You know how sometimes when the dim sum craving hits, but you have nowhere to go? Its not that Singapore has a lack of good dim sum, but the formality of going to an exquisite-looking chinese restaurant with all the add-on taxes kind of put you off, when all you want is a simple basket of chicken feet, eaten in your shorts and slippers. Victor's Kitchen might just answer the call!
Located in Sunshine Plaza, Victor's Kitchen was probably the 2nd place (First being Swee Choon) that I knew of selling all-day dim sum in a family restaurant setting. The interior was almost coffeeshop-like with wooden tables and red plastic stools, you simply grab a paper menu and start ticking off what you want. I have heard of complaints about the service here, but I had no problem conversing to the lady in Cantonese who pleasently processed my order with a smile.
Iced Milk Tea ($2.50), Iced Lemon Tea ($2.00), Special XO Chilli Sauce (50 cents)
With no actual ice within, the milk tea could be kept undiluted while remaining cold throughout, though I did find the milk tea slightly lacking in taste and didn't quite pass my authenticity test.
The lemon tea was a different story altogether. With usage of home brewed ice tea and slices of fresh lemon pounded upon order, this was definitely one of the good ones out there!
While they did provide the usual western tomato/chilli sauce freely (my family would probably condemn me if I dipped dim sum in these), I was curious how worthy the homemade one was. Only mildly spicy, you could taste the dried scallops and shrimps within, savoury good to go with your orders. You could probably get free-flow of similar ones at Crystal Jade but hey, bear in mind that a small eatery had limited resources!
Cheong Fun with You Tiao ($3.00), Yam Spring Roll ($3.50)
While the fried dough was served delightfully crispy, the steamed skin was a letdown as it wasn't smooth enough and in fact, rather lumpy in texture. Spring roll was nothing to shout about, a decent one with piping hot yam filling.
Prawn Dumpling ($4.00)
It was my habit to have either 虾饺 or 烧卖 (or just both la) on the table, as both were classic dishes that could easily give you an overview of the place's standards. Prawns here were excellent being huge and crunchy, but the skin didn't quite make it with its thick texture that stuck on the metal pan, breaking before I could pick it up.
Vegetable and Scallop Dumpling ($3.50)
The filling was very well done with young greens and little dried scallops. Again, what stopped it from being excellent was its less-than-desirable skin.
Char Siew Bun ($3.50)
Now this just didn't taste right to me. The texture of the barbequed pork was faultless, but I just couldn't quite accept it being artificially sweetened with rose flavour. Flour texture was alright, but was slightly dried and hardened on the surface.
Steamed Chicken Roll ($4.00)
Now this would have been a must-try! Arriving in two huge chunks, the beancurd skin could hardly contain the Fish Maw, Chicken Meat, Baby Corn and Crabstick within! Juicy and flavourful, you simply have to take a huge bite to savour the combination!
Pardon me if some of my comments sounded too critical, but with no gst and service charge, Victor's Kitchen is still pretty commendable for a quick fix of dim sum, with pricing, quality and environment compromised between proper restaurants and hawker stores. In fact, I would return to try its other stuffs and stick to the favourite few!
Victor's Kitchen
91 Bencoolen Street
#01-21 Sunshine Plaza
Tel: 9838 2851
Note: Closes relatively early at 8pm
Taken with Nikon D70
8 comments:
Oh good ice lemon tea! I didn't try that the last time I was here.
You didn't try their steamed carrot cake? It comes topped with their special XO sauce, no extra charges hehe. The carrot cake is their specialty & I must say it's quite good. They retail the bottled XO sauce, perhaps that's why you had to pay extra.
Their dim sum used to be better in the past but somehow their quality deteriorate recently. I agree with ice for their steamed carrot cake. I think thats the only thing I like there. haha.
You should go try mouth@work restaurant at shaw tower. Their dim sums are pretty good and affordable. Not forgetting to mention their tasty baked custard bun, pan-fried carrot cake is really good, XLB, siew mai etc. All my favourite! I've been patronizing that restaurant at least 4 times since their opening. :)
ice: Mmm.. it was hard convincing my mom to try the carrot cake, after she had been disappointed with the other dim sums and she thinks she can make one of the best carrot cake around. lolx. Maybe I should try it once without her..
Angeline: Sounds good! And i can always pop by Tom's afterward for my apple pie fix! =)
Oh yes! Sometimes I have tom's after dim sum at mouth@work. haha. Still waiting for tom's tiramisu!
I've never been to Victor's but heard a few not so nice reviews about their dimsum. But looking at your pictures, i really miss it and everything looks good to me.
Mouth@Work is always on our list to go, but everytime we go there, i want my tom's first which didn't gave enough space for dimsum after. haha I'm waiting for a post of M@W :)
Angeline: I'm sure tom's and M@W makes a good combo! :D
Loraine: Haha, looks like you are in the midst of a dim sum craving, and ice cream still triumphs over dim sum! Hope i can do a M@W for you soon! =)
I shall list a few of the must try items at mouth@work which is also my favourite items. haha.
Baked BBQ bun & Baked Custard bun comes in the form like mini po luo bao are pretty good when they come piping hot. XLB , Panfried carrot cake, siew mai and har gao are really fresh with the crunchy prawns. For dessert, sawdust mango pudding is recommended.
I've tried other dim sum items as well but not as good as those I've mentioned on the above. Hope you'll try them out soon!
Looks like i need to bring this list with me when going to M@W! Thanks! =)
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