Yanhuo is a new restaurant and bar in Chinatown. It is the latest dining concept by Fleursophy Group which also owns aesthetic flower-themed cafes and restaurants like Le Jardin, Nicole’s Flower, Under Der Linden, Ce Soir and Ember.
It is located in Chinatown District, 5 mins walk from Exit F of Chinatown MRT station.
Yānhuo’s Aesthetic Interior
Yānhuo is a tad different from their sister restaurants. The concept of Yānhuo is inspired by warm, reunion-filled celebratory moments created during family and friends reunions. Their restaurants interior evokes a charming eastern rustic vibe. Similar to its sister restaurants, the restaurant was well-designed and is very instagrammable. Every corner of the photo is a photo-worthy.
They have woven beautiful modern Chinese elements into the interior which gives customers that cosy and warm inviting feel. Their menu features modern China cuisine. They also have a great selection of alcoholic drinks as well as non-alcoholic drinks for non-drinkers.
Currently, they are still in their soft launch phase and there was a 50% off their dishes on the day we visited the restaurant.
What we ordered?
We asked their staff for some recommendations and tried the following dishes. The portions are generally smaller and more suited for sharing between 2 to 3 pax. You can say that the prices are on the higher end. The dishes that we enjoyed are Silken Tofu, Drunken Tiger Prawn, Pineapple La Zi Chicken and Truffle Claypot Rice. The Claypot rice seemed to be well-loved by many who has dined there before.
Fervent Bloom Drink ($8) (right) & Golden Mountain Drink ($12) (left)
Both drinks are surprisingly pleasant. I was a little put off by the blue tinge in Golden Mountain drink but it actually turns out to be really nice. It is actually a blend of osmanthus with Peach Oolong Tea while the Fervent Bloom drink is a blend of hibiscus tea with passionfruit.
Cherry Tomatoes ($16)
The Cherry tomatoes was a refreshing and simple starter. The juicy tomatoes are covered with tangerine bits which give its a slight tangy flavour. But it is rather pricey considering that the portion and the type of ingredients used. You can skip this.
Silken Tofu with Century Egg ($15)
This is another simple dish and a standard Chinese dish offered at most Chinese restaurant. But over here, the presentation of the dish is quite creative. For those who enjoy Pi Dan Tofu, you can give this a try though there isn’t anything unique about this dish really.
Drunken Tiger Prawn ($26)
These drunken prawns cooked win 5 years aged shaoxing wine is delicious and it’s a must-try for seafood lovers. There are 5 big Tiger prawns on each plate. The prawns have really soaked up the Shaoxing wine which really enhances the sweetness of the prawns. It also gives the prawn a subtle sweet aromatic flavour. I did not really expect a modern Chinese restaurant to have mastered this traditional dish in all honesty.
Pineapple La Zi Chicken ($28)
I have tried so many versions of La Zi Ji and each one tastes pretty similar because the Sichuan Peppercorns numbs the tastebuds and all you can taste is the spicy flavours of the dish. But their version is pretty innovative. The addition of pineapple chunks actually adds some sweetness to the dish. It also helps cuts through the spiciness of this all-time favourite Chinese dish. No wonder this is another crowd favourite.
Truffle Claypot Rice ($48)
Most tables would have this claypot dish because the rice is flavourite and it does have that nice burnt crust at the bottom of the claypot. While it has a strong aroma of truffles and mushrooms, I do find the rice to be a little on the oilier side.
Nonetheless, I would still have ordered this in a heartbeat if I were to be back again. I only wish that it was not as greasy.
Our Verdict
The interior and food do beckon me to revisit this restaurant. I wouldn’t mind coming back to try other dishes and I enjoy dining there because the setting is cosy and the vibes are good. As for the service, I would think it is acceptable. The dishes came pretty quickly accept for the dessert which took a while. We had sticky rice cakes with black sesame and it was very ordinary. As such, I would also skip the desserts here and just order their mains or appetisers.
Membership Prices
They also offer memberships where you can join to enjoy discounted member prices. The prices for members are able a few bucks cheaper than the usual price. Although I do see myself revisitng this restaurant again, I do not see myself frequenting this restaurant on a frequent basis. Prices aren’t that pocket-friendly and there is currently only one outlet in Singapore.
Yānhuo Restaurant
Address: 22 Cross Street , #0I-56A,#01, #57/62, Singapore 048421
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