Ah Hoi’s Kitchen has been around at the same spot for many years. I have visited them many years ago. I am glad that I was back for the Festival of Crab At Ah Hoi’s Kitchen. Diners are spoiled for choice as the chefs at Ah Hoi’s lead by Head Chef, Tiger, whipped up a storm of Crab-10-Ways.
Ah Hoi’s Kitchen is located at level 4 of Hotel Jen Tanglin where the swimming pool is right outside the restaurant. When one arrived ate restaurant, one will feel that they are right at some holiday resort.
Festival of Crab At Ah Hoi’s Kitchen
I tried out all the 10 crab personally and I could attest to the taste. Each and every dish was excellent. It really depends very much on one’s preference.
For the light palate
For the lighter palate diners could opt for the Claypot Crab Meehoon and Glass Noodle and Chinese Wine Crab. The Claypot Crab Meehoon is a great main since it has Meehoon added in the flavourful soup. I am always very skeptical about such soup dish as the crab usually would be over-cooked. Fortunately for this dish, it was perfect.
Next is the Glass Noodle and Chinese Wine Crab. Other dish which has carbohydrates like thte first dish. This is an amazing dish. I could savour the wine aroma. If you aren’t a fan of it, you might find it too choking.
Something familar
Two popular styles are the Singapore Chilli Crab and Sarawak Black Pepper Crab are also available. I love the rendition of Singapore Chilli Crab offered by Ah Hoi’s Kitchen as it is only lightly sweet and it was spicy enough for me but surely not the fiery spiciness though.
The Sarawak Black Pepper Crab was well received too. The one offered at Ah Hoi’s Kitchen wasn’t too overly pepperish till one might squeeze immediately after eating it. And interestingly the black pepper sauce wasn’t diluted and could stick well to the crab meat.
For something unusual
Should you find Black Pepper Crab too common, go for the Creamy White Pepper Crab. The flavour is akin to butter crab but with white pepper enhanced flavour. I like this due to the creaminess which complement the crab perfectly.
Moving on to the more unique flavours, Butter & Garlic Crab. The butter and garlic fragrance elevated the crab meat.
Another unusual flavour is the Kam Heong Crab. This is an all-time Malaysian favourite. The crab was fried with dried shrimps, curry leave, birds eye chilli. Personally, this was my least favourite as I find the flavour a little flat with mainly savoury.
Next is the Stir-fried Onion & Ginger Crab which is also not something which I will order as this I prefer complex flavours while this is mainly savoury with not much of wow factor in it.
It seems curry flavour is getting popular with crab and it has been appearing on Cze Cha outlet and Seafood restaurant menu. And Ah Hoi’s Kitchen is offering the Indonesian Claypot Curry Crab. Among the handful of Curry Crab I tried at Uncle Leong Signature and Mellben, I find Ah Hoi’s Kitchen version the best. However, I will still avoid ordering Curry Crab, somehow, personally, I didn’t find curry complemented crab well enough.
My Favourite
One of my favourite is the Salted Egg & Crispy Yam Crab. Instead of offering a salted egg sauce, the salted egg were coated as a batter on the crab. As such one could savour the concentrated and pure salted egg flavour. And I enjoyed the crispy yam as much as the crab too.
Promotion
The Festival of Crab At Ah Hoi’s Kitchen Promotion will be available till 31 July 2017 and is priced at SGD75 per kilogram of Sri Lankan Crab.
NAHMJ Verdict
I will surely return for more before the promotion ends. And I will order the Salted Egg and Crispy Yam Crab, Creamy White Pepper Crab, Glass Noodles and Chinese Wine Crab and Claypot Crab Beehoon.
Ah Hoi’s Kitchen @ Hotel Jen Tanglin
1A Cuscaden Road, Level 4, Hotel Jen Tanglin, Singapore 249716
Tel: +65 6831 4373
Website: https://www.hoteljen.com/singapore/tanglin/taste/restaurants/ah-hois-kitchen/
Opening Hours
Daily 1200 to 1430, 1830 to 2200
Getting There
By Bus:
- The Regent Singapore along Tomlinson Road 36
- Opp Hotel Jen Tanglin along Grange Road 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174e
- After Cuscaden Road along Grange Road 75
- After Tomlinson Road along Tanglin Road 7, 77, 105, 106, 111, 123, 132, 174, 174e
By MRT:
- North South line – Orchard station
It will take a 15 to 20 minutes walk from Orchard MRT station. Alternatively, take a bus from the bus stop opp Orchard Station along Orchard Boulevard 7, 36, 77, 106, 111, 123, 174, 174e.
Rating: 8.5/10
*Disclaimer: This was a media invite.