Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant 手拉手京华小官 @ 141-143 Jalan Besar

First experience was at the newer Boat Quay outlet and we decided to check out its original outlet located at Jalan Besar, which is the usual one that our lovely couple goes to.

As with any Chinese restaurant, there's cover charge in the form of peanuts and wet tissue. 

peanuts (unsalted) @$1++

We ordered similar things as per the Boat Quay outlet, except we didn't order Peking duck here. To start, we have the Shredded Chinese Cabbage with Jelly fish. Pricing wise, the Jalan Besar outlet may have dishes at a better rate, but by large, mostly similarly priced.

Shredded Chinese Cabbage with Jelly fish 白菜丝半海蜇 @$12.80++ (M)

I liked the cabbage salad. Doused generously with vinegar, it's an enjoyable cold dish with crunchy soft jelly fish texture.

Scallion Oil Chicken 葱油鸡 @$8.80++

Tried a new dish; Scallion Oil Chicken which was decent, but probably not as famous as its cousin the 口水鸡 (Steamed Chicken in Spicy Sauce).

Braised Chicken Feet @$3.80++

The chicken feet were 'fall off the bones' kind of tender. Tasty and easy to eat.

Chive eggs pancake 韭菜鸡蛋饼 @$8++ (2 pieces)

Fresh Cuttlefish dumplings and Dumplings with Chinese Cabbage @$9.80++, @$6.80++ respectively

Fish Meat Dumplings @$9.80++

Dumplings with Chinese Cabbage @$6.80++ (original serving size - 8 pieces)

From all the dumplings that I had tried here, the fish and cuttlefish dumplings were more for the novelty of it and at times, it may be a tad fishy for some. To be safe, I'd go for the dumplings with Chinese cabbage.

The must order, is the Steamed Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao, or any xiao long baos for that matter. This recommendation is consistent for both outlets.

Xiao Long Bao/Steamed Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao @$8.80++ / $13.80++ respectively

juicy

After this meal, we were in dumplings coma for the rest of the day. Hence, words from the wise... order enough xiao long bao so that one gets to try the original first, and followed by the crab roe version. Recommend minimally 2 pieces of each to satisfy. Otherwise, not quite complete.

Expect to spend between $25 to $32 per pax for a meal.

Lunch with fellow foodies; Hence, Tracy, Ivan and Kris. 

Hand in Hand Beijing Restaurant 手拉手京华小官

Address: 143 Jln Besar, Singapore 208859

Website: https://handinhandfood.com/

Contact: 6297 1398

Business Hours:

Daily: 10am–3pm, 4:30–10pm

Breakfast @ Dim Sum Haus

The good thing about our staycation is that we will traipse around the area to try out whatever that caught our fancy. The night before, we made plans for dim sum and so off we went towards Dim Sum Haus for breakfast.

Tracy leading the way

Actually, I was still feeling pretty full from the dinner the night before. Read more about it here.

Walked for about 15 to 20 minutes from our hotel, and reached around 9.48am. It was almost a mistake to go without a reservation as the place is rather small and weekend dim sum is popular. Luckily for us, managed to snag a table but with time limit of 1 hour.

menu

one of each

At that time, there were some promo code to get $2 off if we order via the app. It worked after fiddling for a while and as we were near the cashier, can confirm rather easily if the order went through.

order via app

was supposed to be a 'light' breakfast

Staff are friendly and drinks were served quickly once the order is confirmed.

soya bean @$2.90

Signatures Dim Sum

Baked Salted Egg Custard Bun 脆顶流沙包 @$5.90

no joke

The baked salted egg custard bun (liu sha bao) are no joke. Very rich, and be fascinated by the golden lava once you break it open. One is more than enough and probably good as ending to the meal.

Steamed Crispy Rice Roll with Shrimp 金网脆皮虾蒸肠粉 @$5.50

I'd recommend the steamed crispy rice roll with shrimp. That combination of smooth slippery and crunchy crispy plus sweet savoury shrimp, was just so good.

 Pan Fried Mushroom Bun 香煎鲜菇包 @$5.80

inside view of mushroom bun

Hmm, was a tad disappointed by the appearance of the mushroom buns as it was not looking very 'mushroom-like'. Taste wise, was decent savory earthy flavors.

Steamed Charcoal Chicken & Shrimp Dumpling" Hak Kam Kai Siew Mai" 黑金鸡烧卖 @$5.20

Steamed Pork & Shrimp Dumpling "Siew Mai" 香菇滑烧卖 @$5.10

For the siew mai, I only tried the pork and shrimp siew mai and they were juicy. Pretty good.

Fried Carrot Cake with X.O. Sauce @$6.70

Another dish that I really liked, was the fried carrot cake with XO sauce. There's something about this plate that I couldn't stop eating. The taugeh was good too! The flavors worked well together.

Chicken Feet in Five Spice

Chicken feet was mild and gentle. The skin falls off easily as it was well steamed.

Japanese Dumpling 日式抄手 @$5.80

good sized

The Japanese dumpling, is a twist to the usual spicy wantons. Nice and of a good sized but I prefer the original sauce for that spicy kick.

Breakfast with Tracy, Hence and Ivan.

We were done by 10.30am and there was a queue outside.

Dim Sum Haus

Address: 57 Jln Besar, Singapore 208809

Website: http://order.dimsumhaus.com.sg/

Contact: 6909 0777

Business Hours:

Mon - Fri: 10:30am–3pm, 5:30–10:30pm

Sat: 9:30am–10:30pm

Sun: 9:30am–9:30pm

泉馨園（清記）Quan Xin Yuan Seafood Restaurant

My makan kakis suggested for us to dine at this Hokkien restaurant along Jalan Besar and we immediately agreed. I'm a Hokkien and would like to find out more about Hokkien cuisine when opportunity arises. Hehe.

It was drizzling when we set off to Quan Xin Yuan. Armed with umbrellas that we borrowed from Farrer Hotel, we arrived safely at the restaurant after trudging along the pavements and crossing a few streets to get there, while avoiding the small scores of humans along the way.

Quan Xiang Yuan Jalan Besar

 

We made reservations earlier hence, we got ourselves a big table. The restaurant has a relaxed vibe. After checking in, we were led to the next door unit of the restaurant.

spacious table

 

We flipped the menu and discovered that there wasn't any price tag shown, hence there was some anxiety (on my part) on whether we might 'accidentally' bust the budget tonight. Nevertheless, we were on an exploratory mission for Hokkien cuisine, hence let's just order and enjoy the meal!

guess which nut would be left alone....

pu-er

While one is slowly browsing the menu, the tea was served first. Those little cups are served in a tray with hot water to keep warm (or we could also use the water to rinse the chopsticks, small plates etc).

The restaurant is famed for its black sauce Hokkien Mee, so we ordered one. The funny thing about this place is that, there were numerous items on the menu that came either one size or medium sized and above. Like, we were informed that the weekend special menu was roast chicken and one order meant the whole chicken. And, yes... since it is a special item available only on weekends, we ordered that. We are that easily convinced ;P

Roast Chicken

 

pepper salt

Ahhh, the roasted chicken is similar to those served during weddings in my hometown, complete with fish crackers and the pepper salt. Nice with tender meat and thin, crisp skin.

For appetisers, do go for the prawn rolls (hae zhor). I liked this quite a bit because the inside were filled with meat, water chestnut and minced prawns. The pickles were nice too.

虾枣 prawn rolls

crunchy on its outer with meaty inner

I actually wasn't paying attention when Tracy ordered the food. By the time, the soup dish came, it really felt like a wedding dinner. Hehe. Fish maw sea cucumber thick soup to warm the tummies on a rainy day.

Fish Maw Sea Cucumber Stew 魚鰾羹

liberal dose of black vinegar

After the soup, naturally will start to feel full. However, our main dishes have not arrived. The Hokkien noodles and sweet potato rice cake. Two large plates of carbs!

Sweet Potato Rice Cake 福建番薯粉糕

Fried Hokkien Mee 福建炒面

 

There were loads of ingredients in both dishes. But I think it is quite rare to find a plate of stir-fried sweet potato rice cake. Actually, first time eating this! The starch was slippery but luckily still quite firm and not mushy gooey. Tasted of black pepper and loved the seafood and roast pork combo plus the sweet cabbage in this. Yummy. The fried hokkien mee taste is of a nostalgic one hence, if you like stronger tasting, go for the sweet potato rice cake dish.

Stomach were practically bursting after these but there's still one last item. The Kong Bak Bao dish, which is another specialty of the restaurant. The colour is on-point with the right shade of dark. Yes, that's one of my evaluation criteria of Hokkien dish.

Braised Pork with Steamed Buns 扣肉扁包

The food portions at Quan Xin Yuan were good and we spent about $35 per pax for 6 dishes, inclusive of tea and service charge.

Homely vibes and friendly staff.

Thank you Tracy, Hence and Ivan for sharing the food adventures!

 泉馨園（清記）Quan Xin Yuan Seafood Restaurant

Address:  252 Jln Besar, Singapore 208925

Website:  http://www.quanxinyuan.com.sg/

Contact: 6294 6254

Business Hours:

Daily -  11:30am–2:30pm, 5–11pm