Chin Lee Restaurant – Still One of the Best Teochew Restaurants

Founded in 1973, Chin Lee Restaurant (深利美食馆) is a popular Teochew restaurant located on the ground floor of a HDB block in Bedok North. We last wrote about this restaurant about a decade ago, and having visited again recently, we still consider it to be one of the best Teochew restaurants in Singapore. It is also noteworthy that its menu prices have increased by only about 7% over the last ten years.

Chin Lee Restaurant Bedok

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. However, the air-conditioned dining hall is pleasantly different. It looks similar to the casual dining restaurants found in downtown malls. There are small tables for groups of up to four as well big round tables for big gathering.

Chin Lee Restaurant is popular for family dinners and for special occasions like birthdays or office celebrations. It seems to have become even more popular recently. The popularity is fueled in part by the Teochew film ‘Dear You. Additionally, Chin Lee is one of the heartland restaurants where you can use your CDC Vouchers.

Chin Lee Menu

The a la carte menu is quite comprehensive. It offers a wide range of traditional Teochew favourites as well as a number of contemporary variations. The menu show prices for small, medium and large servings.

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

What we ate at Chin Leer

Teochew Prawn Ball & Coffee Pork Ribs

The Teochew prawn balls ($10 for small; $25 for large) were each wrapped in a thin, crispy skin of fried bean curd. Inside, the minced prawn filling stayed tender. As a result, every bite had a nice contrast in textures, and the dish was very enjoyable.

The Coffee Pork Ribs ($16 for small; $32 for large) are still a must-try at Chin Lee. The ribs were slow-cooked and then wrapped in foil to lock in their rich flavour. Consequently, the meat was very tender. Moreover, the coffee aroma came through clearly without being overpowering.

Cold Crab

Cold Crab is a classic Teochew dish. The crabs are steamed just until cooked. It would then chilled for hours before being served cold, with the meat still in the shell. They are not cooked in any sauce. So there is nothing to hide behind. The freshness of the crabs has to carry the whole dish.

At Chin Lee, the crabs came with their bright orange top shells set over cracked claws and halved bodies. The flesh was dense and springy. It tasted naturally sweet, with a light touch of sea salt. The claw meat was excellent on its own. For Teochew food lovers, though, the real prize was the thick, golden crab paste inside the body. Chilling had made it rich, creamy and almost like custard. A dab of the tangy dipping sauce helped cut through that richness.

The seasonal price was $120 per kg, and our two crabs came to just over 1 kg.

Teochew Braised Duck with Beacurd

Teochew Braised Duck with Beancurd ($15 for small; $30 for large) is a heritage dish. The preparation relies on patience and a master stock rather than heavy heat or aggressive spice. Chin Lee’s rendition is a fine example of Teochew comfort food. The thinly sliced duck meat was tender, succulent, and deeply steeped in the herbal, soy-infused gravy.

Fish Maw Soup & Fried Kai Lan

The Fish Maw Soup ($30 for small; $70 for big) was a thick, comforting broth rich with egg ribbons, sweet crabmeat, and tender pieces of gelatinous fish maw. With a light dash of white pepper and dark vinegar, the dish offered a well balanced blend of flavours that was very delectable.

Teochew cooking is known for its simplicity, and the Fried Kai Lan ($12 for small; $24 for big) was a good example. The vegetable retained its vibrant green colour and a fresh, snappy crunch. The minced garlic and fine crispy bits gave the slightly bitter greens a fragrant, savoury lift. It was straightforward and delicious. Even those who usually avoid leafy greens happily ate it up.

Teochew Oyster Pancake

The Teochew Oyster Pancake ($26) had a crisp, golden-brown crust and a sticky, gelatinous core. Fresh, plump oysters were embedded within the light batter. You really need to try it for yourself to appreciate just how delicious it is. A dash of the tangy, sharp chilli sauce on the side can change the flavour profile considerably, allowing you to customise the oyster omelette to your liking.

Teochew Kway Teow

The kway teow ($12 for small; $24 for big) was wok-fried with chives, preserved radish (chai poh), and other ingredients. It had plenty of wok-hei. There was a satisfying mix of smoky, salty, and subtle herbal notes. It was a classic Teochew dish – simple, unpretentious and comforting.

Desserts

Chin Lee’s Teochew Yam Paste with Gingko Nut ($5 per bowl) alone is worth the trip to Bedok North. The rich yam paste was well blended and very smooth. It did not feel too sweet. It is still one of the best or nee we have tried.

The Chilled Black Glutinous Rice with Ice Cream ($5 per bowl) was a delicious take on pulut hitam. It tasted as good as it looked, and made a very pleasant end to a satisfying Teochew meal.

Good Teochew Meal

Overall, we had a thoroughly enjoyable Teochew meal at Chin Lee Restaurant. In recent years, many old Teochew restaurants have closed down. So we are glad that this traditional eatery is still thriving in the East. In fact, it has even opened a branch up north in Sembawang.

Ratings
Food: 5
Service: 3
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Overall Rating: 4 TOPs

深利美食馆 Chin Lee Restaurant
Blk 115 Bedok North Road
#01-285
Singapore 460115

Tel: +65 6444 5554 / +65 6449 5454

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11.30am – 2.30 pm | 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat, Sun & PH : 11.30am – 2.30pm | 5.30 pm – 10.30pm

chinlee.com.sg