pork Belly, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer) has a good ratio of fat to lean meat on the pork belly. It has a delicate smoky aroma, a savoury sweet fatty flavour, and a semi-tender, semi-crunchy texture. Decent, I believe having seasoning on this would be better.

Pork Belly, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer)

Pork Belly, Original

A straightforward Taiwan Pork Sausage, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer), juicy and meaty and snappy, with decent savoury salty flavour to the pork sausage. Would be more tasty with a sprinkling of seasoning instead.

Taiwan Pork Sausage, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer)

Taiwan Pork Sausage, Original

Wasn't too happy with the Beef Meat, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer), because the cubes of beef were tough and chewy in texture. The flavour was alright, being savoury salty, with a delicate smoky aroma. There are much better skewers on the menu. Skip this.

Beef Meat, Original (SGD $1.80 per skewer)

Beef Meat, Original

The Mutton Meat, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.80 per skewer) is excellent. The tender, meaty cubes of mutton meat have a bold savoury flavour, complemented by the savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts. Delicious, and unstoppable. Highly recommended!

Mutton Meat, Chinese Secret Spice (SGD $1.80 per skewer)

Mutton Meat, Chinese Secret Spice

The Beancurd Skin, Spicy Miso Kimchi (SGD $1.50 per skewer) has large, tender chewy sheets of dried tofu beancurd skin, coated in a sweet sour savoury spicy sauce of miso paste, kimchi seasoning, and chili. The little bit of heat makes this nice to eat.

Beancurd Skin, Spicy Miso Kimchi (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

Beancurd Skin, Spicy Miso Kimchi

The Quail Eggs, Spicy Miso Kimchi (SGD $1.50 per skewer) are value for money, with 3 eggy sweet quail eggs on each skewer. It's coated in a sweet sour savoury spicy sauce of miso paste, kimchi seasoning, and chili, giving it a new depth of flavour. Good!

Quail Eggs, Spicy Miso Kimchi (SGD $1.50 per skewer)

Quail Eggs, Spicy Miso Kimchi

The Satay (SGD $7.50 per 5 skewers) features a choice of meat; either chicken, beef, pork, or mutton. All served with a rich, nutty peanut gravy. Decent in taste and quality, but the price is incredibly expensive. Skip this.

Satay (SGD $7.50 per 5 skewers)

Satay

The Mentaiko Grilled Prawns (SGD $5.80 for 2 prawns) toe the line of freshness, with the meaty flesh of the prawns / shrimp sticking to the shell. Grilled till rather dry, this was saved by the briny salty sweet savoury mentaiko / salted pollock fish roe.

Mentaiko Grilled Prawns (SGD $5.80 for 2 prawns)

Mentaiko Grilled Prawns

Mentaiko Grilled Prawns

Fell in love with the Japanese Eel Fried Rice (SGD $8.80) when I first tasted it. That smoky wok hei / breath of the wok fragrance sealed within the sticky, fluffy fried rice, filled with egg, and sweet savoury chunks of tender, silky soft unagi / grilled fresh water eel marinated with tare (light soy sauce, sugar, mirin rice wine). While the portion of eel could be more generous, for this price, it's an excellent, flavourful, delicious dish. Highly recommended!

Japanese Eel Fried Rice (SGD $8.80)

Japanese Eel Fried Rice

Japanese Eel Fried Rice

The Mongolian Lamb Rack (SGD $12.80) is a signature dish here, for good reason. The lamb / mutton is dry-rubbed with a savoury salty seasoning of cumin, white sesame, salt, shallots, and peanuts, which eliminates any gamey flavour, then grilled. Bordering between moist and dry, the lamb / mutton meat has a tender texture with a satisfiying soft chew. A succulent layer of fat helps lock in some moisture. Good!

Mongolian Lamb Rack (SGD $12.80)

Mongolian Lamb Rack

Mongolian Lamb Rack

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