Yun Nans Restaurant
78 Airport Boulevard
#02-217 Jewel Changi Airport
3 Gateway Drive
#03-07 Westgate
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-15 NEX
https://www.facebook.com/yunnanssg/
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms (SGD $39.80) |
Homely, Comforting Yunnan Cuisine
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $90 per person.
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Established in October 2009 as Yun Hai Yao (云海肴) in Houhai, Beijing, China, and with over 170 outlets across the country, they've made their international foray with Yun Nans Restaurant opening in Singapore in April 2019. Yun Nans Restaurant specialises in Chinese Yunnan highland cuisine, which is noted for its tasty, colourful characteristics, heavy on the use of vegetables, herbs, and spices.
Ambience at Yun Nans Restaurant has a tasteful elegance, with warm lights and ample use of wood in an open space. Neatly positioned booths offer some privacy, while the wooden furnishings are comfortable and sturdy. There's a sense of bustle in the background, while a large modern chandelier overhead draws the eye. The restaurant we visited was a little odd-shaped, which resulted in small corners of space.
Service at Yun Nans Restaurant is professional and efficient, befitting of a restaurant. Staff accord each table personalised attention, and are quick to carry out requests. They display good product knowledge on the menu, able to describe components of dishes, and offer recommendations. I note they offer to clear finished plates proactively throughout the meal. Dishes are served after a short wait.
Food at Yun Nans Restaurant is Chinese Yunnan highland cuisine, also known as Dian cuisine, a distinct branch of Chinese cuisine that incorporates techniques and flavours from 25 ethnic minority groups. Dishes feature fresh premium ingredients, and are uniquely different. Portions are sized for communal group dining. Prices are upper mid-range, budget about SGD $90 per person for a 9-course feast.
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| Yun Nans Restaurant Exterior |
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| Yun Nans Restaurant Interior |
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| Menu Ala-Carte |
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| Menu Ala-Carte |
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| Menu Set |
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| Private Seating |
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| Us |
The Rose Tea With Goji Berries (SGD $3.30) has a lovely floral sweet herbal flavour from the infusion of rose flower petals and goji berries / wolfberries. It's refillable.
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| Rose Tea With Goji Berries (SGD $3.30) |
The San Qi Hua / Panax Notoginseng Flower Tea (SGD $3) is for the healthy, and has a herbal bitter earthy flavour that is mildly off-putting. Supposed to aid the body detoxify.
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| San Qi Hua / Panax Notoginseng Flower Tea (SGD $3) |
Served chilled, the Tofu Salad (SGD $2) comprises soft firm tofu beancurd, crunchy carrots, and tender pickled mustard greens, coated with mild chili oil. This has a grainy sweet sour savoury spice flavor, nicely enticing. You can opt not to have this appetizer which is automatically served at the start of the meal. Good!
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| Tofu Salad (SGD $2) |
To celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Ox, the Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng (SGD $78.80) is a refreshing salad that features luxurious rounds of bouncy abalone. Toss well, and enjoy the crunchy chewy crisp textures, and bright sweet sour savoury vegetal nutty flavours of the salad. Worth ordering!
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| Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng (SGD $78.80) |
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| Yu Sheng |
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| Abalone |
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| Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng |
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| Tossed |
The house signature Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms (SGD $39.80) was delicious, and a highlight of our meal. The chicken is steamed in Jianshui pots (which have a hollow chimney tube in the middle), along with salt and pepper, in another pot filled with water. As it steams over 4 hours, the condensation of the steam forms the soup, and renders the chicken tender and flavourful. Here, they've added a luxurious touch with spongy fish maw, bouncy matsutake mushrooms, and Chinese herbs. The dish has robust sweet savoury herbal earthy spice flavour, and is so yummy. Highly recommended!
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms (SGD $39.80) |
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms |
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Wild Mushrooms |
The unique Steamed Red Grouper Fish Peppercorn Style (SGD $8 per 100g, $80 for 1kg) features a large, fresh whole red grouper fish, steamed with Sichuan / Szechuan mala peppercorn, ginger, light soy sauce, and spring onions. The fish is meaty, tender, flaky, and moist, with bright natural sweet savoury flavour. The gravy lends a bold salty herbal spice note with a slight kick, and is tasty enough to cause you to reach for more. Highly recommended!
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| Steamed Red Grouper Fish Peppercorn Style (SGD $8 per 100g, $80 for 1kg) |
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| Steamed Red Grouper Fish Peppercorn Style |
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| Steamed Red Grouper Fish Peppercorn Style |
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| Steamed Red Grouper Fish Peppercorn Style |
The Salt Baked Chicken (SGD $22.80 Half / $38.80 Whole) features a chicken coated in a shell of crystalised salt, and via baking, is infused with salty savoury sweet flavour. The chicken meat is tender and juicy, coming easily off the bones, and the taste is delicate yet distinct. Well executed. Served with a spicy mala chili powder on the side, which numbs the palate for a short while. Good!
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| Salt Baked Chicken (SGD $22.80 Half / $38.80 Whole) |
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| Salt Baked Chicken |
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| Salt Baked Chicken |
What differentiates the Braised Golden Tofu With Crab Meat In Superior Stock (SGD $22.80) is the thick, creamy, savoury sweet gravy of crab meat and superior stock, rich and yummy. The braised golden tofu beancurd rounds are soft and tender, with mild grainy sweet flavour, and pick up the gravy so well. Topped with shredded crab meat which holds bright sweet savoury flavour, this luxurious dish is very appealing. Highly recommended!
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| Braised Golden Tofu With Crab Meat In Superior Stock (SGD $22.80) |
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| Braised Golden Tofu With Crab Meat In Superior Stock |
The Sauteed Prawns And Asparagus With Superior Chili Sauce (SGD $36.80) is a straightforward dish of bouncy sauteed deshelled prawns / shrimp, crunchy asparagus, and juicy red bell peppers / capsicum, coated in a rich shrimp chili sauce. With bold savoury salty spicy vegetal flavour, this dish practically begs for a bowl of white rice to accompany. Good!
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| Sauteed Prawns And Asparagus With Superior Chili Sauce (SGD $36.80) |
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| Sauteed Prawns And Asparagus With Superior Chili Sauce |
The Steamed Glutinous Rice Wrapped In Lotus Leaf (SGD $22.80) features sticky glutinous rice, chewy dried Chinese pork sausage, and tender shiitake mushrooms, steamed in a lotus leaf. This imparts it with deep earthy savoury grainy salty flavour. Overall though, it pales in comparision to the other dishes here, being rather forgettable. Could be improved.
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| Steamed Glutinous Rice Wrapped In Lotus Leaf (SGD $22.80) |
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| Steamed Glutinous Rice Wrapped In Lotus Leaf |
The Double-Boiled Peach Gum And Snow Fungus (SGD $6.80 per person) is a warm dessert with a sticky thick syrup, filled with gelatinous peach gum and crunchy white fungus. The herbal sweet flavour didn't quite appeal to me, but the others found it pleasant.
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| Double-Boiled Peach Gum And Snow Fungus (SGD $6.80 per person) |
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| Double-Boiled Peach Gum And Snow Fungus |
In contrast, while I loved the Ya Mi Rose Flower Cake Pastry (SGD $??), the others didn't quite like it. This has a crisp flaky outer pasty shell, with a center of sticky chewy rose flower paste, bright with floral grainy sweet flavour. A traditional royal dish, this was a seasonal special on the menu.
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| Ya Mi Rose Flower Cake Pastry (SGD $??) |
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| Ya Mi Rose Flower Cake Pastry |
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Update Sep-2021: On this return visit to Yun Nans Restaurant, we decided to try some of the dishes from the regular a la carte menu (since we had the festive menu last visit). The ambience remains as homely and welcoming as before, the service was excellent as always, and the food quality met the requisite good standards with little to quibble over. Am finding repeat visits to Yun Nans Restaurant more worthwhile!
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| Water Glass & Chinese New Year Packets |
The Yunnan Rose Tea With Goji Berries (SGD $2.80) was unique with its lovely floral earthy sweet herbal flavour, very nice.
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| Yunnan Rose Tea With Goji Berries (SGD $2.80) |
The Steam Pot Chicken Soup (SGD $24.90) features chicken seasoned with salt and pepper then steamed in Jianshui pots (which have a hollow chimney tube in the middle), placed in another pot filled with water. As it steams over 4 hours, the condensation of the steam forms the soup, and renders the chicken tender and flavourful. The light soup / broth takes on the healthy essence of chicken flavour and wolfberries / goji berries, having a mild sweet savoury herbal taste. Staff guided us to remove the chicken, marinade in the serving of chili oil, Sichuan pepper, and sliced red chili, then eat it with the crunchy bean sprouts. Highly recommended!
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup (SGD $24.90) |
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup |
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup |
The Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Matsutake Mushrooms (SGD $14.90) features chicken seasoned with salt and pepper then steamed together with matsutake mushrooms in Jianshui pots (which have a hollow chimney tube in the middle), placed in another pot filled with water. As it steams over 4 hours, the condensation of the steam forms the soup, and renders the chicken tender and flavourful. The light soup / broth takes on the healthy essence of chicken flavour, wolfberries / goji berries, and the chewy matsutake mushrooms, gaining a pleasant earthy savoury spice sweet herbal taste. Highly recommended!
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Matsutake Mushrooms (SGD $14.90) |
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| Steam Pot Chicken Soup With Matsutake Mushrooms |
The Black Fungus With Lime & Chili (SGD $6.90) works as a good appetizer, with the crunchy black fungus / cloud ear fungus marinated with lime juice, garnished with crunchy spring onions and fresh bird's eye chili. This has bright vegetal earthy sour tangy zesty spicy flavour, which piques the palate. Worth ordering!
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| Black Fungus With Lime & Chili (SGD $6.90) |
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| Black Fungus With Lime & Chili |
The Stir-Fried Potatoes Yunnan Style (SGD $6.90) is essentially their version of mashed potatoes, with the main difference being this is smoother and thicker, having a dense yet creamy texture. Garnished with crisp fried shallots and crunchy spring onions, the mashed potatoes hold light sweet starchy savoury flavour, yum. Worth ordering!
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| Stir-Fried Potatoes Yunnan Style (SGD $6.90) |
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| Stir-Fried Potatoes Yunnan Style |
Enjoyed the Fish Skin With Jasmine Petals (SGD $6.90), which has crispy fried fish skin tossed with crunchy jasmine flower petals and dried red chili. With an addictive savoury salty spice flavour, this was polished off quickly. Highly recommended!
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| Fish Skin With Jasmine Petals (SGD $6.90) |
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| Fish Skin With Jasmine Petals |
The Braised Wheat Pumpkin With Ham (SGD $13.90) is unique. Never had a 'wheat pumpkin' before this, and I enjoyed the soft tender moist texture and bright vegetal grassy sweet flavour it has. Garnished with tender garlic cloves with herbal spice sweet flavour, and strips of dry-cured Yunnan Xuanwei ham with bold salty savoury flavour. Served in a claypot, the ingredients pair well together, and you get the distinct layering of flavour. Highly recommended!
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| Braised Wheat Pumpkin With Ham (SGD $13.90) |
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| Braised Wheat Pumpkin With Ham |
The Deep-Fried Pork Fillet With Homemade Spicy Dip (SGD $10.90) has tender moist chewy pork fillets, coated in a light batter, then deep-fried. Has a nice meaty savoury salty flavour. The house dipping sauce that accompanies this appetizer is refreshing with sour spicy flavour. Best eaten quickly when served. Good!
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| Deep-Fried Pork Fillet With Homemade Spicy Dip (SGD $10.90) |
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| Deep-Fried Pork Fillet With Homemade Spicy Dip |
Love the Stir-Fried Eggs With Jasmine Petals (SGD $11.90), though they seem to have an affinity for crunchy jasmine flower petals. Combined with the fluffy soft scrambled eggs, this has a lovely eggy sweet savoury floral flavour. Delicious, great when paired with white rice. Highly recommended!
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| Stir-Fried Eggs With Jasmine Petals (SGD $11.90) |
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| Stir-Fried Eggs With Jasmine Petals |
The Stir-Fried Dragon Chives With Yunnan Beancurd Skin (SGD $14.80) is refreshing and light, with the crisp garlic chives having a bright vegetal sweet flavour. Interspersed with strips of Yunnan dried tofu beancurd skin, chewy with mild grainy sweet savoury flavour. Good!
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| Stir-Fried Dragon Chives With Yunnan Beancurd Skin (SGD $14.80) |
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| Stir-Fried Dragon Chives With Yunnan Beancurd Skin |
The Grilled Sea Bass Fish With Lemongrass (SGD $24.90) features a large fresh sea bass fish, filleted and deboned, halved and rubbed with a mix of house blend spices, then grilled with lemongrass. This locks in moisture, with the fish meat being flaky and tender, carrying bold sweet savoury spice flavour with each mouthful. We got the non-spicy version, where the chili powder is served on the side instead. A delicious sharing dish, easy to eat. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Sea Bass Fish With Lemongrass (SGD $24.90) |
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| Grilled Sea Bass Fish With Lemongrass |
The Stir-Fried Yunnan Rice Noodles With Assorted Seafood (SGD $12.90) has fresh succulent seafood, but overall, tastes like a weaker, milder version of the Singaporean Hokkien Mee. Can probably get better versions elsewhere. Could be improved.
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| Stir-Fried Yunnan Rice Noodles With Assorted Seafood (SGD $12.90) |
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| Stir-Fried Yunnan Rice Noodles With Assorted Seafood |
The Poached Seafood Rice In Prawn Broth (SGD $18.80) features grainy white rice, bouncy deshelled prawns, and crisp pork lard, poached in a rich seafood crustacean soup / broth. The 'pao fan' soup / broth is robust with sweet savoury smoky flavour, and the ingredients make it so luxurious yet comforting. Highly recommended!
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| Poached Seafood Rice In Prawn Broth (SGD $18.80) |
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| Poached Seafood Rice In Prawn Broth |
The Home Made Corn Cakes (SGD $4.90) is a savoury dessert, with the mashed corn made into pancakes. With a soft sticky fluffy texture and bold vegetal grainy sweet flavour, this actually makes for a good transition after a meal. Good!
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| Home Made Corn Cakes (SGD $4.90) |
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| Home Made Corn Cakes |
The serving portion of the Brown Sugar Jelly With Rose Puree & Fruits (SGD $6.90) is large enough for sharing. Filled with juicy sliced fruits (rock melon, watermelon, and lychee), slippery brown sugar infused jelly, and served in a brown sugar and rose puree soup, this chilled dessert holds bright fruity earthy floral sweet flavour. Excellent dessert to round off a great meal. Highly recommended!
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| Brown Sugar Jelly With Rose Puree & Fruits (SGD $6.90) |
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| Brown Sugar Jelly With Rose Puree & Fruits |
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CONVERSATION