Momo and I met AromaCookery and her husband for lunch a few days ago.
Momo and AromaCookery had wanted to try Yan Palace Restaurant's dim sum. This place has been around for the longest time. How long has it been around? I have no idea! But it's really old school. When you are inside, you might think you are in the era of "SBC". Not even "TCS"! LOL
This place is packed! The queue waiting to be seated is snaking behind these doors. We even witness a customer who demanded a seat straight away. She shouted: "I called to book a table, where is my table? Why are you giving that table to these people queuing here? Shouldn't you give it to me instead?"
Sorry lah obasan. "Reservation here tak pakai" lah. You need to queue up like everyone else. Everyone else here probably called earlier than you. Shoosh and don't disturb the rest of us. The restaurant is already noisy enough with all the non stop chatter of the diners.
The food here, so so lah.
If you are used to the Dim Sums standards of the high class Royal China, Yan Ting, Wan Hao and the likes, have a mind set change when you come here. Minus 20 years perhaps. ;-)
The Siew Mai.
The Phoenix Claws.
Better than some food court version, so there's still hope. LOL
We have been spoiled by the likes of Crystal Jade that gives you Carrot Cakes filled with ingredients. This is the old style Carrot Cake of yesteryears.
The Steamed Pork Ribs. Plain and simple.
Now, if you are here, try their pastries.
I think they are better than things that comes in their bamboo steamers. ;-)
The Char Siu Pastry was rather nice.
This was rather unique. Open mouthed fried balls that is a little sticky inside and coated with some sugar.
The deep fried prawn dumpling was I guess ok. The chee cheong fun that you see in the background. They were realy old school. They had fairly thick skin. So depends if you like thick or thin steamed flour skin, you might or might not enjoy it.
These were the pastry with lai chee and salted egg yolk inside. Worth a try!
These were the fried mango strips.
We had a few other things too. There are already too many photos posted today. ;-P
Some observations:
- the main attraction of this place might be the price. We ordered a fair bit and it was only around $50.
- the crowd were mostly old folks.
- the younger people around were probably filial children and grandchildren who accompany ah gong and ah ma to have the food they way they like it.
- they might be doing something right, but we are not sure what. They managed to survive so long and attract crowds yet so many fine-dining places can barely survive.
Maybe we should walk around and peep at what others are ordering before placing our orders. Were we ordering the wrong food here? LOL
Yan Palace Restaurant
Hong Lim Complex
Blk 531 Upper Cross Street
#01-49
Singapore 050531
Tel: 6222 2516
