Food, Lifestyle, Travel & Photography: Qiji Traditional Fish Maw

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Qiji Traditional Fish Maw

Just last year, Chef Darwin shared with us during my visit to the Sim Lim Square outlet that they would be opening another outlet at Sunset Way. As Sunset Way is one of my frequent hangouts, I was excited to hear the news.

I recently dropped by the new outlet and noticed that the menu is slightly different from Cheeky's Signature at Sim Lim Square, offering diners a few new options to explore. It's great to see Chef Darwin bringing his creations closer to the west side.

Qiji Traditional Fishmaw Soup & Minced Pork Noodles outlet at Sunset Way with cosy seating and bright yellow signage.

Qiji Minced POrk Noodles

Their homemade drinks were special in their own way, served in disposable bowls instead of the usual cups. We had the Pink Guava with Sour Plum and the Water Chestnut with Longan. Both drinks came chilled with refreshing agar agar bits, adding a fun texture to every sip. The pink guava drink offered a pleasant balance of sweet and tangy flavours, while the water chestnut and longan combination was light, cooling and naturally refreshing.

Pink guava sour plum drink and water chestnut longan drink served with agar agar bits.

Assorted Homemade Drinks - $3

Let's dive into their menu specials! Guess what we had first? The Teow Chew Seahum. We proudly belong to the "Ai Hum" team, so this was an easy order for us.

These fresh cockles were served with traditional condiments that complemented their natural flavour beautifully. They were delightfully bloody, juicy and packed with umami goodness. If you're a fellow cockle lover and don't mind enjoying them in their authentic style, this is definitely worth a try.

Fresh Teow Chew-style cockles served with traditional condiments.

Teow Chew Seahum - $9.80

Next up was the Gong Gong, often regarded as the Chinese version of the French escargot. Served simply to let the freshness shine, these sea snails were firm, sweet and incredibly fresh. Best of all, there was no gamey taste at all. Just grab a toothpick and enjoy the natural flavours hidden within each shell.

Freshly cooked gong gong sea snails served in a traditional claypot.

Gong Gong - $9.80

Perhaps the most unique item on the menu was the Crocodile Ribs Soup. It's not every day that you come across crocodile ribs, making this a rather interesting find.

Served in a claypot, the soup was nourishing, comforting and naturally sweet. As for the meat, it was surprisingly tender and tasted very much like pork. In fact, if I hadn't been told it was crocodile, I would have easily mistaken it for pork ribs. A worthwhile order for those looking to try something a little different.

Claypot of crocodile ribs soup with vegetables and a nourishing herbal broth.

Claypot Nourishing Crocodile Ribs Fish Maw Soup - $28

The Fried XL Shrimp Wanton (4pcs) turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Deep-fried to a beautiful golden brown, they were light and crispy without being overly oily. Each bite revealed a flavourful filling that paired perfectly with the crunchy exterior. Simple yet satisfying, this was one dish that disappeared from the table rather quickly.

Golden-brown fried XL shrimp wantons served on a metal plate.

Fried XL Shrimp Wanton (4pcs) - $480

The Roasted Cauliflower was something we don't usually order, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Cooked just right, the cauliflower retained a slight bite without being too hard. Lightly seasoned and full of natural sweetness, it made for a simple yet addictive dish that balanced out the richer items on the table.

Roasted cauliflower florets lightly seasoned and served on a metal plate.

Roasted Cauliflower - $4.80

For something more comforting, we had the Mixed Pork Fish Maw Soup paired with Pork Lard Pearl Rice. The soup came with both sliced pork and minced pork, creating a hearty and satisfying bowl.

The broth was sweet, flavourful and enriched with fish maw, while a touch of pepper added a gentle kick.

Mixed pork fish maw soup served with pork lard pearl rice.

Mixed Pork with Pork Lard Pearl Rice 综合猪肉猪油渣饭 - $6.90

The fragrant pearl rice, topped with crispy pork lard, complemented the soup beautifully, making this a comforting combination that is easy to enjoy.

Bowl of pearl rice topped with crispy pork lard, spring onions and savoury sauce.

Pork Lard Rice

We had the Cheeky Signature with Dry Bee Hoon, and this is probably the dish to order if you want a bit of everything. The hearty bowl came packed with prawns, fish maw, clams, minced meat, meatballs and more, making every spoonful a satisfying one.

The dry bee hoon was springy and well-seasoned, while the crispy pork lard added an extra layer of fragrance and texture. Paired with the rich and flavourful soup, this was easily one of the most complete and comforting dishes on the table.

Dry bee hoon with pork lard served alongside Cheeky Signature seafood and fish maw soup.

Cheeky Signature with Bee Hoon (Dry)

The lala clams were plump, fresh and cooked just right. Most importantly, they were free from any sandy grit, allowing their natural sweetness to shine through. A simple ingredient, but one that added plenty of flavour to the already hearty bowl.

Clams

One thing I appreciated was that the fish maw soup base is refillable, and every refill came with a friendly smile. To soak up all that rich and comforting goodness, we also ordered some you tiao, which paired wonderfully with the soup.

A special mention goes to their coriander peanut sauce, which added an extra layer of flavour to many of the dishes. With hearty food, attentive service and a few unique menu items, I certainly wouldn't mind returning again for another satisfying meal.