Sichuan Alley Tasting Session 2024
51 Telok Ayer Street #01-01
13 Stamford Road
#B1-30 Capitol Singapore
Opening Hours:
Daily: 10:30am - 9:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/sichuanalley/
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Her Pen And Fork, msginginly, Epicurious Caniggia, Chubby Botak Koala, and Purple Taste.
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| President Rice Noodles (SGD $24.50) |
Casual Sichuan Fare For Everyday Dining
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 9
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $25 per person.
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Since launching Sichuan Alley in November 2021, the same owners behind Birds Of A Feather and Halcyon & Crane have grown this quick casual everyday dining concept, with the latest outlet opening in December 2022. Focused on Sichuan / Szechuan Mian Yang rice noodles, Sichuan Alley sees a good crowd throughout the week.
Ambience at Sichuan Alley is casual and relaxing. Styled like a traditional noodle house, the space is warmly lit, with traditional lanterns hanging from the ceiling. The eclectic Oriental furnishings, both wooden and ceramic, are decently comfortable, designed in ancient Chinese imperial court style.
Service at Sichuan Alley is friendly and efficient. Staff are quick to greet and seat guests. They accord each table good attention, and respond promptly. They offer to clear finished plates throughout the meal, and introduce each dish as they serve, demonstrating competent menu knowledge.
Food at Sichuan Alley is traditional Chinese Sichuan / Szechuan cuisine, focused on classic Mian Yang rice noodles and accompanying appetisers and sides. Chef Eugene See brings his culinary expertise, re-creating authentic bowls. Portions are large for individuals. Prices are reasonable, budget about SGD $25 per person.
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| Sichuan Alley Signage |
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| Sichuan Alley Exterior |
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| Sichuan Alley Interior |
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| Seating |
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| Seating |
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| Seating |
The Chengdu Jasmine Green Tea (SGD $6.50) is cold brewed using jasmine green tea leaves and jasmine flowers, carrying a light floral earthy flavour that is gentle and appealing. Good!
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| Chengdu Jasmine Green Tea (SGD $6.50) |
The Iced Black Plum Tea (SGD $5.90) features a refreshing blend of black tea, dried plums / prunes, and orange zest. This carries a light fruity earthy sour zesty sweet flavour, the distinct contrast pleasing on the palate. Good!
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| Iced Black Plum Tea (SGD $5.90) |
The Mala Black Fungus (SGD $5.50) has crunchy black fungus / wood ear fungus tossed with black vinegar, garnished with bird's eye chili / chili padi and coriander. Carries vegetal sour sweet spice flavour, yum. Good!
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| Mala Black Fungus (SGD $5.50) |
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| Mala Black Fungus |
Love the Chilled Cucumber (SGD $3.90), featuring chunky juicy crunchy sliced cucumber tossed with fresh minced garlic and sesame oil. This bursts with herbal vegetal sweet spice nutty flavour, yum. A refreshing palate cleanser. Highly recommended!
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| Chilled Cucumber (SGD $3.90) |
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| Chilled Cucumber |
The Mouth Watering King Prawns (SGD $8.90) has partially deshelled king prawns, boiled till juicy crunchy, along with tender boiled potatoes, in a thin yet punchy chili oil gravy. True to its name, it piques the palate with its fresh sweet salty spicy starchy flavour. A new addition to the menu. Good!
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| Mouth Watering King Prawns (SGD $8.90) |
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| Mouth Watering King Prawns |
The Sichuan Pepper Ox Tongue (SGD $11) was delicious, with the tender braised ox tongue dressed in a home-made green pepper chili gravy. Bright with meaty savoury spice flavour, this was rather addictive. Highly recommended!
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| Sichuan Pepper Ox Tongue (SGD $11) |
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| Sichuan Pepper Ox Tongue |
The B-52 Fried Chicken (SGD $16) is otherwise known as Laziji / Spicy Firecracker Chicken / Mala Chicken. This features crisp moist boneless deep-fried chicken thigh chunks, dried red chili, crisp leeks, and crunchy cashew nuts. With robust savoury salty spice nutty flavour, this communal sharing dish was nicely satisfying. Would order again. Highly recommended!
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| B-52 Fried Chicken (SGD $16) |
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| B-52 Fried Chicken |
The Sichuan Sour Vegetable Fish (SGD $19) features large thick tender slices of boneless grouper fish fillet, crunchy celtuce, and crunchy black fungus / wood ear fungus, in a warm soup / broth garnished with sesame seeds and dried red chili. Combined, this carries lovely vegetal sour salty savoury earthy sweet fishy nutty flavour, very enticing. Pairs well with white rice. Good!
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| Sichuan Sour Vegetable Fish (SGD $19) |
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| Sichuan Sour Vegetable Fish |
Love the Braised Pig's Intestines With Tofu (SGD $17.30), which has large chunky tender pieces of soy braised pig's intestines, without any funky smell. Immersed in a chili oil gravy, with crisp coriander, crunchy celery, and spongy soft tofu bean curd, this carries meaty savoury salty grainy spicy vegetal bitter sweet flavour. Highly recommended!
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| Braised Pig's Intestines With Tofu (SGD $17.30) |
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| Braised Pig's Intestines With Tofu |
The Yu Xiang Shredded Pork (SGD $7.90) features tender shredded pork loin slices, crunchy celtuce, crunchy carrot, and crunchy black fungus / wood ear fungus, in a "yu xiang" gravy (made with light soy sauce, garlic, ginger, red onions, black vinegar, white sugar, fermented spicy bean paste, and chili pepper). This has a complex sour salty sweet savoury spicy earthy vegetal meaty flavour, tasty. Good!
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| Yu Xiang Shredded Pork (SGD $7.90) |
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| Yu Xiang Shredded Pork |
The Sichuan Hot Red Beef (SGD $19.30) is anything but plain. The tender slices of boiled beef flank are immersed in a hot chili oil broth, along with crisp bean sprouts, crunchy black fungus / wood ear fungus, crunchy celery, crunchy celtuce, and dried red chili, garnished with sesame seeds. With a meaty savoury salty earthy vegetal bitter spice nutty flavour, this was rather addictive. Relish it with a bowl of white rice. Good!
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| Sichuan Hot Red Beef (SGD $19.30) |
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| Sichuan Hot Red Beef |
The Sichuan Soy Sauce Fried Rice (SGD $8.90) is a comforting bowl, with soy sauce infused fried rice, cabbage, and cauliflower, garnished with spring onions. Has chewy crisp crunchy soft texture, with grainy salty savoury sweet vegetal flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Sichuan Soy Sauce Fried Rice (SGD $8.90) |
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| Sichuan Soy Sauce Fried Rice |
Love the Chicken Cutlet Egg Fried Rice (SGD $14), with absolutely fragrant fluffy moist egg fried rice topped with tender crisp boneless fried chicken cutlet and crisp spring onions. Has meaty savoury spice salty grainy eggy vegetal sweet flavour. So yummy, we kept reaching for more. Good!
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| Chicken Cutlet Egg Fried Rice (SGD $14) |
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| Chicken Cutlet Egg Fried Rice |
The Mashed Chickpea Dan Dan Noodles (SGD $13.50) was among our favourite dishes this visit. The chewy wheat noodles are garnished with tender soy infused minced pork, soft mashed peas, crisp spring onions, and crunchy crushed peanuts. Dressed with sesame oil, this carries an addictive grainy meaty sweet savoury nutty flavour. Polished off every bite. Highly recommended!
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| Mashed Chickpea Dan Dan Noodles (SGD $13.50) |
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| Mashed Chickpea Dan Dan Noodles |
The Scallion Oil Noodles (SGD $7) is an off-menu item, a simple dish of chewy wheat noodles and crisp bok choy / Chinese cabbage garnished with crispy fried shallots, crisp spring onions, and scallion oil. This fragrant bowl has lovely grainy nutty sweet savoury vegetal flavours. Good!
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| Scallion Oil Noodles (SGD $7) |
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| Scallion Oil Noodles |
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| Scallion Oil Noodles |
The President Rice Noodles (SGD $24.50) is a sampling platter, large for individuals, best shared. This has Mian Yang Rice Noodles With Chickpeas, Bok Choy, Fried Egg, with the chewy rice noodles, soft chickpeas, crunchy bok choy / Chinese cabbage, tender fried egg, and crunchy black fungus / wood ear fungus, all combining for grainy vegetal earthy savoury eggy sweet spice flavours. The Braised Meat Trio, comprising springy Braised Pig's Large Intestines with meaty savoury salty herbal flavour, the tender Braised Pork Ribs with meaty salty savoury herbal sweet flavour, and the chewy Braised Beef Brisket with meaty savoury earthy salty flavour. We observed a lone customer finishing the entire platter, incredible. Perhaps when I was younger, I could have done likewise. Good!
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| President Rice Noodles (SGD $24.50) |
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| President Rice Noodles |
The Speciality Ice Jelly (SGD $5.50) is a decadent dessert bowl, with wobbly gelatinous ice jelly / aiyu jelly, tender adzuki read beans, soft hawthorn flakes, brown sugar, chewy golden raisins, crisp crushed peanuts, crisp shaved almonds, and chewy soft glutinous rice balls. Has a complex yet enticing herbal earthy grainy fruity sweet nutty flavour, a lot going on in each mouthful. Worth ordering!
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| Speciality Ice Jelly (SGD $5.50) |
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| Speciality Ice Jelly |
Finished with the Sweet Fermented Rice (SGD $4.50), which features clean chewy glutinous rice balls and soft fermented rice, in an osmanthus flower infused syrup soup / broth. Has lovely floral earthy grainy sweet sour flavour, nicely refreshing. Highly recommended!
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| Sweet Fermented Rice (SGD $4.50) |
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| Sweet Fermented Rice |
Enjoyed our visit to Sichuan Alley! The ambience is nicely relaxing, the service prompt, and the food quality is good. Prices are comparable to most cafes, and represent good value for the portion sizes. Will revisit Sichuan Alley soon!
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