Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine 湘香湖南菜 (Ang Mo Kio Outlet)
When it comes to exploring Singapore’s diverse food scene, there’s always something new to discover—and this time, we decided to embark on a flavorful journey to Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine 湘香湖南菜 when we were at AMK Hub. Known for its fiery spices and bold flavors, Hunan cuisine is often described as one of China’s most exciting regional culinary traditions (according to Wikipedia), and Xiang Xiang has made it their mission to bring that authentic taste to Singapore way back in 2009. With an impressive 15 outlets across the island, it’s clear that this restaurant has captured the hearts (and stomachs) of locals and visitors alike. Intrigued by the buzz surrounding their dishes, we couldn’t resist stopping by for lunch to see if the hype was real. Spoiler alert: our taste buds were in for quite the adventure.
We were lucky that there was no queue (around 12 noon, Sunday) and we were given a Table for 2 with a QR Code to view the menu and make our order. Physical Menu is also available.
Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine Menu
There was quite a wide selection to choose from:
- Top 3 Signature Dishes (Hunan Stir Fry Pork, Golden Broth Sour and Spicy Fish, 18-Second Angus Beef Stir Fry) + Top 12 Popular Dishes (e.g. Spicy Bullfrog Pot, Claypot Garlic Shrimp)
- 19 Side Dishes (e.g. Hot and Spicy Lamb Ribs, Tangy Bamboo Shoots Stir-Fry, Hotplate Cumin Beef, Sauteed Pork with Dried Tofu)
- 6 Drink Options, 2 Beer & 6 Wine Options
What We Ordered
After a few quick glances through the online menu, we went with their:
- Signature Dish – Golden Broth Sour and Spice Fish (Not Spicy), $25.90
- Side Dish – Hot and Spicy Lamb Ribs (Less Spicy), $24.90
- Drinks – Chrysanthemum Tea (Add Ice), $1.50
The prices quoted in the menu were for Members and it’s free to sign up as a Member. After that we received two messages – one SMS and one WhatsApp Message.
The Taste
— Chrysanthemum Tea
The Chrysanthemum Tea drinks were served first. We were told by the staff that they were refillable. Taste wise – we were a bit disappointed – bland (water with a tinge of chrysanthemum taste) and the ice were non-existent.
— Crispy Snacks
There was a short waiting for the first dish to be served and we went to the entrance area to pick up these two free crispy snacks. The orange one had a bit of soy sauce taste and we were not sure if our taste buds were playing a fool of us.
— Golden Broth Sour and Spice Fish
The Golden Broth Sour and Spice Fish was served next. But before that, the staff had to set up a mini stove. This kind of setup was common for many of their dishes.
The presentation was a strong yellowish broth with sights of lemon slices, fish slices, bean curd strips, cabbage, Vermicelli, salted vegatables and that huge chunks of Mala Pepper bits.
One thing that we liked was how they bundle up the Vermicelli which made it easy for us to scoop and eat – no more slipping off from the spoon or chopstick.
Fish slice was very soft and best ate with the salted vegetables and the garlic bits. Bean curd strips were normal.
Key player of this dish was the golden broth and it was refillable. We never ordered any rice but it was good on its own and we soon had this lingering Mala taste on our tongue. This feeling was even more noticeable when we drank the ice tea.
One thing that we did not like was the Mala Pepper bits which we would accidentally took a bite of it as they hid within the fish and among the salted vegetables. A small bite of it heightened the mala taste on the tongue.
— Hot and Spicy Lamb Ribs
The Hot and Spicy Lamb Ribs came last and we were initially surprised with that fiery red display of chilli among the ribs.
Luckily the taste of the lamb ribs was not spicy at all. It had a good strong lamb taste and fragrance as we took it close to our nose and with the initial bite.
Some pieces came with a tinge of fats and the meat was that slightly tough. They were good to eat with fingers or with some good chopstick skills. The layer around the bone was thin and nice to scrape it off with our teeth.
We counted around 10 pieces of lamb ribs for this dish.
There were no wet tissues and only dry tissues which could be found in the drawer beside the table. Chop Sticks and Spoons were in there as well.
— Ice Cream
Another popular and free item from Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine was this Mingo Ice Cream and they had three flavours to choose from – Chocolate, Vanilla and Lime. They could be found beside the free cripsy snacks near the entrance.
We tried all three (hoping that it would neutralise the mala numbing taste on the tongue). To certain extent, it worked! The flavours were creamy and easy to eat with the wooden spoon.
Ambiance & Service
The overall ambiance there was very greenly bright and vibrant. The cuisine was also well-enjoyed by all – from the kids, to the youth, to the adults and to the elderly.
There was a sudden chant though we did not know what caused it and what was said.
Service was also good and one of their staffs came to check on us to top up the ice tea and soup and even asked if the soup was too spicy for us.
Payment
Payment was done at the cashier counter near the entrance. It took quite some time as one customer was ordering take-aways and the cashier was very patient with taking the orders and explaining the take-away process.
Prices quoted above were before the 9% GST and 10% Service Charges. So in total, we paid like $64.51 for this meal. We also earned points with the L Privileges Loyalty Programme.
How To Get To Xiang Xiang Hunan Cuisine 湘香湖南菜?
AMK Outlet Address:
- 53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #02-26 AMK Hub, Singapore 569933 (Google Maps)
- Nearest MRT – Ang Mo Kio MRT Station
Other Outlets:
- Chinatown 8/9/10 Mosque Street
- Bugis Liang Seah Street #01-12/13/14
- Bedok 215 Bedok North Street #01-83
- Sengkang Grand Mall #01-32
- Suntec City Mall Tower 3 #B1-159
- One Holland Village Mall #02-19/20
- Nex #B1-41/42/43
- Westgate #04-42/K5
- The Seletar Mall #02-11/12
- Pasir Ris Mall #02-60
- Causeway Point #05-09
- Jurong Point #B1-46
- Northpoint City #01-137/138
You can also check them out via their Social Media Channels:
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