Zi Char - New Ubin Seafood

Zi Char - New Ubin Seafood
18 Tampines Industrial Crescent

16 Ah Hood Road

30 Victoria Street
#02-01B CHIJMES



https://newubinseafood.com/

Fresh Kaya On Toasted Baguette (SGD $6)

Truely Singaporean Zi Char

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 5
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $47 per person.


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Established since October 2013, New Ubin Seafood is known for being a Singaporean Zi Char with an unusual menu, more akin to a casual eatery than a typical Chinese Zi Char place. Helmed by Pang Seng Meng and son Alexander Pang, New Ubin Seafood is famed for their live crabs cooked in unique ways, grilled beef (yes), and their signature fried rice tossed in beef drippings, aptly named 'Heart Attack Fried Rice'.

Ambience at New Ubin Seafood seeks to channel the laid-back, kampung spirit of old. The place is breezy, open, and casual, with modern functional furniture strewn about, and bright lights illuminating the spacious seating area. Decently comfortable, ambient noise lends a low background buzz, while you faintly hear the sizzle of grilling and tossing of woks.

Service at New Ubin Seafood is friendly and attentive. Staff accord each table personalised attention, slowly writing down and verifying orders. There's usually a short wait as dishes are prepared. I note staff only have minimal product knowledge, though they make the effort to check with the kitchen when queried. They are quick and proactive in cleaning up tables.

Food at New Ubin Seafood is an eclectic mix of Singaporean and International cuisine, including Chinese, Indian, American, and Japanese. While the majority of dishes are standard Zi Char, there's also unique dishes you won't get elsewhere. The menu is limited, but quality is consistently above average. Prices are comparable to a restaurant, budget about SGD $47 per person.


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New Ubin Seafood Exterior

New Ubin Seafood Interior

The Beer Asahi Super Dry (SGD $14) is a Japanese pale lager, brewed by Asahi Breweries in Tokyo, within the Kanto region of Japan. This bright, clear golden yellow brew has a tame aroma of hops, grass, corn, and apples, with a smooth, refreshing, medium body and medium carbonation. Taste is floral bitter sweet, with notes of wheat, rice, malted barley, and lemon citrus, with a super dry, crisp finish. Very drinkable.

Beer Asahi Super Dry (SGD $14)

Packed with ingredients, the Bittergourd Seafood Soup (SGD $18) is a homely soup / broth, with mild earthy bitter savoury sweet flavour. The tender strips of bittergourd have a gentle bitter note, while the juicy tomatoes lend a vegetal sweet flavour. The soft fish cake and fresh bouncy squid have a light salty savoury flavour. Large shell-on juicy prawns hold a delicious bite of sweet savoury flavour. Completed with wispy egg which lends eggy sweet goodness to the dish, though the hard-boiled yolk doesn't contribute much. Good!

Bittergourd Seafood Soup (SGD $18)

Bittergourd Seafood Soup

Loved the smoky wok hei / breath of the wok from the Stir-Fried Broccoli (SGD $15). The fresh crunchy broccoli florets garnished with garlic have bold vegetal sweet spice flavour, so yummy. Good!

Stir-Fried Broccoli (SGD $15)

Stir-Fried Broccoli

The Brinjal Delight (SGD $15) is a house special, featuring thinly sliced brinjal / eggplant / aubergine, caramelised with corn starch, then tossed with kaffir lime leaves, curry leaves, calamansi lime juice, and dried red chili. With a satisfying crispy texture and robust vegetal sweet sour spicy flavour, this appetizer makes for a great drinking snack. Highly recommended!

Brinjal Delight (SGD $15)

Brinjal Delight

A classic Singaporean favourite, the Squid Paste You Tiao (SGD $12) here is well executed. The crispy airy dough fritter with grainy sweet flavour, crunches lightly to release the stuffing of bouncy squid paste with sweet savoury flavour. Garnishings of white sesame seeds lend a nutty aroma, while a dipping sauce of creamy mayonnaise lends a milky sweet flavour. Good!

Squid Paste You Tiao (SGD $12)

Squid Paste You Tiao

The serving of Steamed Black Halibut Fillet Hong Kong Style (SGD $26) features 2 thick slabs of 200g black halibut fish fillets, steamed with light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, garlic, and spring onions. The fish is soft, flaking off the large bones easily, and have a creamy oily mouthfeel not unlike cod, with beautiful delicate sweet salty savoury flavour. This is contrasted by the crispy bits of fried garlic, which burst with sweet spice notes. Nice. Highly recommended!

Steamed Black Halibut Fillet Hong Kong Style (SGD $26)

Steamed Black Halibut Fillet Hong Kong Style

Absolutely loved the Mutton Curry (SGD $41), felt that it's among the best versions I've had. The tender chunks of bone-in lamb pieces aren't gamey at all, thanks to the rich thick curry gravy, and its bold savoury spicy flavour. I like that it's not oily, yet you can taste the quality of the spices within. Just be cautious as nearly every piece is bone-in, though the succulent meat falls off so easily. Great with white rice or biryani. Highly recommended!

Mutton Curry (SGD $41)

Mutton Curry

The Garlic Baked Crab (SGD $72 for 800g) is unique, featuring a large 800g live crab, baked with a mountain of garlic cloves. The meaty crab takes on only a hint of spice notes in the sweet savoury crab meat; I'd wish the flavour was a tad stronger. The soft garlic cloves are almost like mashed potato in texture, but hold deep vegetal sweet spice salty flavour that is so addictive. Good!

Garlic Baked Crab (SGD $72 for 800g)

Garlic Baked Crab

The Hokkien Mee Special (SGD $15) is tasty, thanks to the rich wet gravy, except that it's less shrimpy, and more deep meaty savoury salty instead. The soft yellow egg noodles and round vermicelli rice noodles are tossed with loads of pork belly, egg, white clams, and tiger prawns, garnished with spring onions and pork lard. Easy to eat, this will appeal to those who like stronger meat flavours, and wet gravy, in their Hokkien Mee. Worth ordering!

Hokkien Mee Special (SGD $15)

Hokkien Mee Special

The USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye With Heart Attack Fried Rice Set (SGD $85) is a house signature. Premium cuts of black angus beef ribeye are grilled, rested, and cubed. This means each morsel of beef ribeye is tender and juicy, succulent with a light chew, holding bold meaty savoury flavour. Served with their signature heart attack fried rice; basically fried rice enhanced with beef fat drippings, resulting in a decadent meaty savoury sweet salty flavour. Completed with tender caramelised white onions with vegetal sweet earthy flavour, condiments, and fluffy potato wedges with good starchy sweet savoury flavour. Sized for 2 to 4 people. Highly recommended!

USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye With Heart Attack Fried Rice Set (SGD $85)

Platter

Heart Attack Fried Rice

Heart Attack Fried Rice

USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye Cubes

USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye Cubes

USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye Cubes

Caramelised Onions

Salt & Pepper

Tomato Ketchup & Dijon Mustard

Potato Wedges

Potato Wedges

USDA Black Angus Choice Beef Ribeye With Heart Attack Fried Rice Set

The Mango Sago (SGD $8) is made with fresh mango puree, meaning its thick and creamy smooth. Filled with cubes of juicy mango and bouncy tapioca sago balls, this chilled dessert is heavily fruity sweet in flavour, and is best shared as it's rich on the palate. Worth ordering!

Mango Sago (SGD $8)

Mango Sago

Positioned as a dessert, the Fresh Kaya On Toasted Baguette (SGD $6) is served with creamy knobs of smooth butter, and unusually, salt, because the butter is unsalted. The crisp thick baguette bread slices are crisp and crunchy, with smoky bready sweet flavour. The luscious and thick pandan kaya / screwpine leaf coconut egg jam has bright floral earthy herbal sweet flavour, and spreads so easily on the bread. I only wish there were more bread for this. Highly recommended!

Fresh Kaya On Toasted Baguette (SGD $6)

Fresh Kaya On Toasted Baguette

A signature house dessert, the Banana Gula Melaka (SGD $10) features banana slices caramelised with gula melaka / palm sugar, resulting in it being tender soft, with bold fruity sweet earthy flavour. Served with creamy house-made coconut ice cream with mild floral earthy sweet flavour, this simple but delicious dessert is so enticing. Highly recommended!

Banana Gula Melaka (SGD $10)

Banana Gula Melaka

Banana Gula Melaka

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