Would you like to have a bowl of yong tau foo and a glass of gin in the same place? Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen does just that!
Located along Telok Ayer Street, this unique bar + kitchen serves yong tau foo by day, and transforms into a bar by night.
With the antiques decorating the interior, Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen gave off a very oriental and rustic vibe. When the sun sets, the red hue from the hanging lanterns further amplified that mood.
Trays of yong tau foo ingredients are placed on the bar top in the day, and customers are free to select their ingredients. We came in the late afternoon for the drinks, which is why all the trays have been cleared to make way for the night.
We were looking for some finger food, so we started with the Truffle Tofu ($9). The small cubes of lightly fried tofu were sprayed with truffle oil before serving.
I liked how the Truffle Tofu‘s skin was crispy yet delicate. The skin broke apart when I bit into it, spilling the soft and smooth tofu into my mouth. The truffle fragrance was subtle but still noticeable with every cube.
Don’t worry, if you missed the yong tau foo station during the day, they serve it at night as well. But instead of choosing your ingredients, there’ll be a pre-selected range of ingredients chosen for you, in a dish called Legendary Yong Tau Foo ($8).
The bowl came with various ingredients such as beancurd skin and red chilli stuffed with fish cake filling, with a layer of thick, gooey gravy. I have to say, the Legendary Yong Tau Foo tasted just like any other yong tau foo, apart from the gravy used.
For a dish that’s more unique, try the Fu Lin Noodles ($4), which consists of minced meat, mushroom gravy and ikan bilis mixed in with the noodles.
This no-frills dish was actually not too overwhelming, even though the gravy was thick and flavourful. This would make a great meal if you’re looking for something light.
You have to order the Crispy Pork Belly ($12), but this is a really sinful treat. Two rows of golden-brown pork belly drew me in with the mouth-watering fragrance.
An endless series of crunch echoed in my mouth as I devoured the Crispy Pork Belly. It was so crispy, yet tender and juicy at the same time. The fats on the Crispy Pork Belly simply dissolved in my mouth, and it wasn’t too oily as well.
Mala fans out there, get a taste of the Sichuan Mala Dumplings ($9). The dish came with six dumplings swimming in a pool of chilli oil and chilli flakes. The redness of the gravy warned me that this is going to be one spicy dish.
The dumpling skin was rather soft, and a gentle tug broke the skin easily, releasing the densely packed minced meat and chives. I liked how the dumplings were juicy on the inside, with juice oozing out as we bit into it.
Just a word of caution, for those who can’t handle spicy food, you might want to steer clear of this dish, or prepare a glass of cold water and tissue paper.
Since this is said to be one of the best lamb racks in town, I simply had to try it for myself. The grilled Baby Lamb Rack ($19) was served on a bed of salad, and came with a light touch of pesto.
Little effort was needed when cutting into the Baby Lamb Rack. As soon as we lifted up a piece of the Baby Lamb Rack, we could see a distinct layer of fats and lamb meat.
The meat was succulent and tender, without a trace of gaminess. The fats melted in my mouth as I chewed effortlessly. Best in town? I’m not too sure, but this was one of the best I’ve eaten so far.
Of course, I can’t miss out on the cocktails! At Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen, you can order the House Cocktails ($20), and the bartender would serve you their unique concoction of off-menu cocktails.
The first one we tried was the Buah Long Long,which was a mixture of gin, Midori, and sour plums. This sweet cocktail had strong sour plum notes, with a mild citrus and salty finish. It was a refreshing drink, especially after a heavy meal.
The second cocktail was Berry Berries, which as the name suggests, largely consists of crushed berries, with a rum base. I found this slightly difficult to drink, because of the little bits of crushed berries in the drink.
Still, I enjoyed the fruity and minty notes and the subtle sourness helped to give character to the cocktail, even though I wasn’t able to taste much alcohol in it.
Craving some yong tau foo for lunch? Head down to Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen. Looking for a drink after work? Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen got you covered as well.
With their irresistible Crispy Pork Belly and their unique House Cocktails, there is always a reason to go back to them.
Expected Damage: $12 – $50 per pax
Fu Lin Bar & Kitchen: 127 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068596 | Tel: +65 6423 0311 | Opening Hours: 10am – 12midnight (Mon – Fri), 4pm – 12midnight (Sat), Closed on Sun | Website | Facebook
Thanks for reading the article. Share if you enjoyed!
Source link