Long Chim Singapore by David Thompson is a rather unique and interesting dining option in Marina Bay Sands (MBS). The publicity material says “Long Chim, which means ‘Come and Taste’ brings to Singapore the finest renditions of Thai street food articulated by renowned Celebrity Chef David Thompson… evoking the mouthwatering roadside eateries and vibrant street markets of Bangkok”.  We are not in a position to say if the food at Long Chim is indeed the finest rendition of Thai street food but the place certainly has the colours and carnival like atmosphere of Bangkok’s street markets.

Long Chim Singapore is on level 2 of The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, where Waku Gin is located. The restaurant is the Singapore outpost of Australian chef-restaurateur David Thompson, who is behind acclaimed Nahm in Bangkok, which is listed as one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

The entrance of Long Chim is impressive and the narrow passageway with beautiful floor tiles leads to a world that is quite unlike the rest of MBS. The dining space is a stylish depiction of Thai street food scene. The place is dimly lit and there are all sorts of funky street-style art and Thai motifs that make the space unique, interesting and attractive.

Live Kitchen

There are three bustling live kitchens which add to the atmosphere and provide entertainment as well. We could see flames leaping from woks and the sounds and aroma from the open kitchens would excite the senses even before the food reached our table.

Menu

The menu of Long Chim Singapore combines traditional Thai street food and contemporary flavours with starters like the Grilled Wagyu Beef Salad and Crunchy Prawn with Herbs and mains such as Chiang Mai Curried Noodle Soup and Grilled Lamb Curry. The restaurant has Set Lunch Menu, Set Dinner Menu, Weekend Brunch Menu and even a Vegetarian Menu. Below are photos of the main a la carte menu and pages of the cocktails menu.

Dinner at Long Chim

We went to Long Chim at MBS for dinner and ordered the Fish Cakes ($20), Jack’s Omelette ($14) and Silken Beancurd ($16). A bowl of steamed rice was $3; the large bowl of rice could easily be shared by 3 or 4 persons.

The fish cakes with cucumber relish and peanuts was a very spicy dish that left a tingling sensation on the tongue. The densely packed fish cake had a nice texture and was tasty. It was enjoyable if taken in moderation with plain steamed rice.

The versatile tofu was given a deep-fried treatment at Long Chim, with the inside of the thin crispy outer layer retaining a soft, creamy texture. The silken beancurd came with mushroom and plenty of chives. The flavours were well balanced, but mild compared to the fish cake dish.

Jack’s Omelette was layered fluffy omelette with inside that had a lovely custard  like texture. The secret to the simple dish was the Sriracha sauce, the versatile spicy Thai equivalent to ketchup. The hot and slightly sweet sauce made the simple omelette dish a very palatable one.

We have not eaten at roadside eateries of Bangkok for a very long time. Eating at Long Chim Singapore did evoke memories of visits to Thailand. The prices, while a lot more than what you would pay for street food in Bangkok, are reasonable when you take into consideration the location and ambience. The place was atmospheric, the charming staff were smiley and helpful and the food was spicy and delicious. If only they would also provide a tut tut ride, it would be almost like a night in Bangkok.

Ratings:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 4
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs   

Long Chim Singapore
Level 2 dining, L02-02
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018955

Tel: +65 66887299

Opening hours
Monday to tTursday
lunch 11.30am to 3.00pm
dinner 5.30pm to 11.00pm

Friday to Sunday
all day 12.00pm to 11.00pm

Nearby MRT Station: Bayfront

The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog