SMAC BBQ
2 Jalan Lokam
#01-54 Kensington Square
https://www.smacbbq.com/
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| Skewers Flat Lay |
Decent Chuan Chuan With Reasonable Prices
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Spent about SGD $55 per person.
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Established since May 2017, SMAC BBQ is primarily a wholesaler of raw barbecue food, with a storefront in the Paya Lebar area of Singapore that helps to showcase their range. Specialising in Chinese Northeastern style barbecue, the signature house spice rub at SMAC BBQ comprises up to 13 different herbs and spices. You're assured of a decently tasty and relatively reasonably priced meal at SMAC BBQ each time.
Ambience at SMAC BBQ is bright, casual, and relaxing. I like that there isn't any lingering odour of cooking, a sign of good ventilation in the open kitchen. The sturdy wooden furnishing is decently comfortable, and they have options for indoor and outdoor seating. Located in a rather quiet area, this place is great for chilling and relaxing, and barely has any bustling atmosphere, though they sometimes play the background music a tad loud.
Service at SMAC BBQ is friendly and attentive, albeit with limited interaction in English, as they're more comfortable speaking in Chinese Mandarin. Staff helpfully guide you to order via the digital online ordering platform, which has both English and Chinese Mandarin descriptions accompanied by pictures. I observe staff to quickly fulfill orders, and clean up efficiently when diners leave. Thoughtful touches like the provision of serviettes for each table, and side plates for sharing, seal the deal.
Food at SMAC BBQ is Northeastern Chinese cuisine, focused on grilled skewers or chuan chuan. Ingredients are fresh, with most being marinated in their signature spice mix, then perfectly grilled within a short wait. Quality is consistent across the 2 years I've dined at SMAC BBQ. Portions are sized for individuals or communal group dining. Prices are reasonable, not wallet-friendly but not exorbitant either, budget about SGD $68 per person for a meal with drinks here.
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| SMAC BBQ Exterior |
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| SMAC BBQ Interior |
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| Cutlery Setting |
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| Skewers Flat Lay |
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| Skewers Flat Lay |
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| Skewers Flat Lay |
The Beer Xue Hua / Snow Flake (SGD $6.80 per bottle) is a pale lager brewed by the China Resources (CR) Snow Breweries Ltd. in Dongcheng, Beijing, China. It has a bright golden hue, with faint aromas and tastes of wheat, steel, and nothing much else. The body is crisp, light, and thin, with faint hints of grainy bitter metallic sweet flavour. Refreshing only when served cold.
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| Beer Xue Hua / Snow Flake (SGD $6.80 per bottle) |
The Beer Laoshan (SGD $8.80 per bottle) is a pale lager brewed by the Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd. in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It has a vibrant golden hue, with faint aromas and tastes of grass, biscuit, malt, and straw. The body is crisp, light, and semi-dry, with faint hints of earthy grainy sweet toasty flavour. Slightly better than the average Chinese beer.
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| Beer Laoshan (SGD $8.80 per bottle) |
Each table is served the Prawn Crackers (SGD $Complimentary) upon being seated. These are light, crisp, and non-greasy, with the prawn crackers having a mild shrimpy savoury sweet flavour.
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| Prawn Crackers (SGD $Complimentary) |
The Cucumber With Minced Garlic (SGD $5.30 per serving) is a refreshing side dish to help relieve the palate. Large juicy crunchy fresh cucumber chunks are seasoned with minced garlic and salt, resulting in a bright vegetal sweet salty spice herbal flavour with each bite. Actually rather addictive. Highly recommended!
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| Cucumber With Minced Garlic (SGD $5.30 per serving) |
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| Cucumber With Minced Garlic |
The Golden Mushroom In Foil (SGD $6.80 per serving) is alright. The crunchy golden mushrooms are seasoned with the house spice mix and stewed over the grill, resulting in a nice vegetal earthy spice salty sweet flavour. It lack the edge to make it deliciously memorable, perhaps more quality butter would help. An overall decent side dish. Worth ordering!
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| Golden Mushroom In Foil (SGD $6.80 per serving) |
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| Golden Mushroom In Foil |
Loved the Toasted White Bread (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40), which features crisp buttered white bread, lightly toasted. Has a soft crisp crunch to texture, with smoky buttery bready sweet savoury flavour. Rather addictive, wished we'd ordered more. Highly recommended!
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| Toasted White Bread (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40) |
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| Toasted White Bread |
The Grilled Potato Slice (SGD $3.80 for 6 skewers, minimum 6 skewers) has fresh thin sliced waxy potato, grilled till satisfyingly crunchy. Lightly seasoned, this carries lovely smoky starchy salty sweet flavour. Like a better tasting version of potato chips. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Potato Slice (SGD $3.80 for 6 skewers, minimum 6 skewers) |
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| Grilled Potato Slice |
The Grilled Leek (SGD $3.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $6.40) has fresh crunchy leeks, served in a generous portion. Long and silky, these aren't easy to bite through, requiring effort to chew. With lovely smoky vegetal sweet flavour, this makes for a healthy choice. Good!
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| Grilled Leek (SGD $3.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $6.40) |
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| Grilled Leek |
Was taken with the Grilled Celtuce (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40), which has 4 leaves of fresh crisp crunchy celtuce, also known as Chinese cabbage, on each skewer. Large and leafy, these held lovely smoky vegetal sweet spice flavour, excellent. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Celtuce (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40) |
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| Grilled Celtuce |
Loved the Grilled Pineapple (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40), which has warm juicy pineapple chunks, gently grilled. Each bite bursts with bold smoky fruity sweet flavour, yum. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Pineapple (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40) |
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| Grilled Pineapple |
The Grilled Shiitake Mushroom (SGD $1.30 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.60) has nicely grilled whole shiitake mushrooms, not too dry, with a slight bouncy tender chew to texture. Bite in and you get a pleasant smoky vegetal earthy savoury flavour. Good!
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| Grilled Shiitake Mushroom (SGD $1.30 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.60) |
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| Grilled Shiitake Mushroom |
The Grilled King Oyster Mushroom (SGD $2.40 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) has sliced king oyster mushrooms, seasoned with spices. With a nice tender juicy chew and bold smoky vegetal spice earthy salty flavour, this was so enticing. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled King Oyster Mushroom (SGD $2.40 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) |
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| Grilled King Oyster Mushroom |
The Grilled Pork Bacon With Enoki Golden Mushroom (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) has crunchy juicy enoki / golden mushrooms, wrapped at the base with a chewy slice of pork back bacon, seasoned with spices. This combines for a smoky vegetal meaty earthy salty spice savoury sweet flavour, so yummy. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Pork Bacon With Enoki Golden Mushroom (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) |
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| Grilled Pork Bacon With Enoki Golden Mushroom |
The Grilled Pork Belly (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) is done Chinese chuan chuan barbecue style, and has chunks of crunchy chewy pork belly, marinated in a house spice mix. This results in each bite having a lovely smoky meaty savoury spice flavour. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Pork Belly (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) |
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| Grilled Pork Belly |
The Grilled Pig's Skin (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40) didn't quite appeal to me, as the crunchy gelatinous rolls of pig's skin had a rather one-note smoky salty spice taste, rather flat. Could be improved.
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| Grilled Pig's Skin (SGD $1.20 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $2.40) |
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| Grilled Pig's Skin |
The Grilled Taiwanese Pork Sausage (SGD $2.30 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $4.60) here is decent, with the crunchy juicy Taiwanese pork sausage having a smoky meaty savoury sweet flavour, not as succulent as I'd hoped. Just average overall.
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| Grilled Taiwanese Pork Sausage (SGD $2.30 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $4.60) |
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| Grilled Taiwanese Pork Sausage |
We enjoyed the Grilled Scallop In Half Shell (SGD $9.80 for 2 pieces, minimum 2 pieces). These have medium-sized, fresh bouncy scallops, garnished with crisp parsley, dressed in a thick house gravy. Carries lovely smoky savoury salty sweet spice herbal flavours. Good!
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| Grilled Scallop In Half Shell (SGD $9.80 for 2 pieces, minimum 2 pieces) |
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| Grilled Scallop In Half Shell |
The Grilled Smelt Fish (SGD $4.20 for 3 skewers, minimum 3 skewers) is decent at best, but probably among the most wallet-friendly skewers here. The smelt fish with roe, also known as shishamo, have been grilled till crisp, crackling gently when bit, releasing robust smoky fishy salty savoury flavour, nicely enticing. Worth ordering!
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| Grilled Smelt Fish (SGD $4.20 for 3 skewers, minimum 3 skewers) |
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| Grilled Smelt Fish |
The Grilled Squid (SGD $3 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) features bouncy slippery chunks of fresh squid. Mostly neutral in taste, the primary flavour profile of smoky savoury salty spice is derived from the seasoning. I enjoyed these. Good!
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| Grilled Squid (SGD $3 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) |
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| Grilled Squid |
The Grilled Cuttlefish Ball (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) features cuttlefish squid balls, halved and seasoned. While it has a bouncy soft texture, I prefer it to be more springy and dense instead. Carries nice smoky savoury salty spice sweet flavour, but I probably won't order these again due to my preference on texture. Could be improved.
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| Grilled Cuttlefish Ball (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) |
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| Grilled Cuttlefish Ball |
As advertised, the Grilled Fresh Prawn (SGD $1.60 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $3.20) has a large fresh shell-on prawn, coated in the house spice mix. The shell can be eaten, and cracks gently with a light crunch, then you get the juicy bouncy fresh prawn within, which carries smoky sweet savoury salty spice flavour. Good!
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| Grilled Fresh Prawn (SGD $1.60 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $3.20) |
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| Grilled Fresh Prawn |
The Grilled Beef Flank (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) is done Chinese chuan chuan barbecue style, and has chunks of spiced beef flank, tender and chewy with robust smoky meaty spice salty savoury flavour. Nicely done. Good!
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| Grilled Beef Flank (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) |
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| Grilled Beef Flank |
Not a fan of the Grilled Beef Tendon (SGD $1.90 for 1 skewer), as the slippery chunks of chewy beef tendon felt gummy and sticky, with light smoky spice meaty flavour. Could be improved.
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| Grilled Beef Tendon (SGD $1.90 for 1 skewer) |
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| Grilled Beef Tendon |
On a value for money perspective, the Grilled Quail Egg (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) is the most expensive item on the menu. This has bouncy soft round of quail egg, dusted with a light sprinkling of the house spice mix, bursting with smoky eggy sweet spice flavour. I can't quite reconcile the value though, so not recommended.
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| Grilled Quail Egg (SGD $2.80 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $5.60) |
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| Grilled Quail Egg |
Loved the Grilled Chicken Thigh (SGD $2.60 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $3.90), which is done Chinese chuan chuan barbecue style, and has chunks of boneless chicken thigh, juicy and tender with pleasant smoky sweet savoury spice flavour. Rather addictive, kept reaching for more. Highly recommended!
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| Grilled Chicken Thigh (SGD $2.60 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $3.90) |
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| Grilled Chicken Thigh |
The Grilled Yakitori Chicken (SGD $3.60 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) is done Japanese kushiyaki style, with boneless chunks of chicken thigh marinated in tare (a blend of usukuchi shoyu / light soy sauce, koikuchi shoyu / dark soy sauce, mirin rice wine, brown sugar). Has a juicy tender bite to texture, with addictive smoky meaty sweet salty flavour, yum. Good!
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| Grilled Yakitori Chicken (SGD $3.60 for 2 skewers, minimum 2 skewers) |
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| Grilled Yakitori Chicken |
The Grilled Orleans Chicken Wing (SGD $3 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $6) is done American barbecue style, with a whole bone-in chicken wing seasoned with iodized salt and black pepper. The drumlet, winglet, and wing tip separate easily, and the chicken meat is tender and moist with a smoky meaty savoury sweet flavour, delicious. Good!
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| Grilled Orleans Chicken Wing (SGD $3 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $6) |
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| Grilled Orleans Chicken Wing |
Compared to elsewhere, the Grilled Lamb Leg (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) has a good ratio of fat to lean meat, with the lamb leg having a decent springy chew to texture. The seasoning tends to be less punchy than elsewhere, a tad above mild, with smoky meaty savoury salty flavours. That said, it's less addictive than other renditions elsewhere. Worth ordering!
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| Grilled Lamb Leg (SGD $2.80 for 2 skewers, pictured 3 skewers for SGD $4.20) |
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| Grilled Lamb Leg |
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| Grilled Lamb Leg |
The Grilled Lamb Leg On Rose Willow Branch (SGD $4.50 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $9) has similar chunks of seasoned lamb leg, except the skewer used is a rose willow branch. This seeks to infuse the meat with a touch of woody floral flavour, however, I couldn't detect the difference. Could be improved.
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| Grilled Lamb Leg On Rose Willow Branch (SGD $4.50 for 1 skewer, pictured 2 skewers for SGD $9) |
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| Grilled Lamb Leg On Rose Willow Branch |
The Grilled Bai Ye Tofu Skin (SGD $3.20 for 6 skewers, minimum 6 skewers) has strips of thin chewy bai ye tofu beancurd skin, seasoned with the house spice mix. This carries smoky grainy salty spice sweet flavour, a choice side to accompany. Good!
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| Grilled Bai Ye Tofu Skin (SGD $3.20 for 6 skewers, minimum 6 skewers) |
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| Grilled Bai Ye Tofu Skin |
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CONVERSATION