Want a Chinese feast you won’t forget? Visit Hua Ting’s newly revamped space at Orchard Hotel Singapore for its exquisite Cantonese creations
It’s time to treat yourself, and we know the place! One of the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore – which also happens to be one of our favourites, by the way – was revamped in December 2017 and it’s back better than ever before. Located at Orchard Hotel, Hua Ting Restaurant has been putting out exquisite Cantonese creations since 1992. Now, the long-standing dining establishment has a fresh new look, and the menu has expanded to include some amazing new dishes in addition to Hua Ting’s signature offerings.
You need to try this…
Welcome additions to the menu include the marinated 16-head South African abalone. Served on a gorgeous abalone shell, this chilled appetiser sits on a bed of crunchy jellyfish and has a hint of Japanese sake.
There’s also the Dong Xing garoupa rice with crispy rice and superior stock. Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t actually a fried rice dish. Instead, it’s served with a piping hot stock, and before pouring in the soup, the friendly Hua Ting servers will top it off with bits of crispy rice, salted fish, and coriander.
The aromatic stock used looks very much like the milky version of the fish soup you see in hawker centres around Singapore, but Hua Ting’s Masterchef Lap Fai is quick to explain that no milk is used here. Instead, the process involves boiling fish bones (and at times, the fish head and other parts, too) for over two hours.
For us, the dish that really stole the limelight is the smoked Peking duck. The sliced duck is cooked in aged Pu-Erh (10 years old, to be exact), topped with yuzu sauce, then wrapped and served in thin, crepe-like Chinese pancakes. The combination of sour, sweet, and salty flavours, with a hint of smokiness is truly to die for!
The classics
Hua Ting certainly didn’t forget about its best-selling favourites. Still on the menu are dim sum classics like the wok-fried turnip cake served with XO sauce and a hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp sambal) dip, along with the iconic xiao long bao, which is served in tiny little baskets that you can pick up. In other words, there’s no struggle to pick up the delicate steamed buns with your chopsticks here!
Don’t miss out on Hua Ting’s signature baked mango chicken tartlet for a crumbly, savoury-sweet treat, and for hardcore carnivores, you can order the restaurant’s trio combination for a platter featuring juicy meats such as duck, char siew, and roast pork belly.
Unique tea pairings
If you want a real treat, swing by Hua Ting for the summer tea pairing menu (available till 23 June 2018). The seasonal special highlights teas that best match the flavour profile of the showcased dishes, so expect duos like crispy sea perch with a Fruity Noon tea, and braised pork rib with lychee red tea.
We’re loving the new space too…
Hua Ting sets the scene with red wood wall panels and sleek, dark marble floors. A taupe-and-gold colour scheme is used for the main 50-seater dining hall, which also has floor-to-ceiling windows at one end, making the space bright and airy.
And because this is the kind of place you want to bring everyone you know, you’ll be impressed with the amount of rooms at Hua Ting with different configurations and seating capacities. With seven private dining rooms and a semi-private dining area comprising three tables of 10 seats available, we say Hua Ting is the perfect place for those huge family get-togethers (and yes, we’ll be inviting clients to hang here too).
Want to try all of these creations for yourself? You know what to do…
Perk alert!
Want 15% off your total a la carte food bill at Hua Ting? Simply flash this article to enjoy that discount.*
*The following terms and conditions apply:
Discount valid for dine-in customers only; not valid in conjunction with other discounts and promotions; not valid on eve of and on public holidays, and other special occasions; reservation is required and subject to availability. Orchard Hotel Singapore reserves the right to amend or terminate the offer without prior notice given.
Hua Ting Restaurant, 2/F Orchard Hotel, 442 Orchard Road, p. 6739 6666, e. [email protected]
This article is sponsored by Orchard Hotel Singapore