深利美食馆 Chin Lee Restaurant - Best Teochew Restaurant in the East

深利美食馆 Chin Lee Restaurant is a Teochew restaurant founded in 1973. This restaurant on the ground floor of a HDB block in Bedok is regarded by many as the best Teochew restaurant in the East. It is one of those heartland restaurants which may be under the radar but has a large and loyal fan base.

深利美食馆 Chin Lee Restaurant has a non-air conditioned dining area which may look like that of a typical HDB coffeeshop. The air-conditioned dining hall is pleasantly different, with contemporary Chinese decor similar to that of Chinese eateries found in the malls.

Chin Lee Restaurant is popular for family dinners and for special occasions like birthdays or office celebrations. Set menus at different price points are available. The a la carte menu is quite comprehensive – offering a wide range of traditional Teochew favourites as well as a number of contemporary variations. On weekdays, there is a Teochew Porridge Menu with free flow of porridge.

The menu show prices for small, medium and large servings. There is no service charge but there are the usual Chinese restaurant “overheads” for tea and wet tissue.

Below are pictures of a few pages from the set menu and the a la carte menu.

The 五福临门 “5 Kinds” Deluxe Platter ($35 for medium, $55 for large) is almost a standard item for meals at Chin Lee Restaurant. The starters comprising deep fried crispy sticks, prawns salad, prawn rolls, jelly fish and fried mixed veggies are nicely presented.

咖啡排骨 Coffee Pork Ribs ($15 for small; $30 for large) is one of the must try dishes in Chin Lee. The pork ribs were wrapped in foil to keep in the flavour. The meat was tender and tasty. The coffee aroma was distinct but not overpowering.

潮州蒸鱼 Teochew Steamed Fish (seasonal price) at Chin Lee was fresh, sweet and meaty. The fish was cooked just right to give a nice bite. The clear broth looked simple but had a complex taste. The dish just felt good and wholesome.

红烧海参冬菇 Braised Sea Cucumber & Mushroom at Chin Lee was not bad but it would not be something we would definitely order again.

咸蛋虾球 Stir-fried Prawn with Salted Egg Yolk ($20 for small, $40 for large) should be quite a recent addition to the menu. The prawns were covered with a wet paste of salted egg yolk which was rich in flavour. The prawns were fresh and succulent. The dish was very enjoyable.

Chin Lee’s Teochew Yam Paste & Pumpkin served with Gingko Nut ($4 per person or $28 for large) alone is worth the trip to Bedok North. The rich yam paste was well blended and very smooth. It combined well with the pumpkin and gingko nuts and did not feel too sweet. It is one of the best or nee we have tried.

On the whole, the meal at Chin Lee Restaurant was enjoyable. We would agree that it is one of the best Teochew restaurant in the Eastern part of Singapore.