Crystal Jade Golden Palace

A trustworthy and popular fixture in the local Chinese dining scene, the interior of Crystal Jade’s flagship restaurant is beginning to show its age. Even so, the food remains reliably well executed. Focused on Cantonese-Teochew crossovers with a contemporary twist, seafood dishes are the star here. The culinary team’s seafood-based stocks form the basis for a variety of dishes across the extensive menu. A savoury Teochew style braised bird’s nest is elevated by the collagen-rich crab broth, while the braised mustard green’s bitter-sweetness is harmonised by an umami-laden dried scallop broth. The stir-fried seafood mee sua impresses with a smoky “wok hei” and is a great accompaniment for other meat-based mains. Seasonal desserts offer both interesting alternatives (durian chendol, anyone?) and classic fixtures, such as taro paste with ginkgo and a trio of crystal dumplings, all of which are delicately textured and well-judged in their sweetness.