There’s a new place to unwind in Tanjong Pagar: Chengdu Bowl! The modern Sichuan restaurant is offering interesting Chinese-inspired grain bowls and bar bites perfect for alcohol.
Stylish & Sino-Inspired Design
The exterior of the restaurant is striking with a bright white and orange colourway and full glass windows. When you enter, you’re greeted by a dried plant chandelier and a sparkling ceiling installation!
There’s a variety of seating available, including window-side seating and a central group table. It was interesting to see touches of Chinese/oriental decor like paintings and recognisable arches.
Chengdu Bowl Menu
The menu features traditional Sichuan flavours in modern presentations, including grain bowls, noodle bowls and even tapas for their drinks.
The grain bowl flavours include Tender Pork Belly with Meicai Bowl ($13.80/$15.90) and the unique Signature Stir-Fried Ox Tongue Bowl ($13.80/$15.90), which come packed with meat and vegetables for a balanced meal.
Those who prefer noodles can opt for their Tangy Sour and Spicy Beef Noodle Soup ($13.80) or Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle Delight ($12.80). There’s also a plethora of hot dishes like Mala Fragrant Pot ($18.80) and Fresh Prawn and Tofu Hot Pot ($24.80) for sharing!
Their nighttime menu features a number of unique cocktails! The choices vary from Chengdu
Summer Breeze ($21.80/$46.80) with gin and pineapple to Enchanted Wulin World ($26.80) with yuzu and grapefruit.
Pair their drinks with Sichuan ‘tapas’ like Umami Oyster Mushroom Beef ($9.80), Sichuan Braised Spicy Quail Eggs ($7.80)
Tapas Platter
To start, we tried four of their Sichuan ‘tapas’: Sichuan-style Smashed Cucumber ($6.80), Mala Delight ($6.80) with tofu, Spicy Kelp Delight ($6.80) and Succulent Braised Pork Belly ($9.80).
Each one was flavourful and whet the appetite, although we think the seasoning could be stronger to pair better with drinks.
Spicy Barbecued Dried Tofu
Another tapas is Spicy Barbecued Dried Tofu ($9.80). We liked the firm texture and addictive seasoning of the tofu, which wasn’t too spicy!
Wang’s Sichuan Dumplings in Red Chilli Oil
The Wang’s Sichuan Dumplings in Red Chilli Oil ($10.80) are simple, with juicy filling and a flavourful chilli oil sauce.
Classic Spicy Chilli Chicken with Fried Dough Twist
The main selection started with Classic Spicy Chilli Chicken with Fried Dough Twist ($18.80) but served with french fries instead of dough twists. This was a crowd pleaser with the crunchy bits of chicken that were fried till crunchy and a slight numb from the chillis.
It wasn’t too numbing but just right to enjoy the sensation, and perfectly seasoned!
Classic Spicy Assorted Skewers
Served in a pot of chilli oil, the Classic Spicy Assorted Skewers ($19.80) has something for everyone. There’s pork belly, quail egg, broccoli, potato and lotus root; each a perfect carrier for the flavourful sauce.
Flaming Beer Roasted Duck
The star item is the Flaming Beer Roasted Duck ($36.80)! It’s served in two ‘stages’: the first is with a can of beer, before a flambe with white wine.
A special part of this dish is that it’s cooked without a single drop of water – just beer! This created a unique flavour to the duck meat, which was tender and did not have any gameiness. The dish also comes with potatoes and corn to absorb the sauce.
Signature Stir-Fried Ox Tongue Bowl
One of Chengdu Bowl’s signature dishes is the Signature Stir-Fried Ox Tongue Bowl ($13.80/$15.80), packed with corn, edamame and bak choy.
The ox tongue was tender but well-seasoned without any aftertaste. We also liked the combination of textures in the bowl from all the added toppings! The portion is sizeable and can definitely be a hearty lunch.
Savoury Braised Beef Noodle
The Savoury Braised Beef Noodle ($14.80) featured spinach noodles and beef chunks in a thick broth. This was one of our favourite dishes! The broth was robust and very flavourful, paired with the chewy noodles and tender beef.
Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle Delight
The next noodle dish featuring spinach noodles is the Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle Delight ($12.80). This was topped with seasoned minced meat, carrots and red cabbage.
The springy noodles were the star of the dish, coated in the savoury sauce. It was neither spicy nor excessively oily, which made it easy to eat.
Enchanted Wulin World
One of the cocktails available is the Enchanted Wulin World ($26.80), which can serve four. It features a base of gin, grapefruit and yuzu.
The sweet citrusy notes made it very easy to drink despite the notable alcohol taste! If you’re someone who likes refreshing cocktails this would be up your alley.
The Martial Dream
The Martial Dream ($22.80) is served in a traditional Chinese earthen pot, with a cascading tower of cups for serving.
This cocktail features sour plum, which provided a unique tanginess and distinct plum flavour to contrast the gin. Both cocktails are deceivingly easy to drink thanks to the smart complimentary mixers!
Sichuan-Inspired Grain Bowl In Tanjong Pagar
Chengdu Bowl presents classic Sichuan flavours in easy-to-eat modern preparations that are good for solos and also to share! It’s also conveniently located along the Tanjong Pagar stretch – another quick lunch option. Their tapas and cocktail selections are enjoyable; perfect for a night out with friends.
Chengdu Bowl
#01-01, 120 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088532
Mon-Sat, 10am-3pm, 5pm-10pm. Closed on Sundays.
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