Song Fa Signatures has Teochew dishes in Orchard
When I hear Song Fa, the first thing that comes to mind is still the Michelin-approved Song Fa Bak Kut Teh. But this didn’t stop me from visiting their newly opened Teochew restaurant at Paragon Shopping Centre, named Song Fa Signatures. In the Teochew dialect, this translates to “the Song Fa family”, which reflects how the new restaurant welcomes every customer like their own with a variety of homely dishes. Fun fact, these dishes were adapted from the owner’s grandmother, whose recipes were modernised with a fun twist to the traditional dishes.
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Food at Song Fa Signatures
My colleague and I were welcomed with a complimentary King’s Garden Tea. This custom tea blend combines oolong, green tea leaves, and chrysanthemum flowers. After having a sip of this fragrant tea, I knew I was off to a great start.
We started our meal with the Crispy Kang Kong with Thai Chilli Sauce ($6.50++). This is the restaurant’s modern take on stir-fried vegetables, where stalks of kang kong are deep-fried in a thin tempura-like batter and drenched in Thai chilli sauce.
If you, like me, aren’t big on leafy and stalky vegetables, this dish is made for you. The crispy, deep-fried batter was all it took to cover up the grassy taste in these fibrous veggies. Plus, the addition of sweet-spicy Thai chilli sauce further helped mask the raw, earthy flavour of kang kong.
Then, we tried the Silky Steamed Egg Tofu ($11.50++) to counter the crunch. I wished there was a better balance of steamed egg tofu and minced pork as the latter was a bit much during our visit. But overall, this dish was comforting and tasty. For a better experience, I recommend pairing it with a bowl of rice to ensure the sauce doesn’t go to waste!
We also got to try the Teochew Crispy Prawn Roll ($7.90++). At first glance, I was a little disappointed by the portion as it seemed a bit pricey for five small pieces. But it only took one bite to realise that every piece was delightfully packed with juicy minced pork and prawns. I also liked that the prawn rolls were wrapped in a crispy beancurd sheet.
The last side dish we tried was their Fried Flounder Fish with Superior Sauce ($26.90++). FYI, this is a fun twist on the traditional Teochew steamed fish that, hopefully, appeals to the younger generation.
The switch from steaming to frying was a smart move as I enjoyed the extra crispy fish skin. When I cut the fish open, I was pleasantly surprised by how buttery and fresh the flounder meat was. Plus points for the crispy cai poh bits atop the fried fish!
Moving on to mains, the Signature Pig’s Trotter Fried Rice ($11.80++) was my favourite. This dish is Song Fa Signature’s take on Teochew pig trotter rice; instead of having the whole braised pig trotter served atop plain rice, you’ll find the star ingredient part of the fried rice.
Upon being served the fried rice, I could smell the aroma of eggs and shallots. I was first greeted by the familiar taste of garlic, ginger, and soya sauce from the pork trotter gravy, followed by a smoky wok hei-infused fried rice. This was so good that my colleague and I went for seconds and thirds.
We had the fried rice with their Nourishing Pig’s Stomach with Chicken Soup ($19.90++). This was lighter on the palate than say bak kut teh, and had a distinct umami flavour with a slight offal taste that only fans of innards will be familiar with.
To end your dining experience on the best note, I recommend getting their Teochew Orh Nee Creme Brulee ($6.90++). I’d never imagined the combination of orh nee and creme brulee, especially in a Chinese restaurant. But to my surprise, the textural contrast between the soft taro paste and crispy caramelised sugar was delectable. I also really enjoyed the hidden addition of creamy custard pudding beneath the orh nee paste!
To temper the sweetness, we were served the White Dragon Pearl ($8.80++). This featured an aromatic blend of white tea that smelled like jasmine! It was slightly bitter, which turned out to be a perfect match with the Teochew Orh Nee Creme Brulee.
Ambience at Song Fa Signatures
Song Fa Signatures is at the basement of Paragon Shopping Centre, a quick seven-minute walk from Orchard MRT Station. The restaurant can seat about 50 people, with different table sizes to accommodate varying groups of dining companions.
The restaurant was well-lit and spacious, exuding a homey atmosphere without being too grand. I also liked that the staff warmly addressed me as “family” before introducing the dishes, giving me a sense of belonging and familiarity.
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The verdict
Summing up, Song Fa Signature is where you go to impress your loved ones, especially your ah gong and ah ma. With the perfect blend of traditional elements and modern culinary methods, this new restaurant is worth a visit.
For more places like this, read our guide to the best Chinese restaurants in Singapore. Or if you’re in the area, read our Orchard food guide!
Address: 290 Orchard Road, #B1-06, Paragon Shopping Centre, Singapore 238859
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Website
Song Fa Signatures is not a halal-certified eatery.
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Photos taken by Maisie Chong.
This was a media tasting at Song Fa Signatures.
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