Veteran HK dim sum chef whips up freshly made chee cheong enjoyable from $2.80

The chef behind Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable has over 40 years of dim sum expertise beneath his belt. On the mere age of 13, he stopped education to work in Hong Kong tea homes and labored his method as much as changing into a dim sum chef at resorts. Finally, he discovered his option to Singapore and joined Crystal Jade as an Government Chef, overseeing dim sum operations for a complete of 13 years.

And there he was, making chee cheong enjoyable at a nondescript espresso store alongside Seaside Highway.

Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable opened in January 2022, however regardless of being solely open for eight months, it has garnered fairly a bit of recognition and recognition, together with a Michelin Bib Gourmand in July 2022. You will discover the common-or-garden stall nestled alongside the stretch of espresso retailers beside Golden Mile Meals Centre.

It’s run by a husband-and-wife workforce, chef Kong Yiu Man and Chan Pik Yung, each of whom had been born and raised in Hong Kong, so you may spot them chatting to their clients in fluent Cantonese when you’re ready on your meals.

The menu is simple sufficient. There’s a complete of seven dishes, 5 of that are chee cheong enjoyable, and the remaining two being porridge and glutinous rice.

After I arrived on a sizzling Tuesday afternoon, I had anticipated there to be a protracted queue, particularly given the stall’s current hype from being awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand. As a substitute, I used to be pleasantly shocked to seek out one or two of us within the queue, and regardless of each single chee cheong enjoyable order being made contemporary on the spot, I managed to get my meals inside 10 minutes. Rating!

What I attempted at Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable

The primary dish I attempted was the Plain Cheong Enjoyable (S$3). The ‘plain’ within the dish identify refers back to the filling of the chee cheong enjoyable, however don’t belittle this genuine Hong Kong dim sum dish— it comes filled with loads of flavour due to its sauces, which is a mixture of sesame, peanut, soy sauce and candy sauce.

This was a surprising dish. The chee cheong enjoyable itself was unbelievably tender and skinny, and I didn’t must chew as a result of they disintegrated in my mouth like silken tofu. The punch of flavour got here from the sauces: the peanut sauce with its gritty, nutty sweetness, the sesame with its perfume, and the trace of saltiness from the soy sauce. 

All in all, this was a dish that blew me away. I used to be nervous that not having any filling would make it plainer than typical, however the incredible mixture of sauces greater than made up for it because it created a velvety easy texture that was filled with umami flavours. 

Earlier than I knew it, I had wolfed down two entire rolls of chee cheong enjoyable earlier than I even tried the others.

Aside from the Hong Kong Plain Cheong Enjoyable, Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable sells 4 varieties of chee cheong enjoyable that may be acquainted to most Singaporeans: Prawn Cheong Enjoyable (S$4.50), Char Siew Cheong Enjoyable (S$4.20), Mushroom Cheong Enjoyable (S$3.80) and Chee Cheong Enjoyable (S$2.80).

At Chef Yiu Man’s suggestion, I made a decision to get the Prawn Cheong Enjoyable.

Just like the Plain Cheong Enjoyable, the silky sheets of chee cheong enjoyable had been extremely tender and went nicely with the crunchy and contemporary prawns. The chee cheong enjoyable itself didn’t have a lot flavour, so I relied on the soy sauce for that well-needed salty kick. 

Although undeniably not as full-bodied or crammed with umami flavours because the Plain Cheong Enjoyable, I nonetheless loved the interaction of crunchiness and silkiness on this dish.

Remember to add Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable’s home made chilli. It’s salty, smoky, wealthy and completely addictive. That is what the Prawn Cheong Enjoyable wanted. I’d say that it’s extra salty than spicy, so go mild on it.

Final however not least, I attempted Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable’s Century Egg Pork Congee (S$3).

Whereas I anticipated velvety and creamy Cantonese porridge, Sing Lung HK Cheong Enjoyable’s rendition was chunkier than anticipated, with seen gritty bits of rice grains. Regardless of that, it was nonetheless comforting, and I liked that it was affected by loads of substances such that each spoonful of porridge had both a springy pork slice or earthy century egg.

Closing ideas

This was such a easy but satisfying meal that was executed beautifully nicely. I used to be actually impressed with the Plain Cheong Enjoyable for its scrumptious sauce, and with the ability to take pleasure in silky easy rolls of chee cheong enjoyable expertly made by an ex-dim sum chef was such a pleasure. 

Large factors too for its affordability, with the most affordable roll being the Chee Cheong Enjoyable (S$2.80), and the priciest being the Prawn Cheong Enjoyable (S$4.50). But, it’s protected to say that I’ll positively return on a weekend for a comforting and easy chee cheong enjoyable breakfast sooner or later. 

Anticipated injury: S$2.80 – S$6 per pax

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