Usually it’s hard to find restaurants that can balance aesthetics and taste, but YanHuo Restaurant in Telok Ayer has done just that!
The modern Sichuanese restaurant presents elevated cuisine in a lavish but comfy space.
Moody, Vintage Chinese Interior
The restaurant is tucked right into the corner of Cross Street.
When you step inside, you’re greeted by mood lighting, dark red and retro Chinese-inspired decor.
The space is larger than it appears, with ample seating for both large and small groups.
What we appreciated was the way it was laid out, giving every table a dedicated corner – enough to make it bustling, yet also maintain some privacy.
YanHuo Restaurant Menu
The menu features familiar Sichuanese flavours with modern twists. Signature items include the tangerine-pickled Cherry Tomato ($14), Drunken Tiger Prawns ($23/5 pcs) using 5 year aged Shao Xing wine and Mapo Tofu ($26) with Iberico pork and A4 Wagyu.
Check out the full menu here!
Everything is designed for sharing, with dishes like Double-Boiled Grouper Pot (from $48), Truffle Claypot Rice ($48) and the quintessential Charcoal Beef Skewer ($5, min 2 pcs).
They also have an extensive drink menu, including house-made cocktails, mocktails and draft beer.
What We Tried
No Sichuan meal is complete without la zi ji, and we tried their Pineapple La Zi Chicken ($26) with cashews and chunks of caramelised pineapple.
This was addictive! Every bite had just the right amount of spicy, saltiness, crunch and an enjoyable sweetness from the fruit.
The star dish for us was the Steam Egg with White Truffle and Snow Crab ($28). It’s pricey but worth the order!
It had a silky, soft egg base, making for the perfect mouthfeel. The snow crab meat provided the sweetness and umami that flavoured the dish (although we didn’t taste much truffle).
To accompany this, we got the Dry Pot Cabbage ($19) and Passionfruit Porklet ($23).
The cabbage had slices of salty cured pork belly that added a nice savouriness, plus a good kick from the chillies.
The Passionfruit Porklet was incredibly moreish! Each piece was crunchy but juicy and the sweet-tangy glaze cut through any oiliness. We were impressed at how it stayed crispy until the end!
All the dishes are perfect with rice ($2), which is a must-get with Chinese food.
For drinks, we tried the Fervent Bloom ($12) and You & Lychee ($12) mocktails. Both leaned on the sweet, sour side, but were not as memorable for us.
A small disappointment for us was the Yogurt Snow Mochi ($10/4pcs). These had a great chewy skin but had no taste, albeit a whisper of lemon in the cream. We would try other options next time, like the Handmade Ice Jelly ($8) or Glutinous Rice Cake with Brown Sugar ($10).
Modern Sichuan Restaurant In Singapore
With its cosy, intimate ambience and hearty menu designed for sharing, YanHuo Restaurant is the perfect gathering place for dinners in Telok Ayer!
Check out more Chinese eateries in Singapore:
- Maggie’s: Restaurant Along Keong Saik Rd Serves Up Inventive Chinese Fare in A Rad Retro-Grandma Setting
- Yuè (乐): Music-Inspired Chinese Restaurant With A Symphony Of 130 Modern Chinese Dishes
- The Soup Expert: This Restaurant In Suntec City Serves Nourishing Soup In Teapots From $9.90
Yanhuo Restaurant 烟伙餐馆
22 Cross St, Level 1, Singapore 048421
Open daily, 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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