Zi Char - Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant 2020
844 Tampines Street 82 #01-131
446 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 #01-1653
36 Chai Chee Avenue #01-151
505 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8 #01-2688
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jin-Hock-Seafood/322050987861948
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| Meal Flat Lay |
Still An Excellent Heartland Zi Char
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 7
Value for Money: 10
Spent about SGD $14 per person.
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Established sometime in 2000 by Chef-Owner Yap Yew Hock, Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant is a popular heartland Chinese Zi Char 4 outlets across Singapore. Since originally visiting back in October 2018, I've been returning to Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant for their consistently well-executed, delicious Chinese Zi Char dishes. On average, I eat here at least once per month!
Ambience at Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant still draws on the coffeeshops they're located in. Outlets tend to have simple but functional furniture, bright fluorescent lights, and ample sheltered seating. Atmosphere is usually noisy and bustling during peak meal times. As the resident Zi Char stall in the places they're located in, they can set up additional tables if needed.
Service at Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant, regardless of outlet, still retains a friendly heartland vibe. Staff converse and take orders in Singlish, demonstrating decent product knowledge by recommending orders and describing dishes. They clear tables quickly when diners leave, turning it around efficiently. Staff also accord personalised attention for familiar returning diners.
Food at Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant is Chinese Zi Char, with bold takes on traditional flavours. Dishes feature fresh ingredients, and are well executed and nicely plated. Flavours are balanced yet bold, enticing the palate for more. Portions are sized for communal group dining. Prices are wallet-friendly and affordable, budget about SGD $14 per person for a meal here.
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| Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant Facade |
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| Jin Hock Seafood Restaurant Wet Tissue |
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| Us |
The Braised Peanuts (SGD $Complimentary) is served on occasion. Braised in a mix of light soy sauce and dark soy sauce till soft and tender, these braised peanuts have a nutty salty savoury flavour. I've tasted better elsewhere. Could be improved.
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| Braised Peanuts (SGD $Complimentary) |
The Achar / Peranakan Spicy Pickled Salad (SGD $Complimentary) is served on occasion. This features a bright crunchy juicy medley of pickled cucumbers, pickled carrots, pickled cabbage, pineapples, and crushed peanuts. The pickling is rather light, resulting in a sharp tangy sour vegetal sweet fruity nutty flavour, with a hint of spicy kick that lingers. Decent enough.
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| Achar / Peranakan Spicy Pickled Salad (SGD $Complimentary) |
For the Chinese New Year of the Rat in 2020, we tossed to good health, more wealth, and happiness with the Yu Sheng (SGD $23.80). All things considered, this is a pretty straightforward, classic rendition of the festive salad.
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| Yu Sheng (SGD $23.80) |
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| Yu Sheng |
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| Yu Sheng |
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| Yu Sheng |
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| Yu Sheng |
The Crispy Bitter Gourd With Salted Egg (SGD $12 / $15 / $20) is completely yummy, so unlike the base vegetable in taste. Totally lacking in the bitter flavour of the vegetable, the bitter gourd is nearly vegetal sweet, coated in a thin and crisp layer of salted egg yolk. Sprinkling of crisp anchovy fish lend crunch. Primary flavour profile is savoury salty, with a hint of spicy from the curry leaves. This will appeal to most. Can almost imagine how this gravy would taste on more premium seafood.
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| Crispy Bitter Gourd With Salted Egg (SGD $12 / $15 / $20) |
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| Crispy Bitter Gourd With Salted Egg |
The Green Dragon Vegetables & Bean Sprouts (SGD $12 / $15 / $20) features fresh crisp green dragon vegetables / garlic chives, tossed with crunchy bean sprouts. Seasoned with salt, light soy sauce, and garlic, this has fragrant vegetal sweet salty bitter herbal grassy flavours. The texture makes this stand out, and keeps you reaching for more.
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| Green Dragon Vegetables & Bean Sprouts (SGD $12 / $15 / $20) |
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| Green Dragon Vegetables & Bean Sprouts |
The Cai Poh Tofu Bean Curd (SGD $10 / $15 / $20) is utterly delicious. The soft tofu bean curd, in a silky savoury oyster sauce gravy, with vegetal sweet bok choy / chinese cabbage on the side, is liberally garnished with super crisp cai poh / preserved radish bits that have a savoury salty flavour. Enjoyed the loud and satisfiying crunch of the cai poh / preserved radish, followed by the soft silky texture of the tofu bean curd.
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| Cai Poh Tofu Bean Curd (SGD $10 / $15 / $20) |
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| Cai Poh Tofu Bean Curd |
The Duo Of Milky Fried Abalone Mushrooms, Home Made Prawn & Pork Rolls (SGD $24 / $36) makes a good appetizer sampler. Delicious and satisfiying, good for those who are undecided, or who like variety.
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| Duo Of Milky Fried Abalone Mushrooms, Home Made Prawn & Pork Rolls (SGD $24 / $36) |
What sorcery is this!? The Milky Fried Abalone Mushrooms (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) are an ingenious creation, with thinly sliced abalone mushrooms coated in condensed milk, curry leaves, and other secret ingredients, then stir-fried. It tastes... like Twisties. Like curry flavoured twisties, but better. Slightly crisp in texture, with beautiful notes of savoury spicy salty. My gosh, this is so good. Highly recommended!
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| Milky Fried Abalone Mushrooms (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) |
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| Milky Fried Abalone Mushrooms |
The Home Made Prawn & Pork Rolls (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) are meaty, juicy, and crunchy, with the filling of Chinese 5-spice minced pork, prawns / shrimp, and water chestnut having a savoury salty sweet flavour. Lovely crunch, then you get the big burst of flavours.
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| Home Made Prawn & Pork Rolls (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) |
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| Home Made Prawn & Pork Rolls |
The White Pepper Sliced Fish (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) features medium thick slices of fresh snakehead murrel fish, with a bouncy bite to texture, coated in a delicate white pepper gravy. Garnished with crunchy spring onions, this has a lovely savoury peppery spice flavour. Can almost imagine how this gravy would taste on more premium seafood.
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| White Pepper Sliced Fish (SGD $12 / $18 / $24) |
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| White Pepper Sliced Fish |
The Roasted Suckling Pig (SGD $168 for 3kg) here is more 'healthy' than elsewhere, being much less greasy and almost non-oily. Beautifully presented, the crackling pig skin is firm with a satisfyingly loud crunch, and a delicate salty savoury flavour. We like that there's little fat underneath. The succulent slices of pork are tender and moist, with a light chew, and nice savoury salty flavour. This has to be paired with the sweet thick fermented bean sauce it's served with, for greater enjoyment.
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| Roasted Suckling Pig (SGD $168 for 3kg) |
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| Roasted Suckling Pig |
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| Roasted Suckling Pig |
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| Roasted Suckling Pig |
The White Bee Hoon (SGD $5 / $9 / $12 / $16) is a signature dish here, with thin rice vermicelli in a thick seafood gravy, garnished with sliced pork loin, chye sim / choy sum / Chinese flowering cabbage, prawns / shrimp, egg, and pork lard. Beautifully savoury sweet in flavour, with the delicate sweetness of seafood. Nice and easy to slurp up, pairs well with the fried dishes here.
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| White Bee Hoon (SGD $5 / $9 / $12 / $16) |
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| White Bee Hoon |
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CONVERSATION