Du Du Yue Cai 嘟嘟粤菜

The striking romantic pink signboard and matching pink menu have been making waves on social media. Du Du Yue Cai, located in Eunos, now occupies the former space of Hae! Claypot @ Eunos (Prawn & Lala). Interestingly, it’s still helmed by the same owner, just with a refreshed direction. As the hotpot/steamboat trend slowly cools off, they have pivoted to serving comforting Cantonese cuisine instead

Du Du Cantonese Cuisine

Enjoy Guangzhou’s Top 26 award-winning authentic Cantonese cuisine. Savour three years’ worth of celebrated flavours, crafted with the heartbeat of home including Singapore’s first Crispy Orh Luak. 

They are also encouraging diners to join their membership programme, where you can enjoy exclusive perks from birthday rewards to member-only prices and more.

Membership Perks

Since it’s highly raved about, we ordered their Singapore’s 1st Crispy Orh Luak. Served in a pan, it came with generous oysters layered over an ultra-thin, crispy egg base.

Singapore 1st Crispy Orh Luak 新加坡首创酥脆蚝煎 - $19.80 / $23.80

The pairing of the crispy egg base with the soft, plump oysters created a delightful contrast in texture. The dish’s presentation was lifted with a sprinkle of chopped spring onions, adding a pop of colour.

Du Du's Recommendation

The dishes were served in rustic earthen claypots. We tried the beef strips with Japanese sauce, and the flavours were spot on, a fragrant mix of chilli, spring onions, onions, and garlic. Each piece of meat was well coated and thoroughly infused with its savoury marinade.

Beef Strips with Japanese Sauce 日式牛肋条 - $21.80 / $24.80

Another highly raved item is the Baked Yellow Croaker Fish with Lantern Chilli. The preparation with lantern chilli gave it a wonderful depth of flavour, and we thoroughly enjoyed the tender, delicate flesh of the fish.

Baked Yellow Croaker Fish with Lantern Chilli 灯笼椒焗黄花鱼 - $33.80 / $39.90

Pork Collagen Soup with Lotus Roots & Peanuts sounded close to heart, reminiscent of comforting dishes from mum’s kitchen. While the ingredients were ample, the flavour fell short for me as the soup tasted rather bland.

Pork Collagen Soup with Lotus Roots & Peanuts 胶原花生莲藕汤 - $20.90 / $24.90

The Creamy Salted Egg Corn came as a pleasant surprise. The glistening coating on each kernel immediately caught my eye, and the flavour turned out to be incredibly addictive. The golden-yellow corn was cut into smaller sections along the stem, making it easy to enjoy while soaking up all that rich, savoury salted egg goodness.

Creamy Salted Egg Corn 奶油咸蛋皇玉米 - $9.60 / $10.90

The Pork Trotter Vinegar was genuinely satisfying. Its sweet and tangy gravy paired perfectly with a bowl of rice, making it incredibly comforting. The pork trotters were braised and simmered until tender, soaking up all the rich flavours. A hearty dish that not only warms the soul but also gives you a good dose of collagen.

Pork Trotter Vinegar 猪脚醋 - $13.80 / $16.80

With the selection of dishes we picked from the menu, it felt like a fresh and interesting way to enjoy zi char together. Gathering around these claypot and Cantonese dishes made the experience even more special, especially when shared with friends and family.

Our Order

The dishes were served impressively fast, arriving one by one in quick succession. Just as we were settling in and enjoying our dinner, the staff surprised us with a small glass of chilled green bean soup for each of us, a thoughtful and refreshing touch to end the meal.

Dessert

Du Du Yue Cai 嘟嘟粤菜
Location: 29 Eunos Ave 6, Singapore 409619

Empire Chinese Cuisine (formerly Phoenix Garden) 帝國軒

If you remember Phoenix Garden at Parkway Parade, it’s now Empire Chinese Cuisine. Established in 2020, this fine dining spot showcases exquisite Cantonese and Teochew dishes crafted by chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants, delivering refined flavours and top-notch culinary artistry.

Empire Chinese Cuisine

Our first dish, Wok-fried Beef Cubes with Wholegrain Yellow Mustard Sauce, was beautifully plated with shredded carrots and cabbage. Each beef cube was evenly coated with just the right amount of mustard sauce, flavourful without overpowering, offering a mild kick of spice that complemented the tender beef perfectly.

Wok-fried Beef Cubes with Wholegrain Yellow Mustard Sauce 芥末籽酱爆牛肉粒 - $24.00

The Shark’s Cartilage Soup with Fresh Fishmaw required a 15-minute wait but was worth every second. Smooth, rich, and slightly gluey in texture, it was deeply satisfying and polished off the fastest among all the dishes a true crowd favourite at our table.

Shark‘s Cartilage Soup with Fresh Fishmaw 鲨鱼软骨花胶汤 - $19

We also had the Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Morel Mushrooms, which similarly required a 15-minute wait. The broth was nourishing and flavourful, with tender chicken pieces and earthy morel mushrooms enhancing its depth, a comforting classic done right.

Double-boiled Chicken Soup with Morel Mushrooms 羊肚菌炖鸡汤 - $11.80

Wok-fried Prawns with Egg White and Black Truffle Oil was a beautifully executed dish that reminded me of one we used to enjoy at Prima Tower. The truffle aroma paired harmoniously with the subtle sweetness of the egg white and the natural seafood sweetness from the prawns.

Wok-fried Prawns with Egg White and Black Truffle Oil 黑松露油蛋白炒虾球 - $26.00

The presentation was elevated with fine cuts of kailan stalks, adding a refreshing touch of green to the dish.

Wok-Fried Prawn

Homemade Spinach Tofu with Wild Mushrooms earned our unanimous nods of approval. The tofu was silky smooth, pairing beautifully with the earthy wild mushrooms and vibrant vegetables. 

Homemade Spinach Tofu with Wild Mushrooms 野菌扒菠菜豆腐 - $19.00

What a simple yet delightful combination done right.

Yummy!

Not many places serve Fried Bitter Gourd Strips with Salted Egg Yolk, so this was an interesting find. The taste was a pleasant blend of savoury and crisp bitterness, though the presentation was rather plain and could use a touch of refinement.

Fried Bitter Gourd Strips with Salted Egg Yolk Puree 咸蛋黄炸凉瓜条 - $10.00

For the carbs, we had the Stewed Mee Pok Noodles with Eggplant in XO Chilli Sauce. The mee pok was noticeably narrower than the usual type and was topped with slices of eggplant that we almost mistook for pork belly. The accompanying sauce was savoury and comforting, evoking a nostalgic flavour reminiscent of old-school canteen days.

Stewed Mee Pok Noodles with Eggplant in XO Chilli Sauce XO 酱茄子焖面卜 - $22

A comforting meal at Empire Chinese Cuisine, perfect for anyone craving refined yet homely Chinese flavours done with finesse and heart.

Empire Chinese Cuisine (formerly Phoenix Garden) 帝國軒
Location: Parkway Parade, 80 Marine Parade Road, #02-13/13A, Singapore 449269
Website

Fook Kin

Fook Kin collaborates with The Muttons  (Class 95 FM DJs), Fat Boys and Roast Paradise. While this joint is famous for their roast meats.

Their interior is nostalgic and will take you back in time. with the metal grated folding gates, hanging birdcage lightings, old school floor tiles and cement walls.

Fook Kin

It can never go wrong ordering their Char Siew and Roasted Pork at Fook Kin. I must agree that they are Fook Kin awesome! The cuts of both types of meat were uniform and has a good ratio of fats to lean meat. 

The Char Siew was shining and alluring. It has a good caramelised coating together with its slightly charred edges, bringing out the 

Mix Platter (Med 300g) - $30

The Mee Pok is simple but worthy of attention. The pale looking bowl of Mee Pok may appeal to be lacklustre but tossing together in its seasonings and marinated minced meat, it was surprisingly delicious. Not forgetting the pork lard and cucumber that gave the crunchy texture to our bowl.

Mince Meat Mee Pok - $3

The Caramelised Char Siew was sweeter than what we usually had from the roast meat stall. The Charcoal flavour meat was juicy and succulent. It strikes a good balance between the sweet savoury and smoky flavours. 

Sweet Savoury Char Siew

Look at these thick cuts of pork belly. The crispy skin that crackles in our mouths was the bomb! Dipped them into the chilli for additional flavour.

Crackling Pork Belly

Packed with Truffle Fragrance, the bowl of Truffle Wanton Mee comprised of 3 fried wantons, a few stalks of greens and of course the glistering gold-dusted Char Siew. Their springy noodles were tossed with seasonings and truffle oil.

Truffle Wanton Mee - $13.80

Charcoal Roast Duck was decadent with the semi-sweet herbal sauce without being too overwhelming. The roast duck was surprisingly good with the herbal notes and was not gamey. It was juicy!

Charcoal Roast Duck 1/4 Lower - $22

Their Siew Mai is nothing out of the ordinary. Perhaps if you may want to focus more on their core food than these dim sums.

Shrimp & Chicken Siew Mai - $4.80

Their BBQ Pork Bun has the conventional Char Siew instead. It tasted quite ordinary to me and on a sweeter side.

BBQ Pork Bun (2 PCs) - $4.80

While at the payment counter, Yes! We made a payment that's why they said they Fook Kin Love Us.

Payment Counter

They offer patrons for free beverages in exchange Instagram posts and we got ours. The service was great with servers being attentive and jovial. You can really feel the passion.

Overall, if you are into Roasted Meat and have a little more to splurge, Fook Kin can be of consideration.

Free Drinks

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Fook Kin
Location: 111 Killiney Rd, Singapore 239553
Website

Five Star Dim Sum

While many have been talking about this Dim Sum place situated in the industrial estate for a while, we decided to visit the place after a few months. Five Star Dim Sum place was relatively easy to locate with a helpful security guard indicating the way. 

The flooring and setting of the Dim Sum place is totally nostalgic and kind of brought me back into my childhood days. Everything was like sitting in a time machine back in the 80s.

Entrance of Five Star Dim Sum

One of the staples from Five Star will be their crusty Polo Pau. The exterior was crumby and fragrant.

Po Lo Pau 叉烧菠萝包 - $2.50 

As you pulled open the Polo Pau, the sweet savoury chopped pieces of Char Siu were revealed.

Fillings

The porridge was smooth and coupled with a generous amount of ingredients. It might be a bit bland for some but adding some condiments and seasonings from the station will help. 

Century Egg Pork Congee 皮蛋猪肉粥 - $4

Yummy

Only a few places would have sold this Cheong fun. The thin sheets of rice rolls wrapped up the crispy rolls and drenched in the sauce.  

Crispy Shrimp Cheong Fun 米网一品肠粉 - $5.50

Basically, if you like to have a bit of everything, Ting Zai Congee is the best choice as it is filled with ingredients like peanuts, fish, pork, century egg etc. 

Ting Zai Congee 状元艇仔粥 - $4.50

The salad prawn dumplings were crispy on the outside and we enjoyed the delicious plump prawns. 

Salad Prawn Dumplings 沙律虾角 - $4.50 

The smooth and thin sheet rolls encase the sweet savoury Char Siew with the sweet soy sauce featuring the Hong Kong Style Chee Cheong Fun.

Char Siew Cheong Fun 密汁叉烧肠粉 - $4.50

The deep-fried radish cake was soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. Love the taste and texture. 

Deep Fried Radish Cake 炸腊味萝卜糕 - $4

Steamed Prawn Siew Mai's meat was pretty well seasoned and moist. These lovely Siew Mais were topped with a striking red wolfberry.

Steamed Prawn Siew Mai 鲜虾蒸烧卖 - $5

Chicken Feet was sweetly coated in its sauce coupled with black pepper. It could be softer in texture.

Black Pepper Chicken Feet 黑椒凤爪 - $4 

The BBQ Char Siew Pau was fluffy and the texture was soft. The fillings of BBQ Char Siew Pau were sweet and chopped into small chunks.

BBQ Char Siew Pau 蚝皇叉烧包 - $3.50

Braised Pork Buns were standard fare. The meat was tough and not juicy. Its taste was monotone and not fragrant.

Braised Pork Buns 扣肉包 - $4

It's always best to eat these XLBs while they are hot. The soup encased in the buns was sweet and piping hot. The texture of the Bao Skin and meat was fine.

Xiao Long Bao 小笼包 - $4

Fresh prawn beancurd rolls were yummy!

Fresh Prawn Beancurd Rolls 鲜虾腐皮卷- $4.50

Claypot Rice was a non-greasy version and lacked the aroma. Nonetheless, they still taste decent with pork and sausages. 

Claypot Pork Rice 沙煲腊味饭  - $6

The taste was commendable with hints of salted egg among the piping hot custard cream. These buns were light and fluffy. 

HK Salted Egg Custard Buns 港式金牌流沙包 - $3.50

Not many places offer Hong Kong Style Steamed Mushroom Buns. The outlook of the buns looks exactly like mushrooms. It comes in a basket of 3 and filled with mushroom fragrance. The buns were airy and soft, stuffed with aromatic chopped mushrooms. 

Hong Kong Style Steamed Mushroom Buns 港式香菇包 - $4 

For the price and standard, I do not mind returning back again for more. They have more than just 1 outlet in Singapore and it will be best to visit the branch at our convenience. 

The order system can be out of control at times as customers were paged to pick up the food from the kitchen counter one by one using buzzer system. 

This system is somehow not feasible or friendly as we tend to order a lot of items in a go and we were paged to collect the items shortly after we sit down for many rounts which can be quite disturbing to our meals. To make things worse,  sometimes a few customers gathered over the counter for collection and it can be pretty confusing too. Well, on the other hand, there are no service charges rendered, so we can not complain much. 

Rating: 3.25 / 5

Five Star Dim Sum
Location: Shun Li Industrial Complex, 705 Sims Dr, #07-01, Singapore 387384,