I finally got to try the famous Taste Paradise at Orchard ION today. i made reservations for 2pm. the other time slots were 11am and 12:30pm. On weekends and public holidays, they serve dim sum till 4:30pm.

The restaurant was quite big. There was a main dining area, with tables scattered all over, private rooms, and also a ‘dark alley’ which I was led to, which is away from the main dining area. On the left of the alley were booth seats which was partitioned from the next by a full length wall. It is good for 2 people and is quite private, where you wouldn’t have people looking at you, and you won’t be distracted by the crowd at the main dining area. It’s good for couples. The only downside was that it was far from the window and was rather dark, which is why my pictures aren’t very good here.

Despite being seated at a secluded area, the attention of the service staff was still quite easy to catch. My tea was refilled promptly without having to prompt the waiter. The service was typical of chinese restaurants – mainly foreign wait staff and rather rowdy with their walkie talkies. I give them credit for not being shorthanded, unlike many chinese restaurants.

Chrysanthemum Tea – $3.80++/pax

Crackling Pork Belly – $12.80++

This was not one of the best I’ve tried. Shang Palace’s rendition wins hands down. The skin was not very crackling contrary to the name, and the meat was quite rubbery instead of tender and the fats were rubbery too, instead of “melt in my mouth”.

(picture from http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/taste/)

Based on the appearance, it looks very similar to the stock picture, so I give them credit for consistency.

Classic Double Boiled Daily Soup – $12.00++

The soup of the day was fish maw soup. It was tasty like it should be.

Pan Seared Foie Gras with Caramelised Apple – $16.00++

For foie gras, $16.00++ is definitely reasonable. And to make things better, this was quite good! I would definitely have this again. The blueberry sauce complimented the fatty foie gras really well. There was a puff pastry below the foie gras and caramelised apple, but it was nothing to shout about. On it’s own it was rather tough and not very flaky but having everything together it was perfect.

Ironic to the fact that I was dining at a chinese restaurant, I think my favourite dish of this meal was this. The only rival would be the Custard Bun.

Baked BBQ Pork Pastry – $3.90++

This is definitely one of the best char siew soh around! However, I personally preferred Royal China’s. If royal china’s was rated a 10, this would be 9.5. The pastry was of the perfect crispiness and fluffiness and melts in my mouth. There wasn’t any sick oily taste. The char siew was lean too.

Ha Kau – $4.80++

This was nothing very extraordinary. I’ve had better ones at Feng Shui Inn (Guest Chef Mak) and Royal China. However it was passable in terms of quality where the skin didn’t tear or stick and wasn’t too thick.

Siew Mai – $4.80++

This was more outstanding than the ha kau, I feel. Not extraordinary but I think it’s one of the better siew mais I had so far.

Steamed Chicken Claw with Black Bean Sauce – $3.80++

I usually will not try the chicken claw but I tried it today. Not too bad. It’s my first so I can’t compare.

Deep Fried Prawn and Mango Roll – $4.80++

Having tried Chef Mak’s prawn and mango roll at Feng Shui Inn (and loving it), I ordered it. However, the pastry for this was pale in comparison. It has sick oily taste and the breaded skin meant that it won’t be the flaky sort which I had before. However, the mango filling was very good! It was sweet, like Hong Kong’s Hui Lau San mango desserts.

Steamed Cheong Fun with Honey BBQ Pork Filling – $4.80++

The rice rolls was smooth and soft, which I liked. The char siew filling was normal. However the sauce was too soya sauce/ black sauce kind of salty for my liking.

Steamed Custard Bun – $4.50++

We ordered 2 servings of this. This was the highlight of this meal, having heard so much about the custard buns from Taste Paradise. I am a convert.

Not only was the salted egg custard so delicious, the bun itself was fluffy and tasty. One is not enough, even if I was stuffed full.

(picture from: http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/taste/)

However the appearance of the bun didn’t look as smooth as it did on the stock picture.

Mini Egg Tarts – $3.60++

We ordered 2 servings of this. The pastry as flaky and the custard was tasty and soft! One of the better egg tarts around.

Mango Pudding – $5.00++

This was average at best. It was the firm type rather than the soft pudding type. In fact, I preferred the one from Imperial Treasure Bakery!

The bill for 2 was $113.58. $77 credit was used to offset the meal.

*****

Ambiance: 9/10

Food: 8.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Overall: The meal was kind of expensive because we clearly over ordered! This amount can feed 3 normal people, 4 girls or 1 fat man. It’s definitely one of the best places of dim sum, along with Royal China. I am interested to try their Ala Carte dishes next time.

*****

Taste Paradise

ION Orchard

2 Orchard Turn

#04-07

Singapore 238801

Tel: 6509 9660

*****

Mon–Fri: 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–10pm

Sat–Sun–PH: 11am–4.30pm, 5.30pm–10pm

*****

Getting there:

By Car:

Ion Orchard

Mon – Fri:

8am – 5pm $2.67 1st hr, $0.64 per 15 min

5pm – 12am $2.00 per entry

Sat, Sun & P/H:

8am – 5pm $3.74 1st 2hrs, $0.64 per 15 min

5pm – 12am $3.74 per entry

By Bus:

14, 16, 36, 65, 77, 106, 111, 123, 124, 128, 143, 162, 167, 171, 174, 175,190, 518, 700

By MRT:

Orchard (NS22)