Chen’s Kitchen

Right in the heart of Orchard Road sits one of Singapore’s finest chuka ryori (Japanese-style Chinese cuisine) destinations. Located at the upscale Paragon Shopping Centre, the casual restaurant feels more elevated and boasts a wider menu than its sister outlets. The star dish, naturally, remains Chef’s signature mapo tofu. You won’t go wrong with classic Red – unctuous and spicy with fermented broad bean paste and Sichuan pepper – yet the milder, seafood-forward White, with Hokkaido scallops and prawns, is, simply put, revelatory. Fresh, umami and balanced, it completely rewrites what mapo tofu can be. Other highlights include the outlet-exclusive XXL Szechwan La Zi Ji – perfectly fried karaage topped with dried chillies, garlic and cashews – and the surprising Caramelised Mala Pecan Ice Cream, made with Chen’s chilli oil.